"We were very pleased... When you have that kind of an exciting finish and a big upset, it drives all this additional attention to the destination and it certainly did that."

- Jason Siegel, President & CEO

Greater Orlando Sports Commission

Speaking about Furman’s upset of Virginia in the first round of the NCAA men's tournament last Thursday in Orlando

Around The Horn.

• Furman’s stunning upset of Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament last Thursday sent shock waves through everyone’s March Madness bracket and put Orlando front and center in the eyes of the basketball world. Millions of viewers nationwide tuned in to see JP Pegues’ game-winning 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left, advancing the Paladins to the Round of 32. 
• Orlando was named a top market for sports business by Sports Business Journal. Out of 50 cities named, Orlando was ranked at #25. SBJ crunched the numbers for seven months to create the top 50 list, analyzing nearly half a million bits of data across 377 markets that are the home of at least one professional or Division I college athletic program, or a permanent event.
• Orlando Pride just released a new kit design inspired by Mary Ann Carroll, a legendary Black artist and trailblazer. The “Highway Woman” design features a dark purple base with a lighter purple brushstroke pattern inspired by Carroll’s landscape painting work, and it also features an embellishment of a silhouette of a Royal Poinciana tree, which was a regular motif in her works and her signature.
• Daryl Dike fielded questions from a slew of reporters during a Monday afternoon media call as part of his first elevation to the United States men’s soccer national team since 2021 before an injury-ridden 2022 hindered his chances of competing for a spot on the 2022 World Cup roster. His return to the U.S. squad also marks a homecoming for the former Orlando City striker. 
• Boater Alex Moore of Orlando caught a five-bass limit weighing 28 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League. Presented by T-H Marine on the Harris Chain of Lakes. The tournament, hosted by Visit Lake County, Florida, was the second event of the season for the BFL Gator Division.
• There was a buzz in the air when UCF football ran onto the field early Monday morning to kick off spring practice. That’s because, in less than six months, the Knights will open their inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference. 
• For the third straight recruiting cycle, UCF football coach Gus Malzahn has his guy at quarterback. The Knights received an oral commitment from Bartram Trail quarterback Riley Trujillo, who announced his decision on social media just hours after UCF opened spring practice Monday.
• Mikayla Cluff is sticking around with the Orlando Pride after the club announced Tuesday that it agreed to a 3-year deal with the midfielder. The Pride signed Cluff, who was drafted No. 14 overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft, through the 2025 season.
• Before the Orlando Magic’s 113-108 Saturday road win over the Los Angeles Clippers, coach Jamahl Mosley addressed the “small pieces” of Markelle Fultz’s game that go unnoticed. Fultz (career-high 28 points to go with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals) displayed this throughout Saturday when it was needed, helping the Magic complete the fourth-quarter comeback.
• Six weeks into the high school track and field season, several Orlando area state championship contenders are making their marks. Seminole won 4A titles in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays last season and is again a favorite in those races. Seminoles’ 40.72-second time in the 4x100 is No. 1 in Florida.
• Startup accelerator Lead Lake Nona has a new teammate: the Orlando Magic. The professional basketball team has agreed to a multiyear partnership with Lead Lake Nona, run by Berlin-based Lead Sports & Health Tech Partners and Tavistock, the organizations announced March 14. 
• The National Hockey League has announced a 10-year deal to make Fanatics its official uniform supplier. Fanatics will succeed Adidas as the NHL’s uniform partner starting with the league’s 2024-2025 season.
• UCF men’s basketball star Taylor Hendricks declared for the 2023 NBA draft on Wednesday, he told ESPN. Hendricks, a freshman who quickly rose in projected mock drafts throughout the season, has signed with attorney Raymond Brothers, the president of Roc Nation basketball, the report said. 

In The News.

• Keep your eyes peeled for people wearing blue polos in Downtown Orlando. It’s their first official week as part of the enhanced Downtown Ambassador Program. While the original program that’s been going on for years has been aimed at helping visitors and locals, this one is aimed at helping the homeless.
• Osceola County commissioners voted unanimously to begin formal negotiations with Paris-based CMG Clean Tech to sell its 309-acre Mac Overstreet property on Lake Tohopekaliga. Clean Tech is pledging to build its U.S. headquarters, research and development facility, along with seven factories, pledging to create 1,200 jobs averaging at least $75,000 within three years. 
• We’ve entered another phase of the long journey to Tron Lightcycle / Run, the new roller coaster coming to Walt Disney World. Welcome to the “soft opening,” a period before the Magic Kingdom ride’s official debut April 4. The attraction will use its virtual queue system to assign loading groups, and the paid Lightning Lane also will be available through the My Disney Experience app.
• Orlando is among the largest U.S. metros with the biggest rate increases for flipping homes in 2022 — and for increases in returns on investment on the typical transactions, per a new report by Irving, California-based real estate data firm Attom.
• A new report from Niche, a data-driven platform with ratings and reviews of cities across America, ranked the Orlando area highly in multiple categories. The 2023 Best Places to Live in America report includes several categories: the best cities (urban areas with a population of 100,000 or more), the places with the lowest cost of living, the best places to buy a house, the best neighborhoods and more.

Stay Engaged.

• WISE Within, the national signature program of WISE (Women In Sports & Events), offers members the opportunity to accelerate professional development by connecting in a one-to-one focused mentoring relationship. WISE Greater Orlando is looking for potential mentees who want to take their career to the next level AND experienced professionals to serve as mentors. Learn more here!
• The city’s annual tradition of Bike to Work Day takes place on Friday, March 31 and begins at 7 a.m. when riders meet at Lake Lorna Doone Park before the four-mile community bike ride through DTO led by Mayor Dyer and City Commissioners. 
• Mayor Buddy Dyer’s Annual Neighborhood and Community Summit is taking place this Saturday, March 25. This is a one-day training event to bring together residents, community leaders, city staff, and elected officials. The Summit is a great place to network with others who are looking to connect, learn, and grow to build strong, vibrant communities and organizations. 
• Orlando Science Center again is prepping for its Science of Wine fundraiser, which is set for April 22. Tickets are now on sale for the 11th annual event. Festivities for the evening include samplings of 150 wines from around the world and food from Central Florida. In addition, there will be sessions about pairing wine with cheeses presented by Florida Diary Farmers and a silent auction with items such as flights and hotel stays. 
• Gather up the kids this Saturday, March 25 and head out to The Great Duck Derby for a day of family fun at Mead Botanical Garden. The Duck Derby, a spring-time tradition, features little yellow rubber duck races and LOTS of FUN, FREE activities. It’s just $5 to adopt a little race duck or $20 for a 5-duck quack pack.
• Join a watch party for the Orlando City Soccer away game against Philadelphia Union! The game kicks-off at 7:30 p.m. on March 25.  and they will be featuring the game on the televisions around the Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. as well as on a large inflatable screen in the parking lot.
• 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.

Hosting marquee events like NCAA March Madness wouldn't be possible without support from the entire Greater Orlando community. Thank you to all of our local partners, including those pictured below, who supported the event by providing services, purchasing suites and tickets, serving on the Local Organizing Committee, and so much more.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel is pictured with board members Craig Borkon (Orlando Venues), Jordan Clark (UCF), and Mike Harris (Uproar PR) at the VIP Watch Party on Selection Sunday at The Abbey.

GO Sports was proud to return as presenting sponsor of the Orlando Business Journal's 2023 Business of Sports luncheon and panel discussion, which took place on March 13. GO Sports President & CEO participated on the panel including board members Steve Hogan (Florida Citrus Sports) and Mike Waterman (Visit Orlando), as well as Jarrod Dillon (Orlando City SC/Orlando Pride), Esu Ma-at (Orlando Magic), and Sari Kitelyn (Full Sail University).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and wife Sarah Grafton caught up with GO Sports Board Chair Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth) and her husband Michael during Thursday's first round games.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel Executive VP Jennifer Lastik, and Senior VP Brent Nelson joined board members Allen Johnson and Craig Borkon (Orlando Venues) to host dinner with NCAA Men's Basketball Staff Lauren Morse and Darnell Theriot Jr., as well as NCAA MBB Committee Representative Barry Collier from Butler University.

UCF VP and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir, GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, GO Sports Board Chair Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth), and UCF Head Coach Johnny Dawkins spoke at the VIP Watch Party on Selection Sunday.

GO Sports staff and members of Orlando's Local Organizing Committee came together for a photo at the VIP Watch Party.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and his wife Susie joined GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and wife Sarah Grafton, and Terry Mohajir and wife Julie for a photo at the VIP Watch Party on Selection Sunday.

GO Sports partnered with GrayRobinson and UCF to host a Lunch & Learn panel discussion with Athletic Directors (ADs) and administrators from the teams who traveled to Orlando to compete. Pictured left to right are Tim Johnson (AD, Oral Roberts), Cameron Walker (Deputy AD, Tennessee), Terry Mohajir (AD, UCF), Ed Scott (Deputy AD, Virginia), Jason Siegel (GO Sports) and Chris Carmody (GrayRobinson).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and General Counsel Chris Carmody (GrayRobinson) enjoyed Saturday's second round games with Chris King.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended a USMNT's training session earlier this week and chatted with recent USMNT call up and former Orlando City SC forward, Daryl Dike.

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.



Photos: March Madness at Amway Center

Photos: Disney World’s new Toy Story Themed BBQ restaurant

Game Highlights: Furman vs. Virginia