“We're excited to partner with Pop-Tarts and look forward to welcoming another one of America's most beloved brands to Orlando. The best bowl trip in college football only gets better with the Most Valuable Pastry on your team, so get ready for unforgettable experiences at the Pop-Tarts Bowl debut this December.”

- Steve Hogan, CEO

Florida Citrus Sports

Around The Horn.

• The Pop-Tarts Bowl, formerly known as the Cheez-It Bowl, featuring top teams from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 Conferences, will take place on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 5:45 p.m. ET, broadcast live on ESPN. This year’s Pop-Tarts Bowl will be hosted at Camping World Stadium and will be the 34th edition of the game but the first time Pop-Tarts has sponsored an NCAA college football bowl.
• The third rendition of UCF football’s most notable recruiting event of the summer Bounce House Weekend — has arrived. The Knights are set to host nearly 30 top high school prospects from around the country for official and unofficial visits in hopes of eventually receiving their signatures come December’s early signing period.
• For the fourth time in the last decade, the Orlando Magic will play Brazilian-club Flamengo during the preseason. This will be Flamengo’s third trip to Amway Center and the fourth time that the Magic and Flamengo have faced each other during the preseason. The Magic traveled to Brazil in 2015 as part of NBA Global Games Rio.
• Orlando City looks to turn last week’s 3-1 win at Inter Miami CF into positive momentum as they return home to take on rival Atlanta United. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Exploria Stadium.
• After handing the Washington Spirit their first loss last week, the Orlando Pride travel to Chicago to take on the Chicago Red Stars. Orlando comes into the match having won three of its last five matches in all competitions. 
• The Orlando Solar Bears have announced that schools and students throughout Central Florida will be welcomed back to experience hockey in an educational setting at the team’s seventh annual School Day Game, when the Solar Bears take the ice at AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 10:30 a.m.
• A familiar face finished at the top, and new names emerged by the end of the 2023 Florida High School Athletic Association girls water polo state tournament. Lake Nona won its third consecutive state championship with a 7-4 win over Miami Gulliver Prep but the Lions were certainly challenged. They lost to West Orange in an overtime game and edged Seminole 7-5 in a state semifinal showdown.
• The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour hosted the 54-Hole Celebration Junior Open at the Celebration Golf Club from May 27-29. Boys and girls traveled from around the world to participate in the tournament. Winners included Based out of Orlando, FL, the HJGT administers events all across the country. Learn more about HJGT here!
• As the Southeastern Conference debates the merits of its conference football scheduling future during this week’s spring meetings in Destin, those outside the league are closely watching. There is growing sentiment to remain with the current eight-game schedule, but some in the league want to see it expand to nine when Texas and Oklahoma join in 2024.
• UCF, Florida and Florida State open the 2023 football season under the lights in front of nationally televised audiences. UCF begins its inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference on Aug. 31 by hosting Kent State at FBC Mortgage Stadium with the game scheduled for 7 p.m. on FS1.
• One month after Greg Lovelady was named the UCF baseball coach in 2016, the Knights announced a “game changing” donation from ardent supporter John Euliano, who committed $1.5 million toward expansion and renovation of the UCF Baseball Complex. On opening night this year, UCF announced a pledged donation of more than $5 million, which included $4 million toward the baseball program.

In The News.

• The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which oversees Orlando International Airport, is in the early stages of adding a pedestrian walkway and an adjacent rental car lobby area at the Orlando airport's new Terminal C.
• Visit Florida staff members have put together a tourism-marketing plan intended to counter increased competition from other states. With pandemic restrictions now lifted nationally and eased internationally, and tourism dollars up in Florida’s proposed budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the state tourism agency’s Marketing Council rolled out plans that, in part, would move up the start of winter and “families” advertising campaigns by a couple of months.
• Nominations are now open for Orlando Business Journal's 2023 C-Suite Awards. The nomination deadline is July 27, and self-nominations are accepted.
• The City of Orlando’s Historic Preservation Board is looking for photographers to submit work for its next annual calendar. The theme for the 2024 City of Orlando is “Lake Lawsona Historic District.” Photographers can submit photos of structures that are at least 50 years old to qualify.
• The Plaza Live will close briefly this summer to undergo extensive renovations. The independent venue shared that it will close to the public on June 1 to carry out “significant enhancements” that include upgrades to the building’s infrastructure, a new sound system, lighting, and stage equipment. The seating area will also be undergoing a redesign to allow for improved sightlines and “greater comfort.”
• The City of Orlando welcomed residents to a new park in the Packing District on Wednesday, May 31. The 66-acre Grove Park, a nod to the area’s earlier use as a citrus packing house, features a 1.5-mile multi-use trail, a dedicated open green space, a 14-acre stormwater pond and preserved wetlands with a 1-mile boardwalk, and an outdoor covered pavilion for concerts and pop-up performances. 
• The Orlando-based, pro-urbanism organization, Florida League of Cities, is looking to build a new facility just north of downtown Orlando.

Stay Engaged.

• City District Main Street, the official Main Street entity in downtown Orlando, has just launched its first-ever Traffic Box Art Program in partnership with the Downtown Arts District and the Downtown Development Board. Artists have until June 5 to apply to make their mark on a 13 select traffic signal boxes that are located in the public right-of-way.
• United Arts of Central Florida is seeking proposals for five temporary public art projects in celebration of 25 Years of Orlando Arts Magazine. According to the call for artists page, the project will “… showcase unique installations to illustrate the artistic talent in Central Florida and highlight the magazine’s 150 issues. The proposed project must use aspects from Orlando Arts Magazine‘s prior 149 covers.”
• Dunkin’ fans can enjoy a free donut in celebration of National Donut Day. The donut holiday is Friday, June 2. Customers will receive a free donut of their choice after purchasing any beverage. All stores are participating!
• This year’s Florida Prize in Contemporary Art at Orlando Museum of Art is scheduled to open on Friday, June 2. The Exhibition Preview Party will take place that night from 6-10 p.m. and will feature a lineup of local restaurants and caterers serving special dishes that were inspired by each of the Florida Prize artists. 
• The Orlando Museum of Art will host a free event on Monday, June 12, at 5 p.m., during which it will unveil a special mobile Pulse-inspired mural that was once on display on the side of Burton’s Bar in Thornton Park. 
• At Walt Disney World Resort, Epcot is bringing on spring with fantastic food and beverages, live entertainment, and more at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Now through June 5, guests will enjoy fresh cuisine, colorful gardens, playful topiaries and vibrant entertainment.
• SeaWorld Orlando has introduced a flash sale for Howl-O-Scream, its after-hours, haunted house Halloween event. The discounted price is $36.99 per ticket, and at least two tickets must be purchased to get that price. The offer ends on May 14.
• Florida Residents can save up to $65 on select multi-day tickets at Universal Orlando theme parks when buying online. Click here for current offers.
• Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers.

In The Community.

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the 4Roots Farm Community Breakfast, pictured here with GO Sports Board Member Adrianna Sekula (Solidarity Partners), Jo Newell (Bridge 2 Resilience), John Rivers (4Roots), and Ana Carolina Salazar (Bold Digital Marketing Studio).

GO Sports Senior Director Lindsey McBride and Coordinator Elizabeth Caldarelli participated in the Espon Tour Pro-Am at Mission Inn Resort & Club last week, joined by Full Sail University's Josh Mora.

GO Sports Senior VP Michael Kalinich also participated in the Epson Tour Pro-Am along with GO Sports Board Members Rob Sitz (DS Sports Ventures) and Chris Mueller (Hilton Orlando).

GO Sports Senior Director Shalisa Griffin attended the retirement party for Gary Cain, who is retiring after 28 years at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida.

New Corporate Partner.



TECO Peoples Gas



Delivering safe, resilient, clean, affordable natural gas for homes and businesses across Florida.

For more information, visit

https://www.peoplesgas.com/

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.



• Bungalower and The Bus: Orlando’s long history with sports
• Scavenger Hunts in Orlando
• 5 Things To Do in Orlando This Weekend