Jan 28, 2015
The 2014-15 bowl season was the culmination of one of the most important and challenging years in the history of Florida Citrus Sports. Together as a staff and a team of community leaders and volunteers, we were tasked with operating our events – including three signature football games – in the midst of a near-complete reconstruction of the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. The first year of the new College Football Playoff era presented new and unique changes across all of […]
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Nov 19, 2014
The Florida State Seminoles will play the Ole Miss Rebels in the Orlando Citrus Bowl stadium on Labor Day, 2016. The neutral-site season-opening game on the evening of Monday, Sept. 5, will be televised nationally by ESPN as the first of an annual Orlando Kickoff game. “We’re excited to bring regular season neutral-site college football games back to the Citrus Bowl stadium and establish Orlando as a major kickoff destination for the future,” said Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. […]
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Nov 18, 2014
Florida Citrus Sports announced a new multi-year business relationship today for PepsiCo to become official and exclusive non-alcoholic beverage provider for the newly renovated Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. PepsiCo’s iconic brands will now be available for sale throughout the stadium: Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Sierra Mist, Aquafina and Lipton Iced Teas. The reconstructed Citrus Bowl stadium will host its first event this Saturday, November 22, as Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University square off in the 35th annual Florida Blue […]
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Oct 27, 2014
Florida Citrus Sports Chief Executive Officer Steve Hogan was named an honoree for the 2014 Dick Pope Legacy Awards. He is one of four community leaders recognized by Orlando’s Chapter of the National Association for Catering and Events. This year’s awards will be presented during the Grand Tour Gala on Saturday, November 1 at The Hilton Orlando Resort. The Dick Pope Legacy Award honors leaders who reinforce the sustainability of Florida’s hospitality and tourism industries. The award was named after […]
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Oct 22, 2014
With another week down, members of the Florida Citrus Sports Team Selection Committee were at the stadium bright and early this Monday morning to talk about game day action and the current landscape of college football. In the ACC, Florida State remains unbeaten, handing Notre Dame its first loss of the season. Victory slipped through the fingers of the Fighting Irish victory when a touchdown in the closing seconds of the game was called back. In the Coastal Division, Duke […]
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Oct 21, 2014
The 2015 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl will air live on ABC on New Year’s Day at 1:00 p.m. (ET) in the new Orlando Citrus Bowl stadium. The game is in its first year of a new cycle, pitting top non-College Football Playoff teams from the Big Ten (or Atlantic Coast) conference against a top non-CFP Southeastern Conference team. “We are honored to add Buffalo Wild Wings as a title sponsor and business partner,” said Steve Hogan, chief executive officer […]
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Oct 14, 2014
Florida Citrus Sports Chief Executive Officer Steve Hogan was recently named as one of Orlando Business Journal’s “CEO of the Year” honorees. He is one of 30 Central Florida CEOs recognized by the publication at an October 10 awards luncheon and the accompanying issue of the newspaper. Hogan has served FCSports for more than 10 years in a leadership role, currently overseeing every aspect of the organization. Among his most notable accomplishments was the successful negotiation of new lease terms […]
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Sep 06, 2014
The new Orlando Citrus Bowl is materializing with each passing day. Perhaps one of the most exciting signs of progress this month is the construction of the first of five video display boards that will eventually be positioned throughout the stadium. In late August, initial construction began on the largest of the new boards. Sized at 38 feet high by 150 feet wide, the main video board sits above the south end zone and will feature over 3000 square feet […]
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Aug 22, 2014
The news came on the TV in the Orlando hotel suite. After winning two national titles in five years, Urban Meyer was resigning as Florida’s football coach. Everybody was stunned that stress had driven a 45-year-old man to the hospital and then into early (if temporary) retirement. Then an 84-year-old man provided some perspective. “He talked about the coaching profession and how it grinds on you,” Kevin Rinker said. “Just to sit there and hear him talk. That’s the kind […]
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Aug 21, 2014
Michael Cantrell, Account Executive at Coca-Cola Refreshments, received the Chairman of the Year Award presented at Florida Citrus Sports’ 2014 Member Celebration. Before Cantrell became a member in 1998, Coca-Cola had worked with Florida Citrus Sports (FCSports) for over 50 years. Upon joining, Cantrell sought to become more active and establish a more personal relationship with the organization. In 2002, Cantrell developed an extreme passion for the organization and began to focus on how FCSports helped the Orlando community and […]
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Aug 21, 2014
The Florida Citrus Sports (FCSports) award for Volunteer of the Year highlights one member each year that has done tremendous service for the organization’s events. FCSports awarded Yacabucci for his dedication, commitment and heart for the organization. “It’s an honor to get recognized for something I truly love doing,” said Yacabucci. Yacabucci, who joined FCSports in 2010, also volunteers for two other central Florida organizations. It was through one of these organizations, the Central Florida Gator Club, where Yacabucci met […]
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Aug 14, 2014
Join Florida Citrus Sports members (including representatives from the executive committee and board of directors) and guests at Quantum Leap Winery in Winter Park on Wednesday, September 17. Representatives from the organization’s executive committee and board of directors will be in attendance. Select attendees will be recognized and have the chance to highlight their business or personal promotion. CEO Steve Hogan will also be on hand to provide the latest updates on stadium reconstruction. The price to attend is $20 […]
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Jul 25, 2014
Mayor Buddy Dyer welcomed local media on Friday, July 25, for their first tour of the new Orlando Citrus Bowl as reconstruction continues on pace for substantial completion by November. Following last month’s “Forward Progress To The 50” celebration, installation of the precast concrete for the new stadium lower bowl is nearly complete, finishing with the new 20,000-square-foot plaza deck in the north end zone. Friday’s tour did not extend to the deck as work continues in that area, but […]
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Jul 18, 2014
FCSports Chief Customer Officer Shannon Clark was included in the Orlando Business Journal’s list of “C-Level” Award winners for 2014. She was recognized in the nonprofit category as a COO and included in the OBJ’s luncheon celebrating all honorees held on Friday, July 18. With nearly 20 years of experience at FCSports, Clark is one of the organization’s longest-tenured employees. She has been been deeply involved with our direct customers, including local members, charitable organizations and bowl fans, on a […]
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Jul 14, 2014
Scott Herring, a former finance executive with the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies, has been named Chief Financial Officer at Florida Citrus Sports, the not-for profit membership-based organization that runs the Capital One Bowl and Russell Athletic Bowl. Herring returns to Central Florida after two-plus seasons with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, where he served as the team’s Vice President of Finance. He replaces Dennis Braziel, who joined the FCSports staff in 2007, after serving the organization in various key roles […]
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Jun 04, 2014
On Wednesday, June 4, Orlando officials, construction workers and the Florida Citrus Sports staff celebrated the latest construction milestone for Orlando Citrus Bowl reconstruction, as the installation of precast conrete for the new lower bowl has reached the halfway point. The “Forward Progress To the 50” event featured brief remarks from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and FCSports CEO Steve Hogan. Staff and construction workers in attendance were also invited to sign a piece of the […]
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May 13, 2014
Long-time local sports television personality Paul Kennedy was honored with the Howard Palmer Award, the FCSports’ highest service honor, at the 2014 Member Celebration. Kennedy becomes the 25th recipient of the award, presented during the annual Florida Citrus Sports Member Celebration held this year at Full Sail University’s ‘Full Sail Live’ venue. The Member Celebration, presented by BMO Harris Bank and Florida Hospital, signifies the beginning of the 2014-15 Florida Citrus Sports (FCSports) season with the induction of new leadership and […]
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May 13, 2014
Ken Potrock of Disney Vacation Club made his first public appearance as 2014-15 FCSports President at the Member Celebration presented by BMO Harris Bank and Florida Hospital. Tony Massey of Massey Services Inc., who served as president in 2013-14, begins his one-year term as Chairman. Outgoing 2013-14 President Massey will move to Chairman, where he will continue his role on the Executive Committee and also oversee the Team Selection Committee for the Capital One Bowl and Russell Athletic Bowl. Massey […]
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May 13, 2014
Ticket packages for the first bowl games in the newly-rebuilt Orlando Citrus Bowl are on sale today. The packages are available via Florida Citrus Sports (FCSports) membership, which includes priority access to the best seats in the house for the annual college football games, the Capital One Bowl and Russell Athletic Bowl. Members will be among the first to enjoy all of the amenities of the new stadium which dramatically transform the gameday experience with wider aisles, seats with more […]
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Feb 06, 2014
We’re celebrating the beginning of Citrus Bowl reconstruction with our first happy hour of 2014. Come join us at the w xyz bar in the Aloft Orlando Downtown Hotel (500 S Orange Avenue) on Thursday, February 13 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Our happy hours bring together FCSports members, their guests and anyone else who wants to join for socializing and networking at a local Orlando establishment. There will be complimentary Budweiser products and appetizers on hand for all guests. […]
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