Monthly Partner Update - July, 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Monthly Partner Update - July, 2017 The mission of the Florida Sports Foundation (FSF) is to assist Florida’s communities with securing, hosting and retaining sporting events and sports-related business that generate Upcoming Events significant economic impact and Sports Tourism for the state of Florida through the Foundation’s grant programs, legislative initiatives and Industry Partner service, recognition and July 15-16, 2017 development. Sunshine State Games Badminton The FSF also provides the citizens of Florida with participation Championships opportunities in the Sunshine State Games and Florida Senior Shula's Athletic Club, Miami Games events and serves as the state's leading resource for Sport Lakes, Florida Tourism research and facts. September 29-October 1, 2017 38th Annual Sunshine State Games Wrap Up Busiest Month of Sunshine State Games the Year International Beach Games Sheraton Sand Key Resort, In sports it’s all about the numbers. The Sunshine State Games is no different Clearwater, Florida as 18 sports were in competition during the month of June. Over 3,500 athletes either stepped on to a mat or playing field, climbed in a ring September - November or boat, lifted a bar with weights, dove into a pool, picked up a racquet or paddle TBA, 2017 at 13 different Florida sports facilities located in six different communities in Sunshine State Games June. Sport Shooting Championships With such a storied history of providing Floridians the opportunity to compete in Various Florida Locations a statewide amateur event, two Olympic gold medalists made an appearance at the Sunshine State Games in 2017. Two-time Olympic Judo gold medalist Kayla FSF Sponsors Harrison visited with athletes at the Palm Beach County Convention Center and 2016 Water Polo Gold Medalist Ashleigh Johnson returned to play with her Riptides Water Polo team and received a recognition plaque for her Water Polo accomplishments in the Sunshine State Games and the Olympic Games. The 38th Annual Sunshine State Games is a Florida amateur sports tradition dating back to 1980. More than 11,000 Florida athletes of all ages will compete in the 2017 Sunshine State Games and it is the longest continually running State Games in the country. Florida Sports Foundation Still More 2017 SSG Events Remain A Division of Enterprise Just because 18 sports were contested during the month of June doesn’t mean Florida, Inc. the 2017 Calendar of Events is complete. 101 North Monroe Street The month of July features Badminton at Shula's Athletic Club in Miami Springs Suite 1000 and in September, the Sunshine State Games hits the beach for the International Beach Games at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Tallahassee, FL 32301 Beach. (850) 488-8347 Clearwater Satellite Office 1501 N. Belcher Road, #238 Clearwater, FL 33761 (727) 724-3082 www.flasports.com More than two months of Sunshine State Games Sport Shooting events, at various locations statewide also begin in September. Eyes of MLB Focused on Miami during 2017 All Star Game South Florida baseball fans are in for a treat as the Miami and the Marlins will host the 88th Annual Major League Baseball All Star Game and the surrounding festivities, July 7-11. It’s Miami and the State of Florida’s first turn to host the event, which dates back to 1933 – and look for Downtown Miami to showcase the district. The game and related activities, being produced by Major League Baseball and the Marlins, are expected to generate about $70 million in economic impact and attract thousands of visitors, including television and radio crews from 57 countries. The event is broadcast to 100 million homes worldwide. Fans of the Marlins can also cheer for National League starting outfielder Marcel Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton, selected to play in the game and compete in the Home Run Derby. Tampa Bay Rays fans have the opportunity to see Corey Dickerson in a starting role at Designated Hitter, the final selection by fan vote, Logan Morrison and pitcher Chris Archer for the American League. Florida Senior Athletes win 576 medals at 2017 National Senior Games With the 2017 National Senior Games being in such close proximity, nearly 900 Florida Senior Athletes traveled to Birmingham, Alabama and made their presence known, winning a total of 576 medals and setting 17 age group records. It was the second highest total of athletes representing all 50 states competing in the biennial games, held June 2-15. The Florida athletes competing in Birmingham qualified for the 2017 National Senior Games at the 2016 Florida Senior Games last December in Clearwater and Pinellas County. Since 2001, nearly 4,000 Florida athletes have travelled to the National Senior Games. Series Qualifiers Leading up to 2017 Florida Senior Games in Clearwater Florida Senior Athletes can start making plans to qualify for the 2017 Florida Senior Games in December by competing in one of 10 Series Qualifiers between September and November. Prospective senior athletes and returing athletes have four opportunities in September, four in October and two in November. Don’t miss out on a chance to achieve your personal best at the 2017 Florida Senior Games, December 2-10 in Clearwater. Check www.floridaseniorgames.com for registration and competition information. Orlando City Soccer Scores On and Off Field as Partner in Central Florida Community Since its inception in 2011, the Orlando City Soccer Club has continually shown the organization would be intimately linked with the community and a true partner with the Central Florida area. The club and the city rose to the occasion last year in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting. Orlando City Soccer responded with an organized effort to promote equality, diversity and unity throughout Orlando. Those efforts will be recognized by ESPN, which has named Orlando City one of three Stuart Scott Enspire Award honorees, an award in honor of former ESPN commentator and WESH2 sports reporter, Stuart Scott. The award celebrates those taking a risk and using an “innovative approach to help the disadvantaged through the power of sports,” according to a statement released by ESPN. Scott died of cancer in 2015 at age 49 and the award will be presented at the annual ESPY Awards on July 12. FSF Granted Events in July to Bring Over 90,000 Visitors to Florida While the Major League Baseball All Star Game will be the most visible of the Florida Sports Foundation granted events during the month of July, the 19 total granted events will bring an estimated 90,225 visitors and over $88.2 million in economic impact to the state of Florida. These events will be held in nine different Florida communities and athletes will participate in nine different sports showcasing the state’s wide variety of sports facilities. The 2017 TORHS 2Hot4Ice National Roller Hockey Championship, July 5-12, will bring an estimated 1,700 visitors to Pasco County and the Florida Hospital Center Ice Arena. The arena, which opened in February, is a $28-million, 150,500-square-foot. facility, located northeast of the interchange of State Road 56 and I-75, is billed as the largest hockey complex in the Southeast. It can be converted to a dry floor to allow for other large events. It is expected to be a game changer in the quickly growing Wesley Chapel area. Florida NFL Training Camps Open in July Hard to believe that during the heat of the Florida summer, NFL camps will open with morning practices in Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins will open camp on Thursday, July 27 and Jacksonville plays its first pre-season game against the New England Patriots on August 10. The first time the Jags hit the field at Everbank Stadium will be August 17 against the Tampa Bay Bucs. The Dolphins open their 2017 pre-season with a game against the Atlanta Falcons on August 10 at Hard Rock Stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers take the field on Friday, July 28 with their first pre- season game coming on August 11 at Cincinnati. The first game at Raymond James Stadium will be August 26 vs. the Cleveland Browns. The Bucs 2017 pre-season preparation will be captured by HBO cameras as they are the subject of the 2017 version of “Hard Knocks,” that will air on Tuesday nights in August The training camp practices are free for the public. Those wishing to attend must register for free tickets online at the team’s website. Friends of the FSF Selected to Serve on Florida Sports Hall of Fame Board The Florida Sports Hall of Fame, a 56-year-old organization that recognizes the state’s best and brightest sports celebrities, has named five new members to its Board of Directors, including two who have close ties with the FSF. Rick Hatcher, a current FSF board member and Executive Director of the Treasure Coast Sports Commission, has joined the Hall of Fame Board along with Tim Ramsberger, the Deputy Director of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. Ramsberger is a former member of the FSF Board of Directors and has a long career in sports endeavors. The Hall of Fame has a charitable mission to raise funds for numerous children’s causes, including juvenile diabetes and childhood obesity. Florida Colleges Win Seven NCAA Championships In the amount of National Championship trophies brought home, the Florida Gators led the way of Florida schools, winning the Baseball College World Series, the Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the Women’s Tennis Championships. However, on the Division II level, the Barry University Bucs won the Women’s Golf and Tennis Championships while the Florida Southern Mocs won the Division II Men’s Golf Championship and the West Florida Argonauts won the Division II Men’s Tennis Championship.