"As we continue on our Journey to Gold, the U.S. Olympic Trials – Marathon serve as a pivotal event that ensures the best team is selected to represent Team USA in Paris next year. We are extremely grateful to the USOPC and GO Sports for their partnership in developing a solution that benefits our athletes and fans. We are incredibly excited to see some of America’s best athletes in action and we thank the City of Orlando in advance for their hospitality"

- Max Siegel,

CEO of USA Track & Field

SPEAKING ABOUT THE ANNOUNCED CHANGE IN START TIME OF THE

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRAIALS - MARATHON

Around The Horn.

• The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), USA Track & Field (USATF) and Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) are pleased to announce an important update regarding the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon. In collaboration and consultation with feedback from the athletes regarding concerns around weather conditions, it has been agreed that the start time for the event will be moved to 10:00 a.m. ET.
• The nation’s premier HBCU football rivalry returns to Orlando this Saturday, when the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats meet the Florida A&M University Rattlers in the Florida Blue Florida Classic at Camping World Stadium.
• The Greater Orlando Sports Commission, in partnership with USA Track & Field (USATF), United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Track Shack, Orange County, Visit Orlando and the City of Orlando, has announced a partnership with Universal Orlando Resort to host a private athlete welcome reception at Universal Studios Florida for the participating athletes on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, two days prior to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon.
• Following their win against Nashville SC in round 2 of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup playoffs, Orlando City is progressing to a semi-final match over Thanksgiving weekend. The Lions will face off against the Colombus Crew in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals at Exploria Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 5:30pm. Limited tickets are still available - click here to purchase now!
• Coach Gus Malzahn witnessed the Knights’ 34-27 upset win over his then-No. 7 Tigers in the 2018 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Flash forward six seasons later and the 58-year-old coach was on the UCF sidelines as the Knights pulled off a monumental win over No. 15 Oklahoma State 45-3 on Saturday in their annual Space Game.
• Florida Citrus Sports and the College Football Playoff Foundation have teamed up to provide Clay Springs Elementary with a $10,000 DonorsChoose flash funding grant to support classroom projects on the Orange County campus this school year. Since 2019, Florida Citrus Sports and the CFP Foundation have combined to support nearly 1,000 projects totaling more than $300,000 using the DonorsChoose platform.
• A week after the UCF women’s basketball team dropped 101 points in its season-opening win, more Knights newcomers introduced themselves to produce their second win. Behind double-digit scoring from six players, UCF (2-0) battled through a tight first 30 minutes before utilizing a 31-point fourth-quarter surge to topple the Anderson Trojans 96-73 at Addition Financial Arena.
• The Orlando Magic needed late-game heroics from Paolo Banchero against the Bulls to win on the second night of back-to-back road games. Banchero, who led Orlando with 17 points, was able to get a 7-foot floater to bounce in the basket with less than two seconds on the clock to lift the Magic to a 96-94 victory.
• The National Women’s Soccer League announced a new media rights deal that will feature the league’s matches on ESPN, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime Video and Scripps Sports. Saturday night’s NWSL championship between Gotham FC and OL Reign will air on CBS.
• The Solar Bears' season-long, four-game winning streak was halted Sunday by Savannah, but the Solar Bears are over the .500 mark through the first 10 games of the season, posting a 5-4-0-1 record.
• As RJ Harvey closed in on a career performance against No. 15 Oklahoma State Saturday evening, rain-soaked UCF fans showered the Bounce House with chants of “RJ Harvey! RJ Harvey!” Harvey was a yard shy of 200 rushing yards and fans wanted the redshirt senior to return to the field despite the Knights holding a commanding 45-3 lead over the Cowboys late in the fourth quarter.

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 Resort, one of the world’s most visited vacation destinations, generated $40 billion in economic impact across the state and more than a quarter of a million total jobs in fiscal year 2022, according to a new study from Oxford Economics.
• What started as a first-of-its-kind pilot program with Orange County Government partnering with UCF Global, Rosen Hotels & Resorts, and Aeras Foundation will now become a fully funded program within the I-Drive Community Redevelopment Area to provide onsite English language instruction tailored to the needs of working adults.
• In October, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners approved $4.2 million to be put aside for the county’s Cultural Tourism Grant Program, via the Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs division. Those funds were just awarded to 40 arts and culture organizations at the inaugural Orange County ACT (Arts, Culture, and Tourism) Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
• The City of Orlando has just granted a new micromobility company permission to launch services in The City Beautiful today. Veo is the latest company to be allowed to operate in Orlando and started deploying its 400-unit teal and black fleet across the city this week. The Veo Cosmo features large tires, a throttle, and a lower center of gravity that may make it easier for beginners to handle. They also don’t require pedaling. 
• The attraction Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be honored with a prestigious Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – Attraction in 2024 by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). Internationally recognized, the Thea Awards acknowledge exceptional achievements in the themed entertainment industry and celebrate the creative teams who bring immersive experiences to life.
• This weekend, part of the Orange County Convention Center will be transformed into a mythical, magical wonderland as Unicorn World lands in Central Florida. The traveling attraction is the dream-turned-reality of a Knoxville-based couple who saw room to improve with other family events they visited.
• Hitmaker P!nk will make several concert stops in Florida this week. Known for chart-topping hits such as Raise Your Glass, Get This Party Started and So What, kicks off the Florida leg of her current tour in Miami on Tuesday, with a performance in Sunrise on Wednesday before arriving in Orlando for a pair of concerts on Saturday and Sunday.

Show your team spirit TONIGHT and become part of the Osceola Magic Nation for a night of unforgettable fun and thrilling basketball.

Tickets start at just $10 - click here to purchase now!

Stay Engaged.

• The Festival of Trees, Nov. 11-19, presented by the Council of 101 kicks off the holiday season with dozens of designer-inspired decorated trees at Orlando Museum of Art. This year’s theme is “Enchanted Holidays,” with special events including breakfast with Santa, an ugly sweater day and a Reindeer Romp party.
• Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens is a completely redesigned and brand-new experience for 2023. Epic lighting installations, photo moments, live entertainment, and even more food! Festivities kick off on Friday, Nov. 17.
• November 18 is an exciting day of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) exploration at Osceola Heritage Park. Get ready to dive into a world of innovation, creativity, and hands-on learning. From mind-blowing experiments to interactive exhibits, this event will leave you inspired and amazed.
• Florida Blue Battle of the Bands, is back at Amway Center this Friday, Nov. 17. Get ready for crowd-pleasing dance teams, high-stepping drum majors, precision drumlines and roaring brass sections from the country’s top high school marching bands and featured performances by the Marching Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University and the Marching “100” of Florida A&M University.
• Get ready for a vibrant celebration of diversity at Fusion Fest! Immerse yourself in two days of captivating performances, delicious food and interactive experiences from more than 110 unique cultures. Don't miss this incredible festival for all ages in downtown Orlando on November 25 & 26.
• The Orange County Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive celebrates 13 years of giving back to the community! Residents are encouraged to participate by donating a new, unwrapped toy or gift for children ages 18 and under. Purchase a gift online at the virtual toy store by Monday, December 4, 2023.
• Classic rock fans can re-live the “Summer of ’69” next year when Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Bryan Adams comes to Florida. Adams, who has been active as a musician for more than four decades, will bring his “So Happy It Hurts Tour” to Orlando for his debut performance at Amway Center on March 8, 2024.
• Gatorland is offering discounted tickets on its Screamin’ Gator Zipline for the next few weeks. The attraction’s zipline experience — which includes five segments and a 150-foot swinging bridge — is now on sale for $49.99 per person through Dec. 17. You'll travel up to 30 mph above dozens of alligators and crocodiles and Gatorland’s famed breeding marsh. It tops out at 65 feet high.
• 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.

Congratulations to GO Sports' friend and partner Marc Daniels, who was inducted into UCF's Hall of Fame this week.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Executive VP Jennifer Lastik hosted FIFA's Senior Team Services Manager, Alex Wolf, this week for meetings related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior Director Lindsey McBride hosted NCAA staff this week for a site visit in preparation for the DII National Championships Spring Festival being hosted in Orange and Seminole Counties in May 2024.

GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen attended the Lifeboat Project's 3rd annual Yacht Rock Gala, pictured here with wife Jill (CEO of the Lifeboat Project) and Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and wife Sarah Grafton attended the Bishop Moore Legacy Gala this week alongside Jorge Senior (Disney Sports) and his wife.

Congratulations to board member Scott Breault (Planet Fitness), who was recognized at a recent Orlando Magic home game for the new partnership that makes Planet Fitness the Official Fitness Center of the Orlando Magic.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Soccerex conference in Miami this week, pictured with Ed Foster Simeon and Scott Lagrand from the U.S. Soccer Foundation.

GO Sports Senior Director Kyle Sturley spoke on a sports marketing panel at the American Marketing Association - Orlando chapter's event last week, alongside Brad Epstein (ESPN Wide World of Sports) and S.J. Tuohy (The Kingdom NIL).

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

For more information, visit thecelestehotel.com.

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.



• County-by-County: Central Florida holiday lights
• Talking Turkey: Thanksgiving dinners around Orlando
• Pictures: Debut of Disney “Jollywood Nights” at Hollywood Studios