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The Arnold Palmer Invitational will be held March 22-28. Don't miss out on the opportunity to witness the PGA Tour's finest compete on Arnold Palmer's recently renovated home course at Bay Hill. For more information check out their website. |
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| A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM SAM |
 2010 is well underway with the Sports Commission hard at work soliciting new partners, while preparing to welcome back some old friends to Seminole County.
Earlier today at the Orlando Hilton, a sellout crowd of more than 320 people, including officials from all five Central Florida counties, attended the first-ever "Business of Sports" breakfast. Attendees listened to a panel comprised of leaders from the Orlando Magic, UCF, Florida Citrus Sports, ESPN/Disney Wide World of Sports and Sun Sports/Fox Sports. The speakers addressed a wide range of issues. They included Orlando's new Amway Center, ESPN's new branding strategy at Disney World and the future of college football in Central Florida. Be sure to click the Business of Sports logo above to see footage from this morning's breakfast.
Over the course of the last month, the Sports Commission, in partnership with the Seminole County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Seminole County Leisure Services, had the opportunity to organize and submit six (6) separate bids to host several NCAA Division II and III National Championships in Seminole County. These respective events would take place in 2011, 2012 and/or 2013 at multiple venues throughout Seminole County. More information on each opportunity is listed below in the business development section of this report.
As we look ahead, this March will see US Club Soccer make their way to Seminole Count for the very first time. On March 13th and 14th, Sylvan Lake Park and the Seminole Soccer Complex will serve as host venues for 2010 Florida Cup. Based on initial projections, this event is expected to draw approximately 80 youth soccer teams from across the State of Florida to Seminole County for two days of hard fought competition! Based on what we anticipate will be a great weekend of soccer activity, it is our goal to make US Club Soccer a permanent fixture within Seminole County for future years.
As always, please do not hesitate to call should you have any questions.
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Best Regards,
Sam Stark
President/CEO
Central Florida Sports Commission |
| ECONOMIC IMPACT |
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Year to Date (through December, 2009)
- Hotel Room Nights - 6,991
- Tax Recovery - $81,724
- Economic Impact - $4,772,351.50
- Number of Participants - 8,862
- Number of Spectators - 10,023
- Number of Events - 17
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| IN THE PIPELINE |
As mentioned above, the Sports Commission and our partners recently submitted several bids to the NCAA, those being for the following events: 2011 and 2013 NCAA Division II Men's & Women's Tennis Championships, 2013 NCAA Division III Men's & Women's Tennis Championships, 2013 NCAA Division II Women's Softball Championships, 2013 NCAA Division III Women's Softball Championships and the 2013 NCAA Division II Spring Championships Festival. The NCAA will decide on the final sites for each of these events sometime in mid 2010, so stay tuned.
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| WINS & LOSSES
(As of December, 2009) |
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Formal Bids Submitted: 7
 Total Bids Won: 1
Total Bids Lost: 1
The Sports Commission and Seminole County CVB were recently awarded the right to host the 2010 Senior Softball Southeast Regional Championship. Scheduled for this coming September, the event will be staged at the Seminole County Softball Complex and Merrill Park.
In addition, the Sports Commission and Seminole County CVB submitted a bid to host the IWLCA Annual Meetings and Inaugural Girls Club Lacrosse Showcase for November of 2010. Unfortunately, event organizers decided to award the event to Fort Meyers, Florida. The number of lit fields at the venue was the primary reason for them not choosing Seminole County.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
US Club Soccer - Florida Cup
March 13-14, 2010
Sylvan Lake Park & Seminole Soccer Complex
http://floridacup.demosphere.com
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| COMMUNITY PROFILE |
| Joe Abel - Leisure Services Director
The Director of Leisure Services in Seminole County, Joe Abel, has come to find himself wearing one more hat during his work days at his Sylvan Lake Headquarters. Effective February 1st, 2010, Seminole County has undergone a reorganization, which included putting the Division of Tourism under the Leisure Services Department. The Leisure Services Department encompasses parks, natural lands and the sporting facilities within the parks division. The reorganization also put the Division of Agriculture Extension and the Division of Libraries under Leisure Services as well.
"This is a great move for Tourism" said Sharon Sears, the director of the Seminole County CVB. "We were working closely with Leisure Services to promote our parks and the sporting facilities, and had been working with the extension department in promoting Agricultural-Tourism." Joe has been with Seminole County since 2007. Congratulations Joe!
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