Greater Orlando Sports Commission, photo by Roberto Gonzalez

THE FACES OF SPORTS TOURISM

(L to R): Jeanine Scharpf (Chief Financial Officer), Jason Siegel (President & CEO), Brent Nelson (Executive Vice President, Business Development & Sports Tourism), Michael Kalinich (Executive Vice President, Corporate Partnerships), Jennifer Lastik (Chief Operating Officer)

Background graphic created locally by A.B. Newton and Company

Greater Orlando Sports Commission

The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) is a community and privately funded non-profit whose mission is to attract and manage sports events, conferences, and activities that drive economic impact for the region and promote our destination. Officially incorporated in 1992, GO Sports is one of the country’s largest regional sports commissions, serving the City of Orlando, Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties and the 80+ venues within its Central Florida footprint. GO Sports has assembled a team of 12 executives with more than 180 years of combined industry experience.

Jason Siegel is entering his 10th year as President & CEO and has been recognized as one of Orlando Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful from 2021-2025. In that time, GO Sports’ Board of Directors has more than quadrupled in size as many of the public and private sector partners served by the Commission have taken leadership positions within the organization. In addition, GO Sports has grown its portfolio of regional corporate partners from 4 to just under 200.

Under Siegel’s leadership, GO Sports will have hosted 500 events, projected to drive more than $2.7 billion in economic impact by the end of FY 2024-25. The GO Sports team has secured, recently hosted, and is targeting new and returning marquee events, including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, NCAA Division II National Championships Festival, NCAA March Madness, WrestleMania, Monster Jam World Finals, 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, multiple Division I/II/ III NCAA championships, Olympic Qualifiers, World Cup qualifiers, major league all-star games, international friendly matches, youth/amateur and esports events.

In March of 2024, the Sports Business Journal recognized Orlando as the #1 Best Sports Business City in the U.S. for Attracting and Hosting Events. GO Sports celebrates the achievements of leaders in the Greater Orlando sports community at three signature events:

(1) The SPORTYS: Greater Orlando’s Night of Champions presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute

(2) Celebrating Women in Sports presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute

(3) the Central Florida Sports Hall of Fame

400 W. Church St., Suite 205  | Orlando, FL 32801 | Phone: 407-440-6640 | GreaterOrlandoSports.com