“We feel like we made a real step. It’s not a huge step but it’s a little step to be able to play against an amazingly talented Brazil team and bend, but not break. So for us, looking at everything, it’s a good thing for our preparation getting ready for Copa America.”

-Gregg Berhalter

U.S. Men's National Team Head Coach

Around The Horn.

• The U.S. Men's National Team faced Brazil last night at Camping World Stadium in front of 60,016 fans, a record for a senior match in the state of Florida! With the Copa America tournament quickly approaching, the U.S. needed a good performance to help build momentum heading into the competition, and they did just that by securing a 1-1 draw against a team they are 1-18 against historically. The U.S. will look to continue this strong style of play when they face Bolivia on June 23 to begin the tournament.
• The Orlando Pride's win streak came to an end last week against the San Diego Wave as they finished the match with a 1-1 draw. Despite the draw, the Pride (8-0-4) still remain unbeaten this season and sit in 2nd place of the NWSL standings behind the Kansas City Current. The Pride will look to get back in the win column as they travel to North Carolina to take on the Courage Saturday, June 15 at 7:30pm.
• The three Orlando bowl games have released the dates, TV coverage and times for the 2024 season. The new 12-team College Football Playoff has led to some reshuffling for a few of the bowl games, including the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl which will now be held on New Year's Eve at 3:00pm and air on ABC. The Pop-Tarts Bowl will again be held on Dec. 28 with kickoff scheduled for 3:30pm on ABC, and the StaffDNA Cure Bowl will begin at noon on Dec. 20 and will air on ESPN.
• 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.
• 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.
• Orlando City SC is coming off its two-week break from match play for the FIFA international window this weekend as they host Los Angeles FC on Saturday, June 15 at Inter&Co Stadium at 7:30pm. The Lions (4-7-5) will look to capitalize on the healthy return of forward Duncan Maguire, who missed two games before the last match against New York.
• Orlando is hosting two Copa America soccer matches this summer, and you can get there using Brightline! In partnership with Orlando Health, fans can ride Brightline to its Orlando station and avoid traffic for the June 29 match of Canada v Chile, and the July 1 match between Panama and Bolivia. Visit the Brightline website for more information and how to book your ride.
• GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen recently interviewed Clayton Young, second-place finisher in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon event hosted in Orlando earlier this year! The full, in-depth interview can be accessed here.
• 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.

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Celebrating Women in Sports awards! Visit https://greaterorlandosports.com/celebrating-women-in-sports-nominate/ to nominate an outstanding woman in our sports business community today!

In The News.

• Orlando Health debuted its expanded level one trauma center yesterday on June 12, the same center that treated many of the Pulse nightclub shooting victims eight years ago. Leadership within Orlando Health worked with physicians and nurses who treated the Pulse survivors to redesign the center and more than double its size. This upgrade to the trauma center is part of $25 million in philanthropic-funded renovations to the hospital's entire emergency department, which is expected to be finished in 2025.
• 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.
• Lake Nona West, a much-anticipated 405,000-square-foot lifestyle shopping center, has announced that Target will be the first anchor retail tenant in the complex. Currently under construction, Lake Nona West will consist of open-air shops, ground floor parking, elevated architecture and landscaping, outdoor entertainment spaces and vibrant public art, all of which are hallmarks of the Lake Nona experience.
• The grand opening of Universal's Epic Universe may be slated for 2025, but the theme park is now offering a glimpse of what is to come with the debut of its Epic Universe Preview Center located in CityWalk. The preview center will give visitors a 3D overview of the entire planned park including the locations of rollercoasters, attraction buildings, pedestrian pathways and more. Universal has not yet announced when it would open to the public, but confirmed it will remain up over the next year in preparation of the grand opening.
• Embassy Suites is opening a new hotel concept in Kissimmee that will allow investors to buy property for profit, fun or both. For the first time ever, people can buy into the Embassy Suites brand by purchasing individual rooms or suites in the hotel. Customers will have the option of living or vacationing in the resort, or entering a rental program, letting the company rent the rooms out and splitting the proceeds with the hotel.
• 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.

Stay Engaged.

• Join the Downtown Orlando Partnership for its Chow on Church event from 3:30-6pm next 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!
• 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.
• A new show debuted at Disney World's Epcot theme park, and it's part singalong, part dance party, part trivia contest, and part Spanish lesson. "Celebracion Encanto" can now be seen at the theme park's CommuniCore Plaza stage, and features music and characters from Disney's 2021 film "Encanto." The show is available multiples times daily into the afternoon, and a live Latin groove band takes over the stage in the evening.
• The 2024 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards winners for the Summer quarter have been announced! Visit their website to see which of your favorite local restaurants are highlighted, and what new places you may want to try.
• Walt Disney World's newest attraction features playful animatronics, a catchy soundtrack, a dramatic finale, and the strong possibility of getting wet. Those are the basics to describe Tiana's Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom theme park, which is currently in previews ahead of its debut date on June 28. The ride is replacing the long-tenured Splash Mountain water ride with characters and settings from Disney's 2009 film, "Princess and the Frog."
• The Lake Nona Town Center is hosting Lake Nona's Great American Block Party on June 29 from 3pm - 11pm. Guests can enjoy an evening laser light show, food trucks, live music and carnival rides. If you would like to participate in the pie baking or chicken wing eating contests you can sign up ahead of time using the QR codes 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 attended the U.S. Men's National Team vs. Brazil match at Camping World Stadium yesterday, pictured with board member Allen Johnson (Orlando Venues) and JT Batson (U.S. Soccer Federation).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the U.S. Men's National Team vs. Brazil welcome reception at Isleworth Country Club, pictured with Roseann Harrington (Orange County) and Tom King (U.S. Soccer Federation).

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended a preview opening for Disney's new Tiana's Bayou Adventure attraction earlier this week, pictured with Michelle Sperzel (Harbor House), Pam Nabors (Career Source), Jeff Hayward (Heart of Florida United Way), and board members Lisa Curran (Duke Energy) and Anne-Marie Hayward (Orlando Business Journal).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel pictured with Stan Rubins (Visit Orlando) and Luiz Muzzi (Orlando City SC) at Inter&Co Stadium for U.S. Men's soccer training earlier this week.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the U.S. Men's soccer training at Inter&Co Stadium earlier this week, pictured with Folarin Balogun (U.S. Men's National Team forward).

GO Sports Chairman Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth) and Mayor Jerry Demings (Orange County) pictured with Ednaldo Rodrigues (24th President, Brazilian Football Confederation) ahead of the USMNT vs. Brazil match earlier this week.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the USMNT vs. Brazil soccer match yesterday, pictured with Chair Elect Caesar Lopez (Orlando City/Orlando Pride), and board members Benjamin McCarney (Grand Bohemian) and Jesse Martinez (Celeste Hotel).

GO Sports Associate VP Chase DeMayo, Director Jordan Lyda, and Intern Parker Lee pictured with Alyssa Rice (NCAA) at the recent DII Softball Championships at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park.

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson and Manager Elizabeth Caldarelli attended the Central Florida Housing & Lodging Association's Seminole County Hoteliers Quarterly Luncheon, pictured with Robert Agrusa (CFHLA), Gui Cunha (Seminole County), Danny Trosset (Seminole County), and Commissioner Bob Dallari (Seminole County).

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

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Fun & Games.

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