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Orlando Business Journal, in partnership with the Central Florida Sports Commission, presents the 2011 Business of Sports breakfast, introducing you to the individuals driving our local sports industry. Hear them talk about what's on the sports horizon this year and how local businesses can benefit. Panel, moderated by Editor Cindy Barth, includes: Brett Bouchy, managing partner, Orlando Predators Charlie Freeman, SVP business development, Orlando Magic Jon Podany, chief marketing officer, LPGA Bill Sutton, associate director, DeVos Sports Business Management, UCF Steve Tello, SVP and GM, FOX Sports Florida & Sun Sports This event will be held on Friday at the Wyndham Resort on International Drive. The event is completely sold out. | |
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KEEP UP WITH US!
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A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM SAM
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Sports are big business in Central Florida! Just one small example, the Business of Sports Breakfast hosted by the Orlando Business Journal is completely sold out. This powerful networking event will be held at the Wyndham Resort tomorrow, so for those of you who'll be attending we look forward to seeing you there!
If you are a sports fan, Spring is one of the best times of the year in Central Florida. Leading off with the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros for Grapefruit League MLB spring training, and just around the corner, the Arnold Palmer Invitational will be held March 21-27 at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. In addition, the Orlando Magic have started the second half of their season, so the excitement of the NBA playoffs will be here before you know it. You'll read about some of these exciting events below.
 Looking back to January, the Central Florida Sports Commission, along with our partners at the City of Orlando, Florida Citrus Sports and Visit Orlando, hosted the 86th Annual East-West Shrine Game at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Nearly 10,000 spectators from across the United States attended the oldest college all-star game in the country. Click on the video to check out some exciting game footage.
As for business development, we've got great news to share! Orlando and the Central Florida Sports Commission trumped both Miami and St. Petersburg with a proven track record to keep the state football championship games at the Citrus Bowl for the next three years. The Florida High School Athletic Association announced last Friday afternoon that its football finals will stay at the Citrus Bowl through 2013. We have served as host for the eight title games for the past four seasons.
As you can see we've got a lot of great things going on at the Sports Commission, so so read about our recent and upcoming activity below. |
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Best Regards,
Sam Stark
President/CEO
Central Florida Sports Commission |
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 | | ECONOMIC IMPACT
The Central Florida Sports Commission serves the counties of Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia, as well as the City of Orlando, by strategically soliciting, creating, and supporting marquis sports-related events and businesses that enhance our community's economy.
Final Numbers, 2010
Hotel Room Nights - 166,095 Tax Recovery - $1,674,281.65 Economic Impact - $109,580,812.97 Number of Participants - 85,257 Number of Spectators - 165,140 Number of Events - 94 |
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| Business Development in the Works | |
The NCAA Convention in San Antonio provided us with the opportunity to network with college administrators, coaches and event partners to promote the Central Florida region as a destination for future sports events, conferences and meetings. We hope to have the same success at the NACDA Convention (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) in June. This convention will provide the Sports Commission and our partners the opportunity to showcase our venues for future event and team training opportunities. |
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| | | Major League Soccer at Disney
The Walt Disney WorldŽ Resort and Major League Soccer have teamed up to bring you the Walt Disney WorldŽ Pro Soccer Classic. This action-packed event will feature MLS teams FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and Toronto FC, along with Orlando City of the USL. First round games will be played February 24 at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The Consolation and Championship games will be played February 26 at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. respectively. For tickets visit www.Ticketmaster.com today! For group ticket sales, please call 407-939-1529. |
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| | | Spring Training Time
 Spring Training is here! The excitement of the Houston Astros returns to Osceola County on March 1st with their opening game against the Atlanta Braves. The Stadium became the Spring Training home of the Houston Astros when the team relocated from Cocoa Beach to Kissimmee in 1985. Single-game ticket prices are as low as $15, with season-ticket packages as low as $225. You don't want to miss the thrills of this action-packed 17-game schedule, so click HERE to purchase your tickets today.
And Spring Training wouldn't be complete without the Atlanta Braves! 2011 marks the Atlanta Braves' 14th consecutive Spring Training season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The 18 game schedule will feature some of the best teams in Major League Baseball. Their first game is on Feb 27 against the New York Mets, and individual/group tickets are available for as low as $10. Visit http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/sports/to purchase your tickets today! |
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| Prep Championships in Lake | |
In January we forwarded proposals to the FHSAA for the right to stage the following state championships in Lake County, those being the 2011-2012 Boys & Girls Golf Finals and the 2012-2013 Girls Softball Finals. The Girls Softball Finals would be staged at the Legends Way Ballfields at the National Training Center in Clermont. The Boys & Girls Golf Finals would be staged at the Mission Inn Resort, Harbor Hills Country Club and Deer Island Country Club. In fact, the Sports Commission was able to host a site visit with the FHSAA to review the proposed golf courses and discuss other elements of our proposal. We hope to have a decision on the golf finals by next month's community sports report, so keep an eye out. |
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