palm beach county to host the naia men’s soccer national...

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

In this Issue• Palm Beach County To Host The

NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championships

• National Hockey Festival Scores Goals For Local Economy

• Winter Equestrian Festival Rides Into Palm Beach County

• Florida State Place-Kicker Wins The Lou Groza Award

Game On!January 2014

Board of Directors

Palm Beach County to Host the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championships

(Continued on Page 2)

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that the 2014 and 2015 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championships will be hosted by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission in conjunction with Northwood University. The sixteen-team championship will be played at Hilltopper Stadium and the adjoining Seacrest Soccer Complex in Delray Beach, Fla., on December 1-6, 2014, with the 2015 championship taking place November 30-December 5.

“We are thrilled to have our Men’s Soccer National Championship return to Florida,” said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. “We are confident that the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and Northwood University will go the extra mile in making the National Championship an outstanding experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans.” The state of Florida has welcomed the Men’s Soccer National Championship on five prior occasions, most recently in 2005 and 2006 in Daytona Beach. The championship has since been held in Olathe, Kan. (2007), Fresno, Calif. (2008-09), Orange Beach, Ala. (2010-11) and Montgomery, Ala. (2012-13).

The NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship represents the first collegiate national championship to make Palm Beach County its home in more than two decades.“ Very few communities have the privilege of hosting a collegiate national championship.

We are excited and honored to learn the NAIA has selected Palm Beach County as the home for the 2014 & 2015 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championships,” said George Linley, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission

“Hosting an NAIA National Championship elevates Palm Beach County’s stature as an elite sports destination. We are grateful to have an incredible host partner in Northwood University, an NAIA member and one of the leading universities in south Florida,” Linley said. “Together with the NAIA, we are looking forward to bringing the pinnacle of collegiate soccer to Palm Beach County. Our venue, Hilltopper Stadium and the Seacrest Soccer Complex, has been

home to many premier sporting events in the past, including national soccer tournaments and collegiate showcases.”

Hilltopper Stadium and the Seacrest Soccer Complex, which are owned by the City of Delray Beach, have hosted numerous athletic events in a variety of sports including: soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, rugby and flag and tackle football. The complex has also served as the venue for major collegiate sporting events—most recently in March of 2012, when Hilltopper Stadium hosted an NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse showdown between perennial contenders Yale and Notre Dame.

Guy Quattlebaum - PresidentPamela Linden - Vice PresidentStephanie Lanza - Treasurer

Joe CeravoloJack DanielsWilliam DavisJohn DeMottPatty DentDr. Ed EisseyMichelle JaminetMalachi KnowlesJason MyersSteve PolitzinerMargie WaldenJeff Zipper

Ex-Officio DirectorsMike Bauer Roger Dean StadiumRalph Jimenez Original ImpressionsKen Kennerly IGP Sports & Entertainment GroupMichelle McGann Ladies Professional Golf AssociationHoward Schnellenberger Florida Atlantic UniversityJohn Smith Duffy’s Sports GrillCarolyn Stone Palm Beach Atlantic University


NAIA Championship (Continued from page 1)

Northwood University is an NAIA school, located in West Palm Beach, Fla., and competes in The Sun Conference. The school currently sponsors 18 varsity athletic programs, including men’s soccer.

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Sports Commission maintains a staff of eight full-time professionals, who are overseen by a Board of Directors made up of Palm Beach County community leaders, many of whom are involved in the sports industry.

“In addition to hosting some of the most accomplished student athletes in the United States, we are also looking forward to the positive economic benefits the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship brings to a destination,” Linley said. “This National Championship will attract thousands of visitors from across the nation, which will generate a significant level of visitor spending and fill hotel rooms throughout Palm Beach County.”

The NAIA has sponsored men’s soccer since 1959, when its inaugural championship in the sport was held in Slippery Rock, Pa. Martin Methodist (Tenn.) won the 2013 National Championship, with a 2-1 overtime victory over Auburn Montgomery (Ala.). Currently, 198 institutions sponsor the sport of men’s soccer.

Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and championships in proper balance with the overall educational experience. In 2000, the NAIA reaffirmed its purpose to enhance the character-building aspects of sport. Through the Champions of Character program, the NAIA seeks to create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

National Hockey Festival Scores Goals for Local Economy

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission partnered with USA Field Hockey to host the world’s largest field hockey tournament for the second consecutive year at the International Polo Club. More than 4,400 athletes, 150 college coaches, and 8,500 total out-of-state visitors traveled to Palm Beach County to compete in the National Hockey Festival during Thanksgiving weekend. Athletes contended for titles in men’s and women’s divisions, including women’s age group (Under 14, Under 16, and Under 19), boy’s age group (Under 16), and women’s open and mixed (adult). The International Polo Club showcased 33 field hockey pitches by utilizing 6 polo fields to accommodate over 260 teams playing an amazing 700 field hockey games that took place over the 4-day event. The 2013 edition of the National Hockey Festival was the largest in the world.

Very few amateur sporting events come close to rivaling the National Hockey Festival in size and impact. Hosting an event of this magnitude brings a considerable boost to the local economy. The 2013 National Hockey Festival injected over $9 million of direct visitor spending in Palm Beach County. Over 12,000 room nights were generated from hotel properties located from Jupiter to Boca Raton. The Festival is more than a sports tournament. The International Polo Club was transformed into a sports themed city. In addition to the games, multiple vendors and exhibitors were present, selling a variety of apparel, food, and presenting fun and interactive games and exhibits.

USA Field Hockey made Palm Beach County its home after 3 years in Palm Springs, California and 2 years in Phoenix. During the past two years in Palm Beach County, the National Hockey Festival attracted over 16,500 visitors, which created more than $17 million in visitor spending and 23,500 room nights for Palm Beach County.

USA Field Hockey is the national governing body (NGB) for the sport and is committed to growing participation in its sport and selecting and preparing its athletes to participate successfully in the Olympic Games, Pan American Games and other international competitions. USA Field Hockey is comprised of 23,000 members, making it one of the strongest of all national governing bodies. The National Hockey Festival provided a dramatic tourism impact for Palm Beach County and the state of Florida over the last two years. Hosting this world renowned event is another reason why Palm Beach County is one of the premier sports destinations in the United States.


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 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) which has

developed a rich 33 year history will once again take place in Palm Beach County. The 2014 edition will be held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington from January 8 to March 30.

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission has partnered with the Winter Equestrian Festival since 1994. During this time, over 1.5 million room nights have been generated due to the event. In 2014 alone, the 12 week event is anticipating more than 85,000 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 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival the largest annual sporting events in Palm Beach County, it is the longest running equestrian event in the world, attracting both national and international athletes. The event hosts 3,000 horses and 2,800 riders from 49 states and 30 countries. Participants will compete in Hunters, Jumpers and Dressage classifications with prize money exceeding $6 million. The substantial purse prizes attract more Olympic-class and international riders.

The FTI Consulting 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 - ca l ibe r 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.

The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival is an opportunity for Palm Beach County to showcase the versatility of the community as a unique sports tourism destination. Beautiful, sandy beaches and sparkling blue waters are not all Palm Beach County has to offer. The area is also rich in acres of polo and equestrian facilities. The newly renovated Palm Beach International Equestrian Center covers more than 500 acres and offers the latest in facilities, including world class competition arenas, one derby field, and the largest covered riding surface in the world. Not only can you enjoy the action in the stadium, but there are also galleries for shopping, wine and coffee, bars, tasty food fare and children’s areas. Organizers have also spent $25 million on upgrades, including a newly aligned road leading to the Equestrian Center and high-grade footing in show rings. General admission is free but some events do require tickets and VIP seating is available. For ticket packages and a complete schedule of events, visit www.equestriansport.com.

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

Over one million households watched as the 22nd Annual Lou Groza Award was presented to Florida State University freshman kicker, Roberto Aguayo, live on ESPN during the Home Depot College Football Award Show. “I am honored to be the recipient of this year’s Lou Groza Award,” said Aguayo. “I’d like to thank the Lou Groza Committee and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission for this opportunity. This is a tremendous honor and I am very grateful, but it would not have been possible without my coaches and teammates. This award is for each of them as well.”

Aguayo made 99.1% of his total kicks, going 19-for-20 on field goals and 90-for-90 on extra points. With Florida State’s BCS National Championship Game still to play, he’s in line to set the all-time FBS record for the most accurate total season by a kicker with at least

15 field goals and 30 extra points. The 90 extra points have shattered the FBS record for most consecutive PATs in one season, besting the old mark by a dozen. Aguayo made the first 70 kicks of his career, setting the Seminoles’ all-time record for consecutive makes. His 147 points are the most by any kicker this season, the third-most by any player at any position, and set the single season record for both Florida State and the ACC.

Aguayo is the second freshman to ever win the Lou Groza Award, joining 2007 winner Thomas Weber of Arizona State. He is the third Florida State kicker to take home the trophy in the 22 year history of the award, joining two-time winner Sebastian Janikowski (1998, 1999) and Graham Gano (2008). The national panel of 750 voters is comprised of college football media, FBS coaches and SIDs, and previous Groza finalists.

Florida State Place-Kicker Wins the Lou Groza Award

palm beach county to host the naia men’s soccer national...

Documents