"We are so excited to bring yet another thrilling kickoff game to Orlando, and we look forward to hosting college football fans from around the globe for this unbelievable matchup. Events like these have a profound impact on the Central Florida community, and we can’t wait to show the student-athletes, coaches, families and supporters of our longstanding partners in Tallahassee and Baton Rouge what makes Orlando one of the country’s top neutral-site destinations."

- Steve Hogan, CEO

Florida Citrus Sports

Around The Horn.

• The Florida State Seminoles will play the LSU Tigers at Camping World Stadium this Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. The matchup will be the fourth in a series of major neutral-site games held in Orlando as part of the Florida Citrus Sports-ESPN Events partnership. Camping World Stadium previously hosted kickoff games in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
• UCF men’s basketball added another transfer to its 2023-24 roster with the addition of forward Marchelus Avery. The 6-foot-8, 205-pound junior spent two seasons at New Mexico State, averaging 6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 44 games.
• Single-game tickets for Orlando Magic home games during the 2023-24 season are up for sale! Tickets can be purchased online at orlandomagic.com or in-person at the Amway Center box office. Orlando will open the preseason at home on Tuesday, Oct. 17, vs. New Orleans and the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 25, when the Magic host the Houston Rockets.
• USA Basketball clinched a spot in the second round of the FIBA World Cup after cruising to a 109-81 victory against Greece. Similar to Team USA’s win vs. New Zealand, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero and the second unit ignited the U.S. on offense.
• A hard-fought battle at Exploria Stadium ended in jubilation for the home crowd of 22,156 as Orlando City beat Western Conference leader St. Louis City 2-1. The win makes it nine MLS games in a row unbeaten at home for the Lions, tied for their best unbeaten streak at home. The victory also left Orlando City holding the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference.
• UCF is an official member of the Big 12 and is hoping to make a similar splash in joining a new conference. Although the Knights had major success during their first seasons in CUSA and the AAC, doing so in the Big 12 will be no easy task. Recent history isn’t on their side to capture a title in their first year in the Power Five league. Malzahn isn’t worried about what those programs did in the past. He’s only focused on this year.
• 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, where they will compete head-to-head in "MLB The Show 23." Complete with a never-before-seen in arena digital baseball diamond featuring the Rays iconic logo treatment, the gamers participating in the tournament will split a $10,000 cash prize, with the winner receiving $8,000 and the runner-up receiving $2,000.
• The Orlando Solar Bears will welcome their parent club, three-time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning, to the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center when the Lightning host the Florida Panthers in NHL Preseason action on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 7:00 p.m.
• Join the Greater Orlando Sports Commission on Wednesday, Sept. 13 for the 5th annual Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. Five local women will be honored for the contributions to Greater Orlando's sports community, and guests will hear from featured speaker Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the first Olympic Women's Marathon. A limited number of individual tickets and table sponsorships are still available.

In The News.

• Central Florida's juggernaut tourism industry hit an all-time high in 2022, generating $87.6 billion in economic impact, said a new study. Tourism Economics, a company of UK-based analysis firm Oxford Economics, on Aug. 21 released a study that analyzed Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties' tourism industries' visitor spending, jobs and state and local taxes. 
• The Walt Disney Co. shared a peek at the newest ride at Epcot themed after one of its newer films, Moana. This new attraction is in Epcot's World Nature area, and is a trail-like experience that provides education on how the water cycle works. The interactive area includes homages to the popular film, including a 16-foot-tall statue of Te Fiti, the film's goddess who creates life.
• Universal Orlando Resort has filed for more trademarks that hint at new things in the works at its Epic Universe theme park now under construction near International Drive. The latest filings submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office include names for approximately 5 new shops, restaurants, a ride and more at Epic Universe, which is set to debut in 2025.
• Astronauts on the Artemis II mission that aims to fly around the moon next year got their first look at the spacecraft that will take them there. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen flew into Kennedy Space Center to view the Orion capsule that will take them on the roughly nine-day mission.
• In its winter flight expansion announced Aug. 23, Frontier Airlines Inc. is adding a new route from Orlando to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. The low-cost carrier's daily nonstop service will begin Nov. 16. Fares will start at $49.
• World Princess Week was a celebration of royal proportions at Disney destinations around the world as we celebrated the timeless magic and beloved storytelling of Disney princesses. It was an extra special week for the crew at Walt Disney World as they welcomed more than 50 incredible wish kids and their families from organizations like Make-A-Wish for their largest wish-granting event ever: “Once Upon A Wish Party".
• Port Canaveral's cruise business is riding a tall wave toward an all-time high so far this year. The sea port saw more than 5.8 million passengers come through its facilities on 776 ship calls - when cruise ships either home port or stop at the port - for the 10-month fiscal-year period from October to July.

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. Local nonprofit The Lifeboat Project was selected as the charitable beneficiary of this year's event.
• The September 1 Lunch & Learn from the Orange County History Center is all about the Greenwood Cemetery. From its humble beginnings as the “Orlando Cemetery Company” to the massive 86 acres of lush greenery and rich history that it is today, they will explore the cemetery’s history dating back to Orlando’s early development. Attend in person or online!
• Mark your calendars, Red Bull is bringing some of the world’s top wakeboarders to Lake Ivanhoe on Saturday, Sept. 16 as part of its Red Bull Double or Nothing event. The event gets its name from the “double-up”, which is the moment when two wakes combine into one, growing more than three times the size of a usual wake.
• The Orlando Urban Film Festival will take place on August 31 through Sept. 2 at the CMX Cinemas Plaza Cafe in downtown Orlando. The festival, which is in its 10th year, focuses on urban music and films and features a number of film premieres, screenings, parties, and networking opportunities.
• 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!
• 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 Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended a site visit with CONCACAF at Exploria Stadium this week, pictured with GO Sports board member Ricardo Villar (Florida Cup).

GO Sports Senior VP Brent Nelson attended the NCAA's Bid Symposium in Indianapolis this week to learn about the next cycle of NCAA Championships that will be up for bid, pictured here with Lake County's Ryan Ritchie.

GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen attended Visit Orlando's recent Insights Luncheon, pictured with members of The LifeBoat Project BOD and leadership team. The LifeBoat Project was selected as the charity recipient of funds raised by this year’s Magical Dining campaign.

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.

New Corporate Partner.

For more information, visit

www.mearstransportation.com

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.



• Orlando Area Highschool Football Scoreboard
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