"What an opening game to play against a team with that type of experience, that type of talent...It was great for our team. Bringing in 11 new guys, you don’t know what to expect. They showed me something today. They showed me they could play with some composure and the moment wasn’t too big for them."

-Johnny Dawkins

UCF Men's Basketball Head Coach

Around The Horn.

• UCF Men's Basketball set the tone for its 2024-25 season with a 64-61 upset victory over No. 15 Texas A&M. The Knights (1-0) rallied from 11 points down with 7:03 left in the second half, earning their first win over a ranked opponent in a season-opener in program history. The Knights will look to build on this win as they host Purdue Fort-Wayne this Friday, Nov. 7 at 7:00pm.
• The Orlando Pride begin their journey in the NWSL playoffs this Friday, Nov. 8 against the Chicago Red Stars at Inter&Co Stadium at 8:00pm. The Pride (18-2-6, 60 points) are coming off one of the most dominant regular seasons in history, going unbeaten in 23 consecutive matches dating back to last season and claiming the NWSL Shield.
• Orlando City SC played to a scoreless draw in regulation last weekend, but ultimately fell 3-1 in a penalty shootout. The Lions will now host Charlotte FC in a win-or-go-home match this Saturday, Nov. 9 at Inter&Co Stadium at 6:00pm for a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
• UCF Football defeated Arizona 56-12 last Saturday in the team's annual Space Game to snap a five-game losing streak. The Knights (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) will look to build on this strong performance as the team travels to Arizona State to face the Sun Devils this Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:00pm.
• The Osceola Magic have officially unveiled their final 12-player roster ahead of the 2024-25 NBA G League season. The Magic will kick off their season on Friday, Nov. 8 at Osceola Heritage Park, facing off against the Austin Spurs. The game begins at 7:00pm, and the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a complimentary Osceola Magic T-shirt.
• The Orlando Solar Bears will look to bounce back from their 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Gladiators Wednesday night as the team now travels to face the Florida Everblades for two games this weekend. The Solar Bears (3-4) will return home on Monday, Nov. 11 to host the Everblades at Kia Center.
• The next generation of future stars will become the present on Nov. 25, when Pro Volleyball Federation holds its second annual collegiate player draft. The 2024 PVF Draft will take place over five rounds with each team granted rights to one selection per round. The Orlando Valkyries will pick third in the first round, followed by four more picks scattered throughout the rounds.

In The News.

• The Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Air France have announced the launch of a new nonstop flight connecting Central Florida to Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), starting on May 21, 2025. This service marks Air France’s return to the airport, further elevating Orlando’s position as a premier global gateway and offering a seamless travel experience for Central Floridians and international visitors alike.
• The Orange County Mayor's Holiday Toy Drive is celebrating 14 years of giving back to the Central Florida community! Donate new, unwrapped toys or gifts for kids aged 18 and under at participating locations across Orange County, or contribute online by purchasing a gift through the virtual toy store.
• The City of Orlando has released rendering for three large downtown projects highlighted in Mayor Buddy Dyer's DTO Action Plan. The plan centers around three big concentration areas; transportation, having iconic park spaces, and making downtown a “neighborhood for everyone.” The renderings include Magnolia Avenue, Orange Avenue, Lake Lucerne and Church Street.
• Full Sail University was named to Billboard's 2024 Top Music Business Schools list, in addition to TheWrap's Top 50 Film Schools list. Billboard chooses its top music business schools based on industry recommendations, alumni information, information requested from each school and nearly a decade of reporting on the programs listed, and TheWrap partnered with a third-party to provide a data-driven ranking system.
• The Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin hotels are undergoing a major renovation and expansion, the largest in the property's history, according to Orlando Business Journal. The expansion will make the hotel complex one of the largest convention properties on the East Coast, and all guest rooms in the Swan are being remodeled. In addition to the new meeting and convention space, the hotels' existing 333,000 square feet of meeting space are being refreshed.
• Seminole County opened the Seminole County Economic Development Hub at the Seminole State College of Florida Heathrow Campus last week, according to Orlando Business Journal. The facility is staffed by three of the county's economic development partners and provides resources to small businesses to grow. It also has a multi-use space to host classes, networking events and more.

Georgia, Marshall, Penn State and Tulsa will compete in the inaugural WBCA Showcase at Walt Disney World Resort. The college women’s basketball event will be held Thursday and Saturday, Nov. 21 and 23, 2024, and will continue on Sunday, Nov. 24, with a doubleheader featuring four different teams — Jacksonville, Louisville, Mississippi State and South Florida. All six games will be played in State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The ESPN Events Invitational returns to ESPN Wide World of Sports on November 28 and 29. The four-team field is highlighted by projected Top 25 team Florida, who will square off against Wake Forest in the second Semifinal. The first Semifinal on Thanksgiving Day will feature Minnesota vs. Wichita State.

One of college basketball’s most storied early-season tournaments, the NIT Season Tip-Off moves to Walt Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports after 35+ years in New York City. The field is highlighted by Utah State, who has qualified for four of the last five NCAA Tournaments. They will play 2021 Atlantic-10 Champion St. Bonaventure in the first Semifinal on Thanksgiving Day. The second Semifinal will feature 2023 Postseason NIT Champion North Texas and Northern Iowa.

Stay Engaged.

• Universal Orlando has released first looks at some of the monster figures coming to the Dark Universe section of Epic Universe, the theme park set to open next spring. The new photography features the 9-foot-tall Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, Wolf Man and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, each of which will be seen in the Dark Universe ride called Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
• Walt Disney World has revealed the list of celebrity narrators for its Candlelight Processional, part of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, which begins on Friday, Nov. 29. The Candlelight Processional features a mass choir, live orchestra and narrator of the Christmas story, performed three times nightly at the theme park’s American Adventure Theater.
• SeaWorld Orlando is offering discounts on annual passes, fun cards, single-day tickets, backstage tours and other activities during what the theme park is calling its "Black Friday Presale." SeaWorld says the savings are “up to 65%” off regular prices, and the limited-time offer runs through Sunday, Nov. 10.
• Join the United States Tennis Association for its 'Red Ball Day of Play' on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 12:00 - 5:00pm at the Rock Lake Neighborhood Center. Red balls are larger and slower, making them easier to hit and control which allows guests to focus on developing their playing skills on the court.
• Fusion Fest's 7th annual Multicultural Festival returns to downtown Orlando on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Seneff Arts Plaza at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The two-day festival offers a multitude of family-friendly activities, and admission is free as long as you pre-register.
• Join the Central Florida Employment Connections for the 30th anniversary of Central Florida Job Fairs. Register to engage with over 85 companies to connect with potential employers in the area and create meaningful face-to-face interactions. The event will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 12:00-4:00pm at the Orlando Fairgrounds.
• The Downtown Orlando Partnership’s First Friday Networking Coffee event is this Friday, Nov. 1st. The event will be held at the Eola View from 8:00am - 9:00am. The First Friday Networking Coffee event gives the opportunity to build meaningful connections within the downtown Orlando business community.
• 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 Senior VPs Brent Nelson and Michael Kalinich attended the State of Osceola County address, pictured with board member Robb Larson (Osceola Heritage Park/ASM Global).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was recognized in Orlando Business Journal's 2024 edition of Most Influential Leaders, pictured at the award celebration at Hilton Orlando.

GO Sports Senior VP Michael Kalinich attended the State of Osceola County address, pictured with Chair Elect Caesar Lopez (Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Orlando Business Journal's Most Influential Leaders award celebration, pictured with Jarrod Dillon (Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride).

GO Sports Senior VP Michael Kalinich attended the State of Osceola County address, pictured with board member Adrianna Sekula (Solidarity Partners).

GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen and Associate VP Chase DeMayo attended The Lifeboat Project Gala, pictured with board member Jesse Martinez (Celeste Hotel).

GO Sports Associate VP Kyle Sturley attended the Orlando Pride’s Women in Sports panel prior to the team’s final regular season match last weekend. Pictured are panelists Morgan Jones (former WNBA player, turned life coach), moderator Kay Rawlins (Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride), Renae Ingles (former pro Netball player, turned executive coach), Megan Rose (USTA) and Aime Dugan (Special Olympics).

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

GO Sports is proud to welcome our newest corporate partner, Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista! For more information, click the logo above.

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.

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