Impact Update for Thursday, July 31 | | |
"Having proudly represented the NBA and the City of Orlando in Brazil, China, England, Japan and Mexico through The NBA Global Games, we are always honored to showcase our team on the world stage. These upcoming games mark our 14th and 15th international appearances, and we are continually inspired by the passion and enthusiasm of fans across the globe. We are especially excited to bring the Orlando Magic to Berlin and London, and we look forward to connecting with both new and familiar fans and partners alike."
-Charlie Freeman
President of Business Operations
| | |
Quote of the Day
"The only one who can tell you 'you can't win' is you, and you don't have to listen."
-Jessica Ennis-Hill
Olympic Gold Medalist
| | |
Across the Board (Of Directors)
- Congratulations to Greater Orlando Sports Commission Board Member Allen Johnson of Orlando Venues on receiving the International Association of Venue Managers' 2025 Legacy Award.
- Congratulations to Board Member Jo Wallen on her recent promotion to Managing Director of National and Global Events for the USTA.
- Congratulations to Past Chair Sharon Line Clary on AdventHealth Orlando being named to U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 Best Hospitals Honor Roll, a distinction awarded to only 20 hospitals nationwide.
| | |
Around The Horn
-
The NBA has announced the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies will play regular-season games in Berlin on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, and in London on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The games will be held at Uber Arena (Berlin) and The O2 (London), and will air live across Europe and around the world, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media. In addition to the games in 2026, the NBA, the Magic and the Grizzlies will conduct NBA Cares community outreach initiatives.
-
The Orlando Pride have announced ticket on-sale dates for its home matches in the upcoming 2025-26 Concacaf W Champions Cup. The 2025-26 edition of the Concacaf W Champions Cup will mark the Pride’s first-ever participation in the continental club competition, which is entering its second year and will run concurrent with the NWSL regular season. The Pride was drawn into Group A and will host two matches at Inter&Co Stadium during the tournament’s group stage phase, beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
-
Orlando City SC kicked off its 2025 Leagues Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Pumas UNAM on Wednesday night at Inter&Co Stadium. The match was followed by a penalty shootout, from which the Lions earned one point. Orlando City (0-0-1, 1 point) remains at home in the City Beautiful and will host Atlas FC in their second Phase One match this Saturday, Aug. 2 at 6:00pm at Inter&Co Stadium.
-
The UCF Knights football team practiced on Monday, July 28 for the first time this fall, with head coach Scott Frost leading the Knights for the first time since 2017. His roster features about 70 new players, and they were eager to get started and are embracing the role of underdogs, according to Spectrum News 13. On the first day of camp, all groups got in work, and a focus was put on executing at a fast tempo.
-
Congratulations to the Florida Region of USA Volleyball and Team Florida who repeated as Region Cup Champions for USA Volleyball with a victory over the Arizona region. Team Florida took 6 All-Star teams to Madison, Wi to compete against the other regions of USA Volleyball. The Boys U15 and Girls U17 won Gold, Girls U15 & U13 won Silver, and Boys U19 won Bronze.
-
The Orlando Solar Bears have announced forward Anthony Bardaro agreed to terms on an ECHL Standard Player Contract (SPC) for the 2025-26 season. Bardaro, 32, returns to Orlando for his second season, following a 41-point campaign last year, finishing 16th in ECHL Rookie scoring and fourth on the Solar Bears roster. The Canada native also tallied eight points in the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs, tying him with Tyler Bird for second most on the team.
-
The Orlando Squeeze won two out of four matches during the Major League Pickleball Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids from July 9-13. The Squeeze (12-8, 34 points) are currently ranked 8th in MLP standings and will close out the regular season at the MLP Salt Lake City Tournament from today, July 31 to Sunday, Aug. 3.
| | |
GO Sports is proud to announce the 7th annual Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute will be hosted at Addition Financial Arena on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. This year's featured speaker is 3x Olympic Beach Volleyball Gold Medalist, Misty May-Treanor!
In addition to Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute returning as the presenting sponsor, Florida Blue is returning as the sponsor of the featured speaker's fireside chat. Last year’s luncheon sold out with more than 725 guests in attendance.
| | |
Around Town
-
GO Sports is proud to announce the finalists for our Rising Star and Women in Sports Leadership award categories for the 2025 Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 11:00am. Congratulations to all of the finalists on their outstanding achievements within our community! Winners will be announced on our channels next week.
-
U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in health care rankings and ratings, has named AdventHealth Orlando to its 2025-2026 Best Hospitals Honor Roll, a distinction awarded to only 20 hospitals nationwide. That places AdventHealth Orlando in the top 1 percent of hospitals of more than 4,000 in the country, and means Central Floridians can count on world-class care close to home. In addition, AdventHealth Orlando ranked No. 1 in the state of Florida, as well as No. 1 in Orlando. It’s the 15th consecutive year the hospital has been deemed the best in the area.
- The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), in partnership with Orange County and MetroPlan Orlando, has officially opened a new diverging diamond interchange between Interstate 4 and Daryl Carter Parkway. The interchange, designated as Exit 70, includes three new ramps providing direct access between I-4 and the parkway. The new design briefly shifts traffic to the opposite side of the road to eliminate left turns across oncoming traffic, improving safety and traffic flow.
-
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) has bought an Orlando-area property to host its new headquarters, according to Orlando Business Journal. AAU currently has its offices located in Lake Buena Vista, but purchased a 37,456-square-foot office building located at International Drive South. The organization currently has 800,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 50+ sports.
-
The Florida Society of News Editors awarded the Orlando Sentinel four first-place prizes this year for its work in features writing, podcasting, photography and travel writing. Along with the four first-place prizes, the Sentinel took home five second-place and two third-place prizes. The Florida Society of News Editors awards journalists for their work in more than 20 categories, including editorial writing, beat reporting, breaking news and features videos.
-
“Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe,” an hourlong TV special about the making of Epic Universe theme park, will air on NBC at 9:00pm on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The show will be hosted by actor Joe Manganiello, who will explore the creation of the park’s five worlds. The program will also include an interview with filmmaker Steven Spielberg, and will be available for streaming on Peacock as of Thursday, Aug. 21.
-
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 from Friday, Aug. 15 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.
-
More changes are coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park as Walt Disney World recently announced the park's Animation Courtyard will be reimagined into a version of the real-life Walt Disney Studios. Included in this renovation is the replacement of Star Wars: Launch Bay in favor of a new attraction dubbed, "The Magic of Disney Animation." The new animation activities are expected to debut in 2026, and the building will feature a tall Mickey’s sorcerer hat over the entrance.
| | |
All Around
-
Universal Orlando has announced that Frequent Fear Passes and other multi-night tickets for Halloween Horror Nights are now available for purchase. The event's Fear passes are tiered, allowing different levels of access on multiple nights of the event, which runs for 48 nights between Friday, Aug. 29 and Sunday, Nov. 2 at Universal Studios theme park. New this year, the event will feature a lagoon show called “Haunt-O-Phonic: A Ghoulish Journey” at the theme park.
-
Walt Disney World's new nighttime parade, "Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away," debuted at Magic Kingdom on Sunday, July 20. Parade times will be 9:00pm and 11:00pm nightly and it will start on Main Street then travel back to Frontierland, a reversal of the usual course for Magic Kingdom parades. The parade will have the Blue Fairy as a through line and guiding light, and the final float will feature Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
-
SeaWorld Orlando has capped off its list of haunted houses that will be in the lineup for the 2025 edition of Howl-O-Scream, which will be held 28 nights between Sept. 6 and Nov. 1. The theme park is currently selling single-night tickets, unlimited-admission passes, front-of-line tickets and bundles, and more. This will be the fifth year that SeaWorld Orlando has held the after-hours event for "mature audiences."
-
Madame Tussauds has created 13 new Taylor Swift wax figures for installation in attractions around the globe, including the ICON Park location on International Drive. The looks are tied to Swift's global Eras Tour, which had 149 sell-out dates. Visit their website to learn more of what ICON Park has to offer and purchase your attraction tickets ahead of time.
-
Main Streets Sip & Savor Weeks are back now through Sunday, August 10. Sip & Savor Weeks is a celebration of Orlando’s unmatched local dining scene, featuring flavors inspired by every culture. Participating restaurants from each of our Orlando Main Street districts are offering special promotions only offered during these weeks.
-
Monster Jam returns to Orlando on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 2-3, at the Kia Center. Start your day of fun at the Monster Jam Pit Party and see the massive trucks up close, or grab a ticket for the Monster Jam Post-Event Driver Meet and Greet for an exclusive opportunity to meet and mingle with the drivers shortly after the event. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
-
K92.3’s All Star Jam is returning to Addition Financial Arena for its 30th annual concert celebration on Sunday, August 17 at 7:30pm, and tickets are on sale now! The 30th Annual All Star Jam will feature eight Country musical performances by: Kane Brown, Brett Young, Chris Lane, Locash, Michael Ray, Raelynn, Mark Wills and Chad Brock.
-
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.
| | Huge congratulations to GO Sports board member Allen Johnson (Orlando Venues) for being honored with the International Association of Venue Managers' 2025 Legacy Award! Click the video above to hear from our board members. | | GO Sports Executive VP Michael Kalinich and Director Elizabeth Caldarelli competed in the AJGA Arnold Palmer Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament, pictured with GO Sports board member Rob Sitz (DS Sports Ventures), Dr. Michael Jablonski (Orlando Health), and AJGA amateurs Mi Li & Miranda Lu. Congratulations to Elizabeth, Mi Li, and the Renewal by Andersen team on winning the tournament! | | GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel also competed in the AJGA Arnold Palmer Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, pictured with Roy Saunders (Bay Hill Club & Lodge), Paul Sherlock (Arnold Palmer Group), and AJGA amateur Tyler Creavy. | | GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Chairman Caesar Lopez (Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride) hosted a GO Sports board meeting at Caribe Royale Orlando, pictured with board members Jon McGavin (Grande Lakes Orlando), Jesse Martinez (Clean Tec Outsourcing) and Chris Mueller (Hilton Orlando). | | GO Sports Director Jordan Lyda visiting the Elite Sports Events' "End of Summer Slam" basketball tournament at the Orange County Convention Center, pictured with Rob Fessler (Elite Sports Events). | | GO Sports Executive VP Brent Nelson attended the July board meeting post-reception at The Stadium Club in Caribe Royale, pictured with board member Jeff Osterman (Montverde Academy) and Ryan Ritchie (Discover Lake County, FL). | | The GO Sports team pictured at Caribe Royale Orlando for GO Sports' July board meeting. | | GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Chairman Caesar Lopez (Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride) hosted a GO Sports board meeting post-reception at The Stadium Club in Caribe Royale, pictured with board members Vinny D'Assaro (Comprehensive Energy Services), Ultima Espino (Orlando Health) and Carey Sobel (Coastal Investment Company). | | GO Sports Director Jordan Lyda attended the NXT Finals at the Orange County Convention Center, pictured with Scott Thompson (NXTPRO) and Steve Johnson (OCCC). | | GO Sports board member Amaury Piedra, General Manager of the Caribe Royale Orlando, spoke at the July board meeting at Caribe Royale Orlando. Thank you to Amaury and his team for their hospitality. | | Ryan Ritchie, Director of Discover Lake County, Florida, presented to board members at the GO Sports July board meeting at Caribe Royale Orlando. | | Corporate Partner Spotlight. | | |
GO Sports is proud to welcome our newest corporate partner, Courtyard by Marriott Orlando Altamonte Springs/Maitland! For more information, click the logo above.
Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!
| | | | |
