World Equestrian Center bringing new event space, shopping and retail to Marion County

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The World Equestrian Center is undergoing a massive expansion which includes a five-story event center.

People who are close to the project are optimistic about the economic opportunities the event center will bring to Ocala and Marion County.

The event center at WEC will feature 80,000 square feet of traditional meeting space, four restaurants of which two will be rooftop concepts, pre-function space, dedicated bridal suites, banquet space, covered balconies, and an expansive outdoor lawn and pavilion.

Director of Hospitality Operations for the World Equestrian Center, Justin Garner, said they saw a need for an event space like this in Marion County.

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“Coupled with our riding academy hotel, we’ll really create a place for people to come have conventions, trade shows, large group events that we haven’t had a place to house here in Marion County,” said Garner.

Garner also said the event center will bring 300 jobs to Marion County between the culinary, support, and service teams.

“It’s extremely important to continue to grow our tax base, to provide employment opportunities, especially for our high schoolers that are just graduating and really be able to stay here in Marion County and provide that hospitality job opportunity for them which we haven’t necessarily had here,” Garner said.

The World Equestrian Center is also beginning work on another project, The Shoppes off 80th Avenue.

“The event center is really the beginning of this next phase for us,” Garner said. “Along with that will be 30 outdoor retail shopping opportunities so we’ve got The Shoppes off of 80th which will open probably in the months following that. We’ve already begun construction on those. But they’ll house some luxury retailers, clothiers, florists, and additional food and beverage opportunities.”

Tourist Development Director for Marion County, Loretta Shaffer said they’re hoping to take into new markets with the addition of the event center.

“We’re really hoping to really tap into things like the educational market and the fraternal market,” said Shaffer. “The social market, really expand the weddings market in the reunions market and reach those industry segments that we haven’t really been able to tap into at this level.”

While the expansion isn’t set to be complete until the fall of 2025, Garner said they have already received bookings for 2026 and 2027.

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