Impact Update for Thursday, March 20 | | Duke forward Cooper Flagg, a product of Montverde Academy, heads up a contingent of 19 former Orlando area basketball stars who will be part of the action as the men's NCAA Tournament tips off at various arenas across the country. | | |
Quote of the Day.
"Don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong."
-McKayla Maroney
U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist
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Around The Horn.
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The NCAA men's basketball tournament, also known as March Madness, tips off today, March 20 at several arenas spread out across the country. Duke freshman forward Cooper Flagg, a product of Montverde Academy, leads a contingency of 19 former Orlando area basketball stars competing for the prized NCAA Championship. The tournament is a 64-team, single-elimination format and will run through Monday, April 7.
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Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has been elected to serve as the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee. The 41-year-old was chosen in a secret ballot of seven candidates at the 144th IOC Session held in Costa Navarino, Greece, for an eight-year term of office. She will be the first woman and the first African to serve as IOC President, and will assume office after the handover from President Bach on Olympic Day, June 23.
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The Orlando Pride (1-0-0, 3 points) defeated Chicago Red Stars FC 6-0 on Friday night at Inter&Co Stadium during the club's home opener. The six goals serve as the most goals scored by the Pride in a single match, previously doing it last season against the Utah Royals. The win is also the club's first-ever victory on its opening night to the regular season.
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Orlando City SC earned a point on Saturday afternoon after playing to a 2-2 draw against the Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The back-and-forth contest was highlighted by two goals coming from Martin Ojeda and Marco Pašalić. The Lions (1-2-1, 4 points) return to Inter&Co Stadium this Saturday, March 22 to host D.C. United for a match at 7:00pm.
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UCF men's basketball has accepted an invitation to play in the College Basketball Crown, a 16-team tournament in Las Vegas created by FOX Sports and Anschutz Entertainment Group. The Knights (17-16, 7-13 Big 12) are set to face Oregon State at 5:30pm on Tuesday, April 1. This is the third consecutive season that UCF has earned a spot in a postseason tournament, twice receiving a birth to the NIT in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
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The Orlando Solar Bears took four out of six points last weekend, with key wins over Jacksonville on the road Friday and a shootout win on Sunday against Savannah. The Solar Bears (33-22-10) now have nearly a week's worth of rest before heading to Atlanta to face the Gladiators at 10:30am on Wednesday, March 26.
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The Orlando Magic head back on the road as the team prepares to face the Washington Wizards this Friday, March 21 at 7:00pm. The Magic (32-38) are currently the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with 12 games remaining in the regular season.
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The Osceola Magic swept a weekend series against the Stockton Kings following the team's 135-115 victory on Sunday afternoon. The Magic (18-10) will hit the road for the last time this season for two games, starting TONIGHT, March 20 against the Maine Celtics at 7:00pm.
- The Orlando Valkyries started their two-match road trip off right with a four-set victory over the San Diego Mojo on Wednesday night. The Valkyries (12-6) now travel to Duluth, Georgia to face the Atlanta Vibe at 7:00pm this Friday, March 21. The match will be broadcast on the ROKU Sports channel.
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Tickets are on sale for all 2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches at Inter&Co Stadium this summer! Click the link below to secure your tickets today.
Inter&Co Stadium Group Stage Matches:
Tuesday, June 17, 6:00pm - Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns FC
Friday, June 20, 12:00pm - SL Benfica vs Auckland City FC
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Tickets are on sale for all 2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches at Camping World Stadium this summer! Click the link below to secure your tickets today.
Camping World Stadium Group Stage matches:
Tuesday, June 24, 9:00pm - Club León vs CR Flamengo
Thursday, June 26, 3:00pm - Juventus FC vs Manchester City
Round of 16 match:
Monday, June 30, 9:00pm - TBD vs TBD
Quarterfinals match:
Friday, July 4, 3:00pm - TBD vs TBD
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Around Town.
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Metro Orlando continues to be a popular destination to live as the region gained an additional 76,000 residents in 2024, according to Orlando Business Journal. Based on estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA has a population of 2,940,513 - up 2.65% year-over-year. The population increase puts Metro Orlando at No. 7 for numeric growth, with Osceola County continuing to grow the fastest by county.
- The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority has appointed Lance Lyttle as the next CEO of Orlando International Airport, the nation's seventh busiest airport. Lyttle, Managing Director of Aviation for Seattle-Tacoma Airport, will take leadership of the company as early as April, pending the finalization of his contract. The board voted unanimously to select Lyttle as the successor, who was the runner-up during the agency's last CEO search in 2021.
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Walt Disney World has announced the name of its upcoming adults-only lounge planned for Spaceship Earth. The 21-and-up lounge dubbed GEO-82 is set to open in 2025 inside the geodesic sphere that houses Spaceship Earth. The new lounge's name is a nod to the longstanding Epcot attraction, which first opened in 1982.
- The Senate Transportation Committee approved a wide-ranging measure on Wednesday, which includes boosting the maximum speed on interstates and Florida's turnpike from 70mph to 75mph, according to Orlando Business Journal. The bill would also require the Department of Transportation to increase the maximum speed on four-lane highways from 65mph to 70mph, but will need to clear two more committees before it could go to the full Senate.
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Seminole County Commissioners have approved the establishment of the Tourism Improvement District (TID), a dedicated funding mechanism to strengthen the county's position as a premier sports tourism destination. The initiative has the potential to generate an estimated $3.2 million annually through a $1.75 per room, per night assessment on qualifying hotel properties (60+ rooms). These funds would be used to enhance sports tourism infrastructure, attract high-profile events, and support economic development.
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United Arts of Central Florida has created a platform for artists to showcase their skills and offerings in an effort to be hired by local organizations, businesses and private events. Local creatives can sign onto the new Artist Hub to create a free profile, click here to register.
| | FIFA is looking for passionate and dedicated volunteers to be the friendly faces on the ground this summer during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup! Don't miss your chance to be part of this historic event - learn more at the link below and fill out your application today to volunteer at the first-ever 32-team FIFA Club World Cup. | | |
All Around.
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WISE Greater Orlando is now accepting applications for both mentors and mentees in its WISE Within program, the national signature program of WISE which offers members the opportunity to accelerate professional development by connecting in a one-to-one focused mentoring relationship. The deadline to apply is next Friday, March 28, click here to fill out your application.
- The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival has returned to Walt Disney World and will run daily through June 2. The fest, now in its 30th year, is known for its topiaries and other greenery, but food from the theme park’s “outdoor kitchens” and their menus also are at the forefront. Among the new kitchen/kiosks this year are the Yacht Grub and Beach Grub, located in the rose garden area that connects World Showcase and Imagination Pavilion.
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Universal Orlando is offering more ticket options for Epic Universe, including a one-day pass to the new theme park set to debut on May 22 of this year. Admission is available as of June 1, although Epic officially opens to the public on May 22. Tickets are now on sale for dates through the rest of 2025, and the price varies by date.
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The Seven Seas Food Festival continues at SeaWorld Orlando, and guests can indulge in over 190 mouthwatering dishes inspired by global cuisines paired perfectly with refreshing wines, vibrant cocktails and craft brews. SeaWorld also offers live concerts included with park admission, which run on select dates through May 4. The next concert is scheduled for Monday, March 23 at 7:00pm featuring Luis Fonsi, best known for his global hit "Despacito."
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The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is back for its 66th year with 220 artists from around the country vying for a total of $76,500 in cash awards. Known as one of the nation's "oldest and most prestigious juried fine art shows," patrons can browse and buy paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, wood work and more. The fine art is complemented by food trucks and live music in the Park Avenue district of Winter Park.
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Krush Brau Park in Kissimmee presents its third annual 'Dogtoberfest', gathering canines and humans for Florida Wiener Dog Derby Races, K9 demonstrations, Frisbee dogs, a cutest pet contest, vendors, music and more. Visitors can enjoy German food and beer; the event is free to attend and will take place on Saturday, March 22 from 10:00am - 6:00pm.
- Popular Colombian singer J Balvin is coming to Kia Center this Friday, March 21 as part of his Back To The Rayo Tour. Recognized globally as a Latin music superstar, Balvin has earned numerous awards throughout his career, including Latin Grammys. The concert is scheduled for 8:00pm, click here to purchase tickets.
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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.
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Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers.
| | The GO Sports team attended the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce Visit Orlando Luncheon at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, pictured with Brett Reynolds (Orlando Health) and Lauren Poppe (Orlando Health). | | GO Sports COO Jennifer Lastik attended the Orlando Pride home opener vs Chicago Red Stars FC at Inter&Co Stadium, pictured with board member Anne-Marie Hayward (Orlando Business Journal), Kelly Cohen (The Southern Group) and Kay Rawlins (Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride). | | GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Executive VP Michael Kalinich and Coordinator Jordan Henderson attended the Orlando Valkyries game at Addition Financial Arena, pictured with Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine, Mike Peterson (Portillo's), Josh Stowell (Waters Car Wash), Bosko Lazic (Omnysa, Inc.), Randy Chase (RocketChimp) and Stacy Martin-Tenney (RocketChimp). | | GO Sports Executive VP Brent Nelson attended the I-Drive Chamber of Commerce Visit Orlando Luncheon, pictured with Orange County TDC Member John Stine (Purplemoon Productions). | | Corporate Partner Spotlight. | | |
GO Sports is proud to welcome our newest corporate partners, Enduraphin and Waters Car Wash! For more information, click the logos above.
Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!
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