Impact Update for Thursday, June 2
"We are thrilled to welcome the strong sporting market back to Orange County and the OCCC because our partners are such a big part of our success. We are confident that our guests from across the nation will have a fantastic experience during their visit to the Convention Center and International Drive." 

-Mark Tester, Executive Director
Orange County Convention Center

See OCCC story below...
Quote of the Day.

Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

- Special Olympics Athlete Oath
Around The Horn.


  • The Orange County Convention Center is hosting several large sporting events with an estimated 426,224 attendees and a projected $565 million in economic impact to the region during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The competitive youth sporting season commenced this spring, and the OCCC is looking forward to welcoming back this robust market and its positive economic impact for the Convention Center District. 
  • Event producers, performers and Special Olympics athletes are gearing up for a full week of sporting events and festivities in Orlando, all of which will kick off with great fanfare this Sunday. The Special Olympics USA Games start with the ceremony at Exploria Stadium beginning 9:30 a.m. June 5. The celebration will feature celebrity ambassadors, a parade of athletes, live performances and 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean.
  • The 20th-ranked Rollins baseball team put on a dominant performance, ousting second-ranked Tampa from the NCAA II Tournament with a 13-6 victory, and earning the Tars a trip to the NCAA II College World Series. Rollins will head to Cary, North Carolina this weekend for the tournament.
  • The Bounce House is once again just a nickname for the UCF football stadium. The UCF Board of Trustees approved a 10-year, $19.5 million deal between the UCF Athletics Association and FBC Mortgage that renames the venue FBC Mortgage Stadium on Tuesday. The deal goes into effect July 1.
  • As part of the KindRED Pride Foundation, The Pride Cup is a multi-sport LGBTQIA+ competition held each year beginning in 2022 during the first weekend in June in Orlando. With events welcoming all levels of athletes, the spirit of the competition is “Be Kind Champion” to coincide with the RED Shirt Pride Days. The Pride Cup will also produce a Diversity in Sports Summit that will include LGBTQ+ professional, Olympic, and collegiate athletes.
  • As the Special Olympics USA Games prepare for the opening ceremony this Sunday, law enforcement officers and athletes are carrying the Flame of Hope to destinations around Florida before it reaches Orlando. The Law Enforcement Torch Run helps unite officers and athletes around the country in fundraising and outreach efforts for the Special Olympics.
  • Florida Citrus Sports announced the dates and kickoff times for this season’s Cheez-It Bowl (December 29, 2022) and the Vrbo Citrus Bowl (January 2, 2023). Both games will take place at Camping World Stadium.
  • For Orlando City and Orlando Pride Senior Vice President of Community Relations Kay Rawlins, last week’s “Delivering Hope” event is a textbook example of what this Club and this community are here for.
  • Fans often like to imagine what it would be like if their favorite players from different eras were able to take the court together. The subject is great for conversation, but it’s often just left to the imagination. However, two lucky Orlando Magic fans recently had the unique opportunity to have that scenario play out in real life, taking the court with Markelle Fultz and Hedo Turkoglu.
  • When Terry Mohajir arrived to UCF, the Knights athletics director quickly realized how badly the football program needed to schedule future nonconference games, including for the 2022 season. More than a year later and with UCF set to depart the American Athletic Conference for the Big 12 as early as 2023, Mohajir’s outlook on scheduling non-conference games has changed.
  • The Division II Collegiate Commissioners Association (D2CCA) announced its All-America Teams late Wednesday night, and Rollins College baseball student-athlete Jaylyn Whitehead was listed on the All-America Second Team.
  • Top golfers will be competing for a record $10 million purse, including a winner’s share of $1.8 million, at the US Women’s Open.
  • The Orlando Predators and arena football are finally back at the Amway Center! Enjoy a whole new halftime entertainment segment produced by Full Sail Hall Of Fame Inductee & Boon Castle CEO Ashish Manchanda, featuring recording artists Xavier Keyz and Nisha Asnani! Click here to see ticket options for the next home game on Saturday, May 28.
  • The UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) final between Lyon and Barcelona on Saturday saw a record live cumulative viewership of 3.6 million globally. This was the first year in the platform’s multi-year partnership with UEFA and YouTube that made the tournament available for free to fans around the world all season.
  • The Greater Orlando Sports Commission unveiled the list of 60 finalists for the 2022 SPORTYS: Greater Orlando’s Night of Champions presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. The finalists were selected by a voting committee made up of members of the GO Sports board of directors. Representing 36 different organizations throughout Greater Orlando, the complete list of finalists can be found here along with the corporate partners who are sponsoring the 12 award categories.
In The News.

Stay Engaged.
In The Community.
GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior Director Kyle Sturley joined the WKMG News 6 production team for a photo with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings during the filming of the 2022 SPORTYS: Greater Orlando's Night of Champions
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer also participated in the 2022 SPORTYS filming. Tune in on Saturday, June 25 at 7pm for a special announcement from Mayor Dyer and to find out who will take home the trophy in 12 categories!
GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel stopped by WESH 2 to speak with Daren Stoltzfus for an update on Orlando's 2026 FIFA World Cup Bid
President & CEO Jason Siegel joined GO Sports board members Caesar Lopez, Orlando City SC/Orlando Pride and Ricardo Villar, FC Series/Florida Citrus Sports for the grand opening of Camelo Pizzaria
GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel spoke on a panel at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando's 2022 Hispanic Business Conference, pictured here with Khalid Muneer and Luis Martinez
GO Sports Senior VP Michael Kalinich, Gary Bassing and Board Member Chris Heller took part in the Pro Am tournament in advance of the LPGA's EPSON Tour Mission Inn Resort & Club Championship that took place last weekend in Lake County
Local Resources.

  • Visit these pages for the most critical local health and government updates:
  • City of Orlando: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites
  • Orange County: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites
  • Osceola County: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites
  • Seminole County: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites
  • Lake County: Homepage
  • City of Orlando:
  • The Downtown Development Board (DDB) and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) created a webpage to assist with identifying grants and incentives that may be available to downtown businesses.
  • Orlando's City Council approved the Safety Awareness for Everyone (S.A.F.E) Program, creating an incentive for businesses and properties to purchase and install security measures that are intended to help deter crime and provide a safer environment for business owners, employees, and visitors. Entertainment businesses including, but not limited to, bars, nightclubs, and entertainment venues located within the City of Orlando’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) footprint shall be eligible for funding to purchase and install security measures which include identification scanners, security cameras, and metal detection systems. Other properties located within the CRA shall be eligible for funding to purchase and install security cameras only. Applicants are eligible to receive up to $10,000 or 50% of the total cost of eligible products, whichever is less. Click here for more info and to apply now.
  • Orange County:
  • Orange County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program remains open for individuals who are behind on rent or at risk of being evicted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, more than $15.3 million have been approved to keep 2,635 families in their homes. Recently, the City of Orlando announced it has depleted its current federal funds dedicated to its Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Orange County is stepping in to bridge the gap and will temporarily offer assistance to Orlando residents, effective now until further notice. Eligible residents include those living in unincorporated Orange County, Apopka, Bay Lake, Belle Isle, Eatonville, Edgewood, Lake Buena Vista, Maitland, Oakland, Ocoee, Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden and Winter Park. Residents can visit ocfl.net/RentalAssistance to review program details and to check if their address is eligible.
  • CareerSource Central Florida is helping career seekers and displaced workers apply for the Reemployment Assistance program through the Department of Economic Opportunity.
  • Osceola County:
  • Osceola County is currently accepting applications for emergency utility assistance for households impacted by COVID19. Funding is available for electric, gas, and water utilities only. If you reside in Osceola County and your household is impacted, please click here to complete the application.
  • Lake County:
  • For Lake County residents, United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties is able to assist with CARES/ERA/SHIP Federal funds for rent and utilities. For more information on eligibility and documents needed, or to make an appointment, please visit their Family Stability Services page.
  • Seminole County:
  • If you have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and live in Seminole County, The Sharing Center is currently accepting applications for rent/mortgage and utilities assistance. Click here for program criteria and to learn how to apply.
  • Additional Resources:
  • The US Small Business Association has compiled a database of private funding options to help small businesses. Browse the options available nationally, or input a zip code to explore location-specific funding.