We hope this month's activity letter finds you well, as the Central Florida Sports Commission continues its extensive work to bring new and exciting sports related events and activities to Osceola County.

While the New Year is around the corner, the final months in Osceola County are finishing with a flurry of sports activity.

First, starting in November and continuing into December, the NCCAA Division I & II Soccer and Volleyball championships were held at Austin Tindall Park and the Kissimmee Civic Center. Based on initial estimates, these four events will attract over 1,000 athletes and spectators to Osceola County and generate an estimated economic impact of more than $2.3 million for the community.    Based on the success of each, we are hopeful to lock each event down for a return to Osceola County for 2011 and 2012.

Secondly, as you read this, the American Youth Football and Cheer National Championships are taking place at Austin Tindall Park and Osceola Heritage Park. 2010 marks the fourth consecutive year this prestigious event has been staged in our community. Stay tuned to next month's impact report on the positive economic benefits generated for Osceola County.

On the business development front, the Sports Commission is proud to announce the Men's Northeast Conference Golf Championships will be returning to Osceola County in 2011. Read more about this exciting event, and other business development initiatives, later on in this month's impact report.

Lastly, I would like to introduce our new Osceola County Events and Marketing Manager, Glen Allen. Glen comes to us from Hurrican Sports Properties in Corla Gables, FL where he coordinated and executed game-day operations as well as monitored the activation of corporate sponsorships at events. Glen recently graduated from the University of Miami, in which he received his Master's in Sport Administration. Glen is very excited to be working in Osceola County, and we look forward to him meeting everyone.

Thank you for your continued support as we continue to market Osceola County as the "Amateur Sports Capital."

The Sports Commission, in conjunction with the Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau, is currently reviewing RFP's from the Florida High School Athletic Association that were recently released in November.   In all, over 12 State Finals are up for bid for hosting, starting in the fall of 2011.  Boys & Girls Basketball, Boys Wrestling, Boys & Girls Golf, Girls Flag Football and Boys & Girls Volleyball and are a few of the State Finals under consideration for venues within Osceola County.  Bids are due to the FHSAA by early January, so stay tuned as more information will come available in the coming weeks!

In addition, the Sports Commission has had been in touch with Rocky Mountain Nationals with respect to their potential return to Osceola County in January of 2011.  Rocky Mountain hosted the Games of Rome Wrestling Meet at Osceola Heritage Park early this year and is interested in staging the event again in Kissimmee over MLK weekend. Over 400+ athletes, coaches and spectators would be in attendance.  We hope to give more information in the January Impact Report.