“I had to utilize some strategies that I’ve learned over my almost 20 years of running to really make sure that I was able to finish strong today, and it paid off.”

- Neely Gracey

Third woman to be the Overall

Winner of a race in runDisney history

Around The Horn.

• The festivities started with the runDisney Health and Fitness Expo at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and a yoga event at Magic Kingdom. There was also a 5K race on Friday, with Sunday’s half marathon marking the end of the race weekend. In addition to the half marathon, Gracey ran in the Disney Princess 10K on Saturday and logged about 20 miles across the two days.
• Things are going to get real Thursday when the Arnold Palmer Invitational's best field in decades tackles the brutish 7,466-yard, par-72 track. Bay Hill will test every facet of the game and chip away at the patience and attitude of every golfer in the 120-player field.
• Tickets for Orlando City's Concacaf Champions League match against Tigres UANL of Liga MX are now available for purchase to the general public by clicking here. The Lions, in the CCL for the first time after qualifying for the tournament with their U.S. Open Cup championship last season, will host the second leg of the Round of 16 against Tigres on Wednesday, March 16 at Exploria Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
• ESPN’s broadcast of the Orlando Guardians’ home opener drew an average of 781,000 television viewers Sunday, making it the most-watched game in Week 2 of the XFL season.
• One week after UCF running backs coach Tim Harris Jr. left for the same role at the University of Miami, Knights coach Gus Malzahn has hired his replacement. Texas State running backs coach Kam Martin, a former Auburn running back who played for Malzahn in the SEC, is returning to UCF to serve in the same role.
• A trip to Bay Hill Club & Lodge inevitably becomes a walk down memory lane for Arnie’s Army. Fans of Arnold Palmer and spectators at his long-standing tournament should bring a comfortable pair of shoes this week. Reminders of the golfer are everywhere on the property he made his home away from native Latrobe, Pa., while forever changing Orlando.
• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may be the famous face of the league, but his ex-wife and business partner Dany Garcia is the brains and the boss of the new XFL. Garcia lives in Orlando, where her daughter Simone attends UCF and has followed her famous father’s footsteps into the WWE. Garcia’s story is not as well-known, but she, too, “started from nothing” to become one of the most successful sports and entertainment entrepreneurs in the world.
• Orlando Christian Prep’s suffocating defense squeezed the life out of another Class 2A boys basketball opponent on Wednesday. The three-time defending state champion Warriors held Tampa Sports Leadership Arts and Management (SLAM) to 30% shooting and shook off some sporadic offensive stretches in a 44-28 state semifinal victory at RP Funding Center.
• The 2023 NFL combine is here, and player workouts begin in Indianapolis on Thursday. Hundreds of the best prospects for the NFL draft will do various drills and on-field testing, meet with teams for in-depth interviews and get pre-draft measurements. Defensive linemen and linebackers are up first, set to participate in the 40-yard dash, vertical leap, and broad jump, among other drills. 

In The News.

• SpaceX and NASA again strapped four space travelers back into their seats, and this time it paid off with a successful launch of the Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station early Thursday, just days after the first attempt was scrubbed right before liftoff.
• Orlando is currently seeking out professional engineering services for "Downtown Orlando Digital Wayfinding" to improve downtown traffic. The city is exploring the idea of new digital signage to help ease congestion near the Amway Center and other downtown areas.
• Brightline soon debuts its 170-mile, Orlando-to-Miami intercity rail route in second-quarter 2023. The route will connect Orlando with five current stations in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. A train ride from Orlando to West Palm Beach will take two hours, and continuing to Miami likely will add another hour, depending on the number of stops the train will make.
• Travel to Kissimmee and the surrounding Osceola County region near Walt Disney World is on the rise, based on the increase in the county's tourist development tax collections, known as resort taxes.
• Innovation can take many forms and often requires a group of people working together to make it possible. That’s what’s happening right now as teams across Walt Disney World Resort – from Horticulture to Merchandise – prepare to make the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival more spectacular than ever before. Guests will see the fruits of all this work when the popular springtime festival debuts on March 1 and continues through July 5, 2023, at EPCOT. 
• Two patents filed by Universal Parks & Resorts may increase the interactive nature of guests' theme park experience. The patents tackle how to improve the realism and interactivity with themed characters — often part of meet-and-greet entertainment — and the ability for guests to make their environment change via the use of handheld objects.
• SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. may finally navigate into uncharted waters of new revenue: hotels. The Orlando-based marine theme park giant, during its Feb. 28 fourth-quarter 2022 earnings report, hinted at new progress on a plan to build hotels near its theme parks.

Stay Engaged.

• The Orlando Economic Partnership will host its premiere networking event Barbecue in the Park, presented by VyStar Credit Union. Join the region's top business leaders and elected officials on March 7 from 5 – 8 p.m. at the new the new 2.3-acre Luminary Green Park at Creative Village. Enjoy live music, mouthwatering BBQ, a fine selection of beer, wine and spirits, and more. Click here to purchase your registration.
• The 10^th annual Touch-a-Truck will roll back onto Knights Plaza at Addition Financial Arena on Saturday, March 4 from 12pm to 3pm. Addition Financial Arena is hosting this free, interactive experience for families and kids of all ages Touch-a-Truck will give children the opportunity to learn more about their favorite trucks and vehicles they see daily.  
• 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.
• 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.
• The City of Winter Park will host its 44th Annual Winter Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. in downtown Winter Park. The parade will launch at Webster Avenue and proceed southwards along Park Avenue, to Lyman Avenue.
• Orange County Parks and Recreation will celebrate the 11th annual Mayor’s Jazz in the Park on Saturday, March 4, 2-6 p.m., at Cypress Grove Park. This is a free event emceed by jazz personality Yvonne Loggins Coleman, with support provided by WUCF 89.9 FM. 
• Burton’s Thornton Park has partnered with The Sixth Man Show to bring Orlando Magic fans together for a watch party to cheer on the Orlando Magic as they face the Charlotte Hornets on March 3rd.
• March 10 through April 28, enjoy various musicians and musical groups while exploring the Charles Hosmer Museum of American Art.
• 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.



The GO Sports team managed operations for the Arnold Palmer Invitational's VIP Dinner at the JW Marriott earlier this week.

GO Sports Executive Vice President Jennifer Lastik participated in Orlando Business Journal's Mentoring Monday event this week, pictured here with other mentors and GO Sports Board Member Donna Dyson (OBJ).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended a meeting at Utah Olympic Park during the Sports ETA Convention this week, pictured here with Ray Palmer from the Pensacola Sports Commission and Rick Hatcher from the Treasure Coast Sports Commission.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the XFL's home opener last weekend, along with Josh Mora from Full Sail University, Richard & Noelle Siegel from Westgate Resorts, and John Davis, Secretary of the Florida Lottery.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel participated in the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association's Annual Golf Tournament along with GO Sports Board Member Chris Mueller (Hilton Orlando).

GO Sports will be on site at the Arnold Palmer Invitational all weekend, assisting in Clubhouse Hospitality areas. Say hello if you see our team out at Bay Hill!

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel spoke at Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride's "Kickoff to Soccer Luncheon" last week.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended Winter Park Fashion Week, pictured here with Board Member Clay Luter (Ticketmaster).

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: Solar Bears Tie Dye Night
• The Neuroscience of Touch