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Osceola County Fair & Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show
The Osceola County Fair returned to Kissimmee on February 10th at Osceola Heritage Park. This 10-day event offers more than 80 rides, spectacular shows, and livestock exhibits that the whole family can enjoy. For more information on the fair, including hours of operation, admission prices and entertainment, click HERE.
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A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM BRENT
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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.
The Sports Commission and Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau had a busy January as we co-hosted five (5) events. We welcomed back two (2) annual partners, Soccer Six of Florida and the United States Flag & Touch Football League (USFTL). Soccer Six hosted their annual Blizzard Blast 6 on 6 adult soccer tournament at Austin Tindall Regional Park. USFTL returned to Osceola County to host their annual flag football national championships at Austin Tindall Regional Park. We were excited to continue the relationship with each event partner and we look forward to working with them again for future years!
In addition, we also co-hosted two (2) new events and renewed a relationship with a previous event organizer. The two (2) new events were the MLK Girls Volleyball Invitational and the Golfweek Stableford National Championship. The MLK Girls Volleyball Invitational was a youth volleyball tournament that utilized both the arena and exhibition hall at Osceola Heritage Park. The Golfweek Stableford National Championship was a first time event conducted by Golfweek Magazine. It allowed amateur golfers from all around the United States to compete in a three-day tournament using the Stableford format for scoring. Golfweek Magazine utilized Orange Lake Resort, ChampionsGate and Celebration Golf Club over the course of the three-day tournament. Click HERE to see a video from the Golfweek Tournament Director.
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Photo courtesy: PAA |
The fifth event hosted in January was the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) Tour Team Challenge. This event, which took place at Lake Toho, paired two (2) professional anglers together in a team competition. The PAA Tour Team Challenge featured some of the most notable anglers in Bass fishing, and was filmed for a national broadcast later this year. The national broadcast will give Lake Toho, and Osceola County, some great exposure as one of the premier fisheries in the world. Stay tuned to future impact reports on the date and channel of the national broadcast, as well as the economic impact numbers from all of the above mentioned events.
Thank you for your continued support as we market Osceola County for sports tourism.
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Best Regards,
Brent Nelson
Interim President/CEO
Central Florida Sports Commission |
| ECONOMIC IMPACT |
Month of December, 2011
Hotel Room Nights: 17,987
Tax Recovery: $ 249,778.04
Economic Impact: $14,601,957.38
Number of Participants: 9,586
Number of Spectators: 9,098
Number of Events: 1
2011 Totals
Hotel Room Nights: 46,240
Tax Recovery: $664,505.58
Economic Impact: $36,339,646.88
Number of Participants: 27,194
Number of Spectators: 27,055
Number of Events: 19 |
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IN THE PIPELINE |
 As mentioned in last month's impact report, the Central Florida Sports Commission sent representation to two (2) national conventions. The first was the US Lacrosse Convention which was staged in Philadelphia. Billed as "the unofficial start to the lacrosse season," this event gathers the very best the sport has to offer, and provides the sport's largest educational opportunity, with over 5,000 coaches, officials, program administrators and exhibitors in attendance each year. This convention provided the Sports Commission the opportunity to network with potential event organizers and coaches that might be interested in booking one of our various venues within Osceola County.
 The same week, we sent staff to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention in Kansas City. Billed as "The World's Largest Annual Gathering of Soccer Coaches," the NSCAA Convention typically draws approximately 4,000 coaches from our 30,000-plus members, and more than 9,000 attendees. Like the US Lacrosse Convention, this convention provided the Sports Commission the opportunity to promote our area assets to interested parties that might want to book one of our multi-purpose venues for an event, camp or team training.
In other news, the Sports Commission is researching a potential youth basketball tournament that would be held in Osceola County in May 2012. The event could bring in 40 to 60 youth basketball teams from across the State of Florida and beyond to Osceola County for this 2 day event. The timeframe the event organizer has requested falls between April 1st and Mid May. Multiple venues are currently under consideration including Osceola Heritage Park and Kissimmee Civic Center. Please stay tuned as we continue to research this event opportunity.
Also, the Sports Commission is close to finalizing the contract for the Florida Amateur Wrestling Association's (FAWA) Folkstyle State Championships for March of 2012. This annual event brings almost 2,000 participants and spectators to Osceola County during the first weekend in March. The Silver Spurs Arena will serve as the host venue. The marks the 3rd straight year that FAWA will stage an event in Osceola County. |
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| | WINS & LOSSES | |
(As of February 1st, 2012)
Bids Submitted - 1
Wins - 0
Losses - 0
The Sports Commission and Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau recently submitted a proposal to the Atlantic Sun Conference to host their 2013 Men's Golf Championship at Harmony Golf Preserve. This tournament would bring 10 men's collegiate golf teams from the Southeast to Osceola County in April of 2013. The tournament will be a four (4) day event, consisting of one (1) practice round and three (3) competition rounds. Please stay tuned to future impact reports to see if we are awarded this first time opportunity! |
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Rebel Spring Games
Osceola County Softball Complex
February 27-March 21
http://www.rebelspringgames.com/
Florida Amateur Wrestling Association Folkstyle Championships
Osceola Heritage Park - Silver Spurs Arena
March 4-6
http://floridausawrestling.org/
World Class Lacrosse
Austin Tindall Park
March 13-27
http://www.worldclasslacrosse.com/
FILA Pan American Olympic Games Wrestling Qualifying Tournament
Osceola Heritage Park - Silver Spurs Arena
March 23-25
Website
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| COMMUNITY PROFILE |
Silver Spurs Rodeo
 The Silver Spurs Rodeo returns to Osceola County on February 17 - 19 to close out the Osceola County Fair. This will be the 128th Silver Spurs Rodeo held in Osceola County, dating back to 1944. The Silver Spurs Rodeo was founded by the Silver Spurs Riding Club in 1944 to promote good horsemanship and fellowship in Osceola County. It has grown to one of the largest rodeos in the country, and the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi. Click HERE for more information on the rodeo.
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