ORLANDO, Fla.,None — The city of Orlando, the Magic, and the NBA kicked off preparations and voting on Wednesday for the All-Star Game.
Despite the shortened season, the game is set for February 26. However, the tickets are not cheap.
WFTV found out that the cheapest ticket package costs $1,700.
There are only 3,000 tickets available, and season ticket holders get first dibs.
The NBA runs the event, controls most of the seats and sets the price.
It will be the second time in 20 years that the NBA stars will come out in Orlando.
The city said the All-Star Game and all the events surrounding it are expected to attract as many as 100,000 visitors.
"You think of how many hotel nights that will be, how much money will be spent in restaurants and other services. It's a great shot in the arm for the local economy," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
As many as 30,000 hotel rooms could be booked and the All-Star Game could bounce another $80 million to $100 million into the local economy, officials said.
But very few local people will actually get to see the game at the Amway Center.
Of the 18,000 seats available, the NBA is controlling 15,000, and 14,000 season ticket holders, some of whom pay as much as $300 per game, get the first chance at seats.
The packages go as high as $7,800, which have to be bought in pairs.
The city owns a suite at the Amway Center and said it doesn't have a plan yet for using its 16 free seats.
WFTV asked Dyer whether he'll get one.
"I haven't decided what I'm going to do. I'll probably float around to a lot of different things. As mayor, you're the face of the city, you're expected to show up," Dyer said.
Dyer and tourism leaders said they hope the Amway Center brings future returns that business owners and corporate leaders will consider the kind of place where they'd like to live and do business.
WFTV
