"We're thrilled to be working with the Premier League to stage the inaugural Premier League Summer Series in Orlando this summer. From last July's record-breaking Florida Cup between Arsenal and Chelsea to the staging of Premier League Mornings Live at Universal Orlando Resort in January, our city has been a 'home away from home' for the biggest names in global football. We look forward to welcoming fans to Exploria Stadium later this year."

- Steve Hogan

CEO, Florida Citrus Sports

Around The Horn.

• Aston Villa FC and Fulham FC will meet at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26. The clubs will face off as part of the Premier League Summer Series, hosted locally by the FC Series. Tickets for the match will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, April 26. The event marks the first time the League has hosted a preseason tournament in the United States, giving US-based fans the opportunity to watch a world-class lineup of players and managers in action.
• It's the last call for nominations for the Greater Orlando Sports Commission's 2023 SPORTYS Awards! Nominations close on Monday, April 17. With Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute returning as the presenting sponsor, the 2023 SPORTYS: Greater Orlando’s Night of Champions will air on WKMG-TV News 6 on Saturday, June 17 at 7:00 p.m. EST. 
• The Magic will relocate their NBA G League affiliate to Kissimmee, Florida, and rebrand it as the Osceola Magic. Welcomed to their new home with open arms, the team will be based out of Osceola Heritage Park with play beginning at Silver Spurs Arena in November 2023. 
• Often called “the G.O.A.T.” (greatest of all time) by her fellow coaches, Courtney Miller won her 1,200 career game on Thursday, April 6, a 11-1 win at Daytona State. Miller has the Raiders sitting at 39-9 and ranked #11 in the NJCAA. She is the only (fast-pitch) softball coach in Seminole State athletics history and has notched over 1100 wins for the Raiders.
• University of Central Florida Athletics has changed up the proposal for its future football campus — adding plans for a larger new Roth Tower. UCF Athletic Director Terry Mohajir on March 23 updated the UCF Board of Trustees on the progress of the project. The new development comes as UCF prepares to move into the Big XII Conference on July 1, 2023. 
• Jonathan Isaac expects to be ready for the start of the Orlando Magic’s 2023-24 season. Isaac was sidelined from August 2020 until Jan. 11 after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Aug. 2, 2020, during the league’s restart in its Disney World bubble. Isaac said he’s running, getting shots up and making on-court basketball moves as part of his rehab process.
• As Darin Hinshaw installs a new offense after taking over play-calling duties from UCF coach Gus Malzahn, the Knights have had to learn new terminology that comes along with the fresh playbook during spring football practice. Entering the final stretch of the spring, Hinshaw is impressed with the progress made by the group the past three weeks. 
• The 15-day spring entrance window for the NCAA transfer portal doesn’t open until Saturday but that isn’t stopping college football players who are already in the portal from making their next destination known. That includes Middle Tennessee State defensive back Decorian Patterson, who announced Thursday on social media that he’s transferring to UCF to join Gus Malzahn’s program this summer.

In The News.

• The details of what a new indoor sports facility in Seminole County may include — and what may surround it — are coming into view with the finalization of a feasibility study commission in 2022. The success of the Boombah project is helping to drive the county's push for a second facility. An indoor sports facility would feature a fieldhouse that could complement the outdoor fields at Boombah by creating the ability to host basketball and volleyball events, as well as other sports that can be played indoors.
• Southern Living has listed Orlando as The South's Best Cities 2023, highlighting Orlando’s notable amusement and theme parks, beyond-the-parks experiences, award-winning chefs and more. This is excellent news that increases awareness on why Orlando is Unbelievably Real.
• Disney has revealed additional details about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the attraction that eventually will take the place of Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom.
• MICHELIN Guide inspectors spend all year on the road uncovering the best restaurants to recommend, and their discoveries are too good to keep secret. Whet your appetite with a sneak peek of the 2023 MICHELIN Guide Florida selection featuring 10 new additions spread across Orlando and Tampa in the Sunshine State.
• MegaCon, one of North America’s largest comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming events that attracts thousands of people, just concluded at the Orange County Convention Center. View this year’s success by watching this recap video. MegaCon will return to Orlando February 1-4, 2024, at the OCCC, and tickets are already available.
• If your neighbors screamed out, “Who is Walt Disney?” at about 7:25 p.m., there’s a good reason. And that response in the final “Jeopardy” round made Orlando’s Robbi Ramirez a champion. Ramirez, identified on the show as a writer from Orlando, had a large but not insurmountable lead on the scoreboard going into the final question.
• Dust off your eclipse glasses: It’s only a year until a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America. On April 8, 2024, the moon will cast its shadow across a stretch of the U.S., Mexico and Canada, plunging millions of people into midday darkness. It’s been less than six years since a total solar eclipse cut across the U.S., from coast to coast. That was on Aug. 21, 2017. 
• Brevard County is getting its first manatee rehabilitation center. The Brevard Zoo announced Monday that it will build the center to expand its efforts to provide care for manatees in need. Zoo officials said funding for the center comes from a grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Stay Engaged.

• Movies at the Mennello are back! In April, they’ll be screening The Art of Making It. From the producer of the Emmy-nominated The Price of Everything, a film about who gets seen and who gets left behind in today’s seductive, secretive and unregulated art world.
• On Thursday, April 20 the Orlando Business Journal invited you to join this year's 40 Under 40 Awards recognizing Central Florida's brightest young business leaders based on demonstrated business success over the past 12 to 18 months. Come network with hundreds of local and regional business profession before, during and after the awards presentation.
• 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. 
• On Wednesday, April 26 at 11am the Women United Luncheon draws supporters from across the tri-county area to connect, lead and inspire! This will take place in Orlando and attendance cost is $95. 
• Come Out With Pride Orlando is hosting an adult-only (21+) Pride Prom on Friday, April 28 at the Orlando Science Center, for members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community. They aim to create an accepting, welcoming and inclusive space, where everyone can celebrate as their authentic self and make new memories. Expect a fun filled night of dancing, entertainment, photo opportunities, and so much more! 
• Orlando Business Journal's Diversity in Business Awards on May 11 cover excellence in all areas of diversity, including age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion, as well as highlighting diverse organizations and individuals across a wide variety of industries.
• The Florida Film Festival has just announced the program lineup for its 32nd Annual Fest, running April 14-23, which will be hosted in Maitland and Winter Park, Florida. This year, the Festival will screen over 160 films alongside some first-class events where film lovers can rub elbows with filmmakers and celebrities.
• 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.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Senior VP Michael Kalinich and Coordinator Nolan McDonald attended the last Orlando Guardians home game this season along with several GO Sports Corporate Partners and their families.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Senior VP Brent Nelson, and Senior Director Lindsey McBride attended the press conference at Osceola Heritage Park this week as the Orlando Magic unveiled the new home and name of their NBA G League Team, now known as the Osceola Magic. They are pictured with GO Sports Board Member Robb Larson (OHP General Manager) and Jessica Beers (Kissimmee Sports).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior VP Michael Kalinich attended UCF's "A Knight Out with The Kingdom" event at The Mezz this week, pictured here with UCF's Terry Mohajir and GO Sports Board Chairman Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth) and Board Member John Mahony (Kavaliro).

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson and Visit Lake's Ryan Ritchie were on hand to celebrate GO Sports Board Member Bud Beucher's 18 years of service on the Lake County Tourism Development Council.

New Corporate Partner.



TECO Peoples Gas

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

For more information, visit

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Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.



• Photos: UCF Spring football practice
• The best place to get a burrito in every state (according to Yelp)