“It’s unique for the NCAA in any sport and a great way to put a spotlight on tennis and to bring something to Orlando that is unique in the world. We have the benefit of living in a city with several things that are unique in the world and we're excited about creating a destination for collegiate tennis here.”

- Lew Sherr, CEO & Executive Director

United States Tennis Association

ORLANDO'S USTA NATIONAL CAMPUS IS THE FIRST SITE IN NCAA HISTORY TO HOST THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR ALL THREE DIVISIONS OF THE SAME SPORT IN THE SAME YEAR, FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN

Around The Horn.

• The stars of tomorrow could be on hand when the USTA National Campus at Lake Nona hosts this year’s NCAA Tennis Championships starting Thursday, May 27. But this time, the event will feature men’s and women’s tournaments from the NCAA Division I, II and III.
• Achieving a monumental milestone for collegiate esports, Full Sail Armada beat Texas A&M to become the AGL + NECC SMITE League Champions! This is the first League Championship win for Armada. Undefeated all season, the Full Sail Armada SMITE team finished the regular season 10 – 0, earning wins over schools including Clemson, Penn State and Colorado State. Full Sail Armada remained undefeated throughout the playoffs and finished 12 – 0 in their championship run.
• Orlando City Lions head to Charlotte FC for their U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 matchup on Tuesday at 7 p.m. that will be carried by CBS Sports Golazo Network. For Orlando, this game serves as its first chance to defend its U.S. Open Cup title from last season, the Lions’ first trophy in their MLS era and a championship capped by a rousing 3-0 home victory over Sacramento Republic FC in September.
• Riding a season-long 10-game win streak, UCF softball heads into the American Athletic Conference tournament with the top pitcher in the league. conference tournament will be held at the USF Softball Stadium in Tampa for just the second time and first since 2018. The Knights enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed and will face No. 7 Memphis in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
• The Orlando Magic will host 44 youth basketball camps for boys and girls ages 7-17 across Central Florida along with an overnight camp and a special needs youth clinic this summer. Registration for the camps is open and limited space is available for all sessions. Camps will begin May 30 at Rosen Jewish Community Center in Orlando.
• You won’t want to miss out on Pups of Pride Night, as fans are able to bring their furry friends along with them to watch the Pride battle the Washington Spirit on Saturday, May 20 at 7 PM. It will be a night filled with puppies, a pup-centric pre-game Fan Zone, an on-field performance by Halftime Dogs, and much more! 

Thank you to our industry association Sports ETA for recognizing GO Sports as a finalist for Sports Commission of the Year at their annual meetings in Kansas City this week.

In The News.

• The Greater Orlando Sports Commission was honored to be chosen as a winner in the Outstanding Diverse Organization, Micro Company category of Orlando Business Journal's 2023 Diversity in Business Awards.
• Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2023 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte* Private and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies and the achievements of their management teams. This is the second consecutive year that Coke Florida has been named a US Best Managed Company, following 2022, when it became the first and only Coca-Cola bottler to earn the designation, which remains today.
• The City of Orlando launched a new projection activation at its newest park space, Luminary Green in Creative Village, on Wednesday, May 10, called “Luminary Nights on the Green.” The new 20-minute show projects animations onto a white “ORLANDO” sign/sculpture that is set to music that’s broadcast into the park. The animations feature Orlando icons, local nature, theme park tidbits, and food/hospitality scenes.
• Orange County Regional History Center will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with programs featuring a distinguished Japanese-American poet, an ancient Indian dance form, and a talk about Asian immigrants in Central Florida. Congress designated the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 1992, completing efforts that began in the 1970s.
• Last week at Hong Kong Disneyland, through the Make A Wish foundation, Disney had the opportunity to grant a truly unbeatable wish. 10-year-old wish child, Jarvis, saw his wish come true as he performed drums on stage. During Make-A-Wish Hong Kong’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Party, his story and performance inspired the crowd, reminding us of the incredible strength and resilience of children with critical illnesses and their families.

Stay Engaged.

• Meet, network and interview with nearly 100 employers hiring at this year's Orlando Mayor's Job Fair on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 12-4pm. This event is indoors at the Orlando Fairground's. All job seekers are welcome to attend. Dress interview ready and bring copies of your resume. Thousands of entry, intermediate, and experienced positions available.
• It’s a night time dino hunt on May 12! Enjoy finding some of the most ferocious dinosaurs that roamed the earth at Harry P. Leu Gardens. Explore the 50-acre gardens to discover some of the most feared creatures on the planet. Featuring over 20 life-size dinosaurs ranging in size from 14 inches to a massive 33 ft. This is a fun exhibit for all ages.
• Opera Orlando will be performing a family-friendly musical revue called Baseball: A Musical Love Letter at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre in Ivanhoe Village the weekend of May 19. The musical “weaves together the history of baseball with music from every corner of the American songbook: opera, musical theater, and jazz.”
• USTA National Campus is hosting a number of community events in conjunction with the NCAA Division I, II & III Men's and Women's Tennis Championships this month in Lake Nona. Check out the full calendar here!
• The 32nd annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival will celebrate this year’s festival opening on Tuesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. Orlando Fringe Festival will return to Loch Haven Park and run through May 29, 2023.
• 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.
• The Melrose Center at the downtown branch of the Orange County Library System will be hosting a special Melrose Pop Festival on Saturday, June 10. The name of the event is an homage to the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival which celebrated the music of the decade.
• 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.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the OBJ Diversity Awards luncheon today to accept an award on behalf of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, pictured with Esu Ma'at (Orlando Magic), Dr. Richard Lapchick (formerly at UCF), and Dick Batchelor (Lobbyist). Also in attendance were GO Sports Board Members Dan Pollock (AT&T), Tekoa Pouerie (Erase the Lines LLC), Latria Graham (GLB Media), Eric David (Travel+Leisure), John Gyllin (Seminole State), and Donna Dyson (Greenberg Traurig).

GO Sports Senior Director Shalisa Griffin and Coordinator Nolan McDonald worked the NCAA DIII Women's NCAA Golf Tournament taking place at Mission Inn Resort & Club.

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson attended the Sports ETA Symposium in Kansas City this week, pictured here with Lake County's Ryan Ritchie and new Sports ETA CEO John David.

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson and the rest of our Florida sports commission colleagues took a photo together at the Sports ETA Symposium.

GO Sports Executive Vice President Jennifer Lastik accepted the Downtown Orlando Partnership's Golden Brick Award for Sporting Events on behalf of the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games at Exploria Stadium, along with Kay Rawlins from the Orlando City Soccer Foundation.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and wife Sarah Grafton attended the Runway to Hope Gala this weekend, pictured here with board member Justin Williams (Grand Bohemian) and his wife, Chahinaz.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Executive VP Jennifer Lastik toured several Orlando sites with FIFA representatives last week, pictured here with board member Tom Draper (GOAA).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Executive VP Jennifer Lastik toured several Orlando sites with FIFA representatives last week, pictured here with board member Caesar Lopez and additional representatives from Orlando City SC/Orlando Pride.

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Lastik, USA Gymnastics Rep Christy Naik, and GO Sports Executive Vice President Jennifer Lastik enjoyed the USA Gymnastics Level 9 Eastern Championships Athlete Party at DriveShack in Lake Nona.

GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen moderated a panel discussion at a recent luncheon hosted by The LifeBoat Project, in conjunction with the Osceola News-Gazette and St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce. Panelists included St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke, Osceola County Commissioner Ricky Booth, Osceola Sheriff’s Office GC Deborah Barra, Universal Studios Sr. Manager Mike Fisher, and Osceola County School Board member Erika Booth. Also pictured are Barry Cotton with U.S. Senator Rick Scott’s office and representatives of the Osceola News-Gazette and St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce.

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Fun & Games.



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