“A big shout-out to Orlando. What a phenomenal event, a great community and a great course. It was flat, fast and we ran what we needed to do to get to Paris. The crowds were amazing, almost too loud. I almost thought I needed some earplugs out there.

I’m really grateful to the city of Orlando for having this event.”

- Clayton Young

2nd Place Finisher in the

2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon

Around The Horn.

• From the Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi: Ultra-successful Pro Bowl Games and Olympic Marathon Trials are only the beginning for Orlando. Because of our growth, our weather, our airport, our hotels and our attractions, Orlando is on the radar of just about every sports entity in the country, including the United States Olympic Committee. The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials were a resounding success on Saturday with the USOC, the runners themselves and the tens of thousands of fans lining the streets in downtown Orlando raving about the event.
• Orlando Magic at the NBA trade deadline: Where they stand and what's likely (and unlikely).
• National Signing Day has traditionally been a hectic time around the UCF football program. But with the addition of the early signing period in mid-December, the Knights already had wrapped up their 2024 recruiting class — the best in school history — by signing 18 high school players. So with much of the heavy lifting already done, coach Gus Malzahn introduced UCF’s latest transfer class Wednesday.
• Robin Jansson agreed to a two-year contract with Orlando City, keeping the defender here through 2025 with a ’26 club option. The 32-year-old center back joined Orlando City in 2019 from AIK in Sweden’s top tier, making 153 starts and 159 appearances.
• The No. 9 overall draft pick, Ally Lemos, came to terms on a deal that will keep her with the Orlando Pride through 2025. Lemos, 19, was drafted out of UCLA, where she started in all 44 matches that she appeared in and recorded 3 goals and 11 assists. As a freshman in 2022, she led the Pac-12 Conference with 9 assists.
• When Rich Wallace was hired as UCF‘s next baseball coach in June, the Orlando native called the opportunity a “dream job.” In the seven short months since his return to his alma mater, Wallace has been busy rebuilding the program where he played and coached as an assistant. His hard work and effort come to fruition when the Knights open the 2024-25 season on Feb. 16 against Bryant at John Euliano Park.
• The Orlando Magic announced they will retire Shaquille O'Neal's #32 jersey this year in celebration of the all-time center's athletic achievements with the team and in the NBA. O'Neal will become the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired, and the ceremony will take place on Feb. 13 following the Magic's home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Magic will also be celebrating their 35th anniversary as a franchise and honoring many of their corporate partners who have supported them throughout the years.
• The Orlando Solar Bears are proud to announce 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, February 24, 2024, for Beach Night at the AdventHealth Rink at Kia Center.

Be a part of the magic of Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by CORKCICLE.^®! As a volunteer, you’d be supporting the runDisney® athletes and the presence of Starlight™ Children’s Foundation at Walt Disney World® Resort.

To register click HERE. 

In The News.

• Mayor Dyer has just announced the appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer for the City of Orlando, following the news that former CFO Chris McCullion had accepted a new role at the Orlando Utilities Commission. New CFO Michelle McCrimmon comes to the position with 30 years of experience, including 13 years with the City of Orlando, 16 of which were in public accounting.
• Full Sail Graduate Colin Leonard won a "Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical" Grammy for his mastering and engineering work on singer/songwriter Victoria Monét's "Jaguar II" album, which was also nominated six other Grammys in categories like Record of the Year and Best R&B Album.
• More details have come to light on the timing and distribution of the $60 billion investment The Walt Disney Co. has planned for its Disney Parks, Experiences & Products division over the next 10 years — and first fruits from the capital spending plans may not be too far off.
• Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) will see five airlines launch or expand flights to Central Florida during the early part of this year.
• Netflix will be showcasing several Orlando restaurants and businesses in the upcoming season of the popular Netflix show, Somebody Feed Phil, set to premiere on Friday, March 1.
• SeaWorld Orlando has unveiled some of the  concerts that will be held during its Seven Seas Food Festival, which began last week. Among the upcoming announced singers are Hanson, Gloria Gaynor and Ludacris.
• During the Sunshine State’s mild winter, it’s certainly a fair time to be living in Florida. That’s especially true when looking ahead at all of the county fairs, state fairs and festivals scheduled for the next several months.
• Frontier Airlines is offering an all-you-can-fly summer pass for $399 for a limited time, the Denver-based carrier said Wednesday. The “Go Wild!” pass offers access to all of Frontier’s U.S. and international destinations from May 1 to Sept. 30. The promotion applies to destinations across the continental U.S., Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Stay Engaged.

• Central Florida’s sports landscape is growing with new investment and development. Professional, collegiate, amateur and youth sports projects are paving the way for the future of the region and the business opportunities. Orlando Business Journal will host key leaders, stakeholders and decision makers at the 2024 Business of Sports panel discussion, moderated by GO Sports President & CEO, Jason Siegel. Panelists include GO Sports board members Ryan DeVos (Orlando Squeeze), Steve Hogan (Florida Citrus Sports), and Allen Johnson (Orlando Venues), as well as Jessica Beers (Kissimmee Sports), Terry Mohajir (UCF Athletics), and Danny Trosset (Orlando North Seminole County).
• The City District Main Street is teaming up with the folks from Orlando Credit Union, Keep Orlando Beautiful, and Orlando Solar Bears to host a community clean-up event on Saturday, February 17. Volunteers can join in to pick up litter alongside Gertrude’s Walk and the Orange Avenue corridor in downtown Orlando, and in return for their hard work, they’ll get a free ticket to an upcoming Solar Bear’s game at the Kia Center.
• Nude Nite, the longtime body-focused pop-up art experience, is back for 2024, and this year they’re in the heart of downtown Orlando. The immersive art experience will be held in three separate venues on Church St. on Feb. 8-10.
• The Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation, and Creativity at the Orlando Public Library is hosting a special event this month where attendees can compete to make a video game from scratch.
• Keep Orlando Beautiful’s annual fundraiser and fashion show, Trash 2 Trends, is set to return on Wednesday, April 17, at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The event features a runway of unique, up-cycled designs made from recycled and discarded materials, created by local artists and makers.
• Florida kids aged 5 and younger can visit Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for all of 2024 for free through the attraction’s Junior Space Explorer Pass. The attraction also features Space Shuttle Atlantis, astronaut training simulators, bus tours, outer space relics, Rocket Garden, IMAX films, Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex attraction and more.
• 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 opening night of the Orlando Valkyries in the new Pro Volleyball Federation, pictured here with PVF's CEO, Jen Spricher.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was interviewed on multiple iHeart Radio stations leading up to the US Olympic Team Trials - Marathon last week, including Chad and Leslye on Magic 107.7.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was interviewed on multiple iHeart Radio stations leading up to the US Olympic Team Trials - Marathon last week, including Marc Daniels for 96.9 The Game.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was interviewed on multiple iHeart Radio stations leading up to the US Olympic Team Trials - Marathon last week, including Lynch and Taco on WJRR 101.1.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel joined Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Track Shack Co-Owner Jon Hughes to help place the last few barricades leading up to the US Olympic Team Trials - Marathon last week.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Associate VP Chase DeMayo caught up with iHeart Radio sales rep Bruce Stone during their recent radio tour.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was interviewed on multiple iHeart Radio stations leading up to the US Olympic Team Trials - Marathon last week, including an appearance on Johnny's House on XL106.7.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel joined Kelly Cohen (The Southern Group), Stan Rubins (Visit Orlando), Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, Commissioner Mike Scott, and Heather Fagan (City of Orlando) for the ribbon cutting and opening of Judson's at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

GO Sports Executive Vice President Jennifer Lastik attended the Downtown Orlando Partnership Board's Progressive Lunch Experience in downtown Orlando.

GO Sports had the honor of donating unused items from the US Olympic Team Trials - Marathon to the USO Central Florida, supporting our local servicemembers and their families.

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

For more information, visit MasseyServices.com.

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.

• Orlando Sentinel Pictures: NFL Pro Bowl Games
• Orlando Sentinel Pictures: US Olympic Team Trials - Marathon