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Featured Article |  |
The SPORTYS - Central Florida Sports Awards & Hall of Fame
The PNC Bank SPORTYS @ Full Sail University will be the can't miss sports event of the year! Central Florida's version of the ESPYs, the PNC Bank SPORTYS will honor the top area high school, amateur, collegiate and professional athletes, deserving local residents and businesses throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties. Sports figures and celebrities will present awards to the biggest names in Central Florida sports, while also paying tribute to local inspirational stories.
During the show, the Class of 2011 will be inducted into the Central Florida Sports Hall of Fame. The Central Florida Sports Hall of Fame is the continuation of a great regional sports tradition, where over 70 Central Floridians have been honored for their distinguished accomplishments within professional and amateur sports since 1981.
An exciting, elegant evening of awards and entertainment, the PNC Bank SPORTYS @ Full Sail University will take place on Saturday, September 24th at 7 pm. Tickets will be available soon. Keep an eye on your inbox for your invitation to attend this one-of-a-kind event!
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A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM SAM |
The Sports Commission would like to congratulate the Leesburg Lightning on a record setting season in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. The Lightning set a FCSL record of 29 regular seasons win but unfortunately was not able to carry that success into the post season. The lightning faced off in the first round against the Sanford Rats at Pat Thomas Stadium. The teams split the first two games, each winning by only one run. Unfortunately, in the third game the Rats came out hot and beat the Lightning 9 - 2, sending them to the Championship Game at Tropicana Field. Despite the outcome, the Lightning put on a great season and look to continue their success into next season.
Here at the Sports Commission we are hard at work getting ready for our busy schedule of fall events. Our first event of the fall will be the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Preview in September. 18 teams are traveling to Mission Inn Resort from all over the country to get a look at where they will be playing the Division III Championship in May of 2012. We are excited to again co-host this event with Oglethorpe University and welcome some of the best college golfers from around the country.
On the business development front, this summer has been very productive as it relates to identifying new event opportunities for Lake County. The word is spreading on how Lake County in a great sports destination with championship caliber facilities for many different sports. Read more about our recent activity in this month's impact report.
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Best Regards,
Sam Stark
President/CEO
Central Florida Sports Commission  |
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 IN THE PIPELINE | |
On the business development front, the Sports Commission recently received a RFP from BASS with respect to hosting a 2012 BASS College Tour event. The event would be staged on the Harris Chain of Lake and would take place during the summer of 2012. Anywhere from 400 - 600 anglers (collegiate) from across the Southeast would be in attendance for this two (2) day event, with additional pre-fishing days expected from competing teams. We are still reviewing the RFP but hope to be able to submit a proposal to BASS by their deadline of September 1st.
In other news, the Sports Commission is planning a site visit with Group Travel Network with respect to creating a high school boys and girls baseball and softball tournament. The event would be staged in early April of 2012, with boy's baseball teams and girl's softball teams from across the Southeast traveling to Lake County to compete in a round robin spring break tournament in the respective sport. The target number of teams for both sports would be 16 baseball and 16 softball teams. Several sites under consideration include North Lake Community Park and Sleep Hollow Recreation Complex.
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| WINS & LOSSES | |
(as of July, 2011)
Formal Bids Submitted: 4
Total Bids Won: 2
Total Bids Lost: 1
Quick update with respect to the FHSAA Girls Softball Finals. As mentioned in last month's impact report, the Sports Commission has been in discussions with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) about the possibility of the Girls Softball Finals returning to Lake County in 2012 and 2013. The Sports Commission, National Training Center and Lake County School Board have co-hosted the event the past two (2) years at Legends Way Ball fields in Clermont.
Based on the feedback we have been receiving from the FHSAA, they seem eager to return to the National Training Center for at least one (1) more year. A site visit has been scheduled for late August so that staff from the National Training Center, CFSC and Lake County School Board can meet with the FHSAA to determine the final steps for locking in this piece of business for 2012, and hopefully beyond. We hope to be able share good news with you by next month's impact report.
 Also, the Sports Commission had recently been in discussions with Amateur Softball Association (Florida) about the possibility of hosting some national tournaments in summer of 2013 in South Lake County at Legends Way Ballfields and other nearby facilities. Based on the hosting parameters provided by ASA, along with date conflicts at the Legends Way Ballfields, we were not able to forward a formal proposal to host any of the tournaments. We will continue to work with ASA to identify some regional and statewide tournaments that might be good fits for Lake County.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
Central Florida Triathlon Series 2011
August 13, 2011 7:30AM
September 10, 2011 7:30AM
Waterfront Park, Clermont, FL.
www.triflorida.com
NTC 10th Anniversary Indoor Triathlon
September 10, 2011
National Training Center
roseanne.breckels@orlandohealth.com
2011 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship Preview
September 22 - 24, 2011
Mission Inn Resort
Florida Rugby Union, All Florida Day,
October 21 - 23
Hickory Point Soccer Complex
http://www.floridarugbyunion.com/
2011 FHSAA Golf Finals
November 1 - 2, 2011
Mission Inn Resort
Deer Island County Club
Harbor Hills Country Club
http://www.fhsaa.org/sports/golf
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| | COMMUNITY PROFILE | |
Nestled on 96 acres, just to the east of Umatilla is a hidden gem. The most recent addition to the Lake County Parks and Trails Division, the North Lake Community Park, opened in May of 2009. This park has everything you could want; an expansive playground area for the little kids, four picnic pavilions, two restroom facilities, two basketball courts, six tennis courts, four sand volleyball courts, two baseball fields, two softball fields, two soccer fields, three multi-use fields, concession stands, 1.4-mile perimeter trail loop and .75-mile nature trail, and even a dog park for our furry friends. All of the fields can be rented for a fee for league play, or can be used by the general public. North Lake Tennis is offering tennis lessons to all age and skill levels at the park. If interested please contact Michael at 352-516-5166.
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