"Kia has been a partner of ours for over 15 years and this was just a natural move for them to put their name on this great building and to expand their international exposure through all of the events that happen here."

- Alex Martins

CEO, Orlando Magic

Around The Horn.

• After a year in the market for a naming rights partner, the Orlando Magic’s home arena has a new name: Kia Center. The Magic announced the sale of its arena naming rights to Kia America on Wednesday, replacing Amway Center as the new name for the venue in Orlando. The partnership will include new indoor and outdoor signage, the installations of EV charging stations, Kia vehicle displays and the Kia Terrace, a hospitality lounge for fans.
• From the Orlando Business Journal: How Orlando's U.S. Marathon Trials event will impact downtown roads.
• During the past several weeks, UCF football coach Gus Malzahn and his staff have been burning up the miles on the recruiting trails. With only a few days until the early signing period, the Knights hope to put the finishing touches on what should be their best recruiting class in program history, ranked No. 27 in the latest composite rankings by 247Sports.
• Wilder Cartagena, a key figure in Orlando City‘s run to the MLS Cup East semifinals last season, came to terms on a guaranteed contract through 2025. The Peruvian midfielder had been on loan to the Lions from Al-Ittihad Kalba FC of United Arab Emirates’ UAE Pro League since 2022.
• Defender Emily Madril has agreed to a contract through the 2026 season with the Orlando Pride. Madril, drafted third overall earlier this year out of Florida State, came just three minutes from earning Iron Woman recognition, given to those who play every minute of a season.
• Guard Darius Johnson came off the bench to score 16 points and lead Johnny Dawkins‘ UCF team to a 74-51 victory over Maine on Monday night. Johnson made 5 of 6 shots, including all four of his 3-point attempts, and added three assists for the Knights.
• Dick Nunis was most well-known for being Walt Disney’s right-hand man in the early days when he was building his theme-park empire, but he also is known for bringing some of Walt's famous imagination to UCF Athletics. Nunis, who passed away earlier this week at 91, was a visionary in his own right and one of the handful of big-money UCF donors whose financial contributions and innovative thinking helped keep UCF Athletics functioning.
• The Harlem Globetrotters are coming to Orlando next year as part of a round-the-world tour of over 400 cities, kicking off on December 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The show is scheduled to take place at Additional Financial Arena versus the Washington Generals.
• As a special holiday treat, you can get 2-for-1 tickets to experience the Osceola Magic at Silver Spurs Arena. Game tickets are the perfect gift for anyone on your list. Use code TMN241 now to unlock your 2-for-1 tickets!

Be a part of the magic of the 2024 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend! As a volunteer, you’d be supporting the runDisney® athletes and the presence of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® at Walt Disney World Resort on the racecourse and at the finish area. Click here to register now! 

In The News.

• Walt Disney World has added a few details about changes to theme park reservations and annual passholder park hopping that are coming in January. As announced in May, the company is introducing Good-to-Go Days, times that passholders will need no reservations for Disney World parks. The first reveal of those dates will be on January 11.
• An executive for the Brightline rail service told a state House panel last week that the company is 'making tremendous strides' toward an Orlando-to-Tampa route after completing a project connecting Miami and Orlando.
• AdventHealth has given New Image Youth Center $1 million toward its new home in Parramore. The Altamonte Springs-based nonprofit health system gave the gift as one of two, with another $1 million going to IDignity for its new home.
• Tourists and annual passholders have something in common: they don’t like waiting in lines at amusement parks. With its latest patent filing, Universal Destinations & Experiences revealed it is among the leaders in this field.
• Santa has a lot of stops to make on Christmas Eve, but first, he’s making a trip down to Florida to enjoy some fun in the sun before a busy night of delivering gifts. Surfing Santas returns to Cocoa Beach on the morning of Dec. 24, bringing thousands of Kris Kringle look-alikes and festive Floridians together for an annual event that’s always merry and bright.
• An African elephant calf has been born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park for the first time in seven years. The newborn is a female and is named Corra. Her mother is Nadirah, who was born at Animal Kingdom in 2005. This makes Corra the first second-generation African elephant birth at DAK.
• The Plaza Live is celebrating 60 years of operations with a massive $10 million renovation and they’re almost finished construction. The performance venue, which is also home to the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, is getting almost completely overhauled with a long list of projects.

Stay Engaged.

• Join the Downtown Development Board on Friday, December 22 as they present The Nightmare Before Christmas at Lake Eola Park. Bring your blankets, gather the family, and immerse yourself in the magic of the season with our enchanting lineup of family-friendly holiday movies.
• Third Thursday Orlando is a district-wide activation featuring art, music, markets, history, food, and entertainment. In partnership with CityArts, the Downtown Arts District, The History Center, and the local business community, downtown Orlando has curated an event that brings it all together. Every third Thursday of every month, enjoy a free art gallery, live music, free admission to the history center, food and drink specials and a makers market.
• Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in December, shoppers can enjoy the Merry Market in downtown Orlando featuring local vendors with products ranging from soaps and candles to jewelry and more, between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., through Friday, December 23.
• Downtown for the Holidays will culminate on Saturday, December 23 at 8 p.m. with a dazzling display of synchronized drones flying in formation over Lake Eola Park, creating beautiful holiday-themed designs in the night sky. Attendees can sit back and watch a 12-minute light show featuring 500 drones from the comfort of their own blankets and lawn chairs.
• The Morse Museum is hosting Holiday Friday Nights in December. Guests can enjoy free museum admission from 4pm-8pm, and live music from 5pm-8pm.
• Orlando Ballet is thrilled to present the world premiere of a ground-breaking production of The Nutcracker, December 8-24. This Broadway-caliber production will be the largest ever created by an Orlando-based performing arts organization, featuring enchanting new choreography, stunning costumes, fantastical sets, and magical stage elements.
• Nicki Minaj will be performing in Orlando on March 22, 2024 at Kia Center. The Trinidadian-born rapper and singer and one of the best-selling modern music artists with over 100 million records sold around the world.
• The Amazing Acro-Cats will be returning to Orlando with their traveling troupe of trained kitties in January 2024.The Amazing Acro-Cats showcases the talents of former orphaned, rescued, and stray cats who have been painstakingly trained by Chief Human Samantha Martin to dance for their kibble dinner.
• SeaWorld Orlando is again offering an extended Fun Card deal. Buyers now get unlimited visits to the theme park for the rest of 2023 and all of 2024. The price is $131.99. A version also includes admission to the Aquatica water park through the end of 2024, and it sells for $189.99.
• 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.

In The Community.

GO Sports hosted our last board meeting of the calendar year at the Orange County Convention Center this week. NBA G League President Sharif Abdur-Rahim stopped by to provide remarks, and G League players Mac McClung (Osceola Magic) and Devin Cannady (Birmingham Squadron) participated on a panel discussion along side board member Latria Graham (GLB Media Group), moderated by board member and retired NFL player Sam Barrington (Sky Limit Crane & Rigging). President & CEO Jason Siegel and Board Chairman Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth) are also pictured.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel had the opportunity to visit the NBA G League Winter Showcase, taking place this week at the Orange County Convention Center. He is pictured with OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester, board member Chris Carmody (GrayRobinson), Lucas Denning from the NBA, and the OCCC's Ray Walls.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Senior VP Brent Nelson, and Senior Director Kyle Sturley attended the Orlando Magic's naming rights announcement of the Kia Center (formerly the Amway Center) this week. Jason is pictured with board member Michael Forde from the Orlando Magic.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior VP Brent Nelson were on site for the U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships earlier this week at the Rosen Aquatic and Fitness Center, pictured with Mike Brady and Mike Miller from the venue and Cecelia Bolin from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the CFHLA Gala last weekend, pictured with Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine and Robert Stuart Jr. (GrayRobinson).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was also joined at the CFHLA Gala by board member Jesse Martinez (The Alfond Inn).

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

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Fun & Games.

• Pictures: Orlando Magic players host holiday shopping spree
• Best Of Orlando Theatre 2023: Costume Design