GREATER ORLANDO SPORTS COMMISSION AND PARTNERS SUBMIT 68 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP BIDS FOR 11 DIFFERENT SPORTS FROM 2022-2026
Bid partners include 10 venues and five host institutions across Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties and the City of Orlando
ORLANDO, FL (February 6, 2020) – The Greater Orlando Sports Commission, in partnership with multiple venues, host institutions, and local government and tourism leaders from the City of Orlando and Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties are once again spearheading the effort to bring NCAA Championships to the region.
As part of the NCAA’s bidding process, 86 of their 90 annual championships are up for bid from fall of 2022 through spring of 2026, and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission submitted 68 championship bids in 11 different sports across all three divisions. Bids were submitted on Monday, February 3, and the NCAA is expected to announce more than 500 host sites in mid to late October.
During the 2018-2022 bid cycle, the NCAA received a total of 1,765 bids.
“Our community has a long history of hosting NCAA Championships. It takes a collaborative effort from the entire region to be successful,” said Jason Siegel, President & CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. “I want to take this opportunity to thank our staff, our funding partners, and the venues and institutional partners who have been working diligently for the past six months on this bid process. I also want to thank Governor Ron DeSantis and our regional community stakeholders who provided letters of support for our bids.”
To host an NCAA Championship, a collegiate institution or conference office must co-host the event. For Division I bids to host Men’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Women’s Gymnastics, and Beach Volleyball, GO Sports has partnered with UCF, the University of Florida, and Stetson University. For Division II bids to host Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, and the Division II Spring Festival which encompasses six championships, Rollins College will co-host. For Division III championships including Men’s and Women’s Golf and Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Oglethorpe University (GA) will serve as our collegiate partner.
GO Sports has partnered with 10 venues across the region. Venues in the City of Orlando within Orange County include the Amway Center and USTA National Campus. Additional venues in Orange County include Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge and the UCF Soccer & Track Complex. In Lake County, venues include Mission Inn Resort & Club and Hickory Point Beach Sand Volleyball Complex. In Osceola County, venues include Osceola County Stadium and Silver Spurs Arena, both part of Osceola Heritage Park. Seminole County venues include Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park and Sanlando Park.
Since 1997, GO Sports has hosted at least one NCAA National or Regional Championship every year. During the NCAA’s 2018-2022 bid cycle, Greater Orlando was awarded a total of 13 championships/regionals across all three divisions, highlighted by the Division I Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships at the USTA National Campus in 2019 and 2021.
Here’s what our partners are saying:
“Over the last few years, Orlando has established itself as one of the nation’s premier sports event destinations. With our world-class venues and first-rate hospitality, our city has proved to be an ideal location for NCAA Championships, and I have no doubt that we would again thrive as the host for events like March Madness,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
“These are exciting times for Central Florida, as Orlando is fast becoming one of the nation’s premier sports destinations,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “The opportunity to host NCAA Championships will contribute millions to our local economy.”
“Lake County’s partnership with the Greater Orlando Sports Commission has been a key component of our growing reputation as a premier sporting events destination,” said Lake County Commissioner Leslie Campione. “Their bids to host future NCAA golf and beach volleyball championships in Lake County give us the opportunity to continue and further our success with the NCAA.”
“Osceola County is well-positioned to host these events as we have invested wisely to improve our sports facilities over the last several years,” said Osceola County Commissioner Fred Hawkins, Jr. “Our hospitality is our hallmark as we continue building great partnerships with the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, Orlando City Soccer Club and other organizations such as the NCAA. They all contribute to sporting experiences that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. We are confident that our event resume, our expertise in event management and our reputation for top-flight experiences and facilities will lead to success during this bid cycle.”
“Seminole County is excited for the opportunity to continue a long-standing partnership with the NCAA by hosting championship events in our community,” said Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine. “We support the Greater Orlando Sports Commission’s efforts in submitting these bids and our team stands committed to provide a championship quality experience for all NCAA events awarded to and hosted in Seminole County.”
“We are thrilled that UCF has been designated and hopefully will serve as the institutional host as the Greater Orlando Sports Commission pursues a series of upcoming NCAA Championship opportunities for this area. With more than 30 world-class sports venues available and a long history of previous major events, Orlando is the perfect destination for the NCAA in so many ways,” said Danny White, Vice President and Director of Athletics at the University of Central Florida. “At UCF, we talk every day about creating the future of college sports. What better way to promote that mission than by inviting the collegiate sports world to Orlando to see it in action.”
“The gymnastics fan base is rapidly growing, and those fans would love to see NCAA Championships in the Sunshine State,” said Kim Green, Associate Athletics Director at the University of Florida. “They can take advantage of the many Orlando-area attractions and cheer on the best in collegiate gymnastics. Thank you to the Greater Orlando Sports Commission for submitting a bid which will hopefully land upcoming NCAA Gymnastics Championships at Silver Spurs Arena.”
“In 2019, the Hatters (30-10) advanced to the National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship, defeating the #1 seed in the first round and ending the season ranked nationally at number 6. Stetson was one of the first schools in the country to add Beach Volleyball as an intercollegiate sport and has won five ASUN conference titles,” said Jeff Altier, Director of Athletics at Stetson University. “The Hatters enter the 2020 season ranked as the 9th best team in the country. Stetson’s athletic success and hosting experience combined with the Hickory Point Beach Sand Volleyball Complex in Tavares creates a perfect match to showcase the National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship.”
“Rollins and GO Sports have a great partnership and rich history of hosting Division II National Championships in the region,” said Rollins College Director of Athletics Pennie Parker. “We believe the greater Orlando region is an ideal location for championships and look forward to working with the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, Mission Inn Resort, Sanlando Park, and other venues in hosting NCAA events from 2022-2026.”
“Oglethorpe University and our partners at The Greater Orlando Sports Commission have a 16-year history hosting NCAA Division III Golf Championships with Visit Lake and Mission Inn Resort & Club. We look forward to hosting during the 2022-2026 bid cycle with our fabulous professional hosts in Orlando,” said Coach Jim Owen, Director of Golf at Oglethorpe University.
See below for a complete list of championship bids submitted by the Greater Orlando Sports Commission.
| 22-23 | 23-24 | 24-25 | 25-26 | Co-Host | Venue | Regional Partner | |
| Division I | |||||||
| Men’s Basketball 1st/2nd Rounds | X | X | X | X | UCF | Amway Center | Orlando/Orange County |
| Men Tennis | X | X | X | X | UCF | USTA National Campus | Orlando/Orange County |
| Women’s Tennis | X | X | X | X | UCF | USTA National Campus | Orlando/Orange County |
| Men’s College Cup | X | X | X | X | UCF | Osceola County Stadium | Osceola County |
| Women’s College Cup | X | X | X | X | UCF | Osceola County Stadium | Osceola County |
| Division II | |||||||
| Men’s Golf | X | X | X | Rollins College | Mission Inn Resort & Club | Lake County | |
| Women’s Golf | X | X | X | Rollins College | Mission Inn Resort & Club | Lake County | |
| Spring Festival – Men’s Golf | X | Rollins College | Orange County National Golf
Center and Lodge |
Orange County | |||
| Spring Festival – Women’s Golf | X | Rollins College | Orange County National Golf
Center and Lodge |
Orange County | |||
| Spring Festival – Women’s Lacrosse | X | Rollins College | UCF Soccer and Track Complex | Orange County | |||
| Spring Festival – Women’s Softball | X | Rollins College | Boombah-Soldier’s Creek Park | Seminole County | |||
| Spring Festival – Men’s Tennis | X | Rollins College | Sanlando Park | Seminole County | |||
| Spring Festival – Women’s Tennis | X | Rollins College | Sanlando Park | Seminole County | |||
| Men’s Soccer | X | X | X | Rollins College | Osceola County Stadium | Osceola County | |
| Women’s Soccer | X | X | X | Rollins College | Osceola County Stadium | Osceola County | |
| Men’s Tennis | X | X | X | Rollins College | Sanlando Park | Seminole County | |
| Women’s Tennis | X | X | X | Rollins College | Sanlando Park | Seminole County | |
| Division III | |||||||
| Men’s Golf | X | X | X | X | Oglethorpe University | Mission Inn Resort & Club | Lake County |
| Women’s Golf | X | X | X | X | Oglethorpe University | Mission Inn Resort & Club | Lake County |
| Men’s Tennis | X | X | X | X | Oglethorpe University | USTA National Campus | Orlando/Orange County |
| Women’s Tennis | X | X | X | X | Oglethorpe University | USTA National Campus | Orlando/Orange County |
| National Collegiate (DI/DII/DIII) | |||||||
| Women’s Gymnastics | X | X | X | X | University of Florida | Silver Spurs Arena | Osceola County |
| Beach Volleyball | X | X | X | X | Stetson University | Hickory Point Beach Sand
Volleyball Complex |
Lake County |
| Total Bids Per Year | 15 | 19 | 17 | 17 | |||
About 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 1993, the organization has hosted or co-hosted more than 1,400 events in the Greater Orlando area with a total economic impact exceeding $1.78 billion in spending within the community. For more information, please visit GreaterOrlandoSports.com.
