Around The Horn.

• The Pop Tarts Bowl between the Kansas State Wildcats and North Carolina State kicks off at 5:45pm tonight at Camping World Stadium. The Wolfpack (9-3, 6-2 ACC) and 25th-ranked Wildcats (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) have never met on the gridiron, and Kansas State will be making its Pop-Tarts Bowl debut.
• Florida Citrus Sports announced that Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw will headline the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Halftime Show presented by Cheez-It Snap’d, one of college football’s premier postseason events.
• UCF received a commitment from transfer Daylan Dotson, a defensive end from UT Martin on Wednesday. Dotson was named a second-team All-American selection this past season and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.
• Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has often talked highly of his team’s depth throughout the first quarter of the regular season and it was put to the test Wednesday night at Kia Center against the 76ers.
• After leading Orlando City to a record-setting season that ended in the East semifinals, coach Oscar Pareja agreed to a two-year deal with the club Tuesday. Pareja, who was hired in 2020, is 70-37-42 and has led his team the playoffs each season, a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy in 2022 and consecutive appearances in Concacaf Champions Cup.
• In Tuesday night’s MLS SuperDraft, Orlando City selected four players in the MLS SuperDraft. The Lions chose Syracuse midfielder Jeorgio Kocevski (No. 21 overall), West Virginia forward Yutaro Tsukada (No. 25 overall), Pitt midfielder Filip Mirkovic (No. 54 overall) and Charlotte midfielder Riyon Tori (No. 83 overall).
• Midfielder Haley McCutcheon is under contract with the Orlando Pride through 2026 after agreeing to new terms with the club Wednesday. McCutcheon was acquired from the Houston Dash during the 2022 season. She was the No. 7 pick in the 2018 NWSL Draft.
• Jaylin Sellers scored 15 points and Darius Johnson and Marchelus Avery had 13 apiece as UCF men's basketball defeated Florida A&M. UCF, which led by two at halftime, scored 10 straight points with Johnson’s 3-pointer giving the Knights the game’s first double-digit lead midway through the second half.
• UCF capped its first season in the Big 12 by signing its highest-ranked recruiting class in school history during the start of National Signing Day’s early period on Wednesday. The Knights signed 18 commitments, including a record 8 four-star recruits as part of the class that ranked No. 32 in the 247Sports composite rankings. The majority of the class was from Florida, with six players coming from Georgia and one apiece from South Carolina and Texas. Six of the 10 players from the state were from the Central Florida area.

Be a part of the magic of the 2024 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend! As a volunteer, you’d be supporting the runDisney® athletes and the presence of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® at Walt Disney World Resort on the racecourse and at the finish area. Click here to register now! 

In The News.

• United Arts of Central Florida announced their list of 44 Central Florida nonprofit cultural institutions that will be receiving over $2.3 million in Operating Support Grants for 2024.
• Addition Financial Credit Union has opened applications for its Renovate to Educate program. Through the annual program, Addition Financial selects a number of lucky teachers in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Lake Counties to receive up to $2,500 for a classroom makeover. Once the winning teachers are selected, they are matched with a Seminole State College Design program intern to imagine their new space, with reveals scheduled in the new school year.
• This spirit of innovation extended to the world of wish-granting. Not only did Disney hit a major milestone in our work with Make-A-Wish – the 150,000th Disney wish – they also challenged themselves to find new and uniquely Disney ways to grant wishes through first-of-their-kind events at the parks and resorts across the globe.
• The countdown is on for the largest runDisney race weekend of the season with just a few weeks to go until the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, taking place Jan. 3-7, 2024. Celebrating Mickey Mouse and friends, participants will go the distance during the unforgettable race weekend filled with four different races, two challenges, and inspiration at every turn.
• The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, the overseeing entity of the Orlando and Orlando Executive airports, expects to see nearly 3.9 million passengers during the 23-day Christmas/New Year's travel period, according to recent data. If that seems like a lot of people, it is. In fact, it's 13.5% more than the 3.43 million travelers welcomed during the same period last year.
• Orlando-based retailer Freehand Goods has just named The Florida State Parks Foundation as its official charitable partner for 2024. As part of the partnership, Freehand Goods has pledged at least $500 a month to the Foundation as well as contributions from the sale of custom, collaborative products which will be released throughout 2024.
• When the Nickelodeon Hotel returns to Orlando, it will bring a modern design with pops of green and orange to the otherwise classic Spanish Mediterranean architecture of Everest Place. The plan calls for an 11-story hotel complex overlooking the large artificial lake with a three-story parking garage.

Stay Engaged.

• Join The Alfond Inn as it hosts its 10th Anniversary New Year’s Eve Masquerade Gala, an incredible evening curated with exceptional culinary masterpieces and experiences.
• Enzian’s Annual James Bond New Year’s Party is back! Whether you’re feeling a little Sean Connery or more Daniel Craig – come dressed to impress in your best Bond themed outfit and you could even win a prize. 
• The holidays are in full swing, and sometimes nailing down those New Year’s Eve plans can prove challenging amid the stress. Why not let one of Orlando’s fine establishments do the work for you? 
• Third Thursday Orlando is a district-wide activation featuring art, music, markets, history, food, and entertainment. In partnership with CityArts, the Downtown Arts District, The History Center, and the local business community, downtown Orlando has curated an event that brings it all together. Every third Thursday of every month, enjoy a free art gallery, live music, free admission to the history center, food and drink specials and a makers market.
• Enzian Theater will be hosting a special screening of Terry Gilliam’s award-winning work, 12 Monkeys on Saturday, January 20, accompanied by a lecture about the realities of time travel.
• SeaWorld Orlando is again offering an extended Fun Card deal. Buyers now get unlimited visits to the theme park for the rest of 2023 and all of 2024. The price is $131.99. A version also includes admission to the Aquatica water park through the end of 2024, and it sells for $189.99.
• 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 attended the unveiling of the new Kia Center naming rights deal, pictured with new GO Sports Board Member Ryan DeVos (Orlando Magic & Orlando Squeeze).

GO Sports Senior Director Kyle Sturley, who is also Chair of the Downtown Arts District, attended the dedication of the new gates installed at the Courtyard at CityArts at the historic Rogers-Kiene Building in downtown Orlando. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer spoke at the dedication, pictured here with Kyle and many other D.A.D. board members and community leaders.

GO Sports Intern Gabriella Haugland worked her first game as a sideline reporter for the UCF Men’s basketball game vs. Florida A&M. She is pictured interviewing UCF’s Shemarri Allen.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel visited with new Board Member Frank Vertolli (Net Conversion) at GO Sports' recent December board meeting.

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

For more information, visit MasseyServices.com.

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.

• Bungalower Roundup: Awesome NYE Options to Ring in 2024
• Pictures: 2023 Gasparilla Bowl
• 2024 Orlando City Season Schedule