The fast-developing Amway Center that's rising downtown alongside Interstate 4 practically screams the obvious: The Magic and other acts will begin playing there next year.
When entertainers start playing to audiences at the city's other highly anticipated new venue — the Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center across Orange Avenue from Orlando City Hall — has been far less certain.
And a continuing source of frustration to its backers.
More popular in public opinion polls than the new home for Dwight Howard and his pals, the arts center nevertheless has found it tougher going. Dependent on a complex funding stew whose main ingredient — revenue from tourist taxes — dried up with the recession, it found itself suffering through an existential crisis worthy of Hamlet.
Because it stood more than $100 million shy of a $383 million fundraising goal, it confronted these tough choices:
Should the arts center keep waiting for more money to come in at the risk of losing money already pledged and seeing construction costs rise?
Should it start building the largest and smallest of its three theaters this spring, — something it can afford to do — then dedicate new donations to building the midsized theater?
Should it look to build the small and midsized theater — the most costly performance space of the three because its advanced design accommodates orchestra, ballet and opera — even though they'd cost at least $35 million more than the arts center has?
Or should it simply expire, letting go of what's been a 30-year quest to give the region theaters of the first order?
The art center's trustees last week made what to us seems the only responsible decision, one that ultimately is sure to make Orlando a destination for those seeking the best in culture and entertainment.
In March or April, the arts center will begin clearing space for the large 2,700-seat theater, designed for Broadway-scale performances, and the 300-seat theater meant for community productions.
They should open in 2013 and generate needed revenue for the center — more than if the trustees had decided to attempt to build the project's showpiece venue, the costlier midsize theater.
We agree that the largest and smallest theaters should generate enough excitement in the community that additional funding should flow, enabling the arts center to complete the third jewel in its crown, the 1,700-seat theater for orchestra, ballet and opera.
That should happen not only because of the caliber of acts there, but because of the venue itself. Design architect Barton Myers has drafted plans that would rival performance halls in Chicago, San Francisco and New York.
We wish, like many in the community, that the center could somehow build all three theaters now. We understand the temptation to call on government to take out a loan and finance more of the center's cost.
But in this economy, government and taxpayers simply can't afford to pay the debt.
Even without all three stages, there's nothing cheap or underwhelming about the trustees' decision. The arts center will inspire anyone who visits. It's important to start building, and the trustees' decision makes that possible.