Impact Update for Thursday, October 2

"It means the world to me, just considering my first three years and spending so much time here and being a part of this organization. To sign a second deal and lock in the future here is an amazing feeling."

-Paolo Banchero

Orlando Magic Forward

Quote of the Day

"It's hard to beat a person who never gives up."

-Babe Ruth

MLB Legend

Across the Board (Of Directors)

• Congratulations to Greater Orlando Sports Commission Board Members Karim Arja (One Florida Bank), Vinny D'Assaro (Comprehensive Energy Services) and Kolleen Hogan (NextPath Career Partners) on their organizations being named to Orlando Business Journal's Fast 50 and Golden 100 lists.
• Congratulations to Board Member and Past Chair Michael Forde on celebrating 21 years with the Orlando Magic.
• Congratulations to Board Members Garry Jones and John Saboor on Full Sail University being named to "Best Film Schools" by MovieMaker Magazine.
• Congratulations to Board Member Michael McManus on celebrating 13 years at JMA Ventures, LLC.

Around The Horn

• The Orlando Magic's 2025 training camp began on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the AdventHealth Training Center, with Media Day held the day before on Monday, Sept. 29. This offseason, the team made major moves by signing guard Desmond Bane and extending All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, and they are eager to put their skills on display. The Magic begin their preseason schedule in Puerto Rico this Saturday, Oct. 4 against the Miami Heat.
• The FIVB and Volleyball World announced two historic milestones for the Volleyball World Championships, with the Women's 2027 edition set to be jointly hosted by the USA and Canada, and Qatar awarded hosting rights for the Men's 2029 competition. This marks the first time in history that a Volleyball World Championship will be hosted in North America, setting the stage for an unforgettable celebration of the sport in the build-up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
• For the first time in history, the Professional Disc Golf Association is bringing the Tim Selinske United States Masters Disc Golf Championships to Lake County, Florida, where over 400 athletes from across the nation will compete in a thrilling four-day tournament. Set to take place across five premier disc golf courses, the event promises to bring world-class competition and skill as Lake County makes its grand debut on the national disc golf stage.
• Earlier this week, Kia Center celebrated 15 years of transforming Orlando and Central Florida into more than just a world-class entertainment destination. Since opening on October 1, 2010, the arena has welcomed nearly 20 million guests and hosted thousands of unforgettable events. It has also generated $6.5 billion in economic output and created more than 4,070 jobs, becoming both an economic powerhouse and a cultural cornerstone for the community.
• UCF Football is set to host the Kansas Jayhawks for their Big 12 home opener and for the first time at Acrisure Bounce House this Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:30pm. The Knights (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) are currently listed as twelfth in the Big 12 power rankings averaging 34.8 points and 437.5 yards per game.
• Alex Freeman scored in second-half stoppage time as Orlando City SC rallied to earn a 1-1 draw against FC Cincinnati on the road Sunday night. Thanks to the point earned and various results from across the league, the Lions (14-7-10, 52 points) have now clinched their sixth consecutive MLS Cup appearance. Orlando City will look to build on this momentum as they host the Columbus Crew at Inter&Co Stadium this Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:30pm.
• The Orlando Pride are traveling from Mexico City to Texas as they resume NWSL play and prepare to face the Houston Dash this Friday, Oct. 3 at 8:00pm. This is the third and final match of their three-game road trip, which saw a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Wave and 2-0 defeat to Club América Femenil in Concacaf W Champions Cup play.
• The Orlando Solar Bears have announced the signing of forward Ryan Naumovski to a contract for the 2025-26 season. Naumovski, 26, has 46 previous games of ECHL experience of two seasons with the Kalamazoo Wings. The Shelby Township, Michigan native has 14 points (4g-10a) and 10 penalty minutes over that stretch.
• Orlando Valkyries 2026 season tickets packages are on sale now. With prices ranging from $196 to $1,330 based on seat selection, there’s an option for every fan. Secure your seats today with deposits starting at just $25 and get ready to experience all the action. Visit the Valkyries’ website to request more information and lock in your spot for the season.

The U.S. Women's National Team is coming back to Orlando! On Friday, Nov. 28, the four-time World Cup champions will face Italy in an international friendly match presented by The Home Depot at Inter&Co Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm and will be broadcast on TNT, Max, Universo, Peacock, and Westwood One Sports.

Don't miss your chance to witness international soccer right here in Orlando, click the button below to purchase your tickets today!

Around Town

• The Orange County Convention Center has announced construction will begin in October of this year for the $560 million expansion project, according to Orlando Business Journal. OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester also said there will be a “ceremonial groundbreaking event” to celebrate this milestone on Wednesday, Dec. 17. The expansion includes several additions to the center's North-South Building, such as 44,000 square-feet of meeting space and 100,000 square-feet of flexible ballroom space, which can accommodate up to 5,000 guests for banquets or 10,000 seats for lectures.
• The planned Westcourt mixed-use project just north of the Kia Center has reached another crucial milestone, according to Orlando Business Journal. The development team announced that leasing is underway for the 310,000-square-foot portion of Class A office space through Foundry Commercial. Once complete, Westcourt is expected to create 3,400 jobs and become a major anchor in downtown’s entertainment district.
• Brightline has announced a series of operational changes designed to optimize the guest experience and respond to evolving ridership patterns. The updates follow two years of full-service operations across the state and are based on extensive guest feedback and data analysis. For travelers going between South and Central Florida, Brightline will deploy longer 8-coach trains during peak travel periods. Those trains will grow to 10-coach trains before the year’s end to accommodate the growth in demand from travelers heading to and from Central Florida.
• The University of Central Florida has achieved "preeminent" status, a designation that comes after boosting its four-year graduation rate and could mean increased money from the state. Florida’s preeminence program was established in 2013 and offers extra money to state universities judged on a number of metrics, including graduation rates, national rankings and research dollars earned. UCF now joins the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida and Florida International University as the only schools to achieve this status.
• The Orange County School Board voted on Tuesday to approve a proposed agreement to transfer the historic Hungerford property in Eatonville to Dr. Phillips Charities. With the OCPS approval of the land agreement, the Town of Eatonville will now move forward with adopting its resident-designed master plan that centers on cultural preservation, green space, affordable housing, healthcare, education, and long-term economic development. Dr. Phillips Charities plans to pay $1 million of the negotiated amount upfront to the Orange County School Board.
• Orlando has been ranked third among mid-size cities across the United States for economic momentum and growth, according to a new study by Coworking Cafe. Specifically, Orlando leads in population growth (+14%) this year, indicating strong in-migration and housing demand, while median earnings are up by 36%. The study tracked the latest data from 2019 through 2023 across key metrics such as GDP growth, housing expansion, job gains, infrastructure buildout and export strength.

Red Bull’s Tandem Rollercoaster made its U.S. debut this past Saturday at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs, drawing nearly 40,000 spectators! Thirty teams raced homemade tandem bike–style “rollercoaster” crafts along a narrow, water-lined obstacle course, with celebrity judges scoring them on creativity, showmanship, and distance traveled before making a splash.

Click the button below for Red Bull's video recap.

All Around

• The City of Orlando is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a month-long art exhibition featuring works by 32 local visual artists, reflecting this year’s theme, “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.” Festivities will continue with a community celebration hosted by Mayor Buddy Dyer and Commissioner Tony Ortiz on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Guests can enjoy traditional Hispanic cuisine, live Latin music, and folk-dance performances.
• Join the Downtown Orlando Partnership this Friday, Oct. 3 for their First Friday networking coffee, hosted by Greenberg Traurig! This complimentary gathering is designed to foster meaningful connections within the downtown Orlando business community and provides an opportunity for DOP members and non-members to engage in curated small group discussions. The event will run from 8:00-9:00am, RSVP is required and space is limited.
• The annual Downtown Orlando Field Day presented by AdventHealth returns to the Seneff Arts Plaza on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 2:00pm. Grab your team and gear up for the most epic day of fun, games, and friendly competition in the heart of the City Beautiful! Join City District's annual fundraiser as 50 teams go head-to-head in classic throwback field games, culminating in the ultimate test of strength and spirit: the Tug-of-War Grand Finale.
• Universal Studios' Tribute Store is again up and running with an elaborate new look and theme tied to Halloween Horror Nights and its assorted haunted houses and characters. The seasonal pop-up merchandise store has a fresh location and is now operating inside the former gaming arcade in the "New York" area of the park. The main entrance is behind the Palace theater facade, which now has “Tribute Store” spelled out on its marquee.
• Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween continues at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and runs on select nights through Friday, Oct. 31. The evenings are filled with returning favorites such as Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, a fireworks and lasers presentation, and park-wide trick-or-treating. Ticket prices vary with dates and range between $119 and $229 per night, and ticket holders can get entry to Magic Kingdom at 4:00pm.
• 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.
• A new wax figure of actress & singer Selena Gomez has been added to the star-studded lineup at Madame Tussauds Orlando, an attraction inside ICON Park on International Drive. The figure is outfitted in a red beaded floral gown worn to the MTV Video Music Awards in 2023. Visit the ICON Park website to learn more and purchase your attraction tickets ahead of time.
• 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 VP Michael Kalinich hosted a group of board members and corporate partners for the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers NHL preseason game at the Kia Center.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Executive VP Brent Nelson and Director Jordan Lyda traveled to London for the annual Leaders Week conference, pictured with Nick Dawes (JTA).

World Rugby hosted GO Sports Executive VP Brent Nelson and Director Jordan Lyda at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup Finals, pictured with Team USA rugby player Ilona Maher.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was honored with an ONYX Magazine 2025 Men of Honor Award at the Rosen Centre Hotel, pictured with GO Sports Chairman Caesar Lopez (Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride), General Counsel Chris Carmody (GrayRobinson, P.A.), board member Jesse Martinez (Clean Tec Outsourcing) and Florida Secretary John Davis (Florida Lottery).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel welcomed industry executives and international heads of sport for dinner during the annual Leaders Week conference in London.

Jason Siegel, President & CEO of GO Sports, was recognized by ONYX Magazine as a 2025 Man of Honor during their award ceremony at Rosen Centre Hotel. Pictured with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Rich Black (ONYX Magazine).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel pictured with Chairman Caesar Lopez (Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride), board members Latria Graham (GLB Media Group) and Jesse Martinez (Clean Tec Outsourcing), and Alvin Cowans (McCoy Federal Credit Union) during the ONYX Magazine Men of Honor award ceremony.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs, pictured with Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine and members from Red Bull.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel connected with Ricardo Moreira (Orlando City SC) while attending the annual Leaders Week conference in London.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel pictured with Orlando Magic legend Dwight Howard, who served as a celebrity judge for the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster in Altamonte Springs.

GO Sports Coordinator Jordan Henderson hosted a group of board members and corporate partners for the Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage match at Inter&Co Stadium, pictured with Sarah Ehmke (Celeste Hotel).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and VP Kyle Sturley cheered on News 6's Trooper Steve and Sondra Rae (Johnny's House XL 106.7) during the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs.

GO Sports VP Lindsey McBride connected with board member Robb Larson (Osceola Heritage Park) while attending the OHP State of Osceola County event.

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

GO Sports is proud to welcome our newest corporate partner, Embassy Suites Orlando Sunset Walk! For more information, click the logo above.

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.

• Visit Orlando: Halloween Event Guide
• Orlando Sentinel: Upcoming Events in Orlando
• Orlando Weekly: Events in Orlando this Weekend
• Visit Orlando: Budget-friendly Orlando - 30+ Things to Do for $30 or Less