Impact Update for Thursday, September 4

“It was a really pleasing result. Filled with a lot of positives of the game. First of all, getting a win and getting that feeling back. Secondly, scoring some goals as well, which we’ve needed. I think the biggest highlight of tonight was getting Luana back onto the field. I think that was a really special moment for everyone. For her to go through what she's been through and go onto the field and show her class was so pleasing to see. A lot of really good moments today.”

-Seb Hines

Head coach

Orlando Pride

Quote of the Day

"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."

-Vince Lombardi

NFL 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

• The Orlando Pride (1–0–0, 3 points) kicked off its 2025-26 Concacaf W Champions Cup campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over L.D. Alajuelense, of the Primera División de Costa Rica, on Tuesday night at Inter&Co Stadium. The match marked the Pride’s first-ever appearance and victory in the Concacaf W Champions Cup. The Orlando Pride will hit the road to take on Chicago Stars FC on Sunday, Sept. 7, at Martin Stadium.
• In a game that stretched across more than 5 hours, two quarterbacks, and a 2-hour & 7-minute weather delay, the UCF Knights defeated a determined Jacksonville State squad to open the second Scott Frost era with a gutsy 17-10 victory Thursday night at the Bounce House. The win marked the 300th in program history and extended UCF’s streak to 10 straight opening game victories. It also marked the Knights’ 11th consecutive Thursday night win, the third most such wins in all of FBS history. Frost’s season-opening win was his 20th career victory with the Knights and extended his winning streak to 14 games in Black and Gold. UCF will host North Carolina A&T this Saturday, Sep. 6, at 7 p.m. ET.
• Germany’s final pool play matchup of FIBA EuroBasket 2025 was one of the most highly anticipated contests in the tournament thus far. Not only did it feature the top two scoring teams in EuroBasket, but the chance to finish atop the Group B standings was also on the line. Franz Wagner and Germany were once again up for the challenge. Wagner and Germany (5-0) continued their blazing EuroBasket pace as they never trailed in a dominant 91-61 victory over Finland (3-2). Wagner, who’s preparing to enter his fifth season with the Orlando Magic, fired off a game-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds. As the Group B winner, Germany will now play in the Round of 16 this weekend.
• A memorable opening weekend for the UCF volleyball program was capped in emphatic fashion, as the Knights swept UC Riverside on Sunday afternoon at The Venue, moving to a perfect 3-0. UCF’s firepower was unmatched, with Skylar English and Sasha Cohen dominating the Highlanders, leaving the home faithful with plenty to be happy about. The Knights will embark on their first road-trip of the season as they make the trip south to Miami for the 305 Challenge, hosted by FIU.
• Orlando City SC’s Leagues Cup 2025 run ended with a 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy in the Third Place Match on Sunday. The Lions finished the tournament in fourth place, marking their best-ever finish in Leagues Cup history. Following the upcoming international break, Orlando City will next return to MLS action as it travels to take on D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday, Sept. 13 with kickoff being set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
• The Osceola Magic announced Tuesday its schedule for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA G League schedule. The defending Eastern Conference champs will host opening weekend starting on Friday November 7th and continuing on Saturday November 8th. Both games will be against the Texas Legends. The Tip-Off Tournament, which marks the start of the 2025-26 season, begins on Friday, Nov. 7 and culminates when a champion is crowned during the 2025 NBA G League Winter Showcase in December.
• 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 welcome the return of All-Star veteran forward Aaron Luchuk, who has signed an ECHL Standard Player Contract for the 2025-26 season with the team. Luchuk, 27, is back for his fifth season with the Solar Bears after appearing in 236 regular season games in purple and orange from 2020-2025. He is the Franchise’s all-time leader in Goals (93) and Points (223) and is tied with Michael Brodzinski for most assists (130).
• 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).

A very limited number of individual tickets are now on sale! Click the button below to purchase your ticket today.

For more information on table and event sponsorships, reach out to Michael and Chase on our team and visit Greaterorlandosports.com/celebrating-women-in-sports/.

Around Town

• The Plant Street Commons mixed-use project in Winter Garden is expected to generate 50 permanent jobs when it opens in late 2026 with residential, retail and restaurant space. The development features 10 luxury two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments; eight two-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom for-sale townhomes and about 5,300 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
• Major hospital projects are ramping up across Central Florida, signaling a wave of health care investment that could reshape the region’s medical landscape. AdventHealth is close to opening new hospitals in Lake Nona and Minneola as well as an expansion in Winter Garden, while Orlando Health nears the opening of a $160 million medical office building for children's services in 2026. 
• Central Florida’s public transit system just got a major upgrade. Lynx, the region’s bus service operator, celebrated the opening of its $18 million Pine Hills Bus Transfer Center Aug. 28 after breaking ground more than two years ago, marking a milestone in expanding access and connectivity for west Orange County residents. The new hub at 2756 Belco Drive sits near retail centers, the Central Florida Urban League’s headquarters, Evans High School and is just a mile from an Amazon Fulfillment Center. The station began service earlier this month and connects riders to key destinations including Walt Disney World Resort, Apopka, Winter Park and the Florida Mall.
• Beginning Wednesday, the city of Orlando and the nonprofit Christian Service Center will be providing overnight shelter and accommodations to a rotating group of homeless people through a city-funded program involving retrofitted Greyhound buses. Modeled after a “Dignity Bus” program in Vero Beach, the city’s new bus program will offer no-cost shelter for up to 42 people per night on two Greyhound buses the city purchased and rehabbed for $175,000 each. The buses offer individual sleeping pods with a mattress, sheets, a light, a charging outlet and a curtain for privacy. They also contain a restroom and have air conditioning.
• UCF and USF trustees voted to raise out-of-state tuition. The 10% out-of-state tuition raise at the two institutions follows the University of Florida, Florida State University, and Florida International University in doing the same.
• Pig Floyd’s Express is open in Winter Park, and for anyone who grew up on Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ, the old 1471 Lee Road spot has been completely overhauled with a new covered patio, working fans, plenty of tables, and string lights.

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

• 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.
• Disney's biennial Destination D23 weekend wrapped up on Sunday, and with it came several announcements for Walt Disney World. Walt Disney himself will return to the stage via audio-animatronic technology at the Magic Kingdom's Carousel of Progress. Cinderella Castle will be going back to its classic colors. For the past few years, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of 1950's Cinderella and the resort's 50th anniversary, the castle has had a more rose gold look. The pink is going away, and the gray, cream, blue, and hints of gold are returning.
• 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.
• 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 CEO Jason Siegel and Executive VP Brent Nelson attended the grand opening of High Point Climbing and Fitness, pictured with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, City of Orlando Commissioner Robert Stuart, and Ken Robinson (Dr. Phillips Charities).

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
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• What's Happening: Seminole County Things To Do