The NCAA announced that Greater Orlando will host 17 championship events from the fall of 2022 through the spring of 2026. Under the streamlined bidding process, 86 of the NCAA’s 90 annual championships (preliminary and finals sites) were up for bid simultaneously over the four-year bid cycle, resulting in the NCAA awarding more than 450 host sites during today’s announcement. More than 3,000 bids were submitted from 46 states and Washington DC, which included 68 bids from Greater Orlando.
In Division I, the First-and-Second Rounds of Men’s Basketball will return to the Amway Center and the Men’s & Women’s Tennis Championships will return to the USTA National Campus, both in 2023 with UCF serving as co-host of each. In Division II, the Spring Festival will return to Seminole and Orange Counties in 2024, co-hosted by Rollins College at multiple venues. In addition, the Men’s & Women’s Tennis Championships will be held at the USTA National Campus for the first time in 2023, and will return to Sanlando Park (Seminole County) in 2024 and 2025, with Rollins College again serving as co-host. In Division III, the Men’s & Women’s Tennis Championships will return to the USTA National Campus in 2023, and both the Women’s (2023) and Men’s (2026) Golf Championships will return to Mission Inn Resort & Club (Lake County), with Olgethorpe University (GA) serving as co-host for all Division III events.
"Today's NCAA announcement regarding the selection of Orlando as the home of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships and multiple Men's and Women's Tennis Championships at USTA National Campus further solidifies our reputation as one of the nation's premier sports destinations and validates the ongoing investment into our rapidly growing sports infrastructure,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We are greatly appreciative of all of our local and regional partners, including the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, who continue to play a vital role in the growth of the sports industry in our region."
“These are exciting times as Central Florida was once again awarded multiple NCAA Championships today. This only reinforces how the Orlando area is one of the nation’s premier sports destinations,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. “I am eager to once again put our world-class and diverse hospitality and events industries on display, as we prepare to welcome back the NCAA. Not only do sports unite us, these events will bring millions of tourism dollars into our local economy to support our local workers and businesses.”
“On behalf of our Chairman, Faron Kelley, and our Board of Directors, as well as our funding partners, we want to thank the NCAA for awarding these championships to our region,” said Jason Siegel, President & CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. “The NCAA knows our community will come together to provide a safe and positive experience for the student-athletes that participate, as well as their families, alumni and fans who travel to watch them compete.”
NCAA championship events attract spectators and families throughout the state of Florida and from across the United States, driving significant impact to hotels, restaurants, and attractions in the Greater Orlando community. The events awarded to Greater Orlando during this bid cycle are expected to drive more than a $27M impact to the region.
Until COVID-19 caused the cancellation of the NCAA’s spring 2020 championships, GO Sports had hosted at least one NCAA national championship or regional championship every year since 1996.
Click here to view a chart of all championships awarded to Greater Orlando
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