ORLANDO, Fla. – Business owners near the Amway Center are pursuing a lawsuit after they found out a gate will separate them from the biggest event of the year—the NBA All-Star game.
The businesses said the 600-foot long, 8-foot tall fence that will run along Church Street from Division Street to Hughey Street between the Amway Center and them will jeopardize their stores.
Attorney Lorenzo Williams is representing 10 Church Street businesses on a lawsuit against the city, where businesses ask that the fence be banned, or the city pay them half a million dollars. The city has offered $20,000.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said it's a safety issue.
"Our job is public safety," Dyer said. "It's a requirement of the NBA."
Dyer said the businesses had the choice to be inside the fence but decided not to be.
"There's no basis for any lawsuit," Dyer said. "That is probably more promotional than anything."
Dyer said there will also be opening in the fence.
"Everybody has to walk by those businesses, so I haven't actually figured out how they are going to lose money in this situation," Dyer said.