The state-of-the-art entertainment center, Velocity Esports, is coming to downtown Orlando in the second quarter of next year, Executive Chairman Phil Kaplan confirms. This will be its first Florida outpost.
The venue will be on the ground floor of the brand new 16-story downtown facility, Society Orlando, at 434 N Orange Avenue opening this fall. The 34,000-square-foot ground level will also have a food hall, retail plaza and modern gym. Velocity Esports was spearheaded by entertainment hospitality veterans Kaplan, Len Wagner and Josh Rosenbaum, all of whom were former employees at Gameworks. Velocity offers a vast array of entertainment from arcade games to premier esports lounges, bowling, social gaming and esports tournaments. It also serves modern Mexican and American fare with a selection of craft cocktails and mocktails.
The goal of the venture is to bring gamers together in person.
“Instead of playing on the computer, they can come together and play with their community,” Kaplan tells What Now Orlando. “We are looking forward to being downtown there, catering to the locals.”
He says the team is particularly excited to bring their concept to Orlando, where there are already a lot of locals interested in sports like football and basketball.
Velocity opened its flagship in Newport, Kentucky, in spring 2022, with its second outpost in Las Vegas opening just a few months later. Its third outpost in Chicago is currently under construction.
