“The amount of stadium concerts this year has been truly unprecedented and we are beyond grateful for the opportunity to host so many big-name artists in such an iconic setting. We’re looking forward to welcoming the Chili Peppers and a capacity crowd of their passionate fans for a night to remember.”

-Allen Johnson, Chief Venues Officer

Orlando Venues

See Chili Peppers story below...

Around The Horn.

• When Red Hot Chili Peppers, the legendary Southern California alternative funk rockers, hit the stage at Camping World Stadium tonight, their high-energy show will close out a record-breaking year of six stadium concerts at the Orlando venue. There has never been a busier season in the stadium’s lengthy 86-year history. Since undergoing a massive $207 million reconstruction in 2015, the stadium has averaged one concert per year. Earlier this year, the stadium hosted concerts by Billy Joel (March 12), Garth Brooks (March 26), Paul McCartney (May 28), Def Leppard / Mötley Crüe (June 19) and Bad Bunny (August 5). Combined gross ticket sales from all six concerts exceeds $35 million.
• Congratulations to the 2022 class of honorees for this year's Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute! The luncheon is being held on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at UCF's Addition Financial Arena and will include a fireside chat with featured speaker presented by Florida Blue, Jennifer Rizzotti, President of the Connecticut Sun WNBA team. Click here to read more about the 2022 honorees, and click here to purchase a table or individual tickets to the luncheon. 
• Women in Sports Leadership Award
• Sharon Line Clary, AdventHealth
• Katie Stocz Miller, Orlando Magic & WISE Greater Orlando
• Amy Wise, 2022 Special Olympics USA Games
• Rising Star Award
• Ali Anderson, Orlando Magic
• WISE Women of Inspiration Award
• Jessica West, Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride & Exploria Stadium
• Central Florida marketing agency Experience Kissimmee will showcase its branding at prominent National Football League games this season. The agency has entered a sponsorship agreement with NFL UK for the NFL London games in October. The agreement will market Kissimmee to millions of sports fans and potential future travelers.
• From the Orlando Sentinel: Here are the biggest questions UCF football faces before the Knights travel south to FAU in week 3.
• The Orlando Magic have signed a new player. The Magic announced on Monday night that they have signed former Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards guard Joel Ayayi to a training camp deal.
• As he waited for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the Cowboys Sunday night, Tom Brady checked out the other NFL games on television, afternoon contests that swung back and forth with missed opportunities and kicks. Despite entering his 23rd season, the league’s coolest quarterback under pressure said he felt first-game jitters.
• The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has racked up its most-viewed playoffs in 20 years. The league drew an average of 439,000 viewers through 19 games on ESPN, making it the most-watched playoffs since 2002. 
• Tampa Bay Lightning has announced a number of initiatives to celebrate the 30th season of Lightning hockey. The 30th anniversary season is presented by AdventHealth. The Bolts are coming off three-straight appearances in the Stanley Cup Final – winning the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 – and are looking to become the first team to reach the Cup Final in four-consecutive seasons since 1983. The festivities begin Saturday, Oct. 1 as the Lightning will host a season kick-off event, presented by Florida Blue, at Amalie Arena.
• As coach Ashley Nolan and Team Brevard prepared for the Special Olympics State Surf Championships, it was a big day in Cocoa Beach. Ashley’s knowledge of the sport is clear but it’s her passion for coaching that shines bright. When she was asked to coach Special Olympics surfing she says she didn’t hesitate.

• Red Bull Double or Nothing brings the best wakeboarders in the world to Orlando in a winner-take-all, best trick competition, encouraging each athlete to go big and push the sport to levels never seen before. Wakeboard legend Parks Bonifay is the mastermind behind Red Bull Double or Nothing. The event will be held in downtown Orlando at Lake Ivanhoe on September 17, and is open to spectators to watch from Gaston Edwards Park, completely free of charge.
• The Lakeland Magic, NBA G League affiliate of the Orlando Magic, will be hosting a local player tryout in Winter Haven on September 18 at the AdventHealth Fieldhouse, and in Orlando on September 25, at the RDV Sportsplex Athletic Club. Local player tryouts provide athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of Lakeland Magic coaches and basketball staff.

In The News.

• Orlando Business Journal is honoring Central Florida's 2022 Fast 50, their annual list recognizes 50 of the fastest-growing private companies in Central Florida. These companies are headquartered in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties. The firms are ranked based on their percentage of consistent three-year revenue growth, between 2019-2021.
• Orlando City Commissioners OK’d the proposed $1.54 billion budget for next year and signed off on keeping the property-tax rate at the same figure for the ninth straight year. Both votes came just after 5 p.m. Monday, and commissioners will vote on them again on Sept. 26 to formally approve the budget. 
• SeaWorld Orlando visitors can now spy the beginnings of the theme park’s next roller coaster. Vertical construction has begun on the site, with work now topping the construction walls. The light blue steel is going upright from the ground for the thrill ride, which will operate near the front of SeaWorld and adjacent to its parking lot. The park says the new coaster will be ready in 2023. 
• The city of Kissimmee plans to replace a downtown transportation circulator run by public bus agency Lynx with an on-demand service that would be free for riders. A new service would replace the fixed-route Kissimmee Connector Downtown Circulator run by Lynx. The current service provides connections for 500 riders a month, with the primary goal of connecting SunRail riders with employers and other destinations in the city. 
• As UCF continues to unleash the potential of people and ideas to positively impact the world, the university upholds its reputation as a top-ranked public institution of higher education and a leader in innovation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Colleges rankings. UCF is ranked No. 64 for Public Schools, moving up three spots from last year.
• Metro Orlando has more than 55,738 job openings so far in September. Employ Florida found that for that number of online listings, there are roughly 52,222 candidates. The partnership between the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and CareerSource Florida Inc. uses online job listing data to track the number of open jobs, along with the companies seeking workers in both the state and metro areas.
• A Mount Dora High School student is working to make a positive change in his community. What started out as just an idea of starting a recycling program within his school has turned into the real deal for Franco Garcia. Now the city of Mount Dora is partnering with the high school to make sure every classroom has a recycling bin for students and faculty to use.

Stay Engaged.

• ICON Park is preparing to welcome families to its first annual Oktoberfest  celebration. Starting Sept. 16, the entertainment complex will offer special beer, food and entertainment for families to enjoy.
• You can enjoy a summer evening with the family at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Family Sunset at the Zoo will be held on September 23. The gates will reopen at 5pm. for guests to enjoy exploring the Zoo, and music in the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground until sunset. 
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering a discount on admission for Central Florida residents in select counties. As part of the complex’s new Mercury Offer, residents of Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties can get a one-day ticket for $19 + tax for adults or $14 + tax for children 3-11, from Sept. 12-18.
• The Science Center’s exhibits don’t always come to life after hours, but during Kids Night at the Museum, the building will be full of energy! Youth ages 5 to 12 years old are invited to explore exhibits, experience enhanced programming, and enjoy dinner and a film. 
• The YMCA of Central Florida will be inviting residents to try their facilities free of charge in September as part of a new initiative. Free Fridays will take place every Friday during the month of September and will allow residents to visit any and all YMCA locations in the region for no charge.
• Downtown gallery CityArts will host a Bridgerton-themed party on Saturday, September 24 at 7pm as part of its annual La Maschera party series – its largest annual fundraiser. The evening will feature artwork themed on locations from the show as well as live music by Violectric, dancing, interactive character entertainment, photo opportunities, specialized cocktails, food, and more.
• Gatorland is offering a special ticket deal that will get Florida children in free through the end of the month, the theme park announced. Now through Sept. 30, Florida residents will receive half-off single day admissions and one free child admission (ages 3-12) with each paying adult.
• Fairy Doors are back through October 31 at Leu Gardens! The exhibit features twenty, one-of-a-kind, whimsical fairy doors which will inspire your child’s imaginative world of enchanted forests, secret gardens and the magic of fairies. Each door is created by a very special fairy and all you have to do is find these beautiful doors located throughout the 50-acre gardens.

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has already begun! Join your favorite Disney Characters for an evening of spirited fun, and get your favorite costume ready! Guests can collect candies and treats while Magic Kingdom park thrills and chills you with eerie entertainment, delightful attractions, and some beloved Disney Characters.
• Universal Orlando has announced the final details for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights 31, revealing all the houses, zones, and shows guests can experience at the event, taking place on select nights from September 2 thru October 31, 2022.

• At the Taste of South Lake & Business Expo, you can enjoy an evening out on November 3, at Clermont’s Waterfront Park, complete with food tasting from more than 30 local restaurants, and business samplings from more than 30 local business leaders.
• Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers.
• Universal Orlando's Florida resident specials include discounts on vacation packages as well as a free day at the theme park through December as part of a limited time bargain. Florida residents who snap up a '2-park, 2-day' ticket to Universal between now and Sept. 28 can get a third, free day as part of their purchase.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel visited Colorado this week with a delegation from Orlando, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando Health's Andy Gardiner, and Orlando City SC/Orlando Pride's Jarrod Dillon

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik spoke on a panel at Orange Appeal's Orlando Women's Conference this week, pictured here with OUC's Lisa Curran, AdventHealth's Jennifer Bowman, and Beth Hobart of Mainframe Real Estate

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the City District's "From the Heart" event, pictured here with Despina McLaughlin, Orange County and City District Board President, and Kirk Wingerson from Orlando Venues

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the UCF v Louisville football game, pictured here with GO Sports Board Member John Mahony

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior VP Brent Nelson visited with our friends and partners at USA Rugby while in Denver this week

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior VP Brent Nelson visited the US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs this week to connect with many of our National Governing Body sports partners 

Fun & Games.

• Orlando's New and Incoming Restaurants and Bars
• Pictures: Orlando City SC celebrates Open Cup win at Orlando's City Hall
• Orlando 2022-23 Arts Season Preview: Concert & Comedy Tours
• Fall Events in Orlando: Food, Festivities & Halloween Fun