Our Team Bio – Jason Siegel

Jason Siegel has enjoyed more than 30 years of success and accomplishments in sports tourism, major and minor league professional sports, as well as intercollegiate athletics. He is currently in his eighth year as President & Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports!).

 

Under his leadership, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission (formerly the Central Florida Sports Commission) has hosted more than 400 events, projected to drive more than $1.5 billion in economic impact from 2016-2023. GO Sports serves one of the largest sports tourism regions in the country and drives economic impact for the City of Orlando, and Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties. In that time, the Commission’s Board of Directors has quadrupled in size as many of the public and private sector partners served by GO Sports have taken leadership positions within the organization. In addition, the Commission has grown its portfolio of regional corporate partners from 4 to more than 175.

 

During Siegel’s tenure, the Sports Commission has secured millions of dollars in grant funding and subsequently landed dozens of marquee events including but not limited to the 2019 MLS All-Star Game, 2019 and 2022 Monster Jam World Finals, 2019, 2021 and 2023 NCAA D1 Men's & Woman's Tennis Championships, 2017 and 2023 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship First and Second-Rounds, Copa America, 'She Believes' Cup, Florida Cup, and CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, 2017 and 2022 USMNT World Cup Qualifiers, multiple AAU Championships, 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, WrestleMania 33 & 36 and the 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials. On October 14, 2020, GO Sports led all cities across the nation, as Orlando was awarded a record 17 NCAA National Championship events from 2022-2026. GO Sports is currently managing a portfolio of future bids valued at over $1B through 2033.

 

Known as a highly creative relationship builder and business development executive, Siegel was named one of Orlando Business Journal's CEOs of the Year in 2017 and in 2018 he was asked to serve on Mayor Jerry Demings’ Orange County transition team. In 2019, i4 Magazine recognized Siegel as their Business Leader of the Year for Hospitality & Tourism and 96.9 The Game and Mike Bianchi presented him with a Mikey Award as the 2019 Most Impactful Central Floridian for his work in sports tourism. In 2020, he was recognized as one of Winter Park Magazine’s Most Influential People. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, Orlando Magazine named him one of Orlando’s 50 Most Powerful and in 2021 and 2023 he was recognized by Orlando Business Journal as one of 50 of Central Florida’s most influential individuals. In 2023, the Sports Commission was recognized by the Orlando Business Journal with a Diversity in Business Award.

 

In December of 2022, Siegel received the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Associations’ highest honor as the recipient of the Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award. Previous recipients include Walt Disney, former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush, City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.  On May 18, 2024, Orlando was named as Sports Business Journal’s 2024 Best Sports Business City for Attracting Events.

 

In July of 2017, Mayor Dyer turned to Siegel and GO Sports to lead Orlando’s pursuit of host city status for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In addition to leading the multiple GO26 World Cup Pursuit committees, the Commission regularly convenes and leads the community’s sports stakeholder’s meetings, esports Task Force, Youth Sports Task Force and local organizing committees for the NFL Pro Bowl, Monster Jam World Finals, MLS All Star Game, March Madness Basketball, and WrestleMania.

 

In 2018, the Commission created and hosted its first of five highly successful “Celebrating Women in Sports” Annual Luncheons welcoming keynote speakers Jessica Mendoza (2018) , Stephanie McMahon (2019), Brandi Chastain (2021), Jennifer Rizzotti (2022) and Joan Benoit Samuelson (2023) while recognizing female leaders in the Greater Orlando community. In partnership with the Orlando Business Journal, GO Sports brought the sports and tourism community together for the eighth straight year, hosting the annual “Business of Sports” luncheon in February 2024.

 

In March of 2020, local leaders turned to the Sports Commission to lead weekly workshops, bringing together the region’s sports stakeholders and sports venue operators to develop and share best practices, policies, protocols, and procedures as the community navigated the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

On August 29, 2020, June 19, 2021, June 25, 2022, and June 17, 2023, GO Sports hosted the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 SPORTYS: Greater Orlando’s Night of Champions presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic, which honored local sports business professionals whose contributions and impact are vital in making Greater Orlando one of the country’s premier sports destinations. Each year, the awards show celebrates more than 50 finalists from three dozen organizations across 12 categories, and winners are revealed during the show’s broadcast on WKMG News 6 (CBS affiliate).

 

Prior to joining the Sports Commission, Siegel spent five years as Managing Partner and CEO of the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL). The organization was recognized by the League winning the 2013 ECHL Award of Excellence. Siegel was a finalist for Executive of the Year in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and served on the League’s Executive Board of Governors. He oversaw the organization's business and hockey operations while managing the team's relationship with its NHL (Toronto Maple Leafs/Minnesota Wild) and AHL (Toronto Marlies/Iowa Wild) affiliates.

 

Siegel served as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Community Development for the New Jersey Devils (National Hockey League) from 2000-2007. While at the Devils he was the marketing liaison to the Devils' holding company's (YankeeNets) partners, the New York Yankees, and New Jersey Nets, from 2001-2004.

 

Siegel gained experience in hockey from 1987-2000, serving as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for the ECHL, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Phoenix Roadrunners (LA Kings affiliate); Director of Licensing for the relocated Dallas Stars (from Minnesota); Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the Binghamton Rangers (N.Y. Rangers affiliate); and as an Intern with the AHL league office and Binghamton Whalers (Hartford Whalers affiliate).

 

Prior to joining the Solar Bears, he spent four years as Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs at his alma mater, Binghamton University, where he was co-Executive Director of the department’s Athletics Board.

 

Siegel currently serves on several local community Boards including the Board of Advisors at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, American Diabetes Association (past Community Chairman 2018 & 2019), Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, and the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness. In addition, he and his wife Sarah Grafton founded and host the annual Winter Park Fashion Week.

 

Jason and his wife Sarah, both passionate about service to their community, reside in Maitland, FL, chasing after their four children, Stephanie (23), Ryder (15), Bobby (13), and Joseph (6).