GAINESVILLE, FL  – The Gainesville Sports Commission celebrated it’s 35^th Annual Meeting on February 15^th, 2023 at the Hotel Indigo, while offering tours of the new Alachua County Sports and Events Center at Celebration Pointe.

The 2022 GSC President, Weston Gallop, conducted a short business meeting that voted in the 2023 slate of officers and board of directors, appointing Bryan Flood as the 2023 president.

In addition to the business meeting, Gainesville Sports Commission Executive Director, Joleen Cacciatore Miller, presented the GSC 2021-2022 Fiscal Year Annual Report.

 

FY-Q1 October 2021 – December 2022

Estimated Room Nights – 6,442

Estimate Hotel Impact – $855,388

Total Attendees – 14,130

Out of County Attendees – 10,254

Percentage of out-of-area attendees – 72%

 

FY-Q2 – January 2022 – March 2022

Estimated Room Nights – 13,353

Estimate Hotel Impact – $2 million

Total Attendees – 34,771

Out of County Attendees – 30,270

Percentage of out-of-area attendees – 87%

 

FY-Q3 – April 2022 – June 2022

Estimated Room Nights – 20,711

Estimate Hotel Impact – $2.95 million

Total Attendees – 45,829

Out of County Attendees – 40,626

Percentage of out-of-area attendees – 88%

 

FY-Q4 – July 2022 – September 2022

Estimated Room Nights – 48,970

Estimate Hotel Impact – $1.15 million

Total Attendees – 19,450

Out of County Attendees – 16,014

Percentage of out-of-area attendees – 82%

 

The GSC ended the fiscal year bringing in an estimated 48,970 Room Nights, 114,188 Total Attendees, 97,164 Out of Area Attendees (85% of all event attendees are from out-of-area), and a Hotel Impact of $6.87 million. With $275,000 in bid pool finds, the GSC was able to create an ROI of $1 of bid pool funds = $25 for local hotels.

 

The 2023 awards followed Joleen’s report. Each year, the outgoing president selects 2 deserving individuals for the 2023 awards. Congratulations to our 2023 Award Winners:

Scott Peters – Perry McGriff President’s Above and Beyond Award

Frank Saier – Jack Hughes Bronze Gator

 

The GSC also presented Marihelen Wheeler on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners and Larry Hosley of the Gainesville Striders with a commemorative 10^th Anniversary Jimmy Carnes Track and Field Invitational bib number and set of gold, silver, and bronze medals. The Jimmy Carnes Track and Field Invitational was held from 2008-2016 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center before the track was removed due to renovations. The 2023 Jimmy Carnes Track and Field Invitational was the 10^th anniversary and first meet held at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center at Celebration Pointe.

 

Thank you to all that attended and a special thank you to our table sponsors!

• Campus USA Credit Union

• City of High Springs Parks and Recreation

• City of Newberry

• Comfort Inn/Sleep Inn

• Country Inn & Suites/Fairfield Inn

• Gainesville Striders

• Greater Gainesville Chamber

• High Springs BMX with TWO tables!

• Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites

• RADDSports

• UF Department of Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management

About the Gainesville Sports Commission

Founded in 1988, the Gainesville Sports Commission (GSC) is a not-for-profit organization that strives to promote tourism through sports while creating a positive economic impact on Gainesville and Alachua County. The Gainesville Sports Commission is a liaison that brings sporting events to our local community and assists with hosting, creating and supporting over 45 events annually. Since its inception, Gainesville Sports Commission has directly contributed more than 300 million dollars of economic growth. By bringing participants and spectators to sporting events, Gainesville Sports Commission creates approximately 20 million dollars annually of direct economic impact for our community.