Game-changer for downtown Orlando: Preview of EA Sports’ new headquarters

ORLANDO, Fla. — EA Sports offered a sneak peek at what its new headquarters in downtown Orlando will look like when it moves from Maitland to the Creative Village after the project breaks ground this year.

New renderings show what the five-story, 180,000-square-foot building will look like.

Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer said he believes it will be a real game-changer in bringing other major companies to the city.

READ: Major video game developer to be headquartered in downtown Orlando

“Just as we were using medical city as an industry cluster, this will be an industry cluster in that type of emerging technology,” Dyer said.

The headquarters will neighbor UCF’s graduate-level video game design school in Creative Village.

"Having students that come out of the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy having the ability to have internships or walk across the street basically into the industry they want to work in is huge," Dyer said.

Dyer said he expects EA Sports to attract other major companies to the area.

He said that’s why the city incentivized the company, which Dyer said could have easily relocated to a suburban area that didn’t cost as much.

"But the way we incentivized them was through job performance and then also return on their investments. So, they're getting a rebate on the property taxes," he said.

He said the company will likely earn millions in those taxes, in exchange for the increased value of the property.

EA Sports will rent the $6 million property from the city for a minimum of 15 years.

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