"Giving back to our community is a huge part of who we are as a program, so we’re excited to have our players represent the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in this unique way in our Spring Game." 

-Gus Malzahn

UCF Football Head Coach

Around The Horn.

• The UCF Knights will host their annual spring football game tomorrow, April 12 at 7pm in FBC Mortgage Stadium. The players will be wearing helmet decals designed by the pediatric patients at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Many of the UCF players and the patients collaborated together to design various helmet emblems, and each UCF helmet will feature a gold stripe with the names of each patient.
• The Orlando Magic have just two games left in the regular season as they look ahead to the postseason and try to avoid the Play-In Tournament. The Magic (46-34) currently sit in the fifth seed of the Eastern Conference, and would need to finish as the sixth seed or better to clinch their spot in the playoffs. The Magic will face the Philadelphia 76ers on the road tomorrow, April 12 at 7pm.
• Orlando City SC are preparing for their next matchup against D.C. United on the road after a week-long break from competitive play. The Lions (1-3-2) have gotten off to a slow start this year, but continue to push forward and look to turn their season around. The match is scheduled for 7:30pm on Saturday, April 13 at Audi Field.
• Join Rollins College on April 18 at 3pm to honor and celebrate long-time Rollins tennis coach Bev Buckley, who will be coaching the last home matchup of her 38-year career. Buckley is a decorated tennis athlete who not only won three state titles while playing for Rollins, but also competed in professional tournaments such as Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the French Open. Buckley is currently 5th all-time in Division II wins and is the winningest coach in Rollins tennis history.
• The Bassmaster Elite Series is finally here, April 12-15 at Venetian Gardens Ski Beach. Come watch the pros weigh-in their catch from the Harris Chain of Lakes, and while you’re there, check out the outdoors expo on Saturday and Sunday where you can explore sponsor booths, buy official Bassmaster merchandise, win prizes and take boat demo rides. Plus, there will be kids’ activities, too! It’ll be fun for the whole family and it’s all free! 
• The Orlando Pride will look to bounce back after their week of rest when they play Utah Royals FC tomorrow, April 12 at 9:30pm. The Pride (0-3-0) are still searching for their first win of the season, although they have yet to lose a match. The game will be played at America First Field and will be aired on Bally Sports Network and NWSL+.
• Join the Orlando Valkyries tonight at 7pm as they host the Grand Rapids Rise at Addition Financial Arena. The Valkyries (7-8) are 2-0 in their season series against the Rise, and currently sit as the third seed in the Professional Volleyball Federation rankings. Visit their website for more information and to purchase your tickets.
• March Madness has officially come to an end as UCONN defeated Purdue on Monday night with a final score of 75-60. UCONN has now won the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year after defeating all of their opponents by double digits. UCONN is the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Florida Gators in 2006-07.

Be a part of the magic of runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend. As a volunteer, you’d be supporting the runDisney® athletes and the presence of Make-A-Wish® Central & Northern Florida at Walt Disney World® Resort.

To register click HERE.

For April's featured story, George Diaz highlights Orlando being named the #1 Best Sports Business City for Attracting and Hosting Events during the Sports Business Journal press conference at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Read the full story: Featured Stories – Terrain for Every Game – Greater Orlando Sports

In The News.

• New information has been released about Universal Orlando's Epic Universe theme park, including hotel information and other amenities. Guests can now book rooms and packages in advance for the Stella Nova Resort and Terra Luna Resort, both slated to open near the new theme park in 2025. Each hotel will feature 750 guest rooms, close to 10,000-square-foot pools with hot tubs, and several other dining and retail locations.
• Orlando International Airport has scored more funding for the expansion of their new Terminal C, a popular destination since its opening. The airport won a total of $62 million from the Federal Aviation Administration to expand Terminal C's apron by 138,481 square yards. The apron is where airplanes can receive fuel and is where passengers enter and exit the plane.
• AdventHealth has announced their plans to expand one of their current Osceola County hospitals. The nonprofit health system plans to build a five-story, 44,966-square-foot tower at the campus, which would mirror the Nicholson Center building. The new tower would include 80 beds and three operating rooms, with a goal to finish construction in 2027.
• A new apartment complex is set to begin construction near the site of Universal Orlando's new Epic Universe theme park, located on the corner of S Kirkman Road and Carrier Drive. The location sits just one mile from the Epic Universe location, and would feature nearly 315 apartments in total. Site plans related to the project reflect eight four-story buildings including a clubhouse and amenities pavilion.
• A new inflatable sports dome is in the works for Seminole County, and would be the first of its kind in Central Florida. Orlando All Sports Dome has proposed a 132,000-square-foot inflatable sports dome near the Sanford Airport, and the company wants to host local or national sports tournaments inside the dome, as well as community events such as graduations, corporate meetings, summer camps, and more.
• Plans have been submitted for a massive 44-court pickleball center in Ocoee that could double as a community facility and also host large, competitive tournaments. The proposed facility would include both indoor and outdoor courts, and the outdoor courts would be covered to shield players from the elements. The center would also have a 14,000-square-foot, two-story pro shop and café.

Stay Engaged.

• The Orlando Science Center has a new "Life" exhibit they debuted earlier today that is the largest exhibit ever created by the museum. The 10,000-square-foot area encourages close encounters in three ecosystems: rainforest, swamp, and ocean. Visitors can learn about the animals and environments surrounding them in "Life" through programs, training sessions, and museum staff who will speak about current status in the wild.
• Universal Orlando has announced the dates for the 2024 edition of Halloween Horror Nights, and has started selling one-night tickets for the event. For the first time in history, Halloween Horror Nights will kick off in August of this year as opposed to September, and will run from Wednesdays-Sundays until November 3rd. The themes of the houses and scare zones are yet to be announced, as well as ticket sales for multiple night packages.
• The 2nd annual Taste & Sip Sanford will take place Saturday, April 20 at the Sanford Civic Center. Guests can enjoy live music and amazing eats by top chefs and restaurants in the Central Florida area. All dishes are paired with a local craft beer or California wine, and all proceeds will benefit The Picnic Project.
• Join the Lake Mary Fire Department this Saturday, April 13 for an open house of their fire station. Activities include a live sprinkler demonstration, in-depth tour of the fire station, and other children's activities. Admission is free and food will be provided from 10am to 1pm.
• Walt Disney World has released more information about their new Tiana's Bayou Adventure attraction, and which animatronic characters will appear in the ride. Many of the main characters will be featured, but there are also new characters not seen in the popular 2009 movie that will be scattered throughout the attraction. Tiana's Bayou Adventure is set to open in summer of this year, replacing the popular Splash Mountain.
• SeaWorld Orlando is planning its first run inside of the park and has scheduled it for May 4. The Seven Seas Food Festival Fun Run will have a course set up that allows runners to pass by wildlife and attractions, including Orca Stadium. The top three overall male and female finishers in the 5k will receive annual passes to SeaWorld Orlando.
• Updates have been installed at the Star Tours attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and characters from the Disney+ streaming series now appear in the simulator ride. Along with new characters, Disney has also updated different scenes and scenarios to create many different story options. Specifically, "The Mandalorian," "Andor," and "Ahsoka" series are now in the mix and featured in the ride.
• 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 President & CEO Jason Siegel and CFO Gary Cohen attended the Florida TaxWatch event earlier this week, pictured with GO Sports board member Craig Swygert (Clear Channel Outdoor).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel at the Osceola Magic Eastern Conference Semifinal game last week, pictured with Alex Martins (Orlando Magic) and Shareef Abdur-Rahim (NBA G League).  

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel participated in the 'Tennis Is A Vibe' Luncheon panel discussion this week at the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Associate VP Chase DeMayo, pictured with GO Sports board member JoAnne Wallen (USTA) and Thor Falk (moderator) at the 'Tennis Is A Vibe' Luncheon.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel pictured with former WWE Superstar Dean "Mojo" Muhtadi, who performed in Orlando at WrestleMania 33 in 2017.

GO Sports Associate VP Chase DeMayo and his wife Sarah DeMayo attended the Travel + Leisure Charitable Foundation Gala, pictured with Chairman Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth).

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

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Fun & Games.

• What's Happening: Osceola County Things To Do
• What's Happening: Orange County Things To Do
• What's Happening: Seminole County Things To Do
• What's Happening: Lake County Things To Do