1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 930 • West Palm Beach, FL 33401 • 561.233.3180 • 561.233.3125

Game On!January 2015

(Continued on Page 2)

In this Issue• Palm Beach County Hosts Its

Inaugural Bowl Game• Winter Equestrian Festival Rides

Into Palm Beach County • Palm Beach County Makes

Soccer History • AYSO Florida State Games

Return To Palm Beach CountyBoard of Directors

Palm Beach County Hosts its Inaugural Bowl GameHistory was made this past December when Palm Beach County hosted its initial College Football Bowl Game. On December 23rd, the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl kicked-off at 6pm, creating a momentous occasion for Palm Beach County. The City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County became home to 1 of 38 bowl games that took place throughout the United States in 2015.

The evolution of college football in Palm Beach County has seen many milestones. Palm Beach County has been a special home to college football since the inception of the Lou Groza Award in 1992. The Groza Award introduced Palm Beach County to the college football universe and initiated relationships between Palm Beach County and the NCAA, ESPN, and a variety of conferences.

The next milestone was reached when Florida Atlantic University (FAU) brought us college football. This incredible journey began in 1998 when FAU created its football program and played its first game on September 1, 2001. However, for the next decade, FAU would play its college football outside of Palm Beach County, in neighboring communities. This changed eleven years after the Owl’s first game, when FAU constructed a state-of-the-art, 30,000-seat stadium with world-class amenities. On October 11, 2012 history

was made when FAU hosted the first college football game to take place in Palm Beach County, at its new stadium.

College football in Palm Beach County experienced a revolutionary event, when the Boca Raton Bowl took place this past December. For at least the next 5 years, post-season college football will live in Palm Beach County.

The Boca Raton Bowl, owned by ESPN Events, took place after two years of planning. Conference partners include the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Conference USA, and the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The inaugural Boca Raton Bowl featured

Marshall University, the C-USA champion, and Northern Illinois, the MAC champion. The matchup couldn’t have been a better initiation for the Boca Raton Bowl. Outside of the College Football Playoff, this is the only bowl game between conference champions. Marshall and Northern Illinois had a combined 23 wins coming into the Boca Raton Bowl. The buzz and national media coverage exploded due to incredible success of the teams competing in the introductory game.

In addition to experiencing the excitement of college football, the Boca Raton Bowl provided a surge of benefits for Palm Beach

Guy Quattlebaum - PresidentPamela Linden - Vice PresidentStephanie Lanza - Treasurer

Eric CallJack DanielsNick DavidsonWilliam DavisJohn DeMottPatty DentMichelle JaminetMalachi KnowlesAnthony LafasoJason MyersSteve PolitzinerMargie WaldenJeff Zipper

Ex-Officio DirectorsMike Bauer Roger Dean StadiumRalph Jimenez Original ImpressionsKen Kennerly IGP Sports & Entertainment GroupMichelle McGann Ladies Professional Golf AssociationJason RittenberryIRG Sports & EntertainmentHoward Schnellenberger Florida Atlantic UniversityJohn Smith Duffy’s Sports GrillCarolyn Stone Palm Beach Atlantic UniversityJoe Ceravolo - EmeritusDr. Ed Eissey - Emeritus

1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 930 • West Palm Beach, FL 33401 • 561.233.3180 • 561.233.3125

The Winter Equestrian Festival Rides into Palm Beach County

Many people often rejoice in the change a new year brings. However, a new year also celebrates a continuation in history and tradition of long established events. The Winter Equestrian Festival

(WEF) which has developed a rich 34 year history, will once again take place in Palm Beach County.

The 2015 edition will be held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington from January 7 to March 29.

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission has partnered with the Winter Equestrian Festival since 1994. During this time, over 1.6 million room nights have been generated due to the Winter Equestrian Festival. In 2015 alone, the 12-week circuit is anticipating more than 90,000 room nights with over $100 million in economic impact, making this one of the largest tourism generating events that takes place in Palm Beach County. Not only is the Winter Equestrian Festival the largest annual sporting event in Palm Beach County, it is the longest running equestrian event in the world, attracting both national and international athletes. The event hosts 5,000 horses and thousands of riders from all 50 states and 33 countries. Participants will compete in Hunters, Jumpers, Equitation, and Dressage classifications with prize money exceeding $8 million. The substantial purse prize attracts more Olympic-class and international riders.

The Winter Equestrian Festival is a proving ground for the United States Equestrian Team, and serves as host of selection trials and such qualifiers for important international events as the FEI World Cup Finals and the Olympic Games. In addition to Olympic-caliber competition, WEF hosts the nation’s premier competition for children, juniors, adults and amateurs; for riders aged from 6 to 70 years old in more than 55 unique divisions of competition. The breadth of competition provides an opportunity for the entire family to participate in the sport together, creating a unique lifestyle experience. WEF is a season of intense competition with thousands of competitors and spectators in attendance. Each week is considered an individual horse show, with more than 10,000 exhibitors (horse owners, trainers, riders, support personnel) and up to 5,000 horses competing in any given week within 12 show rings throughout the state-of-the-art equestrian show complex. Each show week starts on Wednesday and concludes on Sunday with at least one major competition on a Saturday night or Sunday afternoon in the world-famous International Arena. Last year, over 250,000 people attended the Winter Equestrian Festival throughout its 12 weeks. General admission is free.

For ticket packages and a complete schedule of events, visit www.equestriansport.com.

County. The game was televised live on ESPN and the City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County received tremendous exposure during the three-hour telecast. Over 2.2 million households across the United States watched the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl.

Tourism is the foundation of a bowl game. Thousands of alumni, students, and football enthusiasts traveled to Palm Beach County to experience the Boca Raton Bowl. The game was an official sellout with over 23,000 attendees coming through the gate. The influx of visitors provided an enormous boost to Palm Beach County’s economy by filling hotel rooms and generating significant revenues for restaurants, attractions, and the local business community. Millions of dollars of economic impact was created due to this game. Executive Director of the Boca Raton Bowl, Doug Mosley, stated, “The game went beyond our expectations” and “I couldn’t have sold you a ticket at the gate.”

The Boca Raton Bowl became a reality because of widespread community support. The Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Discover the Palm Beaches, the City of Boca Raton, and ESPN West Palm partnered to provide funding, in-kind support, and coordination of the bowl game and its related events. Additionally, the corporate community residing in Palm Beach County greatly supported the game. Dozens of companies invested in a variety of ways to form corporate partnerships. “The inaugural Boca Raton Bowl was a huge success and the way our community came together to make that happen was amazing. The feedback we’ve collected to date has been overwhelmingly positive and I’m already being asked questions about the 2015 Boca Raton Bowl”, said Mosley.

In addition to the game, the Boca Raton Bowl and its participating teams engaged communities across Palm Beach County. Youth clinics occurred in a variety of municipalities leading up to the game. Welcome parties and pep rallies were hosted in West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, and Boca Raton. The City of Lake Worth and the Hilton Singer Island Oceanfront Resort in Riviera Beach hosted beach parties for the athletes, coaches, and their families. The Palm Beach County Convention Center was home to the Boca Raton Bowl luncheon, which attracted over 600 attendees, including the participating teams, sponsors, and community representatives. The excitement and impact was felt countywide. For more information visit www.thebocaratonbowl.com

Boca Bowl (Continued)

1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 930 • West Palm Beach, FL 33401 • 561.233.3180 • 561.233.3125

Palm Beach County Made History Hosting Two College Soccer National Championships

Palm Beach County was the pinnacle of collegiate soccer this December when it became the first destination to host two college soccer national championships simultaneously. Palm Beach

County was home to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Women’s Soccer National Championships, referred to as the Women’s College Cup, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men’s Soccer National Championships during the first week of December. Thousands of soccer enthusiasts traveled to Palm Beach County to witness national titles being crowned. National Champions were decided for both men and women teams in both the NCAA and the NAIA, creating a historic occasion for Palm Beach County.

Florida State University defeated the University of Virginia to win their first Women’s College Cup on December 7th at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton. The Seminoles national title followed Davenport (Michigan) winning its first NAIA Men’s National Championship at the Seacrest Soccer Complex in Delray Beach.

The NCAA Women’s College Cup, which took place on

December 5-7, included the semifinal games and national championship game, culminating a tournament that featured 64 teams. ESPNU televised all 3 games that comprised the NCAA

Women’s College Cup, which showcased Palm Beach County to a national audience. The event also represents the first time that Florida has been home to the Women’s College Cup since 1983, when Central Florida University was the host. The NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship is a sixteen-team tournament that took

place from December 1-6. Palm Beach County hosted both events for the first time.

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission partnered with Florida Atlantic University and Northwood University to create soccer history in Palm Beach County. The community benefits were widespread. Thousands of alumni, students, and soccer fans traveled to Palm Beach County to experience a collegiate national championship. The combined events generated over 3,500 room nights and $2 million of direct visitor spending.

Palm Beach County has transformed into a hotbed for soccer. After hosting two collegiate soccer national championships, it’s hard to argue against the fact that Palm Beach County is one of the elite sports destinations in the United States.

w w w. Pa l m B e a c h S p o r t s . c o m1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 930 • West Palm Beach, FL 33401 • 561.233.3180 • 561.233.3125

1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 930West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Tel: (561) 233-3180 Fax: (561) 233-3125

Corporate Partners

The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Florida State Games will return to Palm Beach County on January 17-19, 2015. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is partnering with AYSO Section 14 to host one of the largest statewide soccer tournaments at Village Park in Wellington. Teams

from across Florida and the southeast region of the United States will travel to compete in this prestigious tournament. Over 100 teams and more than 2,000 athletes will participate in both boys and girls divisions featuring a variety of age groups that range from 9u to 19u.

The AYSO Florida State Games will provide a significant tourism impact to Palm Beach County. The event is expected to generate

over 1,000 hotel room nights and generate revenues for restaurants, retail outlets, attractions, and other businesses throughout Palm Beach County.

The AYSO State Games have taken place in Palm Beach County for eight (8) consecutive years. During the summer of 2016, AYSO Section 14 will partner with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission to host the AYSO National Games at the International Polo Club in Wellington. This week-long tournament will attract over 240 teams and more than 4,500 athletes from across the nation. The AYSO National Games is one of the largest amateur soccer tournaments to take place in the United States.

American Youth Soccer Organization Returns to Palm Beach County