The World Equestrian Center recently provided a brief update on the construction of its new event center, which will feature four new restaurants, including two rooftop venues, when it opens next year at the Ocala-area facility.

Construction is well underway on the 180,000-square-foot Event Center at WEC. Last month, the organization provided a brief video and images of the new center.

Construction of the new Event Center at the World Equestrian Center is well under way.
Crews are working on the new Event Center within the World Equestrian Center. The center will feature several restaurants, including two rooftop options, as well as 80,00 square feet of traditional meeting space.

The new event center will offer “over 80,000 square feet of traditional meeting space” and four new restaurant dining concepts.

Two of those restaurants will be rooftop establishments on the five-story building, according to WEC.

The organization says the new space will offer options for “everything from galas to conferences,” as well as a grand ballroom.

Aerial shot showing construction of the new Event Center at the World Equestrian Center
The Event Center is next to the Riding Academy Hotel and will be situated next to The Shoppes off 80th, an 80,000-square-foot shopping venue.

The space will also be equipped with a dedicated bridal suite, a banquet space, covered balconies, and an expansive outdoor event lawn and pavilion.

The Event Center is situated next to The Riding Academy Hotel, which opened its doors at WEC earlier this year.

Images of the Riding Academy Hotel at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. (Photo: World Equestrian Center)
Images of the Riding Academy Hotel at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. Credit: World Equestrian Center

Both sites are located next to the future site of The Shoppes at 80th, an 80,0oo-square-foot outdoor shopping venue that will feature 28 high-end retailers.

According to WEC, The Shoppes Off 80th will also open next year.

In addition to the new hotel, WEC also opened a new hospital at its site in Ocala, which is located at 1750 NW 80th Avenue.

Over the Summer, UF Health World Equestrian Center opened a new facility at WEC. That 10,000-square-foot medical facility features eight exam rooms, two procedure rooms, a pharmacy, and X-ray imaging.

The new UF Health World Equestrian Center facility features a pharmacy, a walk-in urgent care, and an orthopaedics and sports medicine division. (Photo: UF Health)
The new UF Health World Equestrian Center facility features a pharmacy, a walk-in urgent care, and an orthopaedics and sports medicine division. (Photo: UF Health)

The pharmacy at the facility opened in July, while the Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine division and a Walk-In Urgent Care both opened to the public in August.

The organization also opened its sixth indoor arena recently. Built near Indoor Arena 5, the new arena serves as the primary competition site for the “ever-growing base of FEI-level dressage exhibitors,” according to WEC.

Jeremiah Delgado has lived in Florida for over 25 years, moving to the Sunshine State from Chicago, Illinois in 1999, just before his 11th birthday. While living in Winter Springs, Florida, Delgado attended...