"The thing that stood out to me is only three penalties...We had a face mask, a late hit late in the game with one of our backups and a delay of game. We’ve been really focused on not beating ourselves."



-Coach Gus Malzahn

UCF Head Football Coach

Around The Horn.

• UCF Football won its ninth straight season opener last week as the Knights came away with a 57-3 victory over the New Hampshire Wildcats. Finishing with more than 630 yards of total offense, UCF (1-0) is now ranked sixth in the Big 12 Conference power rankings to start the season. The Knights will look to build on last week's strong showing when they host Sam Houston at FBC Mortgage Stadium this Saturday at 6:30pm.
• The Orlando Pride's regular season unbeaten streak increased to 19 games in a row last week as they cruised past NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 on Sunday. The Pride (13-0-5) are currently six points ahead of second-place Washington as they continue to dominate the NWSL this season. The Pride will now focus on their next road matchup against Chicago this coming Sunday.
• Orlando City SC bounced back last weekend with a resounding 3-0 MLS home victory against Nashville FC. The Lions (10-10-7) currently hold the seventh place playoff position in the East with a four-point edge over Toronto. The Lions will take a short break from competition and return to Inter&Co Stadium on September 14 to face the New England Revolution.
• The Orlando Pride and Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets have inked a deal for the popular grocery store chain to become the Orlando Pride's first back-of-jersey sponsor. Publix has been the official supermarket of the Pride since its first season in 2016, but will now become the NWSL team's season-long sponsor.
• USA Triathlon and Streamline Events announced the 2024 Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships will compete in Clermont, Florida, earlier this week. The triathlon will take place on November 9, and will feature the nation's top women's varsity collegiate triathletes to race for national titles. The event will crown champions for Division I, Division II and Division III schools from across the nation.
• The Orlando Solar Bears are offering an exclusive combo ticket deal for the Tampa Bay Lightning preseason game and the Solar Bears' opening game against the Savannah Ghost Pirates. The Lightning will play on September 25, while the Solar Bears begin their season on October 26. The ticket deal can be purchased on the team website.
• The Orlando Valkyries announced the team launched an online team store that is now live with numerous merchandise options available. Fans can shop a wide variety of official Valkyries shirts, outerwear, novelties and more! In addition to the launch of the team store, the team also announced that Valkyries season ticket holders can take advantage of a 15% discount.

GO Sports is proud to announce five award winners that will be honored during the 2024 Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. Congratulations to Tiffany, Angela, Joanne, Grace and Pennie!

If you haven't purchased your table for 2024, reach out to Michael or Chase on our team today and join us to celebrate this year's class of award winners (announced at a later date) and hear from our 2024 featured speaker, Hall of Fame broadcaster and lead NBA Analyst for ESPN and ABC, Doris Burke. For more information, visit https://greaterorlandosports.com/celebrating-women-in-sports/

Michael Kalinich - michael@greaterorlandosports.com

Chase DeMayo - cdemayo@greaterorlandosports.com

TopGolf Lake Mary is currently offering an exclusive $50 off discount to sign up for their TopGolf Leagues this fall! Registration for Fall League ends on Monday, September 9, and the season is a total of eight weeks. Use discount code FALL50 during checkout to receive this special offer, valid only for a single team registration of 4‌-6 Players during the 20‌24 Fall League season.

In The News.

• The Florida Blue Foundation will award $2.4 million to support seven mental well-being organizations, including nonprofit Special Hearts Farm located in Winter Garden. Special Hearts Farm will use the money to improve mental health and quality of life for individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities. The program uses agriculture-based learning to help participants develop personal goals related to mental health, social skills and self-actualization.
• Full Sail University and EA Sports' Madden NFL Esports announced a strategic collaboration last week for Madden NFL 25 Championship Series Competitions to take place at the university. As part of the partnership, all MCS 25 regular season events will take place at Full Sail, right down the road from the EA Sports headquarters.
• The first part of the 4Roots Farm Campus has opened, with a focus on providing workforce education. The 18-acre urban farm saw its Education Center open to Valencia College students who are in the school's Plant Science & Agricultural Technology program. The center includes a greenhouse and a walkable, edible food forest, which will serve as a classroom for students in the Intro to Sustainable Agriculture class.
• Frontier Airlines has announced they will be adding flights from Orlando to New York and Washington, D.C. this upcoming fall. The low-cost airline will start flights from Orlando International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on Oct. 27 and to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Nov. 14.
• A request has been filed with the City of Orlando to convert a hotel located in West Orlando into several affordable housing units. The 110-room Best Western Orlando West located on W. Colonial Drive is being eyed for conversion into a 110-unit attainable housing apartment facility. Rent in the converted building will cost less than one-third of the income for residents making 60% or less of the area median income, if approved.
• The Orange County Convention Center has announced its plans to build a new tasting room for food and beverage. City commissioners will consider a $1.48 million bid put forth to build out a 3,000-square-foot space in the west building. The room would serve as a space for clients to taste and experience the culinary offerings provided by the chefs.

Visit Orlando's Magical Dining presented by Orlando Health is back and better than ever! Don't miss your chance to enjoy three course, prix-fixe dinners at a record-breaking 150+ top Orlando restaurants for just $40 or $60 per person, plus tax and gratuity. The lineup includes nine MICHELIN Guide honorees, as well as 24 venues participating for the first time.

A stellar mix of athletes, coaches and support team members has been tapped for induction into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class. The eight-member class represents six different sports and includes a seven-time NBA All-Star, a Super Bowl winner, women’s World Cup champion, a 14-time NCAA Track & Field Championship Coach, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, a four-time national champion cheerleading coach and the first-ever athletic trainer. The eight will be inducted in a star-studded ceremony to be held at the Kia Center in Orlando on October 16.

Stay Engaged.

• Walt Disney World announced it will unleash a new live show at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park, and the stars of the show will be the Disney Villains. The show will feature dozens of villains, including Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and Maleficent, each starring in production numbers. The show is set to debut in summer of 2025 at Sunset Showcase, following the recent news that Magic Kingdom will add a Villains-themed land.
• Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights started last weekend for the 33rd year of scares, complete with 10 haunted houses, five scare zones and live shows throughout. Single-night tickets for the after-hours event start at $82.99 per person, and the event runs on select nights in September and October.
• SeaWorld Orlando has brought back its Fun Card deal for admission to the theme park for the rest of 2024 and 2025. The current Fun Card price is $137.99, with a version that includes access to Aquatica water park available for $198.99. The deal is valid for residents of the US and Canada, and can be purchased on the SeaWorld Orlando website.
• Feast on the 50 presented by SouthState Bank is returning to Camping World Stadium this year on Thursday, October 10 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Attendees can enjoy unlimited food and beverage, an incredible auction, and alumni clubs from our partner schools in the Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12 (as well as B-CU, FAMU, Rollins and USF) compete for the most spirited tent in the Official Alumni Village presented by MCO.
• The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering a reduced admission rate for some Central Florida residents for a limited time. The attraction's 'Mercury Offer' is a $19 one-day admission ticket ($14 for ages 3-11) on specific dates. Residents of Orange & Osceola counties can receive this deal Sept. 9-15, then Seminole county residents get the special rate from Sept. 16-22. Mercury Offer tickets must be purchased at the attraction's will call area.
• Tickets for next year’s productions of  “Drawn to Life,” the Cirque du Soleil show based at Disney Springs, are now on sale. Performances are scheduled for 5:30pm and 8pm Wednesdays through Saturdays in 2025. There will be matinee shows at 1:30pm and 4pm on Sundays. The show features Disney characters and stories in a Cirque du Soleil fashion and centers around an animator and his young daughter, Julie.
• Do you work downtown? Join the Downtown Orlando Partnership next week from September 9-12 for its inaugural Downtown Employee Appreciation Week presented by the Downtown Development Board! The free come-and-go event will reward downtown Orlando’s dedicated workforce with a fun-filled week of incentives, daily giveaways, live music, employee discounts and more.
• 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 Executive VP Jennifer Lastik was recognized by the Orlando Pride at their game on Monday as the 'Women Of Pride' recipient during the club's record-setting season.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the LLWS celebratory parade at Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park last Thursday, pictured with Adam Ball (ESPNWWOS).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the UCF vs New Hampshire football game last week, pictured with board members John Mahony (Kavaliro) and Mike Harris (Uproar PR).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Lake Mary All-Stars celebratory parade last weekend, pictured with Gui Cunha (Seminole County) and Danny Trosset (Seminole County).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the City of Lake Mary's parade for the Lake Mary All-Stars last weekend, pictured with Seminole County Commissioners Lee Constantine and Bob Dallari.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Little League World Series parade in Lake Mary last weekend, pictured with Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma and US Congressman Corey Mills (FL-07).

GO Sports Associate VP Chase DeMayo attended the Cure Bowl 10 Year Benefit at the UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center, pictured with SJ Tuohy (Kingdom NIL), and GO Sports board members Malik Thomas (Playfly), John Mahony (Kavaliro) and Justin Kinsey (West Lakes District).

Corporate Partner Spotlight.

GO Sports is proud to welcome our newest corporate partner, Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista! For more information, click the logo above.

Thank you for supporting sports tourism in Greater Orlando!

Fun & Games.

• What's Happening: Orange County Things To Do
• What's Happening: Seminole County Things To Do
• What's Happening: Osceola County Things To Do
• What's Happening: Lake County Things To Do