Impact Update for Thursday, May 30 | |
“It’s a great feeling. I'll be honest, it'll probably be short-lived because we have bigger goals we’ve set this season and objectives that we want to reach this season. But of course, it’s a nice feeling. It’s great to do it in front of our fans, our home fans who supported us through the tough times and we’re rewarding them for their support by having this record, setting a record for the NWSL. A lot of the credit has to go to the players and the support staff because, without them, we wouldn't have achieved this today. It’s a great feeling, but we have other things we want to aspire to.”
-Seb Hines
Orlando Pride Head Coach
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Quote of the Day.
"Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision."
-Muhammad Ali
World Heavyweight Champion Boxer and Activist
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Around The Horn.
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The Orlando Pride continued their historic start to the season with a league-record eighth consecutive victory last Friday night against Portland. The Pride (8-0-3) sit atop the NWSL standings and continue to dominate the league, with star player Barbra Banda tied for first as the league's leading scorer. The Pride will enjoy some much-deserved time off before they travel to Snapdragon Stadium on June 7 to take on the San Diego Wave.
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UCF baseball earned a spot in the 64-team field of the NCAA Baseball Championship earlier this week, and it is the first time the team has been invited to the postseason since 2017. The Knights (35-19, 14-15 Big 12) landed as the third seed in the Tallahassee Regional, with the double-elimination tournament scheduled to begin tomorrow, May 31. UCF will face the second-seed Alabama Crimson Tide for the night game at 6pm.
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Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs earned a NBA All-Defensive second team recognition last week for his aggressive and disruptive play throughout the 2023-24 season. Suggs set the tone for the Orlando Magic defense, which finished the regular season third in defensive rating (110.8) behind only Boston and Minnesota. Suggs is the first and only guard in Orlando Magic history to make the All-Defensive team.
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The Orange County Commission paved the way for UCF's stadium expansion to start construction later this year. Last week, county commissioners approved the agreement to provide $90 million in tourist development tax funds for FBC Mortgage Stadium's 58,000-square-foot expansion of the Roth Tower. The project will include an expanded club level, two new suite levels, and a new level for the press.
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Orlando's USTA National Campus in Lake Nona will play host to the second round of Major League Pickleball playoffs later this year on November 22-24. The league consists of 22 teams split up into two divisions, including our very own Orlando Squeeze owned by the DeVos family.
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Orlando City SC secured a 1-1 draw last night on the road against the Chicago Fire. The Lions (4-6-5) jumped out in front quickly with a 4th minute goal from Facundo Torres, but Hugo Cuypers from Chicago later evened the game with a goal in the 70th minute. Orlando City will look to build off of this momentum and improve their record as they travel to New York to face the Red Bulls this Saturday, June 1 at 7:30pm.
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UCF Football's 'Black Friday Showdown' against Utah will air on primetime TV Friday, Nov. 29 at 8:00pm on FOX. The game, which takes place on Black Friday and is the regular-season finale, will be the first meeting between the two programs and just the second time the Knights will be featured on FOX.
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USTA Florida is closing its Committee and Project Team applications tomorrow, May 31, and you don't want to miss out on this great opportunity! Visit the USTA website to learn more information about the USTA, the application process, and the differences between the Committee and Project Team.
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The Florida Classic returns to Orlando again this year from November 21-24 and is a friendly annual college football rivalry between two of Florida's most popular HBCUs. If you are interested in being a vendor at this year's Florida Classic, please fill out the vendor interest form on their website and submit. The vendor locations will be on the corners of Church St. & Tampa Ave., as well as Pine St. & Tampa Ave.
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Congratulations to the leadership team at Camping World Stadium who recently won the Larry Pendleton Award for Large Market Venue of the Year! Congratulations to our partners at Orlando Venues and Camping World Stadium on this terrific recognition! | |
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In The News.
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The world's leading membership and leisure travel company, Travel + Leisure Co., is set to relocate its headquarters to downtown Orlando. This strategic move will bring more than 1,000 employees to Orlando's downtown core, create over 100 new high-wage jobs, and invest over $29 million in capital. Orlando city commissioners awarded over $6 million in incentives to support the relocation, underscoring their commitment to fostering a vibrant downtown business environment.
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AdventHealth has began construction on its first hospital in southeast Orlando's Lake Nona community. The nonprofit health system is building a 10-story, $423 million hospital that will debut in 2026 with 80 beds, with shell space to expand to up to 320 beds. AdventHealth has stated their goal will be to have a incision-less center of excellence, which includes using ultrasound to break up tumors, as well as using robotic surgical technology.
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'Bar Rescue' star Jon Taffer announced he will be opening up a new restaurant on International Drive called Taffer's Tavern, a concept he originally came up with back in 2020. The eatery is a full-service restaurant and bar concept and will be the first location to open in Florida. The location on I-Drive will be in the popular Pointe Orlando outdoor mall with expectations to open this winter.
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Orlando's Packing District is now offering many new dining spots to local residents as The Great Southern Box Co. Food Hall opened last week. The 13,000-square-foot destination is located on historic Orange Blossom Trail, and features five different restaurants in addition to a bar, a large outdoor space, event space and a brewery.
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Flair Airlines, a low-cost international carrier, will add four new Canadian destinations from Orlando International Airport this fall. Flights will range anywhere from $44-$124, and Flair will be the lone airline serving flights to Kitchener-Waterloo, Saint John and London, Ontario.
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A Texas-based developer, Constellation Real Estate Partners, has announced plans for a new industrial park on the west side of Orlando International Airport. The 972,079-square-foot space, to be known as Constellation Air Commerce, will consist of three different buildings. Two buildings, 232,497 square feet and 283,580 square feet respectively, will feature front parking and rear loading, while the third with 456,002 square feet will have cross dock loading.
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Stay Engaged.
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Universal Orlando is introducing a specially ticketed preview night to its Halloween Horror Nights event, offering limited capacity and shorter wait times for haunted houses on August 29. The first-ever "Premium Scream Night" will include access to all 10 of the event's mazes and the five scare zones. Ticket purchase will also include specialty food items, beverages, self-parking, access to select attractions in Universal Studios theme park and a souvenir credential.
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The Rolling Stones are coming to Camping World Stadium on June 3 as they continue on their Hackney Diamonds tour. The Stones, who formed over 60 years ago, continue to produce music and travel throughout the country performing both old and new verses. Don't miss out on your chance to buy tickets and experience what The Rolling Stones still have to offer!
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Walt Disney World continues to work on its new attraction, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, ahead of its planned June 28 opening this summer. Guests enjoying the park can see various different parts of the new water ride peeking over the top of the fence as they travel past the area, including a large water tower imprinted with the words "Tiana's Foods." Tiana's Bayou Adventure is replacing the long-tenured Splash Mountain water ride which featured characters from the 1940s movie, "Song of the South."
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Join the Downtown Orlando Partnership for its Chow on Church event from 3:30-6pm on Tuesday, June 18th, at Inter&Co Stadium! Admission includes business networking, food tasting, the opportunity to meet Orlando Pride players, and two complimentary tickets for an upcoming Pride match!
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SeaWorld Orlando launches an expanded version of its Viva La Música concert series and festival this weekend with a Sunday performance by Sergio Vargas. The Latin music shows will be spread out across the five Sundays in June, and is included with general theme park admission. Shows will occur at 2:00pm and 5:00pm inside the park's 2,000-seat Nautilus Theater.
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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.
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Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers.
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GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik spoke at the Downtown Orlando Partnership Connect DTO Sports & Entertainment Panel earlier this week, pictured with Jill Vaughan (DOP), Jarrod Dillon (Orlando City/Orlando Pride), Shelly Wilkes (Orlando Magic), and board member Allen Johnson (Orlando Venues). | |
GO Sports Chairman Sharon Line Clary and her husband Michael Clary pictured at the Orange County Regional History Center's FIFA World Cup 1994 exhibit with George Diaz (GO Sports) and Joanie Schirm (former Sports Commission President). | |
GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen and his wife Jill Cohen (The Lifeboat Project) attended the Mental Health Association of Central Florida's "Legacy of Champions" Luncheon earlier this week, pictured with Kristin Westover (Visit Orlando). | |
GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Executive VP Jennifer Lastik, and Associate VP Lindsey McBride at the NCAA DII Men's and Women's Golf Championship, pictured with Pennie Parker (Rollins College). | |
GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Associate VP Lindsey McBride pictured with the NCAA DII Men's Golf National Championship trophy at Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge last week, alongside Antonio Cannavaro (NCAA). | |
GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the NCAA DII National Championships Festival Opening Ceremonies last week at Mango's Tropical Café, pictured with GO Sports Chairman Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth), Chair Elect Caesar Lopez (Orlando City/Orlando Pride), and board member Mario Bass (Visit Orlando). | |
GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel joined iHeart radio station Johnny's House on XL106.7 last week to promote the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival, as well as upcoming AAU Volleyball tournament and pro soccer matches in Orlando. | |
GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Senior VP Brent Nelson, Manager Elizabeth Caldarelli and Intern Pierce O'Lenick at the NCAA DII Men's and Women's Tennis Championships at Sanlando Park last week, pictured with Lance Pederson (NCAA). | |
GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Chairman Sharon Line Clary attended the NCAA DII Men's and Women's Tennis Championships at Sanlando Park last week, pictured with Charlie Baker (NCAA President) and Danny Trosset (Seminole County). | |
GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Associate VP Chase DeMayo and Director Jordan Lyda pictured at the NCAA DII Softball Championships at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park last week. | |
Corporate Partner Spotlight. | |
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