“My happiness is not going to change once I make it to the NBA. I’m happy now playing the game I love every single day. But my goal is definitely to help a team win an NBA championship. That’s No. 1 for me.”

- Mac McClung

Osceola Magic Guard and

two-time Slam Dunk Champion

Around The Horn.

• Osceola Magic guard Mac McClung won the 2024 Kia Slam Dunk Contest for the second year in a row following his perfect score of 50 on his final dunk attempt. McClung competed in the final round against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown and prevailed with his high-flying ability. McClung is now one of five players in history to win back-to-back slam dunk contests during NBA All-Star Weekend.
• Orlando City Lions triumphed over Cavalry FC with a score of 3-0 in their first Champions Cup match. Duncan McGuire got the squad off to a good start with a goal in the 21st minute, but it was Facundo Torres adding tallies in the 38th and 75th minutes that helped the Lions put this game away. Orlando City will host the second leg of the series Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Inter&Co Stadium.
• 26-year-old William Byron won the Daytona 500 this past weekend as the 200-lap affair wrapped up on Monday following several crashes throughout the race. Byron drives for legendary Hendrick Motorsports and is the sixth different driver to win the Daytona 500 for them, the first since Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in 2014.
• The Orlando Magic returned to practice on Tuesday following the All-Star break and are currently sitting in the eighth seed with a record of (30-25). However, the Magic are only a half-game back from the sixth seed, which is the cutoff for the playoffs to avoid the Play-In Tournament. The team will look to finish strong as the enter their final 27 games of the season.
• UCF baseball clinched their season opener last Friday in head coach Rich Wallace's debut with an exciting win over Bryant University. The Knights came from behind three separate times before ultimately winning the game 12-11. Wallace formerly played at UCF 15 years ago and stated his excitement to work with the team.
• Nine different Orlando-area high school teams have advanced in the FHSAA boys basketball playoffs. Click here for more information and to see the list of teams.
• The Orlando Solar Bears announced their official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempt for the largest gathering of people wearing aloha shirts when the Solar Bears host the Atlanta Gladiators on Saturday, Feb. 24, for Beach Night presented by Ivanhoe Park Brewing at the AdventHealth Rink at Kia Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm.
• The Orlando Valkyries are back in town this weekend as they host the Omaha Supernovas on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 3pm. The match will be played at the Additional Financial Arena, and you can purchase your tickets by clicking here.
• The field for the 12-team College Football Playoff beginning next season will comprise five conference champions and seven at-large selections after the university presidents who oversee the CFP voted unanimously Tuesday to tweak the format. The move to decrease the number of spots reserved for conference champions from six to five was prompted by the disassembling of the Pac-12.

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.

In The News.

• The long-planned park beneath the massive highway bridges of Interstate 4 in downtown Orlando has a new look and a new name. City officials Wednesday released the final designs for “The Canopy,” nodding to the greenery and tree-like artwork throughout the 10-acre space spanning about four city blocks. The area will include a wide trail around the perimeter with open space in between for festivals, vendors and stage shows beneath the highway. The north end features roughly 500 parking spaces, a Lynx bus stop and a connection to the Downtown Urban Trail.
• The Orlando Squeeze will lease a new pickleball concept near downtown Orlando by the SoDo Target store. The facility will feature three indoor courts and four outdoor courts, along with a bar and restaurant. Ryan DeVos, GO Sports board member and CEO of the Orlando Squeeze, stated the goal is to open the facility later this year.
• The third quarter of 2023 saw a record-number of visitors to Florida for the quarter, according to data given by Visit Florida. Although domestic visitors decreased compared to the numbers acquired in 2022, the number of overseas and Canadian visitors grew by 19.3% and 60.3%, respectively. To view more numbers and measure overall impact, click here.
• Central Florida travelers now have more options to get to the northeast United States thanks to a new flight from Allegiant Air. The Summerlin, Nevada-based airline operator started flights on Feb. 16 between Orlando Sanford International Airport and the Greater Rochester International Airport in Rochester, New York. The flights will operate three times weekly.
• Breeze Airways has plans to launch a new service between Orlando and New Bern, North Carolina. The Cottonwood Heights, Utah-based low-fare airline will begin seasonal service two times a week from Orlando International Airport to Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, starting May 24. The route is one of six the airline plans to launch here and, before long, it will offer 20 non-stop flights from the airport.
• New details have emerged in Disney's massive affordable housing project located in Horizon West. The community is estimated to have as many as 1,410 apartments available across a 114-acre property, with over 1,000 of those apartments being reserved for attainable housing. Disney plans to offer a 75-year lease on the land to ensure the homes are geared towards affordable housing for decades.

Stay Engaged.

• Sideline Wine & Dine presented by OAI on April 26 is a unique food and wine event on the west premium levels at Camping World Stadium, featuring fine wines, craft beers, and delectable dishes from dozens of local favorites. The event supports the Florida Citrus Sports Foundation, with proceeds benefiting the organization's continued K-8 educational efforts in the The Communities of West Lakes. Purchase your tickets for the event by clicking here.
• The 2024 annual Dragon Parade celebrates the Lunar New Year this Sunday, Feb. 25 by bringing together Asian cultural organizations with the City of Orlando for a colorful, festive event. The parade will begin at 11am on the corner of Lake Highland Drive and N. Mills Avenue. For more information about the parade, click here.
• Back for its 7th year, Sanford Porchfest gathers the community for a day of live music with more than 70 bands spread across 18 porches in the city’s historic residential area of downtown. The family-friendly and pet-friendly festival starts at 11am and goes on all afternoon on Saturday, Feb. 24 and helps raise money for youth art programming and scholarships.
• The Winter Garden Music Festival is from 11am - 10pm on Saturday, Feb. 24 at stages along Plant Street, Main Street and Lakeview Avenue. Presented by the City of Winter Garden, this free outdoor concert showcases more than 30 musical acts across six stages with a variety of genres on Saturday. Visitors can find a kids’ zone from 11am - 4pm, outdoor dining at downtown restaurants, and onsite beer and wine vendors.
• Legoland Florida is now in possession of their bright red Ferrari 296 GTS made almost entirely of Lego bricks. The car will be featured in the theme park's new Ferrari Build & Race attraction which opens to the public on March 8. Unlike with most Lego models, park guests will be able to sit inside of the Lego Ferrari for photo ops and will be parked in the attraction's garage setting, which leads to creative activities.
• Universal Studios Orlando has begun their famous Mardi Gras festivities and they will run nightly until its conclusion on April 7. The parade will take place throughout the Universal Studios park, and visitors can try to collect beads from the various different decorated floats. Mardi Gras activities are included with your Universal admission, and select food and beverage are available for purchase.
• SeaWorld Orlando is again offering their Fun Card pass for unlimited entry into their park until December 31, 2024, for $134.99. SeaWorld also has additional options that include entry into the Aquatica waterpark, and a silver or gold pass that comes with free parking, two free guest tickets, and no blackout dates.
• 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 attended the Governor's Baseball Dinner, pictured with former New York Yankee Tino Martinez and GO Sports advisory board members Steve Mauldin (CNL Financial), Scott Breault (Planet Fitness), and Greg Lee (BakerHostetler).

GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen and his wife Jill (Lifeboat Project) accepted a $5,000 donation from Sara Berlinsky (Silver Spurs Rodeo) to the Lifeboat Project.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason moderated a panel discussion at Orlando Business Journal's Business of Sports luncheon last week, pictured with panelists Jessica Beers (Kissimmee Sports Commission), Ryan DeVos (Orlando Squeeze), Steve Hogan (Florida Citrus Sports), Allen Johnson (Orlando Venues), Terry Mohajir (UCF), and Danny Trosset (Seminole County).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Executive VP Jennifer Lastik, and Associate VPs Kyle Sturley and Chase DeMayo met with Andrew Metante (State Operations Manager, Florida Senator Marco Rubio) last week, who delivered a congratulations message for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon on behalf of Senator Rubio.

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

For more information, visit 11thhourbiz.com.

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.

• Barbie truck stopping in Orlando this weekend
• Shake it up for National Margarita Day