sign in sign up
<<
Home , Addition Financial Arena, Amway Arena, Amway Center, Camping World Stadium, Exploria Stadium, Full Sail University

GAME ON

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY / 2021 In a year where turned upside down, our community’s drive to rise strong and keep sports alive pushed the Sports Commission forward. In the throes of a global pandemic, 28 world-class events came to the region and drove $150 million in economic impact. If this year showed us anything, it’s that you can’t stop progress. And you can’t stop this community. Not now. Not during a pandemic. Not ever.

SIGNIFICANT IMPACT GREATNESSLIVES ON

1,450 $1.9B EVENTS ECONOMIC IMPACT 1993 - 2020 Sports make Greater Orlando stronger. That’s STRONG TEAMS SUPPORT why so many passionate community leaders have STRONG COMMUNITIES joined forces with us to With more than 135 years of combined sports experience, the Greater Orlando bring world-class sporting Sports Commission team serves its community with help from a talented Board of Directors, an outstanding lineup of local, regional and statewide public and events to our region. This private partners, and a vast network of C-level community leaders. collaboration mattered more than ever in 2020. When the pandemic hit, we OUR NETWORK THE PLAYERS worked together to help our City of Orlando Greater Orlando Sports Commission Staff community finish the season Lake County Executive and Advisory Board of Directors strong, strive towards the Orange County Local Organizing Committees next goal and continue to Osceola County Regional Stakeholders cheer others on. Together, County Corporate Partners WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED, with innovative ideas, Chambers of Commerce Funding Partners thoughtful strategies and Corporate Community safety for all at the top of our Event Planning and Marketing Agencies minds, we kept our love for Institutional / Collegiate Partners the game alive and drove our Community region forward. Media Outlets We are a diverse team OUR MISSION National Governing Bodies driven by a shared goal: Professional Sports Franchises bringing world-class Sports and Entertainment Venues sporting events to KEPT US GOING Tourism Community Greater Orlando. Transportation and Logistics Community Youth Sports Organizations WE’RE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH 35+ VENUES across the Greater Orlando area. This year, working together mattered more than ever as our community developed innovative ways to make hosting marquee and championship events practical, accessible and safe.

ORLANDO / ORANGE COUNTY OSCEOLA COUNTY 1. Arena 20. Austin Tindall Sports Complex 2. Center 21. ChampionsGate Sports Field Complex and Golf Club 3. Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge 22. ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex 4. Stadium 23. Kissimmee Lakefront Park 5. 24. Orlando City SC Training Ground 6. Orange County Convention Center 25. Osceola Heritage Park 7. Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center 26. Reunion Resort and Golf Club 8. Stadium 9. The Fortress 10. USTA National Campus 11. XL Soccer World Lake Nona LAKE COUNTY SEMINOLE COUNTY 12. Clermont Boathouse 27. Boombah Sports Complex at Seminole County 13. Hickory Point Beach 28. Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park Sand Volleyball Complex 29. Central Winds Park 14. Mike Stone Soccer 30. Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium Complex at Hickory Point Park 31. Red Bug Lake Park 15. Mission Inn Resort & Club 32. Sanlando Park 16. National Training Center 33. Seminole County Complex 17. Venetian Gardens 34. Seminole Soccer Complex 18. The Big House 35. Sylvan Lake Park 19. Jack Travers International Tournament Skiing at Sunset Lakes We are very grateful to Orlando City SC, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission and the Mayor’s Office for supporting Concacaf to deliver the final matches of our 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. The facilities at Exploria Stadium are first class and all the city’s stakeholders have assisted us in organizing this competition safely, and in a manner that has allowed the teams to showcase some great football to fans across the region. We have seen what a great city this is and on behalf of everyone at Concacaf and the participating clubs, thank you, Orlando. - PHILIPPE MOGGIO, CONCACAF GENERAL SECRETARY

America’s most visited destination with GREATER ORLANDO’S 150+ 76 MILLION DIRECT FLIGHTS VISITORS TO DESTINATIONS WORLDWIDE in 2019

RD MOST Best in Southeast for 3AFFORDABLE CLEAN COMPETITIVE AIRPORT in the US 35+ for domestic flights ENERGY ADVANTAGES SPORTS VENUES (ACEEE) 200,000+ SEVEN Hotel rooms, timeshares OF THE WORLD’S TOP 10 and vacation rentals Most Popular Theme Parks The Greater Orlando Sports Commission Board of Directors and Corporate Partners represent a diverse cross section of our business community: The Greater Orlando Sports Commission Board of Directors and Corporate Partners represent a diverse cross section of our business community:

Formerly CenterState Bank Orange County ESPN Wide World Government 3N2 Sports of Sports Complex Positive Orange County Public Coaching Alliance AdventHealth Citrus Schools Sports Foundation Seminole County Amateur Athletic Union Orlando City Foundation Public Schools FORCESTO BE RECKONED WITH (AAU) Florida Region of USA Volleyball Orlando City Youth South Orlando The Southern Group Boys and Girls Club of Soccer Club (OCYS) Soccer Club Florida Rush Soccer Club The Weeks Brothers Special Olympics 2022 Foundation Babe Ruth Little League Florida Sports USA Games Foundation (FSF) Orlando Sports UCF Athletics GREATER ORLANDO Brothers Reaching Out Foundation Sports 4 the Kids GoDog GameStream Specialty City of Orlando Orlando Touchdown Club Startup Media Sports Association YOUTH SPORTS TASK FORCE Graham Leak Branding (USSSA) Clancy’s Sports Osceola County The Alfond Inn With the collaboration of over 40 regional organizations, the newly formed Greater Orlando Youth Sports Properties Institute for Sport and Public Schools United States Tennis The Aspen Institute Task Force identifies and addresses key issues affecting youth participation in organized sports. The goal Social Justice (ISSJ) Association (USTA) DeVos Sport Business Parramore Kidz Zone Florida of the task force is to develop sustainable solutions that will be shared with community leaders and Management Program Lake County Soccer Club The Ripken Perfect Game Experience at Walt YMCA of Central Florida industry partners for the betterment of our community. DS Sports Ventures Longwoods International Youth Florida Disney World Resort

Addition Financial Arena Orlando Economic Red Bull University of Partnership Central Florida ESPORTS TASK FORCE CEO Gaming Greater Orlando Sports Rivals Commission Orlando Magic Visit Orlando Our community’s Esports Task Force aims to make Central City of Orlando Special Olympics Florida Orange County Orlando Venues WKMG-TV News 6 Florida the go-to region for gaming competitions in a rapidly Defy eSports Bar UCF Athletics Orange County Osceola Heritage Park/ Willow TV growing industry topping $1 billion in global revenue. EA Sports Convention Center SMG Resort ESPN Wide World of Orlando City Soccer Club PRG Sports Complex Known as one of the world’s great vacation ALL IN FOR THE and sports destinations, our relentless TRUST quest to rally our region and prepare to welcome fans from across the globe for THE the 2026 FIFA World Cup ™ continues. Like any game plan, ours isPROCESS designed to lead us towards victory. The Greater Orlando Sports GLOBAL Commission follows a winning strategy: EVALUATE EVENT OF THE DECADE and determine which events to pursue and renew 1 ALL 450+ ACROSS COUNTIES FOR COLLABORATE COMMUNITY 11 1GOAL Our game plan drives events with our community stakeholders COMMITTEES 7 Secure Host City status for the LEADERS 2026 FIFA World Cup™. and business within six to strategically plan targeted segments. 2 BID US Olympic/NGB on new events Orlando2026.com and opportunities Alex Leitão, Allen Johnson, International CEO, Orlando City Chief Venues Officer, 3 Our Soccer Club Orlando Venues Marquee CREATE Caesar Lopez, Craig Borkon, owned and Leadership CAO and General Counsel, Deputy Chief Venues Officer, Esports operated events Includes: Orlando City Soccer Club Orlando Venues Roseann Harrington, Jason Siegel, Collegiate 4 Chief of Staff, President & CEO, Greater Mayor , Orange County Orlando Sports Commission ADVOCATE City of Orlando Youth/Amateur for the strategic development Byron Brooks, Jennifer Lastik, of our local sports infrastructure Mayor Jerry Demings, County Administrator, SVP of Events,Greater Orlando 5 and ecosystem Orange County Orange County Sports Commission A WIN FOR ONE ANINCLUSIVE IS A WIN BEGINS FOR ALL CELEBRATING WOMEN IN SPORTS WITH US Our third annual Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon in 2021 will recognize FUTURE the female trailblazers who have helped make sports in Greater Orlando the Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports and public successful industry it is today. These leaders have given their time, energy health organization for children and adults with intellectual and passion to propel the industry in new directions, elevating our entire disabilities. Our region is proud to host the Special community and reshaping the future of sports in our region. Olympics 2022 USA Games and support the movement to create a more inclusive future of sports. THE RETURN OF THE SPORTYS After a six-year hiatus, the SPORTYS returned in 2020 and aired on WKMG-TV News 6 with a new focus on honoring sports business professionals whose contributions and impact are vital in making Greater Orlando one of the 180 1,100 12,000+ 21,000+ country’s premier sports destinations. SPORTING MEDAL HEALTH ATHLETIC EVENTS CEREMONIES EXAMS PERFORMANCES 125,000+ FAMILY, FRIENDS AND HOME OF NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS SPECTATORS The NCAA awarded Greater Orlando the most championships of 8 20 4,000+ 10,000+ any destination for the 2022-2026 bid cycle. Our region will host 17 VENUES SPORTS ATHLETES VOLUNTEERS championship events at 7 venues in 5 different sports, projected to create $27M in economic impact for our community. International women’s soccer teams come together in 2020 SheBelieves Cup showcase “When you show up to play in your jersey and look in the stands to see all these young faces, you’re that much more motivated to succeed and show them that with a lot of hard work and a belief in yourself, you really can do what you love. With a club that supports us, a city that supports us and the type of soccer atmosphere that we get to play in, it’s just so positive and important for us to be successful.” – , ORLANDO PRIDE AND US WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER 340+ elite soccer teams Chris Nikic crosses the finish line as the MLS and NBA finish their seasons strong shine at annual ECNL Boys first person with Down Syndrome to in the innovative Disney Bubble and Girls Florida National Events complete2020 an IRONMAN “ We had such uncertainty as to when we would be able to return “The mentality of the ECNL is to provide a safe top-level experience to our stadiums. But with lots of hard work and lots of difficult “ Parents like me and my wife, our whole lives we’re concerned about for our membership, and we accomplished just that with the hard work discussions with so many different constituents at Disney and ESPN, produced from league staff, Seminole County, Orlando City Youth Soccer our kids and always having to take care of them, and I thought we were able to announce that we could return to the field and get about all of them and how they might feel now seeing how Chris and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. ECNL Florida is one of some games in for our fans.” the most popular events within the series, and is a destination that just broke a lot of barriers and shattered a lot of perceptions, and – DON GARBER players, parents and coaches enjoy traveling to for both the soccer so I felt at peace that parents like us were going to look at their COMMISSIONER kids and realize that they could do better and they could live a life and the local attractions.” independence and one of inclusion in the community the way Chris – JEN WINNAGLE, ELITE CLUBS NATIONAL LEAGUE has kind of chartered the path for him to be part of the community.” GIRLS COMMISSIONER – NIK NIKIC FATHER OF CHRIS NIKIC Lake County hosts inaugural Mission Inn Resort & Club Championship presented by IOA on LPGA’s Symetra Tour “In a year full of challenges and uncertainty, we are thrilled to help make this tournament a reality and provide these talented young ladies with more opportunities to pursue their dreams.” – HEATH RITENOUR, INSURANCE OFFICE OF AMERICA CHAIRMAN AND CEO As the Greater Orlando region began to navigate the pandemic, we intensified our efforts to renew and develop new business and MORE TO COME FOR OUR REGION fill the calendar and our venues for many years to come.

NCAA Division I NCAA Division II Bassmaster Classic WrestleMania 24 & 33 East-West Shrine Game NCAA March Madness World Cup at Women’s Golf Championships Spring Sports Festival at Lake Toho in Kissimmee at Florida / at Florida Citrus Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl at Mission Inn Resort & Club in Seminole County

AAU Junior Olympics World Life Saving Championships Dew Tour at FHSAA Football Finals United States Pan-American NCAA Division III at various sites in Daytona Beach at Florida Citrus Bowl / Taekwondo Junior Olympics Wrestling Olympic Qualifier Women’s Golf Championships Camping World Stadium at Orange County Convention Center at Osceola Heritage Park at Mission Inn Resort & Club

MLS All-Star Game at Orlando City Stadium, MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Special Olympics Copa America Centenario NCAA Women’s NBA 2K League at The Fortress, NCAA Division II Spring NBA Season Restart and Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex USA Games at Camping World Stadium College Cup Championship USMNT vs. Canada and Ecuador at Exploria Stadium Championships Festival at venues Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League at Exploria Stadium at venues across at Orlando City Stadium in Orange and Seminole County World Finals at Camping World Stadium Greater Orlando

NCAA March Madness FIFA USWNT vs. Columbia NCAA DI Men’s & Women’s at Amway Center World Cup Qualifier SheBelieves Cup American Athletic Conference Annual Tennis Championships USMNT vs. Panama Celebrating Women USMNT vs. Trinidad & Tobago NCAA DI/II/III Men’s & Women’s Men’s Championships at USTA National Campus Tennis Championships in Sports in at Amway Center At Exploria Stadium at USTA National Campus GREATERORLANDOSPORTS.COM