Orlando’s long list of superlatives — in all things theme parks, tourism and traffic — just got even longer.
Sports Business Journal named Orlando the No. 1 best city in the nation for attracting and hosting sporting events in its 2024 Best Sports Business Cities rankings.
The rankings were compiled by analyzing an extensive database including everything from youth sports to professional leagues, SBJ says. The data spanned 1,500 sports events that took place from 2017 to 2023 across the nation.
The top five cities Orlando beat out for the high honor are Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Indianapolis. The full list and the methodology behind the rankings can be found in the March 18, 2024 edition of SBJ.
“Orlando’s elevation to the top spot in this year’s rankings is a testament to the vibrant collaboration between world-class venues, dedicated sports commissions, and the enthusiastic community that makes Orlando a standout destination for sports business,” said Abe Madkour, publisher and executive editor.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission and Walt Disney World Resort shared the announcement at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Monday.
“We recognize that sports have the power to bring residents together, provide memorable experiences, showcase our city’s hospitality and vibrancy and drive economic growth by helping welcome more visitors to our region,” Dyer said. “This recognition from the Sports Business Journal highlights the important role that sports plays in our community and is something that all of Orlando can be proud of.”
He’s been boasting of the city’s claim to sports fame for years now. Apparently, he was right all along.
Sports have the power to bring residents together, showcase our community’s vibrancy and drive economic growth by bringing more visitors to the region. We should all be proud that @SBJ has named Orlando the nation’s “Best Sports City for Events.” pic.twitter.com/3GHBq1Q4Ep
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 09: NHL Vice President of Special Projects and Corporate Social … [+] Responsibility and panel member Jessica Berman on stage during the Beyond Sport United 2016 at Barclays Center on August 9, 2016 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NY– Jessica Berman has wanted to be a sports commissioner since her teen years growing up in Brooklyn, NY. Her passion took her to the University of Michigan, where she studied Sports Management, and then back to New York for her Juris doctorate at Fordham Law School.
Where did this dream come from?
“My children have asked me that question, especially in the last six months when I haven’t been home,” Berman said at the Sports Business Journal World Congress of Sports Tuesday morning.
Berman admitted she often asked herself that question. It’s not hard to imagine that times like these – days removed from the preliminary findings of the Sally Q. Yates independent investigation concerning allegations of abusive behavior and sexual misconduct in women’s professional soccer – are particularly hard for the newest commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
HARRISON, NJ – OCTOBER 31: A banner that says Protect Our Players hangs in the stands before the … [+] match between NJ/NY Gotham City FC and Racing Louisville FC at Red Bull Arena on October 31, 2021 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)
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To state what should be obvious, it has been an even more difficult time for the players, whether they be named or unnamed in the report. The Yates reports is a third-party report commissioned by the United States Soccer Federation. In addition, the NWSL has commissioned its own report in partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association.
“I think the most important takeaway for us and for me is that we are taking all of our cues directly from the players,” Berman said of the league investigation.
“Our partnership with the union and our joint investigation that is still ongoing is unique from the Yates report in two significant ways. The first being that we are doing it jointly with our player association from October when the news broke in The Athletic and the NWSL essentially came to its knees to figure out how we get to the place of unlocking the potential of this league,” she added.
The NWSL and NWSLPA began their investigation in October 2021 with counsel from Covington & Burling LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. They comprise what is known as the NWSL/NWSLPA Joint Investigative Team. Berman was not in her role as NWSL Commissioner during this time and has inherited the process of moving forward for the better while cutting ties post-haste.
The league announced Tuesday that, as a result of an investigation into allegations of verbal abuse and improper favoritism, the immediate termination of the contracts of Orlando Pride Head Coach Amanda Cromwell and First Assistant Coach Sam Greene.
Orlando Pride head coach Amanda Cromwell, left, and first assistant coach Sam Greene watch players … [+] warm up before an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match against the Washington Spirit, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Berman also noted the Yates report provided the NWSL/NWSLPA Joint Investigative Team with “information that had previously not been available” as part of their reporting. Initially, the NWSL expected a report at the end of the year. While Commissioner Berman hopes to stick to that timeline, the NWSL will not interfere with nor rush the process.
“We will let them do their jobs and stay outta their way. We do hope, understanding the practical realities of the importance of getting this report done, that we stay within that timeline, and that’s my expectation currently,” Berman said Tuesday.
Under Berman, the NWSL is leading its investigation with truth. In fact, truth and transparency is one of the three values that drive the Joint Investigative Team.
“We need to make sure that we hold ourselves accountable to the three goals that we set out from the beginning when this was commissioned a year ago, which are to seek the truth, to have corrective action that is meaningfu,l and to institute systemic reform. Those three things are in a particular order, and its intentional. You have to start with the truth and in order for people to heal and trust this league, we really need to start with the truth,” Berman said.
Given the rampant history of abuse in women’s soccer at all levels, Berman will have continue to show that things are different, rather than to tell. The NWSL is not the only league in need of reform.
Allegations of Abuse in the NHL
Berman was one of several sports commissioners to speak at the Sports Business Journal World Congress of Sports, including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. From my observations yesterday, she was the most forthcoming with the more difficult sports business matters in her sector.
For example, despite the Tampa Bay Lightning recently suspended Ian Cole after allegations from an anonymous report accused Cole of grooming and sexual abuse, nobody from the conference mentioned the allegations. For context, the NWSL allegations were mentioned multiple times ahead of Berman’s appearance.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ian Cole (28) before an NHL preseason hockey game against the Florida … [+] Panthers Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
After attending the World Congress of Sports yesterday in New York, Bettman attended the home opener for the Los Angeles Kings yesterday. Los Angeles Times sports columnist Helene Elliott asked Bettman about the Cole investigation.
“We’re investigating that as well. We’re trying to get to the source of the tweet and we are investigating. Obviously the allegations on twitter are disturbing but I think we need to take the appropriate time to understand exactly what happened,” Bettman said according to Elloitt’s tweets.
The NHLPA released the findings of their independent report on April 15. The NHLPA retained Cozen O’Conner for their investigation. The report stated, “Ultimately, the failure to act on Beach’s reports stems from a failure of communication … Beach’s warnings about Aldrich were not addressed on account of miscommunication and misunderstanding, rather than any individual or systemic failure.”
The report included recommendations, but the NHPLA didn’t release them because “they require further development,” per a statement released on April 15.
