ORLANDO, Fla. – A board tasked with recommending how revenue from tourist development taxes will be spent is considering a multi-million dollar request to build a parking garage on the campus of Camping World Stadium.
For the second consecutive day, the Tourist Development Tax Citizen Advisory Task Force heard funding requests from several groups that are hoping to use the revenue collected from hotels and short-term rentals.
Florida Citrus Sports was one of the groups that went before the task force Wednesday, pitching the idea for a $56 million parking garage to accommodate fans going to Camping World.
Steve Hogan, chief executive officer at Florida Citrus Sports, detailed the request, which would amount to $54 million.
“We should at least do one (garage) and complete this opportunity for a modest investment in what the future of Camping World Stadium sports and entertainment tourism competitiveness looks like,” Hogan told the board.
Hogan said the garage would include 1,000 spaces and would be four stories, replete with a helipad. It would be operational about 30 months after the start of construction, Hogan said, meaning the garage would not be complete in time for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ one-year stay in Orlando.
In his presentation, Hogan pointed to the shortage of parking around Camping World Stadium, noting that there are only about 3,800 current spaces.
“We obviously need to improve that experience,” Hogan said.
Inside the Orange County Innovation Center, Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson listened intently to the pitches, including Hogan’s.
“I think it was an incredible presentation,” Wilson said. “I understand the ask, but I still want to know, ‘How are we getting people there?’”
As a commissioner, Wilson will ultimately vote on any request that is recommended by the task force.
She said she believes the garage does fit a need, but also argued that there are other pressing areas to fund -- like mass transit and infrastructure.
“That’s 1,000 spots in that parking garage for that amount of money.,” Wilson said of the $54 million request. “What could we get done in transit with that money?”
Per state statute, however, TDT funds can only be directed toward projects that promote tourism. In this case, the funds could not support mass transit needs.
“At the end of the day, we understand that some of the most important projects would require statutory change,” Wilson said. “And Tallahassee just hasn’t had interest in allowing us to do that.”
Camping World Stadium is currently undergoing $400 million worth of renovations -- funds that also came from tourist development taxes.