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St. John's University is back in Lake County! Following the success of their annual Collegiate Classic held each October, the Red Storm will host a mixed men's and women's field at the Mission Inn Spring Fling Invitational. Follow all the exciting golf action from this weekend's event at www.redstormsports.com
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A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM SAM |
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The calendar says March, but the frost on the ground suggest otherwise. But we here at the Central Florida Sports Commission aren't going to let the thermometer stop us for beginning one of the busiest springs in Lake County history.
As is often the case, golf kicked off the sports calendar in Lake County. The University of Central Florida Knights Women's golf team, in conjunction with the Sports Commission and Lake County Department of Tourism and Business Development, played host to the UCF Challenge at the RedTail Golf Club in Sorrento on March 1st and 2nd. A field of seventeen teams from around the country braved the strong wings and unseasonably cool temperatures to
kick of the 2010 golf season. In the end the Aggies of Texas A&M handled the tough conditions and came away with a narrow two stroke victory over Georgia State.
Next, we moved off the links to the lakes and roadways of South Lake County, where triathletes from across the nation ventured to Lake County for the 7th Annual Florida's Great Escape Triathlon. The National Training Center, Lake County Department of Tourism and Business Development and Sports Commission hosted this years' event at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont on March 7th. The sprint course has long been a favorite of new comers and professionals alike based on its short distances, yet challenging terrain. Over 250 athletes braved the cold weather and even colder water. For the first year ever, following the Great Escape the USAT hosted an Elite Triathlon with a total of 54 athletes. Overall the race was a huge success.
As spring continues, there are even more great events in store for Lake County and the Central Florida Sports Commission. Events on the horizon include additional men's & women's golf tournaments and high school state softball championships; just to name a few It's an exciting time for sports in our county, and we look forward to enjoying it all with you.
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Best Regards,
Sam Stark
President/CEO
Central Florida Sports Commission  |
| ECONOMIC IMPACT |
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Month of January 2010
- Hotel Room Nights - 189
- Tax Recovery - $2,348
- Economic Impact - $166,350
- Number of Participants - 611
- Number of Spectators - 816
- Number of Events - 1
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| IN THE PIPELINE |
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On the business development front, the Sports Commission is diligently researching and reviewing multiple event related opportunities for venues within Lake County. Event leads currently being evaluated by the Sports Commission include NAIA cross country and golf championships, middle school cross country meets and regional and national events in shuffleboard.
As previously mentioned in an earlier impact report, the Sports Commission continues to evaluate several national and international water-ski opportunities. What seems to be our biggest challenge are the financial parameters required to host each. We are working through these challenges and hope to share more details with you in the upcoming impact reports.
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| WINS & LOSSES |
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(as of February 2010)
Formal Bids Submitted: 3
Total Bids Won: 1
Total Bids Lost: 0
The Sports Commission recently submitted two (2) bids this month in conjunction with the City of Leesburg Parks & Recreation Department, National Training Center and Lake County Department of Tourism and Business Development. The first proposal was to host the 2011 - 2014 Florida Community College Activities Association Baseball Finals at Pat Thomas Stadium in Leesburg. The event would bring the top eight (8) community college baseball programs from across the State of Florida to Lake County to crown a state champion. The second proposal saw the Sports Commission teaming up with the National Training Center to host the 2011-2014 Florida Community College Activities Association State Softball Finals. Sixteen (16) of the top teams across the State of Florida would head to Clermont to compete for state bragging rights. We will of course keep you posted on any future developments associated with each bid. |
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
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 NTC NCAA Softball Spring Games February 22-April 2, 2010 National Training Center (Clermont) www.ntcsoftball.com
St. John's Spring Fling Golf Invitational March 12-14, 2010
Mission Inn Resort & Club (Howey-in-the-Hills)
Conference USA Men's Golf Championship
 April 25-27, 2010 |
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| COMMUNITY PROFILE |
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For the last twelve springs, the Mission Inn Resort and Club have been hosting NCAA championship golf events on their El Campeon course. In an age when NCAA is big business and venues across the country are making elaborate pitches to convince the NCAA to visit them, this decade plus streak is nearly unbelievable. The streak will continue this May as the NCAA women return for the Division III Golf Championship. 106 of the top amateur female golfers in the world will be in Howey-in-the-Hills for the prestigious event that was last in Lake County in 2007.
When the resort isn't busying hosting NCAA events, they keep themselves occupied with their own amateur golf tournaments. Both the Florida Junior Boys and Girls Invitational staged each summer and the Florida Junior Governor's Cup Open are owned and operated by the resort. This commitment to junior golf has certainly helped with the attraction and retention of NCAA events, as the best youth golfers in the country and even the world grow up associating the course with hosting marquee championship events.
Of course, there is a whole world to the resort besides their championship level golf courses. The family owned property boasts a collection of world-class restaurants, lounges, a brand new full service spa and even their own private marina. The allure of Mission Inn has helped the county and the Sports Commission attract business not only to the resort itself, but throughout the entire county.
For more information on the resort and their upcoming golf tournaments, please visit www.missioninnresort.com
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