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July 2007 |
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In the News |
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Sports Commission Signs 3-Year Deal with Academic Financial Services
In one of the larger partnerships in its eight-year history, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC) recently signed a three-year deal with Academic Financial Services (AFS). The collaboration includes a $20,000 annual scholarship contribution on behalf of AFS.
"Academic Financial Services continues to step up to the plate for the community," said Rob Higgins, executive director of the Sports Commission. "We are pleased to have forged a dynamic and mutually beneficial partnership that will continue to enhance the unique opportunities that we work diligently to provide for our local youth."
AFS joins other founding partners of the TBSC including Outback Steakhouse, Bright House Networks, McDonald's, the Glazer Family Foundation, Tampa Bay Downs, Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hillsborough County and Pepin Distributing.
"We are truly excited about this new partnership and believe it will bring added value to not only our youth but this wonderful community we live in," said Wayne Morgan, president of AFS.
With its identity rooted in financial assistance, AFS is committed to simplifying the student loan process while maintaining itself as a company people can trust. Highlighted by superior customer service, AFS offers an innovative and individualized approach to the often confusing financial aid process. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., AFS is a lender in the FFEL program that provides Federal Stafford Loans, Plus Loans, Grad Plus Loans, Alternative and Consolidation Loans at attractive Interest Rate Reductions.
Summer Championships Dominate Fourth of July Weekend
Tampa will play host to two national championships and one state championship over the Fourth of July weekend producing an estimated 6,200 room nights for the local economy.
The four-day Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Age Group Gymnastics National Championships will get under way at the Tampa Convention Center on July 4 with a Parade of Champions and a fireworks display presented by The Florida Aquarium. The 1,600 participant competition, hosted by the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department, will feature gymnasts from across the country, including California, Wisconsin, Rhode Island and Georgia. For more information on the 2007 AAU Age Group National Championships visit: http://aausports.org/sprt_Gymnastics.asp.
After a successful 2006 championship which resulted in over 60 teams coming to the Bay area, the United States Specialty Sports Association is bringing its Girls National Basketball Championships back to Tampa on July 5-8. This year's tournament, which is expecting to draw over 70 high school girls' basketball teams from across the nation, will take place at various high school and college gymnasiums throughout the city. Please visit www.flahoops.org for more information on this year's tournament.
Seventy teams from throughout Florida will compete in the National Softball Association (NSA) State A Championship July 6-8. Teams will compete in the 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18-year-old divisions at the Ed Radice Sports Complex, Greco Softball Complex and New Tampa Community Park for the State "A" Championship title. Championship information can be found at www.nsafloridayouth.com.
The Florida Sports Writers Association College Football Media Days Return to Tampa
The Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Sun Sports and FSN Florida are happy to once again be hosting the 2007 Florida Sports Writers Association College Football Media Days on July 28 and 29, 2007 at the Quorum Hotel-Tampa. This two-day format provides the FSWA members the opportunity to meet and speak with the state's 12 college football coaches as the upcoming college football season approaches.
"It's not everyday that a community has the opportunity to play host to each of the 12 state university head football coaches all on the same weekend," said Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Sports Commission. "Combine this fact with getting a chance to showcase your destination to countless sports media from around the state, and you can see why the FSWA College Football Media Days is such a truly special event."
Day one features the University of Miami's Randy Shannon and the University of Florida's Urban Meyer and day two will include the University of South Florida's Jim Leavitt and Florida State University's Bobby Bowden.
 USL SoccerFest to Unite Soccer Community With Two Key Events in Tampa
The United Soccer Leagues (USL) has announced that the 2007 USL SoccerFest will be held November 15-20 in Tampa, the home of the organization's headquarters, in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC). The USL SoccerFest, launched in the fall of 2005, is comprised of the USL Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the Super Y-League (SYL) North American Finals.
The USL SoccerFest is an annual event in Tampa with a multi-year partnership between USL and the TBSC that makes Tampa the home of the USL SoccerFest through 2008.
"The 2006 USL SoccerFest was extremely successful on a number of different fronts," said USL Director of Business Development James Ward. "In 2007 we are looking at ways to bring the event to an entirely new level by creating additional elements that will integrate local organizations and businesses throughout the community. Our goal is to make this soccer celebration an event in which the entire area can become involved."
The USL AGM will be held at the host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Tampa and will draw hundreds of key figures from USL's First and Second Division tiers of professional soccer, the Premier Development League, W-League, Super-20 League and SYL. The event will be held Friday, November 16 through Monday, November 19.
The Super Y-League North American Finals runs parallel to the AGM. The event begins Thursday, November 15 and concludes Tuesday, November 20. The SYL finals are considered one of the top youth soccer events in North America.
"We are extremely pleased to be the host hotel for the 2007 USL SoccerFest," said Hyatt Regency Tampa General Manager David Beecham. "We know it will be another very successful event for USL, and wish them the very best in the years to come."
"SoccerFest 2007 marks the beginning of the third decade for United Soccer Leagues," said USL President and Founder Francisco Marcos, who served as director of public relations and vice president of soccer operations for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League for eight years in the 70's. "Last season we celebrated our past 20 years of expansion and passion for the game. This season we look to the future of the game in North America."
The 2006 USL SoccerFest was a tremendous success. The SYL North American Finals featured an interactive Players' Village that was home to a fully functional Sprinturf field. The field hosted a local five-on-five tournament held in conjunction with the league Finals. A FIFA 2007 video game tournament, UMBRO Soccer Shop and a visit from English soccer legend Alan Shearer rounded out the exciting events housed in the Players' Village. Armed with future 2007 D.C. United draft pick Bryan Arguez, Kendall SC defeated Red Bull New York, 2-1 in the U16 division of the North American Finals tournament. The game was broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel as the feature match of the event.
President's Cup Brings Southeast's Finest to Tampa
The Tampa Bay Sports Commission in conjunction with the Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA) hosted the United States Youth Soccer's (USYS) Region III President's Cup Tournament June 8-10 at the Ed Radice Sports Complex and the University of South Florida. This year's tournament featured 102 boys and girls soccer teams ranging in age from 13 to 17. Participating teams traveled to Tampa from throughout the Southeast, generating more than 4,000 hotel room nights.
"The success of the United States Youth Soccer Region III President's Cup was in no small part related to the support and assistance of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission," said John Steinweg, vice president of the Florida Youth Soccer Association's Region C. "Tampa has proven to be the number one site to host this type of event."
"The partnership we have formed with FYSA over the past couple of years has led to some key soccer hosting opportunities, culminating with this year's President's Cup," said Jason Aughey, sports sales and events manager for the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. "Bringing in more than 100 elite youth soccer teams, producing a top level event and showcasing all that Tampa has to offer is quite an accomplishment."
Upcoming Events
 NCAA First Team Program Summer Conference, August 9-12, 2007
The Tampa Bay Sports Commission has partnered with the NCAA to bring the First Team Program Summer Conference to the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay and the University of Tampa's Bob Martinez Center on August 9-12. The conference is part of a year-round educational program designed to promote the value of education and the proper role of athletics in the educational process. The program supports participants throughout high school and was started in response to concerns about some of the issues affecting the sport of basketball. Prospective members are outstanding eighth- and ninth-grade basketball players identified because of their athletic ability, but not selected solely on that basis. Program candidates must have a minimum "C" grade-point average. Each spring, identified candidates complete an application process, and a committee reviews the applications and makes selections for the new program year each June. The program seeks to provide information that will help prospective student-athletes and their parents successfully navigate the collegiate recruiting process while maintaining a balance between academics and athletics. For more information on the program, please call (317) 917-6683.
Volunteer Opportunities
2008 Women's Basketball Final Four April 6-8, 2008
The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is searching for energetic individuals to act as community ambassadors to ensure that the event's first trip to the state of Florida is an overwhelming success. Those individuals interested in learning more about potential volunteer opportunities can contact Blake Guthrie at bguthrie@VisitTampaBay.com. |
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The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is a private, non-profit, 501c3, charitable corporation that serves the entire Tampa Bay area as the lead organization for bidding on and hosting major amateur sporting events. Our mission is to attract, promote and/or organize major amateur sporting events, and grassroots youth sports programs, that foster the ongoing development and quality of life for the entire Tampa Bay area. |
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