"The sport tourism industry continued to grow in 2023, increasing by 7% over sports traveler volume in 2022, and the number of sports travelers in America established a new high-water mark of 204.9 million in 2023...Each state played an integral role in sports tourism in 2023, and the addition of the Top 10 list of states generating economic impact with sports tourism allows us to analyze best practices for all of our members."

-John David

President and CEO, Sports ETA

Around The Horn.

• Sports ETA released their highly anticipated annual State of the Industry Report yesterday for the $128 billion sports tourism industry, and Florida ranked first in economic impact generated by sports tourism in 2023! The sports tourism community continues to grow and develop, increasing by 7% over sports traveler volume in 2022.
• The Orlando Magic host their first home playoff game tonight at 7pm against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Kia Center. The Magic are currently down 2-0 in the series after falling behind both games in Cleveland, but will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage and secure their first win of the postseason. The second home playoff game is scheduled for this Saturday, April 27 at 1pm.
• The Orlando Solar Bears host their first home postseason game tomorrow, April 26 against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at the AdventHealth Rink inside the Kia Center. The series is currently tied 1-1 after the Solar Bears stole the first game against Greenville in overtime. Puck drop for tomorrow is slated for 7pm, and their next playoff game on Saturday, April 27 is scheduled for a 9pm start.
• Orlando City SC rallied late in their match last Saturday to draw against CF Montreal 2-2 after their win against D.C. United the week prior. The Lions (2-3-3) got off to a slow start this season but have quickly turned it around, going unbeaten in their last four consecutive games. Orlando City will look to continue this unbeaten streak as they host Toronto FC this Saturday, April 27 at 7:30pm in Inter&Co Stadium.
• The Orlando Pride continued their strong start to the season last Friday as they defeated the San Diego Wave 1-0 to move into a second-place tie in the NWSL. The Pride (2-0-3) have yet to record their first loss this year and will look to keep that streak alive when they visit the Washington Spirit tomorrow, April 26 at 7:30pm.
• Join the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), in partnership with Playfly Esports, for the NACE Starleague Spring Grand Finals this 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 Valkyries currently sit in fifth place of the Professional Volleyball Federation as they near the start of the playoffs with just five regular season games left in their inaugural year. The Valkyries (7-12) need a top-four finish to advance to the PVF playoffs, and will need a strong finish to advance. The Valkyries will visit the Columbus Fury tomorrow, April 26 at 7pm in Nationwide Arena.
• Tune in to the 2024 NFL Draft tonight at 7pm to see which top college athletes will be selected in the first round. The Chicago Bears currently hold position for the first overall pick with Caleb Williams favored to be the first player off the board. The draft will be broadcast on ESPN tonight and Saturday, with tomorrow's coverage available on ESPN2.

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.

• The Orlando Magic's $500 million mixed-use development located in Downtown Orlando has been given a new name, Westcourt. Previously referred to as the Orlando Sports + Entertainment District, the 900,000-square-foot development will feature a full-service hotel as well as a high-rise residential tower, a live events venue, 300,000-sqaure-feet of office space, and much more. The project is expected to begin construction by the end of this year.
• 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.
• Mission Resort + Club Director of Golf Bryan Mulry, PGA, was the featured guest on April 11 to kick off the 8am hour of Open Mike, 96.9 The Game. The segment features both of them talking about the Masters as well as introducing listeners to Mission Inn + Club.
• AdventHealth will soon begin construction on a $220 million, 240,000-square-foot expansion to their Daytona Beach location. The project will provide the hospital with 104 additional beds and four new surgical suites, which includes vertical expansion on two existing towers. Other additions include a new lab, a bigger pharmacy, more imaging space, and an expanded sterile processing unit.
• 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.
• Brightline has reported a steady rise in daily bookings for their Orlando location since it opened last year, growing from 2,800 daily bookings in October to approximately 4,600 per day in March 2024. Due to its increased demand, Brightline announced plans to add more South Florida-bound passenger cars this summer to grow capacity.
• Houston-based airline Avelo Airlines, Inc. will add a new local flight connecting the Orlando region to Miami. Service from Orlando International Airport to Miami International Airport will begin on June 7 and is a seasonal route, meaning the flight will only be offered on Fridays and Saturdays until Aug. 18. Avelo now joins Delta and American Airlines as the only airlines to offer service between the two airports.

Stay Engaged.

• Join Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City of Orlando Green Works team for this year's "Earth Day Work Day" event tomorrow, 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 this Sunday, 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.
• The Orlando Science Center is hosting their annual Science of Wine fundraiser event this Saturday, 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.
• The St Johns River Festival of the Arts is back for its 13th annual event in downtown Sanford on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, April 27-28. Nearly 140 artists will set up booths along the streets of downtown and guests can explore sculpture, jewelry, woodworking, painting, photography, and more. Proceeds from the event will benefit Art for Kids, a scholarship program for young artists in Seminole County.
• The annual Sideline Wine & Dine fundraiser event presented by OAI returns tomorrow, April 26 at Camping World Stadium. The event begins at 7pm, and general admission tickets are priced at $115. Guests can enjoy three hours of unlimited food and wine from many of Orlando's local favorites, and proceeds will benefit Florida Citrus Sports Foundation's continued K-8 educational efforts in The Communities of West Lakes.
• Universal Orlando has announced their plans to launch a new specialty license plate in Florida, pending approval from Florida legislation. The license plate proceeds would benefit popular local non-profit Give Kids The World after they failed to meet the pre-order requirement for their own license plate decal approved back in 2020. Universal has not yet released the design of the license plate, and all designs must be approved by the state.
• Walt Disney World has announced dates for the 2024 edition of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. The festival will begin on Aug. 29, and will be held daily until its completion on Nov. 23. Disney has indicated the return of a handful of food offerings, but has not shared the full lineup yet or announced the performers for the 'Eat to the Beat' concert series held nightly during the event.
• 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.

The GO Sports team attended the Downtown Orlando Partnership 2024 Golden Brick Awards ceremony on Tuesday at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. GO Sports won the 'Best Sporting Event' category for the 2023 first and second round of March Madness, and our President & CEO Jason Siegel won Downtowner of the Year for 2023!

Congratulations to all of our partners who won Golden Brick awards, and thank you for your continued devotion to making Downtown Orlando a premier destination!

Excellence Award: OUC100 Campaign

Arts & Culture Award: Orlando Pride Highway Women Kit

Hospitality & Dining Award: "Orlando Made" at Inter&Co Stadium

Redesign & Renovation Award: Grand Bohemian's Altira Pool + Lounge

Commercial Development of the Year: Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute

Public Works & Placemaking Award: "Unbelievably Real" from Visit Orlando and OEP

Entertainment & Special Events Award: "Downtown for the Holidays" from Downtown Development Board.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel won the Downtown Orlando Partnership 'Downtowner of the Year' award, pictured with Chair Elect Caesar Lopez (Orlando City/Orlando Pride), board member Mike Harris (Uproar PR), and Scott Lloyd (Lloyd Commercial Advisors, LLC).

GO Sports Associate VP Chase DeMayo and his wife Sarah DeMayo attended the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida 'Celebrate the Children' Gala presented by Disney.

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the DOP Golden Brick Awards, pictured with Danielle Hollander (Visit Orlando) and board member Anne-Marie Hayward (Orlando Business Journal).

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson and Director Jordan Lyda attended the Sports ETA Symposium in Portland, Oregon earlier this week, pictured with Danny Trosset (Seminole County), Ryan Ritchie (Lake County), and David Broussard (Seminole County).

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik and Associate VP Kyle Sturley pictured at the DOP Golden Brick Awards with Kay Rawlins (Orlando City/Orlando Pride), and board members Anne-Marie Hayward (Orlando Business Journal) and Lisa Curran (Duke Energy).

GO Sports Manager Nolan McDonald attended the 2024 Boy Scout Golden Eagle dinner, pictured with board members Eric David (Travel + Leisure) and Chris Mueller (Hilton Orlando).

GO Sports Associate VP Lindsey McBride and Coordinator Carter Gravitte at the 2024 Horizon League Championship round on Monday, pictured with Commissioner Kirby Smith (Lake County) and board member Cindy Staley (Mission Inn + Club).

GO Sports Associate VP Lindsey McBride attended the Horizon League Staff and School Administration Dinner last Friday before the first day of the tournament.

Congratulation to GO Sports board member Tim Giuliani (Orlando Economic Partnership), Visit Orlando, and the rest of the OEP staff for winning a DOP Golden Brick Award for their "Unbelievably Real" campaign.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel receiving his 'Downtowner of the Year' award at the DOP Golden Brick Awards ceremony, pictured with Jill Vaughan (Downtown Orlando Partnership).

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the Athena NextGen event, pictured with board member Melanie DiVirgilio (Seacoast Bank).

GO Sports Director Jordan Lyda attended the Florida Region of USA Volleyball awards ceremony last Friday at the Orange County Convention Center, pictured with Steve Bishop (Florida Region of USA Volleyball).

GO Sports is proud to sponsor a hole for the Kids Classic Golf Tournament benefitting the After School All-Stars program in Orlando.

GO Sports Associate VP Chase DeMayo and board member Sam Barrington (Sky Limit Crane & Rigging) at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida 'Celebrate the Children' Gala presented by Disney.

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

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Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.

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