Monthly Partner Update - February, 2017 Upcoming Events The mission of the Florida Sports Foundation (FSF) is to assist Florida’s communities with securing, hosting and retaining February 16, 2017 sporting events and sports-related business that generate Governor's Baseball significant economic impact and Sports Tourism for the state of Dinner Florida through the Foundation’s grant programs, legislative Publix Field at Joker initiatives and Industry Partner service, recognition and Marchant Stadium development. Lakeland, Florida The FSF also provides the citizens of Florida with participation opportunities in Florida’s Sunshine State Games and Florida Senior February 25, 2017 Games events and serves as the state's leading resource for Sport Sunshine State Games Tourism research and facts. Dominoes Championships Miramar, Florida Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium to Show Off Renovations at Governor's Baseball Dinner FSF Sponsors Besides having the longest standing Spring Training relationship with a Major League Baseball team, Lakeland will be the starting point for the 2017 MLB Florida Spring Training season with the Governor’s Baseball Dinner. Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium has undergone a $48 million renovation and the more than 300 attendees at the 2017 Governor’s Baseball Dinner will get a first look at the new look of the stadium. Joining Governor Rick Scott will be the Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred, personnel from the 15 Florida Grapefruit League teams and a host of former Detroit Tigers players. Sports in Florida is a $57 Billion Annual Industry Florida Sports Foundation The fiscal year of 2015-16 meant another bustling sports economy year to the Florida A Division of Enterprise Sports economy bringing 16 million visitors, a Florida, Inc. $57.4 billion economic footprint and 580,000 101 North Monroe Street jobs to the Sunshine State. These numbers Suite 1000 were determined by an economic impact survey Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 488-8347 of the Florida Sports Industry, compiled by Hexad Analytics, of Pensacola and commissioned by the Florida Sports Foundation, the state’s lead sports promotion and development organization. Clearwater Satellite Office The 16 million visitors coming to Florida for sports activities represent 1501 N. Belcher Road, 15% of approximately 106 million non-resident visitors to Florida last #238 year, according to Visit Florida. Clearwater, FL 33761 (727) 724-3082 Drivers Start Your Engines at the Daytona 500 www.flasports.com NASCAR will return in a big way when the green flag waves for the 59th running of “The Great American Race” in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The biggest headline going into NASCAR’s grandest event will be the return of Dale Earnhardt Jr who missed the 2nd half of the season last year due to lingering concussion related symptoms. Earnhardt is easily the most recognizable name in NASCAR and his popularity in the sport can be paralleled to Tiger Woods’ larger than life persona in golf. Actor Owen Wilson, the voice of Lightning McQueen in the upcoming Cars 3 movie, will serve as Grand Marshal for the 59th annual Daytona 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race and will ride in one of the Grand Marshal cars during pace laps prior to the green flag of the 200- lap, 500-mile race and attend the drivers meeting. Seven February FSF Granted Events Attract Over 25K Visitors The seven events taking place in February receiving FSF Grants truly show the diverse roster of sports the State of Florida is able to host throughout the year. The lineup of sports bringing the more than 25,000 visitors and over $17 million in economic impact to the state includes an equestrian event, field hockey, softball, beach volleyball, water polo, baseball and a bridge tournament. The FIVB Swatch International Beach Volleyball Major Series, held on Fort Lauderdale Beach, February 6-13, is expected to bring over 5,00 visitors and leave an economic footprint of more than $4.7 million in the area for its season opener. Teams from the U.S and Canada, Europe, South America and Australia are confirmed to compete. Over 4 Million Football Fans Attended Games in Florida during 2016-17 Season The 2016 State of Florida Football Season closed with two high profile events as the Tampa Bay area hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship and Orlando hosted the NFL Pro Bowl. In pushing the season attendance in Florida over 4.2 million, both communities received high praise from event organizers and fans. Downtown Tampa was the hub of the College Football Nation the weekend prior to the thrilling game which saw Clemson claim the National Championship Trophy with a variety of events. The Orlando community benefitted from a week of events including a skills showcase, fan experiences, open practices, community service projects and more. See a recap of the 2016-17 football season in the final edition of Florida Football Central. Visit a Florida Baseball Park in February With the 2017 Florida Grapefruit League season set to begin in February, the state’s two Major League teams and many of the stadiums hosting Spring Training will host Free FanFests and Open Houses. The Tampa Bay Rays FanFest is scheduled for Saturday, February 4 at Tropicana Field and the Miami Marlins FanFest is Saturday, February 11, at Marlins Park. The Baltimore Orioles and Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, along with the Boston Red Sox and Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers will be open to fans on Saturday, February 18. Baseball fans in Fort Myers can go to open houses on back to back days as the Minnesota Twins and Hammond Stadium at the CenturyLink Sports Complex welcomes fans on Sunday, February 19. Six Florida Senior Games Series Qualifiers Take Place in February From Northwest to Southwest Florida, six Florida Senior Games Series Qualifiers will be in action during the month of February. More follow in March and April, giving Florida Senior Athlete age 50 and over an opportunity to “Find Your Game.” While the 24 sports offered at the Florida Senior Games are the outlet for competition, the game for some athletes may be found outside the field of play. The “Game” some look to find could be overall fitness, the camaraderie of fellow athletes at Senior Games events or achieving a personal goal involving a sporting effort. Each of the 22 Florida Senior Games Series Qualifiers provide qualifying opportunities for the 2017 Florida Senior Games to be held in Clearwater, December 2-10, 2017. Start Training for Sports of the 2017 Sunshine State Games The Sunshine State Games, a Florida amateur sports tradition since 1980, kicks off its 38th year in 2017 with a calendar of events featuring a roster of over 25 sports in more than a dozen Florida communities. The Sunshine State Games Dominoes Championship starts the action, February 25, in Miramar and competition stretches into November. The majority of the action takes place during May and June with three multi-sport festivals in Manatee County, the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County. The Palm Beach County Festival, to be held June 17-18, will host nine sports with the Palm Beach County Convention Center being the centerpiece with seven sports scattered around the downtown West Palm Beach facility. Of the more than 200,000 participants in this Olympic-style Sports Festival since 1980, many have gone on to fulfill Olympic dreams or championship glory. Thousands more have achieved personal goals or victories. They all have been a part of a Florida tradition of amateur competition that symbolizes the true spirit of Olympic-style sports. Tampa Bay Rowdies Seek a Spot in Future MLS Expansion With a long and storied 41-year history in the Tampa Bay area, the Tampa Bay Rowdies have submitted a bid to become a future entry in Major League Soccer joining 10 other professional sports teams in the State of Florida. Two more teams from the 12 who applied will likely be added for the 2020 season. Currently competing in the United Soccer League, the Rowdies and St. Petersburg sports leaders have unveiled the MLS2STPETE campaign. The effort showcases the support of the community and plans of renovating the historic Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg into a soccer only venue. The Suncoast Invitational, to be held February 17-18, features five MLS soccer clubs playing at Al Lang Stadium and MLS officials will be watching attendance to gauge interest in the area for soccer. Gulfstream Park Shines a January Spotlight on Horse Racing More than 16,000 fans turned out for the richest race in thoroughbred history at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach on January 28 to watch Arrogate take the winners share of the Pegasus Cup $12 million purse. It also marked the final race of 6-year old California Chrome’s career. On a picture-perfect South Florida afternoon, Gulfstream Park set an all-time handle record of more than $40 million on its 12-race program highlighted by the inaugural running of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1). The record topped the previous mark in Gulfstream's state-of-the-art facility of $32.082 million set last year on the 14-race Florida Derby (G1) Day. The 2017 Florida Derby is set for Saturday, April 1. All Three FSF Complimentary Guides Now Available The Florida Sports Foundation promotes Golf, Fishing and Spring Training Baseball as tourist destinations to the State of Florida. The three combined provide more than a $20 million dollar impact to the state. Find out more about the three industries and opportunities statewide in the annual complimentary guides of the FSF by clicking the cover below.