Here’s what the new Orlando sports and entertainment district will be named

ORLANDO, Fla. – A sprawling 8.5-acre downtown Orlando sports and entertainment district, which was given the final green light on Monday, now has a name.

In a news release issued early Wednesday, officials said the project, which will be located next to the Kia Center at West Church Street and South Hughey Avenue, will be named Westcourt.

Westcourt will feature 270 high-rise residences; a full-service hotel; up to 300,000 square feet of office space; 120,000 square feet of entertainment, dining and retail; a 3,500 capacity live event venue; multiple meeting spaces; and a 1,140 stall parking garage.

The project will also include 1.5 acres of outdoor common area, including a 28,000-square-foot urban living room at the heart of the site, project officials said.

Construction is scheduled to begin later this year, with an opening projected by early 2027.

“Westcourt captures our vision for the project. An inclusive, aspirational place that offers a wide array of amenities, activities and experiences to the Orlando community,” said David Carlock, founder and principal of Machete Group. “Westcourt will be an exciting urban place with world-class hospitality, first-to-market dining options and a variety of event and meeting spaces.”

Carlock said Westcourt is the next step in downtown Orlando’s evolution and growth as a true urban neighborhood.

“We are dedicated to creating a vibrant destination that will be an exciting place to visit, live and work,” Carlock said.

The project is expected to create 3,400 jobs, according to city officials.

“This is going to be a game-changer initiative, going to incentivize businesses, there’s a lot of empty office spaces that need to be filled and this is going to bring people back to downtown,” Orlando City Commissioner Tony Ortiz said earlier this week.