“We are excited to make this attempt at the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest gathering of people wearing tie dye on February 4. We encourage the people of Central Florida to come out to the Amway Center to help us attempt this title.”

Chris Heller, President

Orlando Solar Bears

Around The Horn.

• Be a part of the Orlando Solar Bears official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempt for the largest gathering of people wearing tie dye when the Solar Bears host the Florida Everblades on Saturday, February 4 at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm!
• The National Indoor Soccer League Central Florida Crusaders inaugural season kicks off this Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2pm at Addition Financial Arena as the Crusaders take on the Memphis Americans. NISL features both a men’s division and a women’s division of professional indoor soccer. Crusaders game days will feature doubleheaders, with home matches taking place at Addition Financial Arena on the campus of UCF. A single ticket will allow fans to enjoy both matchups.
• The Puerto Rico Men’s National Ice Hockey Team is coming to Orlando! On Feb. 17, 18, and 19 Puerto Rico's top athletes will compete against the top talent in Central Florida as part of a new multi-city exhibition series, Serie de Desafiadores. The games will take place at both the Amway Center in Downtown Orlando and the Ice Factory of Central Florida in Kissimmee.
• For most of the first half, it looked as if the Orlando Magic’s 119-109 road win at Philadelphia on Monday was going to be a repeat of their Saturday home loss to Chicago. It was a by-committee approach and a strong defensive 4th quarter that allowed the Magic to pick up their first win of the season over the 76ers.
• Ahead of their first training session on Monday, the Orlando Pride announced that Haley Carter would take the reins as the team’s vice president of soccer operations and general manager. Carter will report directly to the club’s ownership group and will oversee the complete soccer operations of the Pride, which includes the coaching staff led by Seb Hines and the scouting and analytics department as well as sports performance, nutrition, and player care.
• The NCAA transfer portal officially opened on Dec. 5. UCF hosted several transfer students that announced their plan to join UCF football for the Fall 2023 season. Jireh Wilson becomes the fourth defensive back UCF has landed a commitment from the portal this recruiting cycle, joining Texas A&M’s Brian George, Clemson’s Fred Davis and Texas State’s DeJordan Mask.
• Orlando girls and boys FHSSA soccer district tournament champions will be decided this week. Among the heavy favorites are Bishop Moore’s girls, reigning Class 4A state champions. The Hornets are ranked No. 1 in their classification by the Florida High School Athletic Association. Four district champions per region earn automatic berths into regional playoffs. Four at-large teams will be added to each region bracket based on FHSAA power rankings.
• In the three weeks since UCF forward Michael Durr suffered a left-hand injury, the Knights have severely missed the 7-footer’s presence on both ends of the court. In Durr’s absence, Lahat Thioune has started 4 of the last 5 games at forward while playing alongside frontcourt freshman Taylor Hendricks, who’s started all 21 games this season.
• Former UCF offensive lineman Ryan Swoboda is set to participate in Saturday’s NFLPA Collegiate Bowl following a week of practice alongside other NFL Draft prospects in Pasadena. 
• At some point soon, LeBron James will sink one of the most historic field goals or free throws in NBA history. James was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft, and over his 20 seasons in the NBA, he has both improved and evolved as a scorer, and his shot charts tell the story of how the teenager who came into the league without a reliable jump shot will end up scoring more points than anyone who has ever set foot on an NBA court.
• The second NCAA National Signing Day period for college football prospects saw a lot of action in the Orlando area, especially at Jones High School, where Tigers head coach Elijah Williams continues to effectively pitch talented players to next-level coaches. Jones High had 14 players sign on Wednesday, according to the school.
• The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has approved 22 para sports for inclusion at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games after a record 33 sports submitted applications.
• From the Sun-Sentinel's Dave Hyde: It’s May Madness as Florida Atlantic becomes the surprise of college basketball.

In The News.

• Disney’s 1.8 million-square-foot corporate campus at Lake Nona will be designed with all of the buildings facing a central park, with pedestrian’s walkways linking each of the buildings and providing a quick walk to the Lake Nona Town Center, according to plans filed late last week.
• Transportation projects across Florida may be accelerated over the next four years, adding billions of dollars of projects to the local and state infrastructure pipeline. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced an initiative, dubbed Moving Florida Forward, in which the state Department of Transportation will expedite 20 infrastructure projects.  Several of Orlando roadway’s will be set for improvement projects.  
• U.S. Representative Darren Soto has stuck with his quest to secure a wild and scenic designation for the Kissimmee River, one of Florida’s most storied waters in both heinous and heartening ways. A wild and scenic label can provide protections against development, roads, or other intrusions, be a hook for protection and restoration funds.
• Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced that his team has housed 486 individuals experiencing homeless so far, through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the HUD’s House America initiative, which launched in 2021.
• A new study released this week shows there may be a better way for households to save cash while also curbing greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change. The answer, according to findings by the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation, is for Florida cities to target “high-value” recyclables, such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans and cardboard, to cut both costs and waste — instead of eliminating recycling entirely.
• Yelp has just released a list of the Top 100 restaurants in the country, as ranked by its users, with three Orlando restaurants included.
• Most commercial pilots, sales engineers and veterinarians weren't earning as much as $100,000 in Orlando before the Covid-19 pandemic — but they are now. Those are three of the 13 occupations for which median annual salaries reached six figures between 2019 and 2021, according to a new analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by The Business Journals.
• As of next month, all Legoland resorts in North America — from Central Florida to Southern California and over to upstate New York — will be certified autism centers. It’s an expansion bolstered last year with the opening of Peppa Pig Theme Park, which debuted last February as part of the Legoland Florida Resort in Winter Haven.
• SpaceX managed a record seven launches in January, and has its first February liftoff under its belt with an early morning mission that marked the 200th successful launch for the workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. Thursday’s liftoff took place at 2:58 a.m. with 53 Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A.
• Electric carmaker Tesla is planning to build its second new dealership in Central Florida, this time in Kissimmee, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. The Elon Musk-led company currently operates one dealership in Maitland/Eatonville and is building a second on State Road 50 in Clermont.

Stay Engaged.

• February is Black History Month, and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s office will be hosting a series of events throughout the month that celebrate the contributions of Black Americans.
• The Super Bowl is coming up quickly on Sunday, Feb. 12, but more importantly, that means it’s time for another Puppy Bowl. This year’s Puppy Bowl will feature a whopping 122 puppies from shelters across the county, including six adorable and adoptable puppies from Orlando's Florida Little Dog Rescue.
• Are you ready for Central Florida's biggest celebration of all things STEM?! Orlando Science Center invites you to join on President's Day weekend Feb. 17-20 for the first ever Spark STEM Fest! Spark builds on the success of our popular Otronicon Event, evolving it further into a celebration of all fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Presented by the UCF Office of Research, Spark resides at the crossroads of inspiration and engagement, stimulating curiosity in STEM careers.
• Walt Disney World has shared a look at what's coming to this year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The event, which runs March 1-July 5, merges character-inspired topiaries, food and other additions, according to Disney Parks Blog. This year's event has more than 15 outdoor kitchens with food and beverage options.
• Meet and network with influential women leaders at the Orlando Business Journal's 10th Annual Mentoring Monday event in Orlando. This event will take place in person on Feb. 27 at 10 am. The event will offer the opportunity to choose from over 40 mentors who are the most influential women in the business community for one-on-one and group coaching sessions.
• The Wetlands Festival is back on Feb. 18. and this time it will be held entirely at the Orlando Wetlands Park! Enjoy a free event for all ages, explore environmental exhibits, guided hikes and tours, live animals and presentations, demonstration trucks and equipment, kids’ activities, native plant give-away, door prizes and more!
• Every first Friday of the month - including tomorrow, Feb. 3 - shop small businesses, meet nonprofit organizations, and enjoy live music all while strolling through the heart of downtown Baldwin Park. Products and offerings range from health and fitness to beauty and fashion.
• The City of Winter Park’s Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a public meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 5pm, to seek input on a special grant application that could allow them to fix the long-closed boardwalk at Mead Gardens.
• 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 Senior Vice President Brent Nelson and Senior Director Shalisa Griffin attended the CFHLA’s Seminole County General Managers luncheon last week. 

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel participated in a fireside chat with the current Leadership Orlando class, pictured here with class chair Adam Scheinberg of Massey Services, Inc.

Seminole County Administrator Gui Cunha and Commissioner Bob Dallari attended the ECNL soccer national events hosted at venues throughout Seminole County earlier this month. More than 330 teams participated in the ECNL’s boys and girls national events. 

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended media day for the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, pictured here with GO Sports board members Drew Donovan (API Tournament Director) and Jackie Hayter (Orlando Health). 

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegek, Senior Vice President Brent Nelson and Senior Vice President Michael Kalinich attended the CFHLA’s Downtown Hoteliers luncheon earlier today.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior Director Kyle Sturley attended last week's media event to kickoff the XFL's Orlando Guardians opening season. Siegel is pictured here with Guardians Head Coach Terrell Buckley, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, XFL Owner and Chairwoman Dany Garcia, and GO Sports Board Member Allen Johnson (Chief Venues Officer for the City of Orlando/Orlando Venues).

New Corporate Partner.



BRIGHTLINE TRAINS

Brightline is the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail service in America. The company currently serves Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, with stations in Aventura and Boca Raton opening at the end of 2022 and its Orlando station beginning service in 2023. 

For more information, visit

https://www.gobrightline.com/

https://www.gobrightline.com/orlando

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.



• Highlights: Eagles top plays vs. 49ers
• 2023 Newly Released Disney Wallpapers
• Valentine's Day Specials around Orlando