Impact Update for Thursday, August 28

"We are thrilled to welcome our partners from WWE back to campus for NXT Homecoming...We’re excited to celebrate NXT’s history and meteoric growth, and to amplify our long-standing partnership that has generated countless opportunities for our students to gain dynamic real-world experience alongside best in class professionals and many Full Sail grads who ultimately joined as next-gen workforce for one of the world’s iconic sports & entertainment brands."

-John Saboor

Executive Director, Head of Partnerships

Full Sail University

Quote of the Day

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."

-Lou Holtz

College Football Legend

Across the Board (Of Directors)

• Congratulations to Board Member Scott Cavanaugh on completing a successful 2025 Wyndham Championship with the 1,000th unique winner in PGA Tour history, Cameron Young.
• Congratulations to Board Member Kurt Esser on Team Florida repeating as Region Cup Champions at USA Volleyball.

Around The Horn

• NXT is making its long-awaited return to its birthplace for one unforgettable night at Full Sail University’s state-of-the-art on campus venue, Full Sail Live. Set to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 16, this event showcasing the continued partnership between WWE and Full Sail will be broadcast live on The CW at 8:00pm, bringing fans live front-row access to the heart-pounding action and show-stopping performances. Tickets are on sale now via www.etix.com.
• UCF Football will open the 2025 season tonight, Aug. 28 at 7:00pm as they prepare to host Jacksonville State at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium. The Knights are currently the heavy-favorite under new head coach Scott Frost, boasting a 20.5 point spread over the Gamecocks. This is the first meeting between the two programs, with UCF having won 10 straight season openers since the 2016 season.
• For the 18th time in franchise history, the Orlando Magic are distributing at least $1 million in grants to local nonprofit organizations. According to Orlando Sentinel, the team will distribute a record total of $1.6 million through the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation this season with the first set of grants being distributed in surprise visits to nonprofit organizations in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties assisting at-risk youth in Central Florida.
• The Orlando Pride have announced the signing of Mexican international forward Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle from Tigres UANL Femenil for a world-record fee. Ovalle joins the Pride through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. Including last year’s signing of forward Barbra Banda, the Pride have now completed two of the most expensive transfers in global women’s soccer, making it the only Club in the world to feature two of the six highest-valued transfers of all time.
• With Orlando City SC having played in the Leagues Cup semifinals on Wednesday, the Club's regular season match against Vancouver, originally scheduled for this Saturday, Aug. 30, has been rescheduled and will now be played on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Inter&Co Stadium. Fans who purchased tickets for the postponed match will automatically receive updated tickets in their Ticketmaster account for the rescheduled date.
• WWE SmackDown returns to Kia Center on Friday, Sept. 26 and promises to be an unforgettable night of electrifying wrestling action, featuring the biggest names in the WWE universe. Friday Night SmackDown is renowned for its action-packed matches, larger-than-life personalities, and unexpected twists and turns. Whether you are a die-hard WWE fan or just looking for an exciting night out, you won't want to miss this incredible event.
• The Orlando Valkyries are introducing a new four-match flex plan for the upcoming volleyball season. Plans start as low as $51 for the flex package, and includes a ticket to Opening Night as well as your choice of three regular season games. BONUS: If you purchase any ticket package before Friday, Sept. 19, you will receive an exclusive invite to the Team Kickoff Party with Orlando Valkyries players and coaches.
• The Orlando Solar Bears announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Davis Bunz for the 2025-26 season. Bunz, 26, joins Orlando after spending the 2024-25 season with the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) in the United Kingdom, where he appeared in 53 regular season games and tallied 15 points with a +5 rating.
• Single game tickets to the Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers NHL preseason game at the Kia Center are on sale. The Lightning, NHL affiliate of the Orlando Solar Bears, will face the reigning champions on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 7:30pm. Don't miss your chance to witness professional hockey right here in Orlando, visit the Solar Bears' website to purchase your tickets today.

GO Sports is proud to host the 7th annual Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute on Wednesday, September 17! This year's featured speaker is 3x Olympic Beach Volleyball Gold Medalist, Misty May-Treanor, and 5 local leaders will be recognized: Carrie Allen (Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride), Shannon Clark (Florida Citrus Sports), Chrissy Elliott (Florida Citrus Sports), Heather Fagan (City of Orlando), and Sherry Wheelock (Special Olympics Florida).

Limited tables and event sponsorships are still available! Reach out to Michael and Chase on our team to secure your seat today. For more information, visit Greaterorlandosports.com/celebrating-women-in-sports/.

Around Town

• Florida saw a record number of visitors — 34.4 million — traveling to the Sunshine State in the second quarter of 2025. From April to June, about 31.5 million American tourists traveled domestically while another 2.3 million came from abroad and 640,000 visited from Canada, the state announced in a press release. Florida hit its previous second-quarter record last year, when 34.2 million people visited.
• Full Sail University has been named one of the 30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada in 2025 by MovieMaker Magazine. This year, the annual list highlights universities that help students and graduates "break into the film and TV industry." Full Sail appears alongside other notable institutions including Toronto Film School, University of Southern California, and New York University to name a few.
• The University of Central Florida's Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion has officially opened as elected officials joined founding donors to celebrate the pavilion's opening on UCF's Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona. With the opening, UCF will increase access to its accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs and graduate an additional 150 newly licensed nurses annually.
• Siemens Energy, a global leader in energy technology, has announced plans to relocate its U.S. headquarters from Research Park near UCF to the Lake Nona Town Center. This move marks a significant investment in the Orlando region’s future, reinforcing the region’s reputation as a hub for global headquarters and high-wage job creation. The relocation to Lake Nona, slated for 2027, will ensure the company’s continued growth while maintaining its strong presence in the Orlando community.
• Southwest Airlines will launch an international flight from Orlando International Airport to Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten starting April 7 of next year, according to Orlando Business Journal. Southwest will be the only carrier offering direct service from Orlando to St. Maarten, its first international destination since 2021.
• Westgate Resorts, the largest privately held timeshare and vacation experience company, has announced the completion of its $120 million renovation to its flagship resort located in Kissimmee. The project included renovations to more than 1,500 suites and lobby with a new coffee bar, a Crafted by Starboard retail store, and the addition of two new restaurants. The resort also rebuilt the Mystery Fun House Arcade Experience, a 9,000-square-foot arcade featuring retro and modern gaming, bowling lanes, and state-of-the-art simulators with multiple entertainment zones.

Visit Orlando's Magical Dining, presented by Orlando Health, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025 with a record-breaking 160 restaurants in the program which will run now through Tuesday, Sept. 30. The extensive list includes 24 newcomers and 15 Michelin Guide-recognized options, each offering three-course prix fixe menus priced at $40 and $60. A portion of every meal sold will benefit the REED Charitable Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development and literacy.

All Around

• Disney on Ice will return for a three-day residency at the Kia Center, beginning with a performance at 7:30pm this Friday, Aug. 29. During the show, Mickey and friends will use a “Magical Mousepad” to take the audience on a journey through unforgettable moments from numerous Disney films. On Saturday, Aug. 30, Disney on Ice will continue at the Kia Center with shows at 11:00am, 3:00pm, and 7:00pm. The show will then wrap up on Sunday, Aug. 31, with performances at 1:00pm and 5:00pm.
• Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights begins this week, and you won't want to miss it! On select nights from Friday, Aug. 29 - Sunday, Nov. 2, Halloween Horror Nights will unleash the ultimate nightmare as park guests wander through a sinister lineup of 10 all-new haunted houses, a collection of scare zones, several live shows, and more. Universal is currently offering a wide array of ticket options, ranging anywhere from single-night tickets to Frequent Fear passes and R.I.P. Tours.
• Walt Disney World has released the menu and pricing for the 2025 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which begins later this month. There are dozens of new-to-fest edibles listed and one new “global marketplace” with an intergalactic feel. The festival is included with regular Epcot admission, and will run daily through Saturday, Nov. 22.
• SeaWorld Orlando is again selling its Fun Card pass, a ticket that allows entry to the theme park for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. The price for the 2026 Fun Card is $143.99. The offer “ends soon,” the SeaWorld website warns, but no end date is currently posted. There is also a Fun Card that includes Aquatica, SeaWorld’s water park, which is selling for $199.99. Both varieties of passes come with block-out dates, generally around holidays and other busy times at the attractions.
• The Downtown Orlando Partnership and Downtown Development Board have joined forces again this year to present Downtown Employee Appreciation Week! Taking place from Monday, Sept. 8 - Thursday, Sept. 12 in various locations across downtown Orlando, this free come-and-go event rewards the city's dedicated workforce with a fun-filled week of incentives, daily giveaways, live music, employee discounts and much more.
• Join the Downtown Arts District and CityArts from Sept. 18–20 for the second annual Orlando Mural Festival, presented in collaboration with the Downtown Development Board. Attendees can watch muralists create 8x8 and 20x13 walls, enjoy live music, browse food trucks and art vendors, and join a panel discussion to hear the artists share the stories behind their work. Admission is FREE! Learn more about the event 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 Executive VPs Michael Kalinich and Brent Nelson and VP Kyle Sturley attended the Orlando City Foundation TopGolf Invitational, pictured with Jarrod Dillon (Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride) and members of the Wilf family.

GO Sports COO Jennifer Lastik traveled to Tampa, FL for the WISE 'She Is Football' Weekend with WISE Greater Orlando and WISE Tampa, pictured with Sari Kitelyn (Full Sail University).

GO Sports Associate VP Chase DeMayo and his wife Sarah DeMayo went to The Sharing Center's Share the Light Gala at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Universal Orlando, pictured with GO Sports board member Tekoa Pouerie (The Sharing Center) and her husband Dio Pouerie.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel pictured with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Florida House Rep Anna Eskamani at Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer's State of the City Address.

GO Sports Executive VP Brent Nelson and VP Lindsey McBride showed support at the CFHLA DOS Meeting in Lake County, pictured with GO Sports board member Cindy Staley (Mission Resort + Club), Ryan Ritchie (Discover Lake County, FL) and Robert Agrusa (CFHLA).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel participated in a Business of Sports panel discussion for Leadership Orlando Class 108, pictured with GO Sports board members Steve Hogan (Florida Citrus Sports) and Ryan DeVos (Orlando Magic), Jarrod Dillon (Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride), and Dante Marchitelli (Orlando Magic).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel spoke at the CFHLA Board of Directors Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, pictured with GO Sports board member Jon McGavin (Grande Lakes Orlando), and Robert Agrusa (CFHLA).

GO Sports Executive VP Michael Kalinich and Associate VP Chase DeMayo enjoyed networking at the CFHLA Board Meeting and VIP Member Reception, pictured with Sean Verney (Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort) and hotel partners.

GO Sports board member Justin Kinsey (West Lakes District) pictured with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer following the 2025 State of the City Address.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Executive VP Michael Kalinich attended the Expedia Hospitality Event at Evermore Resort, pictured with partners from Expedia Resorts.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for High Point Climbing & Fitness, pictured with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, City of Orlando Commissioner Robert Stuart, John Wiygul & Johnny O'Brien (High Point), and Ken Robinson (Dr. Phillips Charities).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was interviewed by Farah Paret of Telemundo 31 to discuss the upcoming Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute.

GO Sports Executive VPs Michael Kalinich and Brent Nelson and VP Kyle Sturley pictured with GO Sports board member Willie Johnson & Dawn Ofodile (VyStar Credit Union) at the Orlando City Foundation TopGolf Invitational.

GO Sports Director Jordan Lyda traveled to Miami for the 2025 Connect Sports Conference, pictured with Tyler Weyant (Experience Kissimmee) at a Miami Marlins game.

GO Sports Associate VP Chase DeMayo joining Seminole County in honoring Coach Lee Corso at his retirement celebration, pictured with GO Sports board member John Gyllin (Seminole State College) and Gui Cunha (Seminole County).

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

GO Sports is proud to welcome our newest corporate partner, i-Tech Support! For more information, click the logo above.

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.

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