"The NCAA's announcement regarding the selection of Orlando as the home of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and multiple other events further solidifies our reputation as one of the nation's premier sports destinations and validates the ongoing investment into our rapidly growing sports infrastructure. We are greatly appreciative of all of our local and regional partners, including the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, who continue to play a vital role in the growth of the sports industry in our region." 

- Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

Quote from 2020 press release when Orlando was announced as the host for numerous 2022-2026 NCAA Championships, including 2023 March Madness

Around The Horn.

• It's finally March and Selection Sunday is almost here! Tune in to CBS this Sunday, March 12 at 6pm ET to find out which eight teams will travel to Orlando to compete for a spot in the Sweet 16, and ultimately, the Final Four! Limited tickets are still available for March Madness at the Amway Center on Thursday, March 16 and Saturday, March 18. Secure your seats today!
• The U.S. Soccer Federation has chosen Orlando to host the U.S. Men’s National Team match versus El Salvador in the 2023 Nations League Group D match on March 27. The event will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at Exploria Stadium and will be broadcast live on TNT and Universo and streamed on Peacock.
• Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja was left with plenty to be pleased about at the conclusion of Tuesday’s scoreless draw against Tigres UANL during the Round of 16′s first leg of the Concacaf Champions League.
• Despite leading all AAC freshmen in scoring (15.6), rebounds (6.8) and blocks (1.7) as well as setting a conference record for most AAC rookie of the week awards (9), UCF men’s basketball forward Taylor Hendricks was not named the league’s freshman of the year. Instead, the top freshman honor went to Houston’s Jarace Walker, as voted on by the league’s coaches.
• Robert Ford knew what to expect when the Orlando Guardians signed Quinton Flowers this week, but that didn’t stop the longtime football coach from still being impressed when the former USF quarterback took the practice field Tuesday.
• Commentary from the Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi: With all due respect to The Players Championship, it was The Arnie that felt more like a fifth major this weekend. Five players were tied for the lead with three holes left and six different golfers were atop the leaderboard on the final day, including three former major winners (Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth) and three former API champions (Scheffler, McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton).
• Lake Highland Prep senior Dempsey Brown displayed exceptional skills during the 2022-23 season while creating scoring chances for herself and teammates in every match for the Highlanders. A senior defensive midfielder who has trained in England and locally with the Orlando Pride, Brown is this year’s Orlando Sentinel Varsity girls soccer player of the year.
• The Orlando Solar Bears announced today Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton and his charity figure skating program, "Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer" will be performing following Sunday afternoon's Hockey Fights Cancer Night presented by Frank Gay Services between the Solar Bears and the Jacksonville Icemen. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. with the ice show to begin shortly after the conclusion of the hockey game.
• It was oozing from everywhere when Olympia High’s Eric Cole teed off for the first time at The Arnold Palmer Invitational on Thursday. Cole grew up playing on this course when his mother remarried a lawyer who was a member at Bay Hill. He caddied the tournament when his boyhood buddy Sam Saunders — Arnold Palmer’s grandson — played in it. He even won the member-guest club championship here as a 16-year-old.

In The News.

• The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts has just announced the nine-show lineup for the 10th Broadway in Orlando season. The season is presented by Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with Broadway Across America. Current season subscribers will have the option to renew on March 10.
• Orlando City Soccer has just launched a new food program at Exploria Stadium that features five new food stalls run by local restaurants. A new rotating vendor cart will also be swapped by local restaurants on a game-by-game basis, including the likes of Cholo Dogs and Sus Hi Eatstation, with more to be added/announced soon.
• The Orange County Regional History Center has just announced the return of its Brechner Speaker Series, which will feature four programs that focus on varied aspects of music in Florida, a theme designed to complement the museum’s current special exhibition, Figurehead: Music & Mayhem in Orlando’s Underground.
• The Girl Scouts of Citrus Council will be unveiling its new Women’s History and Cultural Center to the public on Saturday, March 11. The new 6,430 SF space tells the story of Girl Scouting from its beginnings in 1912 to the international movement it is today, and features thousands of pieces of Girl Scouts memorabilia.
• Walt Disney World raised more than $1.5 million for Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida through purchases of their 50th anniversary celebration iridescent plate, which will help the organization create treasured memories for families and children with life-threatening medical conditions.
• A Florida House panel Thursday backed a proposal that would set start times for high schools and middle schools that would be more in tune with teens’ natural rhythms. The proposal (HB 733), sponsored by Rep. John Temple, R-Wildwood, would prevent public middle schools from starting before 8 a.m. and public high schools from starting before 8:30 a.m.
• The Space Coast rocket dance card has a lot more potential partners after the Space Force announced it was opening more launch pads to more small companies. The Space Launch Delta 45 will allow four companies to set up shop at three of its unused launch pads at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
• Senators unanimously approved what has been dubbed the “Live Local Act” which includes providing incentives for investment in affordable housing and seeking more mixed-use developments in struggling commercial areas. They also unanimously passed a bill (SB 106) designed to help link a statewide hiking and biking trail network to a wildlife corridor planned to stretch from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle.

Stay Engaged.

• The second annual ShamRock the Block Street Party will take place on East Washington Street on Friday, March 17 at 4 p.m. The event will feature a variety of games as well as drink specials, local food deals, and live music/DJs throughout the event. An NCAA basketball tournament viewing area with a large projector screen will also be popping up as well.
• The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival will return for its 64th year on Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19 in downtown Winter Park, but will be preceded by a special jazz concert in Central Park on Saturday, March 11.
• Orlando City Hall will be hosting a series of events throughout the month that celebrate the contributions of Black Americans. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will host the opening reception of the City of Orlando’s Black History Month Art Exhibition celebrating the creativity, inspiration, and cultural heritage of Black visual artists. The art exhibition runs from Thursday, Feb. 2 until Sunday, April 30. 
• The Orlando Pottery Festival will be hosting a Spring Arts Market on April 29 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Florida Army National Guard Armory. The event will feature over 50 local ceramic artists ranging from professional potters to emerging hobbiests, sharing their functional and decorative work. Pieces include everyday dishware, ceramic jewelry, figurative work, garden decor, and more.  
• March 10 through April 28, enjoy various musicians and musical groups while exploring the Charles Hosmer Museum of American Art.
• The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival has announced its 32nd annual fest return to Loch Haven Park on May 16-29, 2023. The annual 14-day cultural event features over 2,000 ticketed performances spanning every genre imaginable, including dance, spoken word, musicals, comedy, burlesque, puppetry and more. 
• April 14 at 7pm, Orlando’s most popular bars and eateries will take over Camping World Stadium's premium areas at the annual Sideline Wine and Dine Fundraiser presented by OAI. Sample fine wines, craft beers, and delectable dishes from dozens of local favorites.
• Popcorn Flicks in the Park series, which takes place in Central Park, Winter Park once a month and it’s FREE and open to the public! This month's movie takes place on March 9 from 7pm-10pm.
• 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.

Executive Jobs.

• Tavistock Development, a diversified real estate firm specializing in planning, design, finance, construction and development, is currently seeking a Senior Manager/Director of Communications. Apply Here.
• The Milk District Main Street is seeking a new Executive Director. Long a commercial hub east of Downtown Orlando, The Milk District became the 10th district to join the Orlando Main Streets program in October of 2016. Apply Here.



Orlando Business Journal's "Business of Sports" Luncheon took place today, with GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel acting as moderator for a panel of local sports executives. GO Sports was proud to return as a presenting sponsor of the event.

Thank you to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Susie Dyer for inviting the entire GO Sports team to enjoy the Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks game at Amway Center with them earlier this week.

Board member Tammy Gustafson from Universal Orlando and corporate partner Cristina Lopez from Rentyl Resorts took in the Monster Jam event at Camping World Stadium.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel enjoyed the beautiful weather for the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational this weekend, pictured here with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and GO Sports Board Member Greg Lee (Baker & Hostetler).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel caught up with CFHLA's Robert Agrusa and Board Member Jay Galbraith (Valencia College) at Valencia's downtown campus.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended media day for the upcoming Inova Mission Inn Championship, part of the LPGA's EPSON Tour. Siegel is pictured with Board Members Cindy Staley (Mission Inn Resort & Club), Latria Graham (GLB Media), Jeff Osterman (Montverde Academy), Tekoa Pourie (Erase the Lines LLC), and Visit Lake's Ryan Ritchie.

GO Sports Executive Vice President Jennifer Lastik enjoyed the return of Orlando Economic Partnership's BBQ in the Park this week, pictured here with Sarah Nemes (SeaWorld Orlando) and Elizabeth Watkins (Walt Disney World).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Orlando Magic's 2023 Partner Summit this week at Amway Center, pictured here with Magic CEO Alex Martins and Deputy Commissioner of the NBA, Mark Tatum.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel caught up with Board Members Drew Donovan (API Tournament Director), Jackie Hayter (Orlando Health), and fellow Orlando Health colleague Ultima Espino at Bay Hill during the tournament this weekend.

GO Sports Board Members Dan Malasky (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Faron Kelley (Walt Disney World and Disney Sports) also joined GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel for a day at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

New Corporate Partner.



TECO Peoples Gas

Delivering safe, resilient, clean, affordable natural gas for homes and businesses across Florida.

For more information, visit

https://www.peoplesgas.com/

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.



• Game Highlights: Milwaukee Bucks vs Orlando Magic
• Photos: 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational
• ESPN: Men's Tournament Challenge