| Featured Article |  |
Established in 1923 by a special act of the Florida Legislature, OUC-The Reliable One is the second largest municipal utility in Florida. OUC provides services to more than 230,000 electric and water customers in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola Counties.
As a public-owned utility, OUC takes special pride in being a community leader. Orlando is a beautiful, vibrant city and OUC is pleased to sponsor sporting events that showcase the best of Orlando, including the OUC Downtown Orlando Triathlon, held each September. Visit OUC HERE.
|
KEEP UP WITH US!
|
|
|
A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM SAM
|  There's no season like the POSTSEASON here in Central Florida! We hope you are well as the playoffs continue in our community. And it's been a great start for the Magic! Stan Van Gundy and the guys swept the Charlotte Bobcats out of the first round earlier this week, and are now ready for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals either this Sunday or on Tuesday. The Magic are waiting for the survivor of the Atlanta-Milwaukee series. Go Magic!
It's also playoff time for Central Florida's newest pro team. The first-year Orlando Titans are one of eight teams to make the National Lacrosse League postseason, which opens tomorrow night at the Amway Arena. The Titans face the Boston Blazers at 7:35 after tying for the league's best regular season record (11-5).
In the meantime, another team is just getting started in Orlando. Actually, the Predators are getting RE-STARTED in The Jungle. The Preds are back tonight for their first home arena league game in two years. Iowa's in town at 8.
"College golf" is the most frequently used phrase these days here at the Central Florida Sports Commission. You'll learn why, and much more, in this edition of the Community Sports Report. Have a great May! |
|
Best Regards,
Sam Stark
President/CEO
Central Florida Sports Commission |
 . |
| | |
The Central Florida Sports Commission serves the counties of Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia, as well as the City of Orlando, by stimulating the local economy through sporting events. Economic impact is calculated by using formulas provided by the State of Florida's Office of Tourism & Economic Development.
Annual Totals as of February 2010
Hotel Room Nights - 16,981
Tax Recovery - $179,749,93
Economic Impact - $12,814,174.50
Number of Participants - 16,981
Number of Spectators - 11,052
Number of Events - 9
|
|
|
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT |
Courtesy: Daytona Beach News Jrnl. | Spruce Creek and DeLand High Schools have long been the "big boys on the block" when it comes weightlifting state championships in Volusia County. Now New Smyrna Beach High has joined the group.
The Barracudas dominated the 2A state meet this past weekend to claim the school's first-ever state crown in any sport. NSB won the championship with 30 points. DeLand and Spruce Creek finished in a tie for second with 13 points. Four Barracudas won individual state titles (Hussain Butt, Tho Hoang, Eric Laffey and Brandon Mason). You can click HERE to read more.
Congratulations NSBHS! |
|
|
| UCF WINS AGAIN IN LAKE | 
Maybe it's the short drive. Or simply the Lake County hospitality. Whatever it is, UCF has made itself at home in Sorrento these last two years. The men's golf team repeated as Conference USA champs earlier this week at RedTail Golf Club. The Knights led from wire-to-wire and dusted the field by 18 strokes to earn a spot in next month's NCAA Regional Tourney. The Sports Commission, UCF and the Lake County Department of Tourism and Business Relations have hosted the championship each year.
Next on the tee in Lake County is the Atlantic 10 Men's Championship at Mission Inn Resort & Club this today-Sunday. Charlotte is the team to beat.  The 49ers are trying to become the first A-10 team in nearly 20 years to win five conference titles in a row. Twelve teams will tee it up for the second year in a row at Mission Inn. Follow all the action at www.atlantic10.org.
|
|
|
| TEE TIME WITH THE NEC |
When it simply comes to names, perhaps no place in Central Florida is better suited to crown a champion than ChampionsGate. And one has already been decided.
The Sports Commission is hosting both the 2010 Men's and Women's Northeast Conference Golf Championships at ChampionsGate Golf Club this month. Fairleigh Dickinson's ladies won their third straight conference title this past Sunday in Osceola County. The men are taking over the International Course today-Sunday for the second year in a row. The NEC features 10 schools, including defending champion Sacred Heart. Follow the men's tourney HERE. |
|
|
| ATLANTIC SUN TAKES OVER VOLUSIA | 
The Atlantic Sun Conference is headquartered in Macon, Georgia. This month, conference officials should have just set up a temporary office in Volusia County. Stetson and the Sports Commission hosted the Women's Golf Championship and the Men's and Women's Tennis Championships April 11-17.
First up was the golf tourney April 11-14 at New Smyrna Beach's Venetian Bay Golf Club. Stetson had a shaky start and was 7th of 10 teams after the first  round. On day two, the Lady Hatters moved up to 5th. Then during the final round, Stetson posted the best single round team score in conference history, jumped past everyone and repeated as A-Sun Champs! The Hats now move on to next month's NCAA Regional Tournament in North Carolina.
The same day golf ended, the focus shifted to DeLand for the tennis championships (which were sponsored by the West Volusia Tourism Bureau). East Tennessee State beat Stetson for the men's crown. North Florida topped ESTU on the ladies side.
By the way, both tourneys will be back in Volusia again next year. Golf is at Victoria Hills and tennis returns to Stetson.
|
| |
| PREPS APLENTY | 
Speaking of coming into town and setting up shop, the FHSAA is also making Central Florida its home away from home. One tourney was last week, another is this week, a third is this weekend and a fourth is next month! Here's a quick look at the schedule.
FHSAA Lacrosse Finals (April 23-24)
Lake Brantley (girls) and Lake Highland Prep (boys) were both state runner up's at last weekend's finals at West Orange High School. This was the third year in a row the finals were held at West Orange.
FHSAA Boys and Girls Tennis Finals (April 26-30)
The boys and girls 2A and 1A championships are this week in Seminole County at Red Bug Park and Sylvan Lake Park. This is the third year in a row the event is in Central Florida.
FHSAA Boys and Girls Water Polo Finals (April 30-May 1)
The Sports Commission, YMCA and Dr. Phillips High School are teaming up for the second straight year for this weekend's event at the YMCA Aquatic Center in Orlando. Oviedo and Winter Park are in the girls quarterfinals. Bishop Moore and Lake Brantley are swimming on the boys side.
FHSAA Softball (May 10-15)
This will be the first time the softball finals will be at the National Training Center in Clermont. The Sports Commission, NTC, Lake County Public Schools and the Lake County Department of Tourism and Business Relations are the hosts.
|
| |
| |
 THE SPORTS CLUB
The Sports Commission has unveiled an exciting new concept for Central Florida---the Sports Club. This is an important program that provides value and benefit to you, supports the local sports scene and helps our local economy.
Take a look at the benefits, tickets and fun by clicking here! This is your Central Florida "sports ticket" and it can't be beat for price and quantity. Use the tickets as employee rewards and incentives, for customer appreciation and retention, or for friends and family. Our team will manage the benefits for you and serve as your "concierge," sending you the tickets timely and periodically instead of all at once.
The Sports Club is affordable, valuable, fun adn supports the community and economy in so many ways. We hope you will find the level that's best for you. Sign up today! |
|
|
|
|
