Best Seats At The Kia Center
Orlando built a global reputation on spectacle, and on Magic nights the Kia Center runs the same playbook downtown: smoke rolling across the court before tip-off, a neon-green dragon coming down from the rafters on big nights, and confetti falling after a home win. The glass-and-steel arena opened in 2010 as the Amway Center and took the Kia Center name in December 2023, and its 180-foot lighted spire is the landmark you’ll spot from I-4 on the way in. It has hosted an NBA All-Star Game and March Madness, and it’s now the stage for a Magic core built around Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane.
The thing to know is that the arena sits on the far side of I-4 from the Church Street and Orange Avenue bar district, and its no-bag policy turns people around at the door every night. Here’s how to pick your seat, get in cleanly and get out fast.
Kia Center Seating Overview
The Kia Center has two main seating bowls: the Terrace Level (sections 101–118) and the Promenade Level (sections 201–232), with club seats, loge boxes and suites stacked in between. The long sidelines are 104–107 and 113–116, and both team benches sit on the 104–107 side, with the Magic toward 106–107 and visitors toward 104–105. Terrace sections put row 1 at the front with the entrance at the top, so you walk down to your seat and never have people crossing in front of you mid-game. For Magic games, the front rows of the sideline sections belong to premium ticket holders, which moves the first rows you can buy further back than the chart suggests.
Best Non-Premium Seats at Kia Center
Sections 114–115, rows 10–16. These sit at center court across from both benches, high enough to watch plays develop without the floor-level flattening you get in the first few rows. The first public row in 114–115 is row 8 because rows 1–7 are Ultimate Seats, and that’s where most of the price jump happens.
Sections 105–106, rows 10 and up. Same center-court angle from the bench side, so you’re looking at the Magic huddle during timeouts. The tradeoff is that the benches and staff sit between you and the court for the lower rows.
Sections 104, 107, 113 and 116, starting at row 6. These sideline sections only give up rows 1–5 to Ultimate Seats, so row 6 is one of the closest non-premium seats you can buy in the building. You’re a few steps off center, which barely matters at this height.
Best Value Seats
Lower corners (103, 108, 112, 117), upper rows. You get a Terrace Level seat and a diagonal look at both baskets for noticeably less than the sidelines. The angle means the far corner of the court feels distant, but you’re steps from the main concourse.
Promenade sideline sections, rows 1–4. Most Promenade sections run about 16 rows, and the first four sit below the section entrance, so the view is clean and nobody walks through your sightline. Rows 6–16 are sold as a cheaper tier, and the drop in view quality is real once you’re above the walkway.
Budget / Cheapest Way In
Promenade end sections, upper rows. This is the lowest price for a Magic game. You’re high above the court, and it’s a long climb to get there.
The Magic Fast Break Pass. The team sells multi-game passes that assign you a random upper-bowl seat a few hours before each game. It’s the cheapest way to see several games, but you don’t pick your seat and you can’t guarantee sitting with friends unless everyone links their passes as a group.
Solar Bears or Pirates games. ECHL hockey and indoor football tickets cost a fraction of a Magic ticket and give you the full building experience. The crowd is smaller and the energy is different, but it’s the easiest way to see the arena on a budget.
Our Pick
Section 115, rows 10–16. It’s center court, it’s across from the benches, and it’s the best view per dollar on the Terrace Level.
Best Seats for Concerts at Kia Center
For most end-stage concerts, the stage goes up in front of Section 101, so 101 is behind or beside the stage and should be avoided unless the chart says otherwise. Floor 1 is closest, with rows lettered from A back, and the whole floor sits flat, so a tall person in front of you will block the view. Sections 105 and 115 give you a strong angle close to the stage, while 116–117 and 103–104 sit at a severe side angle. Sections 109A, 110A and 111A face the stage head-on from the far end and are often the best non-floor view for the money.
For general admission floor shows, fans line up at the West Plaza entrance at Division Avenue and Church Street, and lining up can start as early as 7 a.m. on show day. Overnight camping isn’t permitted, and anything you used while waiting that’s on the prohibited list (chairs, umbrellas, outside food) won’t be allowed inside.
What to Avoid (and What’s Worth Trying Once)
The “A” sections, if you think you’re buying the lower bowl. 109A, 110A and 111A carry 100-level numbers but sit well above the Terrace Level, with rows starting in the low 20s. They’re fine seats, but don’t pay lower-bowl prices for them.
Promenade rows above the walkway. In some upper sections, rows jump from the entrance at row 5 to row 9, and everything above sits behind the foot traffic of the concourse. If you’re paying close to row-1 prices, move down.
Worth trying once: the Ozone. The Ozone deck and O3 Bar span the entire south end of the Promenade Level, with standing room overlooking the court on one side and sunset views on the other. It’s a hangout, not a seat, but on a Magic night it’s the best people-watching spot in the building.
Premium Seating & Clubs at Kia Center
The Kia Center has 60 suites and about 1,400 club seats, and most premium tiers are sold through the Magic for basketball and through the arena for concerts. Some family shows, including Disney On Ice, don’t include premium services, so check before buying for a non-Magic event.
The Best Premium Experience
Courtside and Ultimate Seats with event-level club access. Courtside seats and the first rows of the center sideline sections come with entry to the Magic’s all-inclusive club on the Event Level, steps from the team’s locker room, currently branded The Gallagher Club. For Magic games, access covers rows 1–7 in sections 105, 106, 114 and 115 and rows 1–5 in sections 104, 107, 113 and 116, and once you’re in, the access can’t be transferred to another game. For select concerts, floor ticket holders can use the same space with food and drink for purchase.
Best Value Premium
Loge boxes. The 4-seat and 6-seat loges give you room to spread out, in-seat wait service and, for Magic games, dinner at Jernigan’s, the Club Level restaurant overlooking the bowl. Loge holders get the first Jernigan’s seating, about 90 minutes before tip-off, with beer and wine included, and they don’t need a reservation. You get most of a suite experience at a fraction of the group cost, which is why these are the premium seats to look at first. MVP Tables, bar-style half-moon tables for four, come with the same Jernigan’s dinner and in-seat service.
Other Premium Options
Club Seats are wide leather seats on the ThreatLocker Club Level with private lounges, restrooms and premium concessions. Legends Suites are a large shared suite with leather in-bowl seats and all-inclusive food and drink for many events. The Walt Disney World Terrace is a two-tier deck for 30–40 people with a private bar at the top and a row of ledge seats below. The All-Star Decks are open-air group spaces for 36 with high-tops and ledge seating.
Suites & Group Options
Founders Suites hold 16–24 guests, sit only 19 rows from the floor and are reached by private VIP elevators. Hardwood Suites on the Founders Level are the closest suites to the court and can be combined for groups of up to 60. The Presidents Suite sits on the Club Level, Silver Suites add two rows of leather in-bowl seats, and Club Hospitality Suites hold 22–42.
Kia Center Seating Chart & Capacity
The Kia Center holds about 18,500 people for Orlando Magic games and up to 20,000 for NCAA basketball. Hockey and indoor football configurations hold about 17,000, and end-stage concerts range from roughly 12,000 to 17,000 depending on the production.
For the current layout of any event, use the Kia Center Seating Charts.
Tickets To Orlando Magic Games
Ticketmaster is the only authorized ticketing partner for the Kia Center, and Magic tickets are mobile, stored in the Orlando Magic app. Games against the Lakers, Warriors, Celtics and Heat price like marquee events, while weeknight games against smaller-market opponents are where the value is. Buy early for opening night and any playoff game.
Solar Bears and Pirates tickets are usually easy to find the week of the game. For concerts, check resale before show day, since GA floor tickets and the closest side sections go first.
Kia Center Upcoming Events & Schedule
The Kia Center hosts more than 200 events a year, so there’s rarely a quiet week. The Magic play from October through April, the Solar Bears play ECHL hockey through fall, winter and early spring, and the Orlando Pirates fill spring and early summer with indoor football. Major concert tours, comedy, family shows, NCAA basketball and graduations fill the dates in between. See the full Kia Center events calendar for current dates and on-sale times.
Get Your Orlando Magic Tickets Here! Through our partnership with Vivid Seats you can get tickets to Magic games, concerts or any event at the Kia Center
Kia Center Bag Policy
Bags are not permitted. You can bring one small clutch no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ x 1″. Medical and parent bags up to 14″ x 14″ x 6″ are allowed but must be X-rayed at designated entrances.
Backpacks and laptops are prohibited, and so are souvenir cups and reusable bottles, plastic or hard-sided, so you can’t bring an empty water bottle. For Magic games, strollers, selfie sticks and GoPros are also banned.
If you arrive with a bag, Binbox smart lockers are on the street-level plaza at the northwest corner of the arena, near Tavern on Church. They cost a small fee, and you’ll need the Binbox app.
Key Venue Policies
The Kia Center is 100% cashless. Bring a card or phone wallet for concessions and merchandise.
There is no re-entry. Once you leave, you’re not getting back in without an unused ticket.
Doors open 60 minutes before tip-off for Magic games and generally one hour before the printed time for other events.
Children shorter than 36 inches don’t need a ticket for Magic games if they sit on an adult’s lap. For other events, the rule is children under 2.
Accessibility: filter for wheelchair seating using the wheelchair icon on Ticketmaster or call 407-440-7900. Assistive listening devices, closed-captioning devices and free KultureCity sensory bags are available at Guest Services at Section 111 and Section 219. Complimentary wheelchair escorts can be requested from any staff member once you’re inside.
Getting to the Kia Center
Most visitors drive, and pre-buying a spot in the arena’s own garage is the least stressful way to do it. If you’re coming to a weeknight Magic game from anywhere along the SunRail line, the train is the better option.
Kia Center Parking
The ThreatLocker Garage (formerly the GEICO Garage) sits directly south of the arena at 400 West South Street, with easy access from I-4 and SR 408. The arena also sells spots in the 520 W Pine St. Garage, about a five-minute walk. Both must be bought in advance on Ticketmaster or at the box office by 5 p.m. the day before the event, so don’t plan to buy at the gate.
The City of Orlando also runs first-come event parking at the 55W Garage, Central Boulevard Garage and Garland Avenue Lot, all bookable through ParkMobile. ThreatLocker event parking is good for the whole day, but there’s no re-entry, and there are six Level 2 EV chargers on the ground floor.
The garage hack: the ThreatLocker Garage has a pedestrian bridge on the 5th floor that goes straight into the arena. Park on or near that level and you skip both the elevator line and the street crossing at South Street, on the way in and on the way out.
Public Transit
SunRail’s Church Street Station is about a four-minute walk from the arena. In recent seasons, the Magic and SunRail have run a Train-To-The-Game program: show your Magic ticket to the conductor and you ride free on weekday home games, with an extra southbound train leaving Church Street after the game. Suburban SunRail stations have free parking, so you avoid downtown traffic entirely. The catch is that the last regular northbound train leaves Church Street at 10:30 p.m., so check SunRail’s current game-night schedule before a late tip.
The LYMMO Grapefruit Line is a free bus that runs between the arena, the SunRail station and Lake Eola. Its standard service ends around 8:25 p.m. unless it’s extended for an event, so it works for getting to the arena but isn’t a reliable way home.
Rideshare
The official rideshare pickup and drop-off is at Hughey Avenue and Pine Street, near the arena’s northeast corner. Drop-off is quick, but after a sellout the zone backs up and prices surge. Walking a few blocks toward downtown before you request a ride usually gets you picked up faster.
Kia Center Insider Tips
A Magic game at the Kia Center starts before you reach your seat: there’s a pregame party on the plaza, a building designed around watching the game from almost anywhere, and a long list of bars inside. A little planning gets you in faster, fed better and out before the garage backs up.
The Spire and the Rooftop
Look up when you arrive. The 180-foot tower is a lighted beacon on the downtown skyline, and the arena was designed with glass and a changing graphic wall so it glows at night.
Go up after the show. The Sire Spirits SkyLounge sits at the arena’s peak next to the spire, with some of the best views of downtown Orlando. It’s aimed at the postgame crowd and isn’t open every night, so check before you plan around it.
Arrival Strategy
Use the West Plaza entrance at Division Avenue and Church Street. It’s the main public door and where the pregame activity is, so everything else is a detour.
Be in your seat 10 minutes before tip-off. The Magic’s pregame intro, with smoke, lights and a big video package, is one of the best parts of the night.
If you drive a Kia, sign up for the Kia Club. The team runs a club for Kia owners next to the box office on Church Street, with expedited entry and complimentary grab-and-go food and drink at Magic games. You still need a game ticket.
Food & Drink Strategy
Look for the “Certified Local” icons. The Orlando Table program brings local restaurants and chefs into the arena, and the icons on menus and stands mark them.
Watch the game from the Michelob ULTRA Baseline Bar. It’s on the south end of the Terrace Level, open to the bowl, across from concessions and open to all ticket holders.
Book Jernigan’s through the Magic app. Any fan with a game ticket can reserve the restaurant’s second seating on the Club Level, based on availability.
Grab a drink at the NUTRL Terrace. It’s the arena’s open-air “front porch” above Church Street, with TVs and a full bar, and it’s open before, during and after every event.
Exit Strategy
Leave through the garage bridge. If you parked in ThreatLocker, head for the 5th floor instead of joining the ground-level crowd.
Don’t rush your garage exit. Event parking is good all day, so a drink at the SkyLounge or the NUTRL Terrace lets the worst of the traffic clear.
Photo Ops
Shoot the spire from Church Street after dark. The tower and glass façade photograph best at night, when the building is lit.
Visit the Magic’s history exhibit on the Terrace Level. The Magic Fan Experience covers the franchise’s history with memorabilia and interactive exhibits, including the two NBA Finals runs in 1995 and 2009.
Catch sunset from the Ozone deck. The arena promotes the sunset views from the south end of the Promenade Level, which are best at early-evening events.
Stadium Traditions & Culture
Know your dragon. Stuff the Magic Dragon was built by the same mascot company that made the Phillie Phanatic, and on big nights he makes his entrance from the rafters by zip line.
Stay in your seat at halftime. The Magic Beatz drumline performs at halftime, and it’s worth skipping the concession line for.
Stick around after a win. Confetti falls and the players dance to the team’s theme song on the court, which is the best closing moment in the building.
Put your message on the video board. Magic Grams for birthdays and shout-outs, and even on-court proposals, can be bought in the Orlando Magic app.
Families & Kids
Let little kids burn energy at Stuff’s Magic Castle. The play area is on the Promenade Level, and Stuff himself drops in regularly.
Leave the stroller in the car. Strollers aren’t allowed at Magic games, and kids under 36 inches get in free on a lap.
Use the free nursing pod. A Mamava lactation pod is on the east Terrace Level near Section 116 and unlocks through the Mamava app.
Borrow a sensory bag. The Kia Center was the first NBA arena in Florida certified sensory inclusive by KultureCity, and bags with noise-canceling headphones and fidget tools are free at Guest Services.
Autographs & Player Access
Book a Kids Tunnel through group sales. Groups can form a high-five tunnel for players running onto the court before the game or after halftime, for up to 25 kids.
Book a postgame on-court group photo. Group packages also include postgame on-court photos and cutting down the nets, which are the easiest ways to get on the floor.
Venue-Specific Quirks
Bring a cowbell to hockey. Noisemakers are banned everywhere else, but cowbells are allowed at Orlando Solar Bears games.
Leave the big camera at home. Detachable lenses 3 inches or longer are banned at every event.
Know the strobe warning. Strobe lights are used during Magic and Solar Bears games, and the arena asks guests with photosensitivity to contact them before arrival. Guest Services also lends photosensitivity glasses.
Check costume rules for family shows. For some shows, including Disney On Ice, adults may not be allowed to wear costumes at all.
Who Else Plays at Kia Center?
The Orlando Solar Bears play ECHL hockey here as an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and tickets cost a fraction of a Magic game.
The Orlando Pirates moved from Massachusetts and played their first Indoor Football League season at the Kia Center in 2026, bringing indoor football back to downtown for the first time since the Orlando Predators.
What’s Being Built Across Church Street
Watch the block to the north. Westcourt, a $500 million development from a joint venture that includes the Magic’s owners, is planned for the 8.5-acre site directly north of the arena, between Church Street, Division Avenue, Central Boulevard and Hughey Avenue. The plan includes a 265-room Kimpton hotel, apartments, offices, restaurants, a 3,500-capacity live venue and 1,140 parking spaces, with Turner Construction as the builder and an opening targeted for late 2028. Expect construction activity on that block in the meantime.
Things to Do in Orlando
Lake Eola Park is a short walk east through downtown, with swan boat rentals, a loop around the lake and the Thornton Park neighborhood next door. If the game is part of a bigger trip, Walt Disney World is about a 30-minute drive down I-4 when traffic cooperates.
Hotels Near The Kia Center
If you want to walk to the arena, stay downtown, since everything else in Orlando means driving on I-4. Book early for Magic playoff games and big concert weekends, when downtown fills up fast.
Best Areas to Stay
Downtown, around Church Street and Orange Avenue. It’s a 5–15 minute walk to the arena, with bars and restaurants on your doorstep.
Lake Eola and Thornton Park. It’s quieter and more residential, about a 20-minute walk or a short rideshare to the arena.
Disney and International Drive. Stay here only if the game is a side trip. Plan for at least 30 minutes each way on I-4.
Hotel Recommendations
AC Hotel Orlando Downtown is the closest good hotel and the obvious first pick: it’s just across I-4 from the arena, and guests regularly note how quick the walk to the Kia Center is. The AC Sky Bar on the 18th floor is one of the best views downtown and an easy pregame stop. The tradeoff is that standard rooms are narrow, and the on-site garage isn’t cheap.
Aloft Orlando Downtown is the comfortable middle choice, less than a 10-minute walk from the arena, with a well-run lobby bar. The I-4 exit drops you almost at the front door, which makes it easy for drivers.
Hotel Beauden, Autograph Collection is the splurge. It’s the hotel formerly known as the Grand Bohemian and still downtown’s most polished stay, with an art-filled lobby, a pool and a well-known Sunday brunch. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the arena.
Embassy Suites Orlando Downtown works well for families and groups, with two-room suites, made-to-order breakfast and an evening drink reception included. It’s closer to Lake Eola, so the walk to the arena takes about 20 minutes.
Marriott Orlando Downtown sits in Creative Village on the same side of I-4 as the arena, so you don’t have to cross under the interstate to get there. Some rooms are showing their age, but the staff consistently earns strong reviews.
Budget Options
Hampton Inn & Suites Orlando Downtown South – Medical Center is the value pick, with free breakfast and consistently clean rooms. It’s south of downtown near Orlando Health, so plan on a short rideshare to the arena.
Courtyard by Marriott Orlando Downtown is north of the core on Magnolia Avenue and has plenty of on-site parking, which is rare downtown. You’ll drive or ride to the game, but you avoid downtown valet fees.
Restaurants/Bars Near The Kia Center
Before a Magic game, fans pack the plaza and the bars attached to the arena, then head east under I-4 to Church Street, Wall Street Plaza and Orange Avenue after the final buzzer. Downtown is compact, so you can bar-hop on foot all night.
Best Pregame & Postgame Bars
Tavern on Church sits right beside the main entrance and doesn’t require a ticket, which makes it the easiest pregame stop, though its prices are closer to arena prices than bar prices.
AC Sky Bar has the best skyline view near the arena and is quieter than the street-level bars.
Wall Street Plaza is a full block of bars and restaurants with weekend block parties, and it’s the place to go if you want a crowd after the game.
Underground Public House is a British pub on Orange Avenue with plenty of TVs, solid fish and chips, and a family-friendly feel.
Mathers Social Gathering is a multi-floor cocktail bar in a historic building with live jazz, and it’s the move for a grown-up drink after a concert (closed Sundays and Mondays).
Bellhop is downtown’s best craft cocktail bar, but it’s closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Best Restaurants in the Area
Kres Chophouse on Church Street is the splurge steakhouse, with a strict dress code and a notable vegan menu.
Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery on Orange Avenue serves Asian-fusion small plates and stays open until midnight, so it works after a game.
Hawkers Asian Street Food in the Mills 50 neighborhood is a 10-minute drive and one of Orlando’s most reliable spots for shareable Asian dishes at a mid-range price.
Se7enBites in the Milk District is a Michelin Guide–recognized Southern bakery and brunch spot. It’s only open Thursday through Sunday during the day, so plan it for the morning after.
Graffiti Junktion in Thornton Park serves burgers and tots on a dog-friendly patio near Lake Eola, at a budget-friendly price.
Why You Should Go to Kia Center
Orlando is a city built on manufactured magic, but a Magic game at the Kia Center is the real thing: a young team in a building that still looks sharp 15 years on, a spire glowing over I-4 and a crowd that goes loud the moment the smoke clears. Go on a weeknight in the heart of the season, when SunRail can take you there and the Florida air has finally cooled. When you arrive, head up to the Ozone deck on the Promenade Level, grab a drink and look down on the court before the lights drop for tip-off.
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Written by Brad Richards, Founder of Gameday Guides. This guide includes insights from personal visits as well as updated info from team sources, fan forums, and stadium policies. We aim to help you plan with confidence — enjoy your gameday.