Orlando's NBA City Gets New Owners, Menu To Stay The Same

Food selections will remain constant at Orlando's NBA City after Ralph Burnet/RWB Financial assumes control of the existing themed restaurant from Hard Rock Cafe International.

As part of the deal with Hard Rock International, RWB Financial will also assume control of future developments of NBA themed restaurants throughout the world.

The menu will continue with its contemporary upscale cuisine that includes sandwiches, chops, seafood and individual pizzas.

"We like to surprise the guests when they come into the restaurant," said NBA City Director of Marketing Chris Havlicek. "If you were to take away all the themed decor, people would still come for the food."

Hard Rock Cafe International has owned and operated NBA City since its launch in September 1999.

NBA City's menu was developed to be on par with the 29-year-old Hard Rock Cafe.

"We have an open input kitchen, and because we hire the best chefs possible, the outcome is excellent," said Havlicek.

The inaugural venue, located in CityWalk at Universal Studios Orlando, will act as a model for new locations being planned.

Although no markets have yet been confirmed, Burnet, chairman of RWB Financial, told AB to expect to see new facilities pop up throughout the U.S.'s top markets beginning in 2001.

Once the U.S. invasion is in full swing, NBA City will turn its sights on Asia in general, Tokyo in particular. "Asia is a great market for us," said Burnet. "They are just crazy about the NBA there."

Burnet founded Burnet Financial, which operates real estate, mortgage, insurance, and office development ventures, in 1973.

There is no particular timetable for the opening of the new facilities, Havlicek told AB. "We will be developing aggressively in the next four years."

similar menus

While the footprint for the restaurants will range from 12,000 square feet to 16,000 square feet, decor and menu will remain similar, as will building costs.

The NBA City in Orlando cost between $8 million and $9 million.

According to Havlicek, favorite items at the Orlando-based restaurant include Double-Thick Pork Chops for $14.95, Chicken with Blue Cheese Pasta for $11.95 and Shanghai Chicken Salad for $9.95.

"Unlike many themed restaurants, we have people returning daily to taste our daily specials," said Havlicek.

All future restaurants will continue to gear toward the family demographic by including a children's menu and interactive NBA City Playground that features custom-developed basketball attractions and a photo take-home product that places guests in the middle of the game.

The Playground at the Orlando location measures 2,100 square feet.

In keeping with the family feel, the bar of the Orlando facility is located away from the main 275-seat dining area. The "CityWalk Cage" features two 10-foot-by-15-foot video screens, so customers can watch the exclusive NBA City programming while eating.

city club

Also available at the facility is the 75-seat NBA City Club, which offers a full menu with a more upscale atmosphere. According to Havlicek, the Club will also be included in future locations.