"On behalf of our Chairman, Sharon Line Clary, our Board of Directors and our partners at UCF, Rollins College, City of Orlando, Orlando Venues, Orange County, Visit Orlando, Discover Lake County, Mission Resort + Club and the Florida Sports Foundation, we want to thank the NCAA for awarding these championships to our region...The NCAA knows our community will come together to provide an exceptionally positive experience for the student-athletes that participate, as well as their families, alumni and fans who travel to watch them compete."

-Jason Siegel

President & CEO, Greater Orlando Sports Commission

Around The Horn.

• The NCAA announced that Orlando was selected to host the First-and-Second Rounds of the 2028 NCAA DI Men’s Basketball Championship, as well as the 2027 Division II Women’s Golf Championship! The Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, also known as March Madness, will return to Kia Center in 2028, co-hosted by UCF. The 2027 Division II Women’s Golf Championship will be held at Mission Resort + Club in Lake County, co-hosted by Rollins College.
• FIFA has announced the 11 cities and 12 venues that will host matches during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium both set to welcome competition as the 32-team tournament makes its U.S. debut next summer! Notably, Orlando will be the only 2025 FIFA Club World Cup host city with tournament matches in multiple different venues.
• For the first time in the organization’s history, each of Orlando’s professional soccer teams has clinched their places in the 2024 playoffs with Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC, the National Women’s Soccer League’s Orlando Pride and MLS NEXT Pro’s Orlando City B all earning playoff berths this year. Orlando City clinched its spot most recently following a 3-1 win over FC Dallas on Sunday, while the Pride and Orlando City B both earned their playoff spot earlier in September.
• UCF Football will look to bounce back from its loss to Colorado last week as the team now travels to Gainesville for a 7:45pm kickoff this Saturday against the Florida Gators. The Knights (3-1, 1-1 Big 12) can climb back up the Big 12 Conference power rankings following a strong showing at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this weekend.
• The Orlando Magic announced the team will honor co-founder Pat Williams with a special patch on their uniforms this season. All of Orlando's jerseys will feature a black stripe along the top of the left side with the initials "PW" in white. The Magic are entering their 36th season with expectations of returning to the playoffs for a second straight year.
• The Orlando Solar Bears announced that forwards Kelly Bent, Carson Focht, Alex Frye, Jesse Jacques, Spencer Kersten and defenseman Robbie Stucker have been invited to partake in various American Hockey League (AHL) training camps that started on Monday of this week. The Solar Bears will begin their on-ice training camp festivities next Monday at the Orlando Ice Den in Maitland.
• The Osceola Magic, NBA G League affiliate of the Orlando Magic, have announced the team schedule for the 2024-25 regular season, and single-game tickets are now on sale! The Magic will kick off their season Friday, November 8 at Osceola Heritage Park when they host the Austin Spurs at 7:00pm.
• The Pro Volleyball Federation announced it will play a 28-game slate for the 2025 campaign, an increase of four games from last season. The league is also adding another team to the mix to give the league eight teams overall. The Orlando Valkyries and the rest of the teams will now play 14 home games and 14 away games, seeing league opponents a total of four times each.

FIFA has announced the 11 cities and 12 venues that will host matches during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium both set to welcome competition as the 32-team tournament makes its U.S. debut next summer! Notably, Orlando will be the only 2025 FIFA Club World Cup host city with tournament matches in multiple different venues.

For the first time in the organization’s history, each of Orlando’s professional soccer teams has clinched their places in the 2024 playoffs with Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC, the National Women’s Soccer League’s Orlando Pride and MLS NEXT Pro’s Orlando City B all earning playoff berths this year!

In The News.

• The Orange County Convention Center announced it generates approximately $3.9 billion—including direct, indirect and induced impacts—annually in economic impact for the Central Florida economy, according to a new study by PFM Group Consulting. This impact highlights the Convention Center's vital role in supporting about 1,200 local businesses—including hotels, restaurants and offices.
• The City of Orlando Downtown Recreation Center with expanded services for young Parramore residents is now open following the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and District 5 City Commissioner Shan Rose last week. The space will offer enrichment programs including tutoring, mental health support, financial literacy, career guidance and culinary classes, along with two game rooms, a movie room and a computer lab. (Florida Sun Review)
• Waterford Lakes Town Center, Central Florida's seventh-largest retail center, has been sold to New York-based Kimco Realty for $322 million. Built in 1999, the 79-acre outdoor mall receives 13.6 million visits annually, according to a release from Kimco. The transaction comes as the shopping center has seen several high-profile additions either open or sign leases recently. (Orlando Business Journal)
• Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa announced the completion of a $25 million renovation that updated the lobby, refreshed all 394 guest rooms and the spa, and added a 5,000-square-foot outdoor terrace that can be used for special events. In addition to the new terrace, groups will find 20,000 square feet of indoor meeting space. (Meetings Net)
• Orlando International Airport has received several top rankings from USA Today in the latest release of its annual 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Orlando International Airport (MCO) was ranked No. 2 for Best Airport Grab-and-Go Food in the US, ranked third for Best Airport For Dining, and ranked third for Best Airport For Shopping, along with others. (Orlando Business Journal).

A stellar mix of athletes, coaches and support team members has been tapped for induction into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class. The eight-member class represents six different sports and includes a seven-time NBA All-Star, a Super Bowl winner, women’s World Cup champion, a 14-time NCAA Track & Field Championship Coach, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, a four-time national champion cheerleading coach and the first-ever athletic trainer. The eight will be inducted in a star-studded ceremony to be held at the Kia Center in Orlando on October 16.

Stay Engaged.

• Guests are enjoying one last walk around Disney's Tom Sawyer Island, a longtime Frontierland feature at its Magic Kingdom theme park. Opened back in 1973 as one of the first Magic Kingdom features, Disney has announced they plan to repurpose the vast area for two "Cars-themed" attractions, which will include a ride that represents a rally race around mountain trails, geysers and mudholes.
• Universal Orlando's 2024 edition of Halloween Horror Nights is in full swing as guests can enjoy 10 haunted houses, five scare zones and a show titled "Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus" throughout the Universal Studios theme park. Halloween Horror Nights is an after-hours event that runs on 48 select evenings between August 30 - November 3.
• An orphaned Pacific walrus found on the beaches of northern Alaska is now living at SeaWorld Orlando, the theme park announced last week. The calf, estimated to be a few weeks old, was discovered by residents of Utqiagvik, Alaska, after a walrus herd had left the area. After rehabilitative care, she was determined to be non-releasable by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and she arrived at SeaWorld weighing about 220 pounds.
• The City of Orlando’s Downtown Development Board launched a newly created Luminary Market this week at Luminary Green Park in the Creative Village. This monthly market will showcase between 20 to 25 unique vendors, featuring local favorites and curated goods, all designed to celebrate and support the growing Creative Village community of residents, students and workers.
• Join the City of Orlando's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the Hispanic Heritage Art Exhibit running from September 17 - November 3 at City Hall's Terrace Gallery. The exhibit, titled Pioneers of Change: Shaping The Future Together, features a variety of art pieces by local visual artists that showcase the richness of Latin American history, culture and heritage through visual arts. A Community Celebration Event with Latin food, music and live entertainment will be held on October 3, 2024.
• Country Thunder Florida returns to Osceola Heritage Park on October 18-20 this year featuring electrifying performances from Luke Combs, Bailey Zimmerman, Jon Pardi, and more. There are many different ticket options to choose from, ranging from single-day admission to camping over the weekend. View details about pricing and different ticket options here.
• 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 Orlando Museum of Art's 100 Years of Art Gala, pictured with GO Sports Chairman Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth) and her husband Michael Clary (Clary Partners).

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson and Associate VP Lindsey McBride attended the Teams Conference in Anaheim last week, pictured with Lala Ismailova (JTA Pacific).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Executive VP Jennifer Lastik pictured with Kevin Thibault (GOAA) and board member Tom Draper (GOAA) as they welcome Rugby World Cup to Orlando International Airport.

GO Sports Senior VP Michael Kalinich, Associate VPs Lindsey McBride and Chase DeMayo, and Manager Elizabeth Caldarelli pictured at the Brightline welcome reception for Rugby World Cup.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Teen Challenge Gala at Orlando World Center Marriot, pictured with board member Frank Ioppolo (Ioppolo Law Group) and his wife Brandy Ioppolo (Strategic VFO).

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the Argent Women in Business event, pictured with Amanda Clavijo (Osceola County), Beth Hobart (Mainframe Real Estate), Jamilah Felix (AdventHealth), Maritza Martinez-Guerrero (Orlando Magic), and board members Anne-Marie Hayward (Orlando Business Journal) and Jessi Blakely (Tavistock Group).

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the Sports Business Journal GameChangers Honoree Ceremony in New York last week, pictured with Orlando local honoree Katie Stocz Miller (Orlando Magic).

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the Argent Women in Business event at Neiman Marcus, pictured with Beth Hobart (Mainframe Real Estate), Kelly Cohen (The Southern Group), Suneera Madhani (Worth AI), Kay Rawlins (Orlando City/Orlando Pride), Sali Christenson (Argent) and Danielle Permenter (Orlando Economic Partnership).

GO Sports Chairman Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth), Chair Elect Caesar Lopez (Orlando City/Orlando Pride), and Past Chairs Faron Kelley (Walt Disney World) and Michael Forde (Orlando Magic) pictured at the Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon.

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson and Associate VP Lindsey McBride attended the SportsTravel Teams Conference in Anaheim last week, pictured with Ryan Ritchie (Discover Lake County), Danny Trosset (Seminole County) and GO Sports board member Rob Sitz (DS Sports Ventures).

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