Monthly Partner Update - May, 2017 The mission of the Florida Sports Foundation (FSF) is to assist Florida s communities with securing, hosting and retaining sporting events and sports-related business that generate significant economic impact and Sports Tourism for the state of Florida through the Foundation s grant programs, legislative initiatives and Industry Partner service, recognition and development. The FSF also provides the citizens of Florida with participation opportunities in the and Florida Senior Games events and serves as the state's leading resource for Sport Tourism research and facts. Manatee County Festival Begins 38 Days of Amateur Sports Let the Games Begin! 300 Figure Skaters, ranging from nine skaters age five and under to a 60+ year old professional photographer, over 100 Lacrosse teams playing in age groups beginning at 9 and under through High School and possible Basketball stars of the future start the clock on 38 impressive days of events. From May 19 through June 25 over 30 Sunshine State Games sports will be contested in 10 different Florida communities. Over 11,000 athletes will participate in the 2017 Sunshine State Games in sports played with a ball, sports played in the water, sports played indoors, sports played outdoors and martial arts sports. The are Florida's only Olympic-style Sports Festival and the longest continuously-running State Games in the U.S., dating back to 1980. 12 FSF Granted May Events add over $10 Million in Economic Impact to Florida Four collegiate events highlight the 12 FSF granted events taking place in May. The 12 events are estimated to bring 13,655 visitors, over 42,000 room nights and $10.9 million in economic impact. Upcoming Events May 19-21, 2017 Spring Fesitval Manatee County, Florida Sports offered: Canoe/Kayak (Marathon), Figure Skating, Rugby May 19-21, 2017 Lacrosse Parkland, Florida May 20-21, 2017 Basketball Alachua County, Florida June 9-11, 2017 Swimming Gainesville, Florida June 16-18, 2017 Summer Games Treasure Coast - Martin, St. Lucie & Indian River Counties Sports offered: Racquetball, Sailing, Synchronized Swimming & Track and Field Palm Beach County Sports offered: Archery, Baton Twirling, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Karate, Powerlifting, Taekwondo,
The collegiate championships include three NCAA and an NAIA Championship. The NCAA Division II Men s and Women s Tennis will be held at Sanlando Park, in Altamonte Springs, May 10-13, the NCAA Division II Men s Golf will be played at the Mission Inn Course in Howey in the Hills, May 16-19 and the NCAA Division II Men s and Women s Track and Field will be held at the IMG Track and Field Stadium, in Bradenton, May 25-27. Palm Beach County hosts the NAIA Women s Golf at PGA National, in Palm Beach Gardens, May 23-26. Over 800 Florida Senior Athletes to Compete in 2017 National Senior Games With the 2017 National Senior Games being held in a bordering state to Florida, a total of 870 Florida Senior athletes have registered to compete in the 2017 Games, to be held in Birmingham, Alabama, June 2-15. The State of Florida is consistently among the top 5 states with the number of athletes competing on a national level. Since 2001, over 3,000 Floridians have competed in the National Games. The 2017 Florida Senior Games will be held December 2-10 in Clearwater and the Florida Senior Games Series Qualifiers begin in September with nine qualifiers taking place leading up the Games in Clearwater. Ultimate & Weightlifting June 17-18, 2017 Canoe/Kayak Sprints & Rowing Lake Minneola - Clermont, Florida June 17-18, 2017 Table Tennis Simpson Recreation Center - Lakeland, Florida June 23-25, 2017 Water Polo Coral Springs & Pompano Beach, Florida FSF Sponsors FSF's Stephen Rodriguez and Senior athlete Roger Gentilhomme Recognized by NSGA The National Senior Games recently named 30 individuals, past or present, who have made outstanding contributions to create, promote and help grow The Senior Games Movement as "Champions of the Games." The selected Champions, which include FSF Sr. Vice President, Stephen Rodriguez (at left above) and former FSG athlete Roger Gentilhomme (right above), have provided selfless service at the state level and with the national board of directors, regional coordinators and staff. The Champions have devoted their time and treasure to advance Senior Games over three decades. Florida Sports Foundation A Division of Enterprise Florida, Inc. 101 North Monroe Street Suite 1000 Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 488-8347 Since 2001, Rodriguez has directed the Florida Senior Games, served on the NSGA Board of Directors (2003-17) and Chair of the Board (2013-2017). He was the 2013
recipient of the NSGA Warren Blaney Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Gentilhomme captured the hearts of everyone he encountered at the Florida Senior Games and National Senior Games, as a bowler and tennis player in his late 90s, and was a 100+ age group athlete at the 2008 Florida Senior Games and 2009 National Senior Games. He received national recognition when he played a tennis match against Regis Philbin on the "Regis and Kelly," nationally-syndicated tv show. Clearwater Satellite Office 1501 N. Belcher Road, #238 Clearwater, FL 33761 (727) 724-3082 www.flasports.com FSF to Host 2017 Sports Summit in Palm Beach County The FSF and Palm Beach County Sports Commission will host representatives from Florida's 27 Sports Commissions and sports organizations nationwide at the 2017 Florida Sports Summit, May 24-26 at the Jupiter Resort. Presenters from organizations promoting sports such as Soccer, Powerboat Racing, Archery, Rugby, Fastpitch Softball, Sport Shooting, Figure Skating, Swimming, Baseball, Bowling, Weightlifting, Field Hockey, Golf, Fencing, Basketball, the Fishing Industry and the United States Olympic Committee will fill the two day schedule of events. Look for updates during the Summit on the Florida Sports Foundation Facebook page and www.flasports.com. State of Florida Awarded 51 Future NCAA The NCAA awarded the State of Florida with 51 Men s and Women s Championship events in Divisions I, II and III to be held from November, 2018 through May, 2022. The 51 championships are among 30 events comprised of eight different sports to be held in nine Florida host communities. The NCAA received more than 3,000 bid submissions from NCAA member schools, conferences, sports commissions and cities vying to host predetermined rounds for 84 of the NCAA s 90 championships. A total of 613 sites were awarded for this cycle. The respective NCAA sports committees and the divisional championships cabinets/committees reviewed the bid proposals and selected the sites. Miami "El Clasico" Between Barcelona, Real Madrid will be Super Bowl-like Spectacle Spanish soccer giants Barcelona and Real Madrid will play a preseason El Clasico match at Hard Rock Stadium on July 29 and Organizers are planning weekend-long Super Bowl-like festivities surrounding the match, including a legends game and concerts. Adding to the Super Bowl-like festivities was the recent announcement of salsa singer Marc Anthony performing at halftime.
Summer Baseball is a Home Run for the Palm Beaches Palm Beach County is a nucleus for baseball, America s national pastime. Approximately 800 teams involving over 13,700 athletes are expected to compete in 16 amateur baseball tournaments on a statewide, national, and international level in Palm Beach County this summer. The participating players, coaches, and visitors will create over $10 million of economic impact for The Palm Beaches. Due to the outstanding baseball facilities, the tropical climate and a strong resume of prestigious baseball events, Palm Beach County has a competitive advantage when it comes to attracting and hosting baseball tournaments and showcases. Marlins and Rays Combine for 29 Home Games in May It s the second month of the Major League Baseball season and there s plenty of opportunity to catch Florida s teams in action. The Miami Marlins have 15 home games at Marlins Park in Miami and the Tampa Bay Rays are at Tropicana Field for 14 home games in May. The Marlins opponents in May include the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Rays meet the Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels. PGA Tour Returns to Florida in May Jason Day returns to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach to defend his title, May 9-14, 2017 at one of the most recognizable courses in the world.
Expanding on its goal of continual improvement, THE PLAYERS Stadium Course has undergone additional changes for the 2017 event including new fan bleachers on hole number 12, all greens resurfaced with TifEagle bermudagrass from Mini Verde, a created lake between holes 6 and 7 and redesigned Practice Grounds to improve visual elements and create a world-class practice area. Orlando Selected to Host Women's Soccer Championship Game During halftime of the Orlando Pride s home opener last month, the club announced Orlando City Stadium will host the 2017 National Women s Soccer League Championship, October 14. The top four teams in the NWSL standings at the end of the regular season advance to the playoffs, with the higher seeds hosting the semifinal matches Oct. 7-8. Fans interested in attending the NWSL championship can sign up at www.orlandocitysc.com/pride/final to receive updates. The Last Word: It was a celebration of the $57 billion sports industry in the Sunshine State on April 20, at Florida Sports Day, at the Capitol Courtyard in Tallahassee. Take a look at the Photo Gallery at https://flasports.smugmug.com/florida-sports-day-at-the-capitol/ to see highlights of the festivities.