The center would house the Orlando Philharmonic, Orlando Opera, Orlando Ballet, and other groups. According to the Sentinel, two former mayors have favored building a center, but the idea was not pursued seriously until current mayor Buddy Dyer assembled a group of community leaders to form an Orlando Performing Arts Center board last fall.

Five companies submitted proposals to build and run the center in collaboration with the board; the board recently eliminated the conglomerate Clear Channel Entertainment from the running, leaving KUD International, Hines, Carter, and Trammell Crow Company. The final choice will be made on September 1.

It is not yet clear what the budget for the new center is. It will be located at one of two sites: one near Orlando City Hall in central Orlando, and one near Carr Performing Arts Centre, the current home of the Philharmonic, Opera, and Ballet.