"Every Big 12 school coming to Orlando this year has already sold out their ticket allotment. The feeling is that UCF may be the most desired football destination in the Big 12, and there is a good chance you're coming to Orlando for a four-day weekend... The other thing is, in conjunction with the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, UCF has a plan in place to work with that group so that as facilities get expanded and built at UCF, to work in partnership to bring those events to the area."

- Marc Daniels

Host of the Beat of Sports on 96.9 The Game FM

Director of Broadcasting, UCF Athletics

Around The Horn.

• Orlando Business Journal Editor Sean McCrory recently spoke with Marc Daniels, Director of Broadcasting for UCF Athletics, for the latest segment of the Florida Business Minds podcast. Listen to the full podcast or read an excerpt of the interview here.
• Lake Mary alum Dylan Crews, who was the No. 2 pick in last month’s Major League Baseball Draft, was announced as one of six finalists for the 93rd AAU James E. Sullivan Award, which recognizes America’s most outstanding athlete at the college or Olympic level.
• In Paolo Banchero’s 2,428 rookie-season minutes played with the Orlando Magic, the 6-10 forward lined up at center just 3% of the time. In his debut with the USA Basketball late Monday night vs. Puerto Rico in Las Vegas during the team’s first FIBA World Cup exhibition, it was a different story.
• Single game tickets to both the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers preseason game at Amway Center and Orlando Solar Bears opening night against the Florida Everblades are on sale now!
• The Orlando Pride earned a 1-1 draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC on Wednesday night in the Pride’s final UKG Challenge Cup match. The Pride will return to NWSL regular-season play on Aug. 20 when they host Chicago.
• More good news on the recruiting trail for UCF, which received verbal commitments from a pair of 4-stars for 2024. The Knights first flipped 4-star safety Jalen Heyward, who was initially committed to Georgia, and then added a pledge from receiver Bredell Richardson. The Knights now have No. 25 class in the country.
• Basketball has taken Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs around the world. Suggs, along with Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, Heat center Bam Adebayo, and Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, was one of many current and former NBA players serving as a coach at the Basketball Without Borders Africa camp in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• First round matchups have been announced for the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational taking place Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 23-26 at Walt Disney World Resort. The men’s college basketball tournament features top-notch matchups, starting with four quality games on Thanksgiving Day: Penn State v Texas A&M, Florida Atlantic v Butler, Iowa State v Virginia Commonwealth and Boise State v Virginia Tech.
• New UCF director of tennis Bryan Koniecko didn’t have to look far in finding a men’s coach, promoting Lloyd Bruce-Burgess from the women’s program to take over for John Roddick, who recently resigned. Bruce-Burgess spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach under Koniecko, helping guide the Knights to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA National Championships in 2022-23.
• Greater Orlando Sports Commission will host our 5th annual Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute on Wednesday, September 13 at UCF's Addition Financial Arena. This year's featured speaker is Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the first ever women's Olympic marathon at the 1984 games in Los Angeles, and pioneer of women's marathoning. To purchase a table and inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Michael Kalinich. Click here to purchase individual tickets.

In The News.

• “Yellowstone” actor and country music all-star Tim McGraw recently announced three Florida dates on his 2024 tour, one of which will bring him to Orlando’s Amway Center on March 16. The Standing Room Only tour kicks off in March as part of the release of his new album. The tour will be opened by Carly Pearce.
• Virgin Galactic rocketed to the edge of space with its first tourists, including a former British Olympian who bought his ticket 18 years ago and a mother-daughter duo from the Caribbean. The space plane glided back to a runway landing at Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert, after a brief flight that gave passengers a few minutes of weightlessness.
• In the lead-up to Friday’s grand opening of Minion Land at Universal Studios, theme park visitors had some access to its centerpiece, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast. The new attraction puts participants on a moving sidewalk and arms them with blasters to aim at animated targets on enormous screens.
• Icon Park will spotlight four Sunshine State locations with a Destinations Days promotion on weekends in August. The events, tied to the Great Florida Road Trip game aboard the Wheel attraction, begins with Space Coast/Cape Canaveral Days on Aug. 5-6. Destination Days activities will include $10 Wheel tickets for visitors from the ZIP codes associated with each weekend’s cities, educational booths from their convention and visitor bureaus and raffles for gift baskets that represent the regions.
• SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. teased that it's not done investing in more experiences — such as rides and attractions — and possible future hotels across its parks. The Orlando-based marine theme park operator shared some insight on its plans during its second-quarter 2023 earnings call on Aug. 8.
• The Milk District welcomed Primrose Lanes this week, re-opening part of the space that was formerly Colonial Lanes. Just eight of the 32 lanes that made up Colonial Lanes remain inside the new venue, but some wood from the lost alleys remains a striking feature in the space that also includes a restaurant and bar.
• Winter Garden AI company Orson has rolled out a new product dubbed StoryShop — a video creation tool that helps users tell their story with guidance from an AI director and AI-driven edits. While any consumer can buy a StoryShop kit for their own one-time use or to give as a gift, Orson plans to disrupt the marketing sector with its video creation tool, which can be added to existing platforms or used as a standalone piece in a marketing campaign.
• BarkHaven Dog Park Bar is breaking ground and predicted to open in 2024. The new venue will feature a large secure area with room for off-leash play, a dog spa and grooming space, remote workstations, and have direct access to the Orlando Urban Trail. Once it’s open, BarkHaven will also feature a resident food truck, coffee service, and a full bar.
• At Disney, support for those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and their families starts right here in Orlando with cast members, many of which serve in the U.S. military reserves. One of these heroes is Harry Porrata Doria, a Guest Experience Manager at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, who also serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Master Sergeant.

Stay Engaged.

• The Downtown Arts District announced the return of its popular program Art After Dark on Saturday, August 12, 2023 from 7pm-10pm at CityArts Orlando. Art After Dark introduces young professionals to the arts district and its mission through social interaction, arts engagement and networking. Guests will enjoy strolling through CityArts’ five different galleries and CityArts Café, with evening festivities including interactive art experiences and performances by DJ Lindsey Leigh, music performances by Jayo, live painting by Darby and a few surprise performances throughout the night.
• Join Mayor Dyer and representatives from Orlando's Citizen Advisory Boards on Wednesday, August 30 at 5:30 p.m. at The Monroe for a Boards and Brews event to learn how you can make an impact by serving on a city board. As board members, residents contribute to the policy-making process, offering valuable input and review of city programs. Registration is required. Click here for more information or to begin an application to serve on a City of Orlando Advisory Board or Commission. 
• Taste! Central Florida 2023 is a premier food and beverage event and will be hosted at the Orlando World Center Marriott on August 18, 2023 from 6:30 to 10:00 PM. Chefs and partners from more than 40 local restaurants will prepare small plates of their finest dishes, with a variety of beverage and cocktail samples from some of Orlando’s top beverage vendors.
• With the new school year right around the corner, it is time to register for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 2023-24 School Fishing Club Program. This annual educational program focuses on teaching youth anglers about best fishing practices to help ensure the future of fishing in Florida. The deadline for submitting applications is Sept. 15.
• Central Florida Vocal Arts launches its eleventh season, August 18 with Stephen Sondheim’s beloved romantic comedy A Little Night Music, directed by Eric Pinder, with music director and Grammy award winner Dr. Jeffrey Redding, and in collaboration with Space Coast Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Aaron Collins. 
• Unleash your inner artist at Art in the Heart: Paint & Sip event at CityArts on Wednesday, August 23. This will be a perfect mid-week pick-me-up full of creativity, drinks, and delectable bites. With expert guidance, you'll create a masterpiece all while enjoying a lively atmosphere and meet new friends in the downtown Orlando community. Tickets are $35 and include lite bites, two drink tickets and all the art supplies needed.
• Volunteer to keep the Heart of Orlando Clean and Green! On Sunday, September 10, join City District Main Street and their community partners as they work together to pick up litter and remove graffiti in downtown Orlando. Volunteers will receive FREE tickets to an Orlando Magic preseason game!
• Universal Passholder Appreciation Days are back on Aug. 15 - Sept. 30, 2023. Includes over six weeks of exclusive offers, special events, discounts, Passholder opportunities and more. 
• The Creative City Project  is bringing two new immersive installations to Leu Gardens fall, from the end of September. The group responsible for the past few years of “Dazzling Nights” at the city-run botanical garden will be hosting “Happy Frights” and “Haunting Nights” from September 29-October 31 this year featuring fall-inspired encounters and scares.
• Country Thunder is coming back in 2023! Keith Urban, Hardy and Cody Johnson headline three days of non-stop music and fun! Other artists include: Parker McCollum, Kip Moore, Lonestar, Parmalee, Jo Dee Messina, Megan Moroney, Tracy Byrd, Shane Profitt, Kip Moore, Hailey Whitters, Josh Ross, & The Reklaws. Check out the full lineup here!
• Florida Residents can save up to $65 on select multi-day tickets at Universal Orlando theme parks when buying online. Click here for current offers.
• Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers.

In The Community.

The GO Sports staff enjoying a networking dinner with DII NCAA Championships Staff while they were in town for a site visit for the 2024 Division II Spring Championships Festival being hosted in Seminole and Orange Counties next year.

GO Sports Senior Director Kyle Sturley and Executive VP Jennifer Lastik visited with SeaWorld Government Relations executive Sarah Nemes during the NCAA's DII Festival site visit stop at SeaWorld this week.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended a recent Alzheimer's Association Fundraiser, pictured here with GO Sports contributor George Diaz.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel visited with Tampa Bay Buccaneers President & COO Brian Ford at the Bucs' Training Camp.

NCAA Staff Markell Staton, Julia Longo, Asia Thompson, Patrick Mack and GO Sports Intern Gabriella Haugland rode the Icebreaker ride at SeaWorld Orlando during the NCAA's DII Festival site visit.

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson & Event Coordinator Elizabeth Caldarelli attended the CFHLA's Seminole County Hoteliers Luncheon earlier this week.

New Corporate Partner.

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www.mearstransportation.com

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Fun & Games.



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