Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: April 9, 2026
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: N/A
FROM: Ray Walls, Deputy Director, Orange County Convention Center
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 recommendation for sports incentive funding pursuant to the terms and conditions of a funding agreement between Visit Orlando and the following applicant and authorization for Visit Orlando to enter into such agreements as follows: $25,000 to the Kindred Pride Foundation to be used for marketing for the 2026 Pride Cup. (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 March 30, 2026 meeting, the SIC recommended approval of one funding request after hearing the presentation from the applicant. Visit Orlando’s staff also provided an evaluation of the proposal for consideration by the SIC.
The SIC recommended approval of the Kindred Pride Foundation’s request for $25,000 to be used for marketing for The Pride Cup event on June 5 through June 7, 2026. The Pride Cup is an LGBTQ+ multi-sport tournament produced by the Kindred Pride Foundation that will coincide with the events surrounding Gay Disney. The event, launched in 2022, will host eight different sporting events across multiple locations in Orange County, including the Dubsdred Golf Course and Lake Buena Vista High School. The event is projected to attract 1,500 athletes and 1,000 spectators, generating over 2,600 room nights and an estimated $1.6 million in economic impact.
BUDGET: N/A