Greater Orlando Sports Commission - Impact Update powered by Withum

Impact Update for Thursday, October 20

“The level of excitement for our fans, for our guys (who are) wanting to see the preparation that we’ve put in, in real time. It’s good to be excited about what we’re doing and where we’re going.”

-Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic Head Coach

See Orlando Magic story below...

Quote of the Day.

"Winning isn't everything, but it beats anything that comes in second."

- Paul "Bear" Bryant

Resources & Assistance.

State and Federal
Hurricane Ian Information and Resources for Florida Residents
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program
SBA Disaster Loan Assistance
City of Orlando
Services and Resources After Hurricane Ian
Orange County
Orange County was added to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster assistance for Florida
Heart of Florida United Way opens assistance for Orlando area
Osceola County
Hurricane Center and Assistance
Osceola County School District is providing supplies for students impacted by flooding damage
Lake County
Residents and households in Lake County can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance
Seminole County
Seminole County Hurricane Ian Assistance

Around The Horn.

Get your tickets now to cheer on the Orlando Magic in the team's regular season home opener at the Amway Center is this Saturday, October 22. They take on the Boston Celtics at 7pm.
The seeds of a strong NBA debut for Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 pick in June’s draft, were planted early in Wednesday’s season-opening 113-109 loss to the Detroit Pistons. What emerged was an all-time rookie performance.
Monster Jam, the action-packed motorsport with world-class athletes locked in intense competitions of speed and skill, returns to Camping World Stadium on October 29! Witness heated rivalries, high-flying stunts, and fierce head-to-head battles for the event championship. This is full-throttle family fun!
Bally Sports Florida, the network home of the Orlando Magic, has announced plans to televise 81 Magic games during the 2022-23 NBA season. The game telecasts this season will be preceded by half-hour pregame shows and all will be followed by extended “Magic Live” postgame coverage, featuring expert analysis, news conferences, player interviews, and more.
Former Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins executive Adrien Bouchet was recently named the new Director of the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida. Bouchet’s hiring follows the retirement of sports industry pioneer, author and activist Richard Lapchick, who helped put the 20-year-old program on the map. Bouchet, who spent 12 years at the University of Tulsa, takes over a globally ranked program that provides a pipeline of talent into the sport business industry.

UFC returns to Orlando for the first time in over four years on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Amway Center with an intriguing welterweight tilt that will see No. 7 ranked contender Stephen Thompson battle Kevin Holland. Heavyweight KO artists collide in the co-main event when No. 4 ranked contender Tai Tuivasa meets No. 5 Sergei Pavlovich.
The Harlem Globetrotters 2023 World Tour is coming to Addition Financial Arena on Saturday, April 22nd. Favorite Globetrotter stars are bringing out their amazing basketball skill, outrageous athleticism, and a non-stop LOL good time. Join the Globetrotters as they go head-to-head against the Washington Generals who will stop at nothing to try and defeat the world’s winningest team!

Congratulations to Florida Sports Foundation President & CEO, Angela Suggs, on being named as a member of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors! FSF will work in partnership with the Hall of Fame to present its Class of 2022 Enshrinement Ceremony on November 2 at Raymond James Stadium.

In The News.

Friend and partner of GO Sports, Ralph Maccarone, has been nominated for the NASCAR Humanitarian of the Year award! Help him win a $100,000 donation to support his nonprofit Who We Play For, which works to eliminate preventable sudden cardiac death in the young through affordable heart screenings. Vote Here!
Commentary from the Orlando Sentinel's Scott Maxwell: 10 people who make Central Florida a better place to live.
Universal Creative, the team that designs, develops, and delivers attractions, shows, hotels, restaurants, and resorts across the globe for Universal Parks & Resorts, has selected UCF as a preferred partner for a unique and immersive learning experience launching in Spring 2023. Class members will also have opportunities to interact with Universal show producers, engineers, creative directors, executives, and other industry professionals with the goal of providing students with an in-depth look at the design and development process.
TechCrunch conducted a vibe check to see what’s happening right now in Orlando’s burgeoning venture scene, as well as what needs to occur for it to continue thriving. Founders and investors mentioned efforts tapping into the entrepreneurial community, while David Adelson highlighted the city’s plans to become the center of the metaverse. All of this could lead to the one thing Orlando really needs in order to make a bigger splash: a beacon.
A Clermont woman with Down syndrome is breaking stereotypes. A doctor said Allison Fogarty wouldn’t be employable because of her disability. She now owns her own business with customers across the nation called Doggy Delights.

SpaceX celebrated its 100th launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday by sending up another bunch of its Starlink internet satellites.
SAHARA, an Iceland-based digital marketing agency, is opening its first U.S. office in downtown Orlando and plans to create new jobs with salaries averaging 30 percent higher than the average wage in Orlando. The high-performance full-stack digital marketing agency and production company sought a location with a large, diverse and highly skilled talent pool with a variety of experience in different social media platforms as well as accessibility to and from Iceland and cost efficiency to stay within budget.

Walt Disney World has unveiled new details about a new baby okapi born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Disney said the okapi, named Beni, was born in July to mother Olivia. He is the 12th okapi born at Walt Disney World Resort and the fifth at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
United Arts of Central Florida has opened the application process for the annual Orange County Venue Subsidy grant program to help nonprofits rent spaces/venues that they may otherwise be unable to afford. The Orange County Venue Subsidy Grant for Arts and Culture is meant to help bridge the gap between professional venues and organizations which would otherwise be unable to afford the fees associated with renting them, with a maximum request amount of $60,000 or 50 percent of the total venue rental costs.

Stay Engaged.

Synapse Orlando is the annual gathering for all of the doers, creators, innovators, thought leaders making Orlando one of the world’s fastest-growing innovation communities and hottest destinations to live, work and play. Experience Orlando by immersing in a full-day of curated opportunities.
Science Night DEAD is this weekend at Orlando Science Center! Put your BrAiNsSs to the test with terrifyingly terrific trivia, or have a live encounter with creepy crawlers. Show off your monster moves or explore their relationship with the undead. This adults-only event promises to be fun for everyone! Don't miss out on four floors of exhibits, guest speakers, trivia and more.

Orlando Ballet resurrects Michael Pink’s Dracula, the gothic horror story based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel. Dracula’s eerie world is brought to spine-tingling life in sweeping fashion with expressive movement, thrilling music, dramatic setting, lighting, and romantic costuming. This fan-favorite is a perfect Halloween treat at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
The Growing Bolder Wisdom Walk powered by Florida Blue Medicare celebrates the power of community, the importance of intergenerational connection, and the fact that a casual walk and a great conversation are two of life’s greatest blessings. The Wisdom Walk is a one-mile stroll with a good friend, significant other, family member, co-worker, or stranger that’s a different generation than yours on October 22.
The Annual Pup Crawl & Costume Contest is happening on Sunday, October 23 from 1pm until 6pm! Bring your pup in costume and he or she could win a prize! The first 50 pups accompanied by an adult will receive a complimentary Halloween bandana and a special Mills 50 treat!
Dress up and trick or treat at Orlando Public Library and Orange County Regional History Center on October 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Create creepy crafts and complete a scavenger hunt! Visit your local branch for take-home crafts and candy from October 27 – October 31, while supplies last. Visit the Orange County Regional History Center’s Events page for more Halloween fun.
Explore immersive, inflatable art like at Airplay - Presented by Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center. Experience the peaceful, inflatable art from the inside the Architects of Air's Daedalum luminarium. Journey through a giant, inflatable garden. Meet larger-than-life inflatable characters, and so much more at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
At the Taste of South Lake & Business Expo, you can enjoy an evening out on November 3, at Clermont’s Waterfront Park, complete with food tasting from more than 30 local restaurants, and business samplings from more than 30 local business leaders.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has already begun! Join your favorite Disney Characters for an evening of spirited fun, and get your favorite costume ready! Guests can collect candies and treats while Magic Kingdom park thrills and chills you with eerie entertainment, delightful attractions, and some beloved Disney Characters.
Universal Orlando has announced the final details for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights 31, revealing all the houses, zones, and shows guests can experience at the event, taking place on select nights from September 2 thru October 31, 2022.

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 hosted our quarterly board meeting at Orlando Economic Partnership's new offices in Downtown Orlando last week, followed by an outing to the Orlando Magic's preseason home opener. Thank you to all of our board members and corporate partners who joined us!

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, with board members Craig Leicester (Crowne Plaza Downtown), Jeff Swirsky (Delta Marriott Orlando), Eric David (Travel + Leisure), and partners Molly Meeker (Crowne Plaza Downtown) and Claudel Gousse (DoubleTree Downtown Orlando) at the post-board meeting reception.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, with board member Dr. Keita Joy, Orlando Magic's Shelly Wilkes, and wife Sarah Grafton at the Orlando Magic game.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, with board member Justin Kinsey (West Lakes District Market Street) at the post-board meeting reception.

GO Sports corporate partner Lena Combs (Withum) with board members Latria Graham (GLB Media) and Caesar Lopez (Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride & Exploria Stadium) at the post-board meeting reception.

New Corporate Partners.

SONNY'S BBQ

9 Orlando Area Locations

For more information, visit

sonnysbbq.com

RENTYL RESORTS

8011 Fins Up Circle

Kissimmee, FL 34747

(321) 888-3509

rentylresorts.com

ICON PARK

8375 International Drive