"Congratulations to this year’s class of winners. We’re excited to host this event every year and continue to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary women in our sports community. Thank you to Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute for their ongoing support as our presenting sponsor."

- Jason Siegel, President & CEO

Greater Orlando Sports Commission

Around The Horn.

• The Greater Orlando Sports Commission has announced five award winners that will be honored during the 2023 Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. The 5^th annual luncheon will be hosted at UCF’s Addition Financial Arena on Wednesday, September 13 at Noon. This year's featured speaker is Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the first ever women's Olympic marathon at the 1984 games in Los Angeles, and pioneer of women's marathoning. To purchase a table and inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Michael Kalinich. Click here to purchase individual tickets.
• Streaming live from the Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress, the Sunburst Classic Championship tournament will feature the two winners “Zazzi” and “Bayko” from this summer’s Sunburst Circuit. Each will be flown to Orlando on Monday, Aug. 28, where they will compete head-to-head in "MLB The Show 23." 
• With an end-of-season playoff push at the front of their minds, the Orlando Pride prevailed 5-0 over the Chicago Red Stars in front of the home crowd at Exploria Stadium on Sunday night. The victory elevated the Pride to just two points out of the final playoff spot.
• In the weeks leading up to Orlando Magic training camp, which starts Oct. 3 at the AdventHealth Training Center, the team will sign multiple free agents. The players won’t sign a standard NBA contract nor will they likely be with the team very long. Instead, the franchise will sign them to Exhibit 10 deals — which opens the door for a handful to remain within the organization in some form or fashion.
• Orlando City scored three times in the second half, rallying for a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Sunday night as the league returned to action after a five-week layoff for Leagues Cup play. Chicago used Mauricio Pineda’s first goal of the season to grab a 1-0 lead two minutes into the second half. Wilder Cartagena scored the equalizer for Orlando City three minutes later when took a pass from Facundo Torres and found the net for the first time this season.
• In a meeting between last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Paolo Banchero, and the No. 3 pick, Jabari Smith Jr., the Orlando Magic will open the regular season against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 25 at Amway Center.

In The News.

• The City of Orlando has just issued a community survey asking residents for their feedback on the Under-i project. The survey takes roughly five minutes to complete and asks you to grade the importance of things like bike paths, public art, parking, and landscaping. Click HERE to participate.
• Disney World is just few days away from bringing more than 50 Disney Princess wishes to life alongside their friends at Make-A-Wish during an enchanting wish-granting event being held in honor of World Princess Week. With nearly 300 honored guests set to attend the full-day affair, Once Upon A Wish Party is shaping up to be the biggest wish-granting event ever planned at Walt Disney World.
• Orlando Health this month will debut its first-ever orthopedic hospital, one it says is a first for the Southeastern U.S. The nonprofit health system on Aug. 29 will open a 75-bed hospital with 10 operating rooms as part of its $300 million, 375,000-square-foot Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute Downtown Complex.
• Public bus service Lynx is getting closer to picking a site for its new southern operations facility in Osceola County. The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority's board on Aug. 24 will reveal the sites under consideration. The project includes $15 million for the site purchase, as well as $80 million for design and construction.
• SpaceX is set to send up the next quartet of astronauts to the International Space Station from an overnight launch from Kennedy Space Center. A Falcon 9 rocket topped with the Crew Dragon Endurance on the Crew-7 mission is targeting liftoff at 3:49 a.m. liftoff from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A with backup opportunities on Saturday and Sunday.
• Pat Northey, a longtime Volusia County councilwoman and advocate for trails, oversaw the county’s first mile of trail near Gemini Springs in the mid-1990s. Now the 74-year-old can’t help but grin when tallying up the miles of paved trails that run through DeBary and Deltona, plus the paths that take tourists up and down the East Coast. According to the Volusia County Trails Master Plan, there are now more than 92 miles of paved trails.
• A one-night stay inside Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is the royal prize in a giveaway that benefits Give Kids the World Village. The experience includes other Walt Disney World activities, including three-day theme-park tickets loaded with park-hopping powers for four people, a $500 Disney gift card, an additional two-night stay in a standard room at a deluxe-level Disney World hotel for up to four guests and breakfast for four the morning of check-out from the Cinderella Castle.

Stay Engaged.

• Visit Orlando’s annual celebration of Central Florida restaurants, Magical Dining is back now through October 1 with the most restaurants yet. The event features three-course prix-fixe meals for either $40 or $60 per person at more than 130 participating restaurants this year. This year sees the addition of 22 new restaurants including eight restaurants that were recently recognized by the Michelin Guide.
• Join Mayor Dyer and representatives from Orlando's Citizen Advisory Boards on Wednesday, August 30 at 5:30 p.m. at The Monroe for a Boards and Brews event to learn how you can make an impact by serving on a city board. As board members, residents contribute to the policy-making process, offering valuable input and review of city programs. Registration is required. Click here for more information or to begin an application to serve on a City of Orlando Advisory Board or Commission. 
• With the new school year right around the corner, it is time to register for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 2023-24 School Fishing Club Program. This annual educational program focuses on teaching youth anglers about best fishing practices to help ensure the future of fishing in Florida. The deadline for submitting applications is Sept. 15.
• Volunteer to keep the Heart of Orlando Clean and Green! On Sunday, September 10, join City District Main Street and their community partners as they work together to pick up litter and remove graffiti in downtown Orlando. Volunteers will receive FREE tickets to an Orlando Magic preseason game!
• Universal Passholder Appreciation Days are back on Aug. 15 - Sept. 30, 2023. Includes over six weeks of exclusive offers, special events, discounts, Passholder opportunities and more. 
• The Creative City Project  is bringing two new immersive installations to Leu Gardens fall, from the end of September. The group responsible for the past few years of “Dazzling Nights” at the city-run botanical garden will be hosting “Happy Frights” and “Haunting Nights” from September 29-October 31 this year featuring fall-inspired encounters and scares.
• The Orange County Regional History Center will present a special series inspired by legendary Jazz icon, Sam Rivers, on Saturday, October 7, 2023, Sam Rivers 100, is being billed as a celebration of the 100th birthday of the jazz icon who spent the latter part of his life and career in Central Florida.
• Country Thunder is coming back on October 20-22, 2023! Keith Urban, Hardy and Cody Johnson headline three days of non-stop music and fun! Other artists include: Parker McCollum, Kip Moore, Lonestar, Parmalee, Jo Dee Messina, Megan Moroney, Tracy Byrd, Shane Profitt, Kip Moore, Hailey Whitters, Josh Ross, & The Reklaws. Check out the full lineup here!
• Feast on the 50 presented by SouthState Bank, returns to Camping World Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m., a new, earlier start time! The one-of-a-kind tailgate on the field features a night full of food, family and fun.
• SeaWorld Orlando is again offering an extended Fun Card deal. Buyers now get unlimited visits to the theme park for the rest of 2023 and all of 2024. The price is $131.99. A version also includes admission to the Aquatica water park through the end of 2024, and it sells for $189.99.
• 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 President & CEO Jason Siegel and wife Sarah Grafton enjoyed the UCF Football Kickoff Luncheon with David Albertson, President of the UCF Athletics Board, Head Men's Basketball Coach Johnny Dawkins, and others.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was proud to be asked to serve as a member of UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management Dean’s Advisory Board, pictured here with Dean Youcheng Wang and members of his executive team.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended Orange County's Board of County Commissioners meeting this week along with many other organizations, in support of the tourism and sports tourism community.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior VP Michael Kalinich attended the grand opening of Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute's Downtown Complex, pictured here with Lauren Poppe and GO Sports board member Jackie Hayter from Orlando Health.

The GO Sports team had a great time attending UCF Football's Kickoff Luncheon to celebrate the new season and UCF entering into the BIG 12 Conference.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and wife Sarah Grafton attended the Sharing Center Gala last weekend, pictured here with GO Sports board member John Gyllin (Seminole State).

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended Visit Orlando's Insight Luncheon today, pictured with Jo Newell from Monday Strategies, Bridget Keefe from UCF, and Megan Almasi from Orlando Health.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the announcement of Orlando's newest professional sports franchise, the Orlando Valkyries Women's Pro Volleyball Team, pictured here with Steve Bishop from the Florida Region of USA Volleyball.

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik at Visit Orlando's Insight Luncheon, pictured with Jo Newell from Monday Strategies & Sarah Nemes from SeaWorld.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and wife Sarah Grafton attended the announcement of Orlando's newest professional sports franchise, the Orlando Valkyries Women's Pro Volleyball Team, pictured here with Jon Ritli and Katie Fitzpatrick (TMRW Sports).

GO Sports Senior Director Kyle Sturley & Intern Gabriella Haugland represented GO Sports at Orlando Economic Partnership's AWE Impact Forum at Camping World Stadium this week, which was attended by 300+ businesswomen from across Orlando.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior VP Michael Kalinich took part in a site visit to meet with GO Sports board member Eric David (Travel + Leisure).

New Corporate Partner.

For more information, visit

www.mearstransportation.com

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.



• 2023-24 Arts Season Preview: Festivals & Fun
• Pictures: UCF Football practice August 22
• Pictures: Orlando's Magical Dining 2023