UCF has sent this email to select Shareholders and I received permission to share here. It would be much appreciated if you write a thoughtful correspondence to Orange County commissioners and explain why you think it's important UCF receives TDT funding.
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Knight Nation:
On a recent Shareholder Society call, many of you asked how you can support UCF’s request for Orange County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) dollars. Now is the time to voice your support and accelerate our Mission XII initiative.
Next week, Mayor Jerry Demings and the Orange County Commission will meet to decide how to spend Orange County’s Tourist Development TDT dollars. This tax, about $300 million per year, is paid by tourists who visit Orange County and stay in our local hotels.
UCF is asking to share in the distribution of these TDT funds to accelerate the renovations of our athletic facilities including the Roth Tower at FBC Mortgage Stadium, Addition Financial Arena, and our softball, soccer, track and baseball facilities. Our entrance into the Big 12 puts UCF on the “mainstage” of college athletics and with that comes some of the most passionate traveling fans in all of college sports. We must elevate our current facilities to meet this demand and become the global destination for intercollegiate training and competition.
UCF is well positioned to be the preeminent collaborator for the growth of sports tourism in Orange County. The investment of these public dollars in UCF’s facilities will go a long way to creating more tourism and economic development in Orange County.
With these enhanced facilities, the estimate over the next ten years is that UCF will generate nearly $1 billion of tourism impact for Orange County.
Here is how you can help:
1. Find your county commissioner using the below map and contact information. If you live outside of Orange County we encourage your participation too.
2. E-mail them a concise and positive message asking for their support of UCF Athletics.
o Make it personal. Choose from one or more of these topics:
§ Your belief of the impact of UCF and UCF Athletics in Orange County
§ Your expectation of the impact of the Big 12 conference and Orlando now being a Power 5 city
§ Your expectation of new passionate fan bases seeing Orlando as a destination to watch their favorite team
§ The impact of the Big 12’s nationally televised games from UCF that serve as commercials for Orange County for millions of viewers
§ The State of Florida restricts the use of state funds on athletics facilities and operations, we could not have built the current village without the generous support of our donors, season ticket holders, alumni and community supporters
§ The impact a facility in the UCF Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village has had in your life beyond sports – did you attend a special graduation, job fair, concert etc.?
§ The entertainment value of hundreds of affordable events happening 12 months a year from sporting events, concerts
§ Your desire to see TDT funds invested in new areas of Orange County
§ The impact UCF has in helping to bring other marquee events to the region as an official bid partner with Greater Orlando Sports (March Madness, NCAA Championships, Bowls, Pro Bowl, International Soccer, etc.)
§ The impact of the workforce opportunities through these projects and events
3. Urge fellow members of Knight Nation to do the same. You don’t have to be a resident of Orange County
District 1- Nicole H. Wilson - District1@ocfl.net
District 2- Christine Moore - District2@ocfl.net
District 3 – Mayra Uribe - District3@ocfl.net
District 4- Maribel Gomez Cordero - District4@ocfl.net
District 5 – Emily Bonilla – District5@ocfl.net
District 6 – Mike Scott - District6@ocfl.net
====
Knight Nation:
On a recent Shareholder Society call, many of you asked how you can support UCF’s request for Orange County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) dollars. Now is the time to voice your support and accelerate our Mission XII initiative.
Next week, Mayor Jerry Demings and the Orange County Commission will meet to decide how to spend Orange County’s Tourist Development TDT dollars. This tax, about $300 million per year, is paid by tourists who visit Orange County and stay in our local hotels.
UCF is asking to share in the distribution of these TDT funds to accelerate the renovations of our athletic facilities including the Roth Tower at FBC Mortgage Stadium, Addition Financial Arena, and our softball, soccer, track and baseball facilities. Our entrance into the Big 12 puts UCF on the “mainstage” of college athletics and with that comes some of the most passionate traveling fans in all of college sports. We must elevate our current facilities to meet this demand and become the global destination for intercollegiate training and competition.
UCF is well positioned to be the preeminent collaborator for the growth of sports tourism in Orange County. The investment of these public dollars in UCF’s facilities will go a long way to creating more tourism and economic development in Orange County.
With these enhanced facilities, the estimate over the next ten years is that UCF will generate nearly $1 billion of tourism impact for Orange County.
Here is how you can help:
1. Find your county commissioner using the below map and contact information. If you live outside of Orange County we encourage your participation too.
2. E-mail them a concise and positive message asking for their support of UCF Athletics.
o Make it personal. Choose from one or more of these topics:
§ Your belief of the impact of UCF and UCF Athletics in Orange County
§ Your expectation of the impact of the Big 12 conference and Orlando now being a Power 5 city
§ Your expectation of new passionate fan bases seeing Orlando as a destination to watch their favorite team
§ The impact of the Big 12’s nationally televised games from UCF that serve as commercials for Orange County for millions of viewers
§ The State of Florida restricts the use of state funds on athletics facilities and operations, we could not have built the current village without the generous support of our donors, season ticket holders, alumni and community supporters
§ The impact a facility in the UCF Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village has had in your life beyond sports – did you attend a special graduation, job fair, concert etc.?
§ The entertainment value of hundreds of affordable events happening 12 months a year from sporting events, concerts
§ Your desire to see TDT funds invested in new areas of Orange County
§ The impact UCF has in helping to bring other marquee events to the region as an official bid partner with Greater Orlando Sports (March Madness, NCAA Championships, Bowls, Pro Bowl, International Soccer, etc.)
§ The impact of the workforce opportunities through these projects and events
3. Urge fellow members of Knight Nation to do the same. You don’t have to be a resident of Orange County
Mayor Demings - mayor@ocfl.netDistrict 1- Nicole H. Wilson - District1@ocfl.net
District 2- Christine Moore - District2@ocfl.net
District 3 – Mayra Uribe - District3@ocfl.net
District 4- Maribel Gomez Cordero - District4@ocfl.net
District 5 – Emily Bonilla – District5@ocfl.net
District 6 – Mike Scott - District6@ocfl.net
It is important that Mayor Demings and the Orange County Board of County Commissioners hears from you.
Tell them to support TDT funding for UCF!
Tell them to support TDT funding for UCF!
