"We grew up waking up at 3 a.m. to watch guys like Damian Lillard play in playoff games, and for us to compete against these guys and now be in the playoffs, too, it means a lot. It’s especially super cool with my brother [Moritz Wagner] but also the whole group, we’re a super-tight group, and I’m happy for everybody." 

-Franz Wagner

Orlando Magic Forward

Around The Horn.

• The Orlando Magic clinched the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and have advanced to the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2020! The Magic's first playoff game is this Saturday, April 20 at 1:00pm in the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, and they will host their first home playoff game on Thursday, April 25 at 7:00pm in the Kia Center. Visit the Orlando Magic website for the full schedule and to purchase your playoff tickets.
• The Orlando Solar Bears earned a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season, and will now face the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Sunday, April 21 in the South Division Semifinals! The Solar Bears will host their first home playoff game against the Swamp Rabbits on Friday, April 26 at 7pm in the Kia Center. Visit the Orlando Solar Bears website for the full schedule and to purchase your playoff tickets.
• The Orlando Business Journal recently interviewed GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik about her unique experience as one of the key leaders of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon, hosted in Orlando in February 2024.
• Orlando City SC rallied late in their match last Saturday to defeat D.C. United 3-2 after taking a week-long break from competitive play. The Lions (2-3-2) got off to a slow start this season but have quickly turned it around, going unbeaten in their last three consecutive games. Orlando City will look to continue this unbeaten streak as they face CF Montreal this Saturday, April 20 at 7pm.
• Seminole State College of Florida Fastpitch Softball Program head coach Courtney Miller has announced her retirement after a 30-year career with the organization. Miller established the program when she arrived at Seminole State and has been the head coach ever since, racking up 19 FCSAA State Tournament appearances and winning the tournament in 2012. Miller will be inducted into the Florida College System Activities Association Softball Hall of Fame in May.
• Join the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), in partnership with Playfly Esports, for the NACE Starleague Spring Grand Finals on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, hosted at the Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress. The two-day event will bring 14 elite collegiate esports teams from across the U.S. and Canada together to go head-to-head in competition to determine the collegiate esports champions across seven major gaming titles. 
• The Orlando Pride earned their first win of the season last Friday defeating the Utah Royals 1-0 after their week-long break from competitive play. The Pride (1-0-3) opened their season with three straight draws, and are now one of four teams left in the NWSL without a loss. Orlando will look to keep this streak alive when they host the San Diego Wave tomorrow, April 19 at 8:00pm in Inter&Co Stadium.
• Join the Orlando Valkyries Sunday, April 21 at 2:00pm as they host the Atlanta Vibe at Addition Financial Arena. The Valkyries (7-10) have seven regular season games remaining as they inch closer to the PVF Playoffs, needing a top-four finish out of seven teams to advance. The Valkyries currently sit in the fifth seed of the rankings and will need a strong finish to advance.

Seminole State College of Florida Fastpitch Softball Head Coach Courtney Miller has announced her retirement after a 30-year career at the college, recording over 1,200 career wins with the program.

The Greater Orlando Sports Commission is proud to partner with Rollins College to host the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championships Festival. The festival will be held from May 19-25, and we are recruiting volunteers to assist with all aspects of the championship festival. Individuals or groups interested in volunteering can visit https://forms.gle/V3HW58aiwUf3HiDX9 to sign up and for more information. Volunteers are required to be 18 years or older. 

In The News.

• UCF Athletics began construction on its $60 million Hagle Football Gateway project following the end of the UCF spring football game. The gateway will include the Taylor A. Gerring Football Center with offices for football staff, the Nicholson Plaza tailgate zone and the McNamara Cove area with a "recovery river" and hydrotherapy, and renovations to the team locker room.
• Full Sail University was named one of the "Top Game Design Schools 2024" by The Princeton Review, who releases a new list annually. Both the graduate and undergraduate programs at Full Sail made the cut in this year's edition, with the graduate program being named Top 25 and the undergraduate program within the Top 50. The selections are made based on various criteria including the quality of school faculty, the type of technology available to students, and the number of gaming-related courses available.
• The new Central Winds Park Complex is finally open to the public after construction originally began back in November 2022. The new pickleball facility is now the largest in Seminole County, with 14 tournament capable courts. The state-of-the-art complex cost a total of $3.1 million and features a spacious parking lot and rest area in between courts.
• Nemours Children's Hospital has partnered with UCF to create a new department at the school's College of Medicine. The official name of the building is the University of Central Florida College of Medicine - Nemours Children's Health Department of Pediatrics. In addition to the new building, Nemours will now become UCF's third Pegasus Partner.
• Orange County Public Schools has announced their plans to restore an old, historic building located near downtown Orlando. OCPS has stated they would use the building for arts and entertainment education, specifically video production for social media, television, and movies; new and emerging arts; and two- and three-dimensional digital design.
• 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.
• Fodor's Travel, a California-based travel guide, released a recent issue highlighting the culinary scene all across Orlando and ranked their favorite 10 restaurants to visit. The full list features many popular spots with vastly different menus, and has both pictures and descriptions of what some of these restaurants have to offer.
• 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 is hosting their annual Science of Wine fundraiser event on April 27. Guests can enjoy an evening of delicious food, wine and unique experiences that includes presentations by experienced wine makers, personalizing your own wine glass, and learning the process of making a wine caddy. All four floors of the Orlando Science Center and their interactive exhibits will be open for guests to explore and enjoy.
• 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.
• Join Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City of Orlando Green Works team for this year's "Earth Day Work Day" event on April 26 from 11:00am to 1:00pm at City Hall Plaza. Guests can learn new ways to protect our resources, beat plastic pollution, and even save money! There will be music, games and prizes you can win, and free merchandise.
• Jazz up your weekend at the DTO Jazz Fest on April 28 at the Lake Eola Amphitheatre at Lake Eola Park. Feel the rhythm at this event featuring live performances from talented local artists and enough delicious bites from food vendors to groove on throughout the afternoon. The festival will begin at 12:00pm, and the jazz music will play throughout the day from 2:00pm - 7:00pm.
• 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 adding to its 60th anniversary celebration this year by offering free beer to park visitors at the Waterway Grill Patio. Every day from 11:00am until one hour before the park closes theme park guests can pick up their free 7-ounce beer from the restaurant. The Waterway Grill Patio is located in the area past the entrance to the Infinity Falls water 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 his wife Sarah Grafton attended the American Heart Association Bold Hearts Gala last weekend, pictured with board member Jesse Martinez (The Celeste Hotel).

GO Sports Manager Nolan McDonald pictured at the Billie Jean King Tennis Cup Qualifier last week with his brother Dylan McDonald.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was presented with Downtown Orlando Partnership's 'Downtowner of the Year' award last Friday, pictured with the GO Sports team at a celebratory lunch.

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson, Director Jordan Lyda, and Manager Nolan McDonald attended the MexTour W game at Inter&Co Stadium, pictured with board member Spencer Pylant (TECO Peoples Gas) and partner Claudel Gousse (Doubletree by Hilton Downtown).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the grand opening of the Central Winds park pickleball courts, pictured with Seminole County commissioner Lee Constantine and City of Winter Springs Mayor Kevin McCann.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Sports Business Journal World Congress of Sports, pictured with board member Clay Luter (Ticketmaster).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Associate VP Chase DeMayo attended a ribbon cutting for the new pickleball courts at Central Winds Park, pictured with Seminole County commissioner Lee Constantine, City of Winter Springs Mayor Kevin McCann, and Orlando Squeeze mascot Lil' Squeezy.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel on stage at the Bassmaster Elite Series last weekend, pictured with Lake County Commissioner Kirby Smith, City of Leesburg District 5 Mayor Jimmy Burry, Travis Rima (City of Leesburg), and Ryan Ritchie (Discover Lake County, Florida).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel at the Sports Business Journal World Congress of Sports, pictured with former WWE Superstar and current executive Paul Levesque.

GO Sports President and CEO Jason Siegel at the Orlando Valkyries game last week, pictured with Anne Worcester (Major League Pickleball) and Ameen Hafez (Orlando Squeeze).

GO Sports Associate VP Lindsey McBride managed the Bassmaster Elite Series last weekend, pictured with Travis Rima (City of Leesburg) and Eric Lopez (Bassmaster).

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

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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