Orange County approves $35 million tourism-tax plan for Orlando’s NBA All-Star and Olympic qualifiers bids
$35 million commitment tied to winning hosting rights
Orange County commissioners voted unanimously on March 10, 2026, to approve up to $35 million in Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funding to support Orlando-area bids for two major sports properties: an NBA All-Star Week in 2029 or 2030 and Olympic qualifying competitions in 2028. The funding is structured as conditional support that would be paid only if Orlando is awarded hosting rights.
The action follows a prior recommendation by the county’s Tourism Development Council, which voted to advance the same $35 million framework for the commission’s final consideration. The package is being pursued through the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, which is coordinating the bids.
How the proposed funding is divided
The approved plan sets separate caps for the two pursuits, including smaller amounts for bid-related expenses.
NBA All-Star Week bid (2029 or 2030): Up to $20 million in TDT support, plus up to $500,000 for event pursuit and bid expenses.
2028 Olympic qualifiers: Up to $15 million in TDT support, plus up to $150,000 for bid-related expenses.
County materials presented with the agenda item framed the NBA effort around an “All-Star Game Week” concept, reflecting the NBA’s multi-day format that typically includes fan events, ancillary programming, and partner activations beyond the game itself.
Venues and dates under consideration
For an NBA All-Star Week, venues under consideration include the Kia Center, Orange County Convention Center, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and Addition Financial Arena at the University of Central Florida. The bid targets windows in February 2029 and February 2030.
For Olympic qualifying competitions in 2028, potential venues identified include Camping World Stadium and the adjacent Tinker Field. Proposed date windows span late May and early June 2028, aligning with a multi-week qualification schedule rather than a single weekend event.
Economic impact estimates and accountability questions
Bid presentations associated with the package forecast economic impacts of $300 million for an NBA All-Star Week and $48 million for the Olympic qualifiers, alongside projected visitor metrics including hotel room nights and attendance estimates. Those projections are central to the justification for using TDT dollars, which are collected from short-term lodging and are generally directed toward tourism promotion and tourism-related facilities and programs.
Under the approved structure, the county’s financial exposure is linked to whether Orlando secures the events, with payouts contingent on a successful award of hosting rights.
The vote also fits within a broader, multi-year strategy by local governments and sports entities to use tourism-tax-funded incentives to compete for high-profile events, with the stated goal of converting national and international sports calendars into measurable visitor demand for Central Florida.