"Orlando's elevation to the top spot in this year's rankings is a testament to the vibrant collaboration between world-class venues, dedicated sports commissions, and the enthusiastic community that makes Orlando a standout destination for sports business. Congratulations to Orlando and all of the cities on the list who are making such a positive business impact in their local markets and nationwide."

- Abe Madkour

Publisher and Executive Editor, Sports Business Journal

Around The Horn.

• The Sports Business Journal's much-anticipated 2024 Best Sports Business Cities (BSBC) rankings were announced earlier this week and Orlando was crowned as the No. 1 destination for Attracting and Hosting Events! In unveiling this year's rankings, Orlando was touted for its exceptional achievements and city landscape, as well as the ability to host anything from NCAA tournaments to major league competition and industry conferences.
• The Stetson men's basketball team will play their first March Madness game in program history as they are scheduled to face UCONN tomorrow at 2:45pm. The Hatters, who come in as a 16-seed, will need to upset the reigning champion Huskies for a shot at the Round of 32 this weekend.
• The Orlando Magic have won four games in a row as they shut down the Charlotte Hornets Tuesday night 112-92 and remain the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. With the win, Orlando has secured a non-losing season for the first time since 2018 and, at worst, the No. 10 spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
• UCF men's basketball has come to an end as the Knights failed to beat the South Florida Bulls on Tuesday in the NIT tournament following the regular season. Although not the ending they desired, the Knights held their own this season in a very competitive Big-12 Conference, which they were predicted to come in last place before the season began. The Knights finished with a (17-16) record and will look to build off of their strong inaugural season in the conference.
• The Orlando City Lions will look to bounce back from their loss to Atlanta United last week as they host Austin FC Saturday, March 23 at Inter&Co Stadium. The match is scheduled for 7:30pm as both clubs are searching for their first win of the MLS season.
• The Orlando Pride ended last week's matchup in Kentucky against Racing Louisville with a 2-2 draw. The Pride went down quickly 2-0, but fought there way back with an equalizing goal in the 86' minute. Orlando will look to capture their first victory as they host Angel City FC tomorrow, March 22 at 8pm.
• The Orlando Solar Bears return on Monday, March 25 to host the Florida Everblades. Puck drop is slated for 7pm at the AdventHealth Rink inside the Kia Center. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
• The Orlando Valkyries continue their road trip tonight as they are scheduled to play at Gas South Arena against the Atlanta Vibe at 7pm. Click here for the link to YouTube where you can watch the game tonight! The Valkyries (5-7) will return to Addition Financial Arena on Thursday, April 11 to face the Grand Rapids Rise.
• We hope you have your brackets ready as March Madness is officially upon us! The Round of 64 kicks off today with 16 different matchups scheduled between 12:15pm and 10:05pm. The remaining 16 games will be played throughout tomorrow as we wait to see who will move on to the next round.

Be a part of the magic of runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend. As a volunteer, you’d be supporting the runDisney® athletes and the presence of Make-A-Wish® Central & Northern Florida at Walt Disney World® Resort.

To register click HERE.

Manchester City and FC Barcelona are coming to Orlando this summer!

In The News.

• The Orlando VA Health Care System will soon debut their new 139,000-square-foot clinic building in Daytona Beach. The health care provider for U.S. military veterans will begin accepting patients on May 8, and will offer many new services including on-site healthcare for homeless veterans. VA Orlando Healthcare System was opened in 2006 and now has 13 locations across the Greater Orlando region and the state.
• The City of Longwood is receiving a grant for water infrastructure improvements ahead of the next hurricane season. The Economic Development Administration awarded Longwood $676,426 to make stormwater enhancements to an industrial park area around Bennett Drive.
• Deals have been finalized for two conservation easements that will limit future development on more than 13,000 acres in Osceola and Highlands counties, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced March 18. The deals are valued at over $36 million, and are part of the 23-year-old Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which now has been used to set aside more than 100,000 acres.
• While energy production in Florida is dominated by natural gas, solar-powered energy moved past coal in 2023 and into the third-highest source of power in the Sunshine State. Nuclear power was the second-highest, accounting for 11% of energy production. Solar energy production in Florida has nearly quadrupled over the last five years. Nearly three-fourths of all solar power generated in Florida in 2023 was from electric utility companies. The next highest segment was residential, which accounted for just under 20% of Florida’s solar power last year.
• James Beard Award for Excellence winner Chef Maneet Chauhan has announced she will be hosting a monthly "Eet, Meet, and Greet" at her popular restaurant in Disney Springs through July of this year. The famous Chopped chef operates three different restaurants throughout the country, and stated that she wants to meet local Orlando foodies and share with them some of her favorite and most inspired Indian cuisine.
• Momentum is gathering for Olympus, the 243-acre master-planned community in South Clermont. Two significant developments are the building of a 280-unit apartment building with roughly 20,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, and the permission to build up to 150,000 square feet of restaurant, retail, medical office, and office space.
• The Maitland Public Library will undergo a $19 million renovation for an entirely new 20,000-square-foot facility that would comply with current building codes and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Voters approved of a $14 million bond referendum earlier this week with a 62% favoring vote, and the other $5 million will come from the city. Maitland city officials state they hope the library will be open to the public in 3-4 years.

Stay Engaged.

• Walt Disney World is offering discounted theme park admission to Floridians under the name of Discover Disney Tickets. These special tickets can be used between April 2 and Sept. 28, and it is one park per day unless you purchase the park-hopping option. Discover Disney Tickets are also available to non-Florida residents, but at an elevated price. Florida residency must be validated online at time of purchase or at a Disney World park ticket window.
• Attend the Spring Sip & Stroll on March 24 for an afternoon of fine wines, assortments of cheeses, and other light snacks. The event will be held at the Central Florida Animal Reserve, and there will be a self-guided tour to see the majestic big cats as well as a silent auction. The price is $50 per person and registration is needed in advance.
• SeaWorld Orlando is celebrating the fifth birthday of its Sesame Street Land, and one of the special events is a dance-heavy, Muppet-happy, sunny day parade. There are five different notable moments throughout the parade to keep an eye on, as they split up the dance and show before the floats retreat backstage again. The birthday parade will continue now through April 28, but is not available everyday so check the SeaWorld website or app for featured times.
• Universal Studios continues their Mardi Gras festivities and parade through April 7 of this year, so don't miss out! The famous parade features six new floats this year, and there are plenty of international and New-Orleans themed food and drinks for everyone to choose from. The parade is included with your Universal Studios admission ticket, and the food and beverage are available for purchase.
• Legoland Florida Resort is entering the spring season with a new kids ticket offer for $29. The deal can include both the Winter Haven theme park, along with its attached water park and the Peppa Pig Theme Park located next door. The $29 deal is valid from now until June 14, and can only be obtained with the purchase of one adult ticket. Children must be between the ages of 2-12 to qualify for the offer.
• The Central Florida Job Fair is taking place next week on Wednesday, March 27 at the Central Florida Fair Expo Park located on West Colonial Dr. The fair will feature over 100 employers offering thousands of career openings in various industries. The event will run from 12-4pm, and resourced will be on-hand to assist in your job search.
• SeaWorld Orlando's remodeling of its Orca Stadium has almost come to completion, with a revamped stage, resealed pool, and revised color scheme that looks to reduce glare and squinting. The construction on the stadium was a 63-day project in total, and due to the popularity of the whales, SeaWorld had to rope off sections as they were being worked on to continue the show.
• 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 and CEO Jason Siegel with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer as Orlando was named the Best Sport Business City for Attracting and Hosting Events by Sports Business Journal.

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson and Manager Elizabeth Caldarelli attended the CFHLA Seminole County Hoteliers Luncheon earlier today, pictured with GO Sports board member Robert Agrusa (CFHLA).

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik pictured with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and GO Sports board member Craig Borkon (Orlando Venues) at the Sports Business Journal press conference on Monday.

GO Sports President and CEO Jason Siegel attended the Sports Business Journal press conference on Monday, pictured with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, GO Sports Chairman Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth), and Robert Agrusa (CFHLA).

GO Sports President and CEO Jason Siegel at the Manchester City vs. FC Barcelona Orlando match announcement, pictured with Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe, GO Sports Chair Elect Caesar Lopez (Orlando City, Orlando Pride), and board members Craig Borkon (Orlando Venues), and Ricardo Villar (Florida Cup).

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson attended the Skal International Orlando March Reception at the Orlando Magic game on Tuesday night, pictured with GO Sports board members Allen Johnson (Orlando Venues), and Jesse Martinez (The Alfond Inn).

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the Orlando Magic Gamechang(hers) Leadership Summit, pictured with Lori Newcomb (Special Olympics Florida) and Kaia Forget (Orlando City SC and Orlando Pride).

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson pictured with Lake County Commissioner Kirby Smith and Ryan Ritchie (Discover Lake County, FL) at the Sports Business Journal press conference on Monday.

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

For more information, visit 11thhourbiz.com.

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.

• Orlando Author's Newest Book
• Florida Film Festival Unveils 2024 Program