Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: October 1, 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 funding agreement between Visit Orlando and the following applicant and authorization for Visit Orlando to enter into such agreement as follows: Up to $1,500,000 to be used as bid fees for the 2027 FC Series International Soccer Friendly to be held in late July/early August 2027 with payment amount to be determined based on the value rankings of the two teams playing in the game as determined by Forbes. Payment shall be determined per each team’s Forbes value ranking as follows: Top 5, $750,000; 6-12, $500,000; 13-30, $250,000; Unranked, $100,000. (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...
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