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A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM SAM
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Kick off the New Year with sports! We hope that 2011 is off to a fantastic start for you and your family! So far in 2011, we have a lot exciting events and news! Daytona International Speedway has announced two days of star-studded activity for its NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest later this month. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will spend January 20th-22nd testing the new pavement over the 2.5-mile tri-oval. This is a unique experience since cup teams have not tested there for two years. Don't miss your chance to be a part of all the action and visit www.daytona500.com today!
Great news for Bethune Cookman University; January 4, 2011, Breon Allen, 5-foot-7 star running back of Class 1B state runner-up Warner Christian, stated that he is no longer planning to sign with the University of Pittsburgh, where he committed last summer. Instead, Allen has orally committed to play for Brian Jenkins and the resurgent Bethune-Cookman program. Bethune Cookman finished the 2010 season 10-1. The team broke the single-season scoring record with 437 points as well as scoring three touchdowns in a quarter for the sixth time last season.
What better way than to support Volusia County than to give? The St. Johns River specialty license plate is a great way to support the preservation, protection and restoration of Florida's American Heritage River. Part of the proceeds from the sale of each plate will be used to support St. Johns River Alliance programs. For more information click HERE.
Looking to get away? Traffic at the Daytona Beach International Airport has increased! Delta and U.S. Airways now have an upgraded aircraft that offers not only more seats, but competitive fares as well! For more information and to book your flight, visit flydaytonafirst.com
So what else is in store for 2011? On the business development front, your Sports Commission has had a very busy start to the New Year. Read about our recent activity below in this month's impact report.
Happy New Year!
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Best Regards,
Sam Stark
President/CEO
Central Florida Sports Commission |
ECONOMIC IMPACT |
Month of November, 2010 Totals - Hotel Room Nights - 627
- Tax Recovery - $7,083.34
- Economic Impact - $336,897
- Number of Participants - 817
- Number of Spectators - 1,544
- Number of Events - 2
Year to Date (Through November, 2010) - Hotel Room Nights - 18,621
- Tax Recovery - $134,626.73
- Economic Impact - $9,139,721.50
- Number of Participants - 10,103
- Number of Spectators - 12,317
- Number of Events - 25
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| IN THE PIPELINE |
On the business development front, the Sports Commission, in affiliation with the Daytona Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, recently met with Thomas Bennett, Head Coach for Girls Weightlifting at Spruce Creek High school. USA Weightlifting has several events up for bid for 2012 and 2013 and recently one became available for this June. We are currently reviewing the bid applications to see which events would best fit Volusia County and look forward to reporting the outcome of our diligence in the next impact report.
In other news, the Sports Commission recently sent staff to the US Sports Congress in Ft Myers, Florida from December 12 - 15. The US Sports Congress brings Sports Commissions and event organizers together to network and discuss the state of the industry. Over 25+ event organizers were in attendance a this year's conference such as Big Shots Basketball, USA Synchronized Swimming, Amateur Athletic Union and USA Wrestling, just to name a few. We plan to follow up with each organization to identify which of their event properties might be good fits within our venues in Volusia County.
In the upcoming weeks, the Sports Commission will be meeting with Daytona International Speedway to discuss last year's Daytona Beach Half Marathon and set the 2011 date. We look forward to returning to the infamous route starting around the track, down to the beach and back. Look for your "save the date" info soon! |
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| WINS & LOSSES
(Annual Numbers Through December)
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- Bids Submitted - 10
- Wins - 5
- Losses - 2
 As mentioned in previous impact reports, the Sports Commission had been evaluating RFP's from the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to potentially bid on multiple State Finals for venues within Volusia County. State Finals under consideration included Boys & Girls Basketball, Boys Wrestling, Boys & Girls Volleyball and Boys & Girls Water Polo. Based on our diligence, the hosting requirements from both a venue and financial standpoint did not provide a fair and equitable economic return, so we ultimately decided not to forward any proposals. Should the hosting requirements change in the near future, we will re-evaluate each opportunity to see if it makes sense to pursue on behalf of Volusia County.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
Go Dog Go 5k
January 22
Norwood's Restaurant and Wine Shop, New Smyrna Beach
http://www.racesmith.com/races/GoDogGo5K.html
NASCAR Sprint Cup Testing
January 20-22
Daytona International Speedway
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com
Bethune Cookman Wildcats Men & Women Basketball vs. Hampton University
January 22
Bethune Cookman University
http://www.cookman.edu
Ormond Beach Historical Bus Tour
January 26
The Casements, Ormond Beach
www.OrmondHistory.org
Rolex 24
January 29-30
Daytona International Speedway
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com |
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| COMMUNITY PROFILE |
Congratulations to Don Gibb, who is now the new Daytona State College head coach for the swimming and diving program. Don Gibb will replace Steve Lochte, father of Gold Medalist Ryan Lochte. Don Gibb's coaching experience includes coaching three NCAA champions and more than 112 school records broken.
According to Daytona State College Acting President Frank Lombardo, Don Gibb is an outstanding swimmer in his own right and the swimmers are getting an absolutely outstanding coach. Athletic Director Will Dunne also added that the new coach has directed his athletes to 20 All-America distinctions, 38 individual conference titles, four swimmers of the year honors, while 69 swimmers earned NCAA qualifying marks. Looks like the Falcon's swimming and diving program is off to a great start for the New Year.
For more on this story please visit the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
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