Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: November 19, 2024
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: N/A
FROM: Ray Walls, Deputy Director, OCCC
CONTACT: Ray Walls
PHONE: 407-685-5684
DIVISION: Fiscal and Operational Support Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approval of the Tourist Development Tax Sports Incentive Committee’s recommendations for sports incentive funding pursuant to the terms and conditions of funding agreements between Visit Orlando and the following applicants and authorization for Visit Orlando to enter into such agreements as follows: (1) $15,000 per year, for a total amount of $30,000 over two years, to be used to offset marketing and promotional costs for the 2025 and 2026 WBCA Orlando Showcase; (2) $30,000 for a bid fee for the 2026 USA Volleyball All-Star Championships; and (3) $150,000 for a bid fee for the 2025 NXT Finals. (Fiscal and Operational Support Division)
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PROJECT: Sports Incentive Committee Funding Requests
PURPOSE: On November 1, 2016, the Board authorized consolidated sports funding under the tourist development plan for incentivizing sporting events in Orange County venues. Since 2017, Visit Orlando has provided professional assistance in evaluating sports incentive funding proposals before the Tourist Development Tax Sports Incentive Committee (SIC). Sports incentive funds are held in a separate Visit Orlando account. On October 22, 2019, the Board approved a new tourism promotion agreement pursuant to which Visit Orlando will now administer both the evaluation of proposals and enter into funding agreements with applicants after the SIC funding recommendations have been approved by the Board. On May 21, 2024, the Board approved an amendment to the 2019 agreement with Visit Orlando whereby Visit Orlando will fund up to $10 million annually for incentivizing sporting events as part of this program and allowing that amount to grow in fiscal year 2028 based on increasing Tourist Development Tax collections.
At its October 21, 2024 meeting, the SIC recommended approval of four funding requests after hearing presentations from the respective applicants. Visit Orlando’s staff also provided an evaluation of the proposals for consideration by the SIC. One of those funding requests was subsequently withdrawn by the applicant after the sporting event was awarded to another city.
[WITHDRAWN] 2027 Florida-Georgia Game **This request has since been withdrawn by the applicant due to the game being awarded to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.** The SIC recommended approval of Florida Citrus Sports’ request of a one-time bid fee of $3,000,000 contingent upon Camping World Stadium being chosen to host the 2027 college football game between the University of Florida and the University of Georgia. The event is a nationally televised annual NCAA football rivalry game that has been held in Jacksonville, Florida since 1933. The game is being displaced from Jacksonville in 2026 and 2027 due to stadium reconstruction. Other football stadiums in Florida, including Raymond James in Tampa and Hard Rock in Miami are also being considered as hosts. Attendance for the event is estimated at a minimum of 65,000, depending on Camping World capacity changes due to renovations, with a projected generation of more than 37,000 room nights and an economic impact of approximately $35 million - with room nights and economic impact being based on 2016 data available from the City of Jacksonville.
2025 and 2026 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Orlando Showcase The SIC recommended approval of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission’s (GOSC) request of $15,000 per year, for a total amount of $30,000 over two years, to be used to offset marking and promotional expenses of the 2025 and 2026 WCBA Showcase proposed to be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in November 2025 and November 2026. The event is new and will consist of a four-team women’s college basketball tournament, plus two additional games. It is expected to feature the best women’s college basketball teams in the country. Estimated annual attendance for the event 7,000 with a generation of 1,100 room nights each year and an economic impact of approximately $1.5 million annually.
2026 USA Volleyball All-Star Championships The SIC recommended approval of GOSC’s request of $30,000 to be used as a bid fee for the 2026 USA Volleyball All-Star Championships proposed to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in July of 2026. This event attracts youth volleyball teams from the United States and various countries. Estimated attendance for the event is 18,000 with a generation of 4,800 room nights and an economic impact of approximately $4 million.
2025 NXT Finals The SIC recommended approval of GOSC’s request of $150,000 to be used as a bid fee for the 2025 NXT Finals proposed to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in July of 2025. This event, hosted by NXTPRO - the official shoe circuit of PUMA Basketball - is the organization’s largest and attracts youth basketball teams from around the county to play a minimum of five games and have a chance to be crowned champions in their respective age division. Estimated annual attendance for the event is 59,000 with a generation of approximately 15,000 room nights each year and an annual economic impact of about $15 million.
BUDGET: N/A