GREATER ORLANDO SPORTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES DATE AND OPENS NOMINATIONS FOR 2026 SPORTYS

Nominations are now being accepted for award categories that honor sports business professionals from Greater Orlando’s sports ecosystem

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 12, 2026) – The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) has opened nominations and announced the date for the 2026 SPORTYS awards. With Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute returning as the presenting sponsor, the 2026 SPORTYS: Greater Orlando’s Night of Champions will be streamed on WKMG-TV’s website ClickOrlando.com and News 6+ streaming channel on Wednesday, June 17 at 7:00 p.m. EST. A live watch party and Sports Industry Reception will take place that evening in the West Club at Inter&Co Stadium.

The SPORTYS honor the sports business professionals whose leadership and contributions help position Greater Orlando as one of the world’s premier sports destinations. Since its relaunch in 2020, nearly 300 finalists have been recognized, highlighting the dedication and talent that drive the region’s thriving sports ecosystem. Each year, GO Sports also donates a portion of the proceeds from the watch party and Sports Industry Reception to Heart of Florida United Way.

Nominations are now being accepted at www.GreaterOrlandoSports.com/SPORTYS. The nomination period will close on Friday, April 10, 2026, and a voting committee will determine the finalists and a winner for each category. Finalists will be announced in advance of the broadcast, and the winners will be revealed live on Wednesday, June 17. The categories are listed below, along with the winner’s names from the last edition.

“Opening nominations for the 2026 SPORTYS marks an exciting moment for our sports community,” said Caesar Lopez, Chairman of the GO Sports Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel for Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride, and Inter&Co Stadium. “The SPORTYS has become a staple on our annual calendar, celebrating the sports business professionals who play a critical role in making Greater Orlando one of the premier sports destinations in the world. We look forward to once again highlighting the talented individuals who help drive our region’s continued success.”

“We’d like to extend our thanks to both WKMG-TV News 6 and Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, who return as our streaming/production partner and presenting sponsor, respectively, for the sixth year in a row,” said Jason Siegel, President & CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. “We are also thrilled to bring the watch party and Sports Industry Reception to Inter&Co Stadium for the first time. We look forward to another memorable evening celebrating the individuals and organizations that have helped turn Orlando into a global sports capital.”

Limited sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact Michael D. Kalinich at Michael@greaterorlandosports.com.

 2026 SPORTYS Award Categories                              2024/25 Award Winner Names & Organizations

  1. Best in Media, Communications & PR                       Sam Gardner, Florida Citrus Sports
  2. Best in Corporate Partnerships                                    Kelly Hyne, Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride
  3. Best in Venue Operations                                             Julie Baca, Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride
  4. Best in Business Operations                                         Aurusa Moosani, Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride
  5. Best in Gameday & Team Operations                         Kim Bruno, Track Shack Events
  6. Best in Marketing                                                           Grace Burr, United States Tennis Association
  7. Best in Social Responsibility                                        Brodrick Johnson, UCF Athletics
  8. Best in Sales                                                                     Giovanni Duarte, Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride
  9. Sponsorship Activation of the Year                             Florida Citrus Sports & Pop Tarts Bowl
  10. Executive of the Year                                                      Steve Hogan, Florida Citrus Sports
  11. Sports Tourism Alliance Award                                   Tom Draper, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
  12. Chairman’s Award of Excellence                                 Pat Williams, Orlando Magic

 

ABOUT THE GREATER ORLANDO SPORTS COMMISSION

The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) is a private, non-profit organization established to attract and manage sports-related events, conferences and activities that drive positive economic development in the City of Orlando, Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, and Seminole County. Founded in 1992, the organization has hosted or co-hosted more than 1,700 events in the Greater Orlando area with a total economic impact exceeding $3.86 billion in spending within the community. For more information, visit GreaterOrlandoSports.com.