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Next week, the Central Florida Sports Commission will host the Bright House Sports Network Breakfast of Champions, a series of awards programs that will recognize the best High School athletes in Central Florida. Five separate awards programs will be held, recognizing outstanding athletes in the following counties: Volusia, Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County and Seminole County.
Volusia County's awards breakfast has been set for May 28th at the Daytona Beach Resort. Invitations have already been sent, and we hope you can join us in celebrating the accomplishments of these talented student-athletes.
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A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM SAM
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We hope May is treating you well. It certainly has been a great month for Embry-Riddle. Fresh off winning the conference championship, the baseball team has a huge opportunity this week on campus. The 8th ranked Eagles are hosting the NAIA regional tournament tomorrow-Friday. Embry is the #1 seed and plays tomorrow night at 6pm. If the Eagles can survive the five-team, double-elimination bracket, they'll head to the national tournament in Idaho later this month. The tournament is open to the public and tickets are available at the gate. Check out the full schedule HERE, and Let's Go Eagles!
In the meantime, the Sports Commission finds itself preparing for four upcoming events in Volusia
County this month. First up is the USA Taekwondo National Qualifier at Embry-Riddle this Friday-Sunday. Approximately 350 youth and adult athletes and coaches from across the Southeast are expected to converge on Volusia County. This is the third time in four years USA Taekwondo has staged a competition in Daytona Beach.
Three of the aforementioned four events will be held over Memorial Day Weekend. The Let it Fly Flag Football World Championships are expected to attract more than a thousand athletes (150 teams) to Embry-Riddle on Memorial Day weekend, May 28-30. This is the second year in a row that the event, which is supported by the Daytona Beach CVB, will be staged in Volusia County. That same weekend, basketball players from around the state will compete at the Hoop It Up 3v3 tournament at the Daytona Beach Bandshell. In addition, youth baseball players from around the region will compete in a Florida Travel Ball tournament at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
On the business development front, the Sports Commission recently submitted another proposal for a running event...an event that really has to be seen to be believed. Read all about it, and more, below in the Volusia County Impact Report.
Thank you for your continued support in marketing Volusia County as a premier sports destination!
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Best Regards,
Sam Stark
President/CEO
Central Florida Sports Commission |
ECONOMIC IMPACT |
March 2010 Totals
- Hotel Room Nights - 908
- Tax Recovery - $7,595
- Economic Impact - $479,366
- Number of Participants - 429
- Number of Spectators - 230
- Number of Events - 1
Year to Date (Through March 2010)
- Hotel Room Nights - 3,410
- Tax Recovery - $27,727
- Economic Impact - $1,536,116
- Number of Participants - 1,672
- Number of Spectators - 1,409
- Number of Events - 4
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| IN THE PIPELINE | |
In April, the Sports Commission hosted a site visit at Victoria Hills Golf Club.jpg) with Conference USA, with the goal of pursuing the 2011 and 2012 CUSA Men's Golf Championship. The event, if we are selected as the hosts, would be held in DeLand in late April. There are 11 teams in CUSA, including UCF. A formal bid will be sent to the conference office in the coming weeks.
In addition, we have been in discussion with Winter Guard International (WGI) regarding hosting future regional championships in Volusia County. Based on our diligence, we recently forwarded available dates at the Ocean Center for the opportunity to stage an event in March or April of 2011. WGI produces indoor color guard and percussion ensemble competitions annually, which attracts hundreds of youth competitors. We will provide more information when it becomes available.
Also, the Sports Commission is also in discussions with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) with the hopes of attracting a football and cheerleading championship to Daytona Beach this December 26-31. Thirty-six football teams and 36 cheerleading squads (900 total athletes) would compete at Municipal Stadium and Mainland High School. They would be joined by two high school all-star football teams. We are exploring financial options for this possible event, and will continue to update you on the progress made with the AAU.
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| WINS & LOSSES
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 Bids Submitted -6
- Wins - 2
- Losses - 1
Your Sports Commission has submitted a proposal to Red Frog Events to be the host site of a Warrior Dash Series event in 2011. Warrior Dash is quickly becoming a popular, national series for runners (mostly adult athletes). The 3-4 mile runs are highlighted by obstacles, including jumping over fire, crawling under barbed wire and jumping over junked cars. Gemini Springs Park in DeBary would be the host site. The next step would be a host a site visit with Warrior Dash officials. Stay tuned!
The Sports Commission continues to wait for a decision by Florida Amateur Wrestling Association and USA Wrestling to be the host of the 2011 and 2012 Cadet Duals Championship. If selected, the Daytona Beach Ocean Center would welcome approximately 2,000 youth athletes, coaches, officials and spectators from across the United States each June.
In the meantime, the Sports Commission recently looked into an opportunity to host a Central Florida Youth Football Championship over Thanksgiving weekend later this year. Unfortunately, because fields were not available, the Sports Commission was not able to submit a formal proposal. Moreover, the event organizers were unable to consider alternative dates based on the overall youth football schedule.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
USA Taekwondo National Qualifier Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University May 21-23, 2010 www.usa-taekwondo.us
May 29-30, 2010
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| COMMUNITY PROFILE |
Courtesy: Daytona Beach News Journal | There's a new kid on the block when it comes to high school weightlifting state championships. New Smyrna Beach's boys team lifted the FHSAA hardware for the first time in school history last month. It's also the first time NSB has won a state title in any sport!
Hussain Butt, Tho Hoang, Eric Laffey and Brandon Mason won individual state titles for the Barracudas. DeLand and Spruce Creek High School tied for second place. Congrats to New Smyrna Beach---ending the high school season in historic style! Read the Daytona Beach News Journal article on the meet HERE.
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Daytona Beach Bandshell
