Greater Orlando Sports Commission President And CEO Jason Siegel Announced As 2023 Downtowner Of The Year

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 15, 2024) – The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) is proud to announce that President & CEO Jason Siegel has been selected as the 2023 “Downtowner of the Year” by the Downtown Orlando Partnership. The award, given annually to an individual who gives their effort and energy to promote and advance downtown Orlando, will be presented at this year’s Golden Brick Awards.
 
The Golden Brick Awards are Downtown Orlando Partnership’s exclusive annual awards celebrating the people, projects, and initiatives from the previous year that propelled downtown forward. The Golden Brick Awards is set to take place in the one-of-a-kind Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center on April 23, 2024. The presentation of the “Downtowner of the Year” winner will be made by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
 
“As chairman of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission and on behalf of our entire Board of Directors, we are thrilled for Jason to receive this well-deserved honor from the Downtown Orlando Partnership,” said Sharon Line Clary, Chairman of the GO Sports Board and Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications for AdventHealth. “Under Jason’s leadership, the sports commission has been intentional in securing events that highlight downtown Orlando and drive economic impact to our community. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and collaboration Jason and his team show every day, working to bring world-class sporting events to the region. Congratulations Jason, we look forward to your continued success!”
 
Known as a highly creative relationship builder and business development executive, Jason Siegel has enjoyed more than 30 years of success and accomplishments in sports tourism, major and minor league professional sports, as well as intercollegiate athletics. He is currently in his eighth year as President & Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission after serving as managing partner and co-owner of the Orlando Solar Bears through 2016. GO Sports serves one of the largest sports tourism regions in the country and drives economic impact for the City of Orlando, and Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties. GO Sports’ Board of Directors has quadrupled in size (119 directors) as many of the public and private sector partners served by GO Sports have taken leadership positions within the organization. In addition, the Commission has grown its portfolio of regional corporate partners from 4 to more than 175.
 
In the last six years, through the end of the 2022/23 fiscal year, GO Sports has attracted 292 events, bringing direct economic impact to the region of more than $1.5 billion. During Siegel’s tenure, GO Sports has secured millions of dollars in grant funding and subsequently landed dozens of marquee events including but not limited to Copa America (2016, 2024), WrestleMania (2017, 2020), FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the USMNT (2017, 2022), NCAA March Madness (2017, 2023), MLS All-Star Week (2019), Monster Jam World Finals (2019, 2022) NCAA D1 Men's & Woman's Tennis Championships (2019, 2021, 2023), Special Olympics USA Games (2022), numerous USMNT, USWNT, and international friendly soccer matches, multiple AAU Championships, and most recently, the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon.
 
Recent recipients of Downtowner of the Year include Craig Ustler and Brooke Myers (2022), Thomas Chatmon, Jr. (2021), Kathy Ramsberger (2020), Frank Billingsley (2019), Allen Johnson (2018), Dr. John C. Hitt (2017) and former Sports Commission President Joanie Schirm (1994). For a complete list of past recipients, click here.
 
Siegel currently serves on several local community boards including the Board of Advisors at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, American Diabetes Association (past Community Chairman 2018 & 2019), Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, the I-Drive Chamber and the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness. In addition, he and his wife Sarah Grafton, a managing partner at Grafton Wealth Advisors, founded and continue to host the annual Winter Park Fashion Week.
 
Jason and Sarah, both passionate about service to their community, reside in Maitland, FL, chasing after their four children, Stephanie (23), Ryder (15), Bobby (13), and Joseph (6).
 
Tickets to the event are still available and may be purchased at www.doporlando.com/golden-brick-awards/.
 
ABOUT THE GREATER ORLANDO SPORTS COMMISSION
The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) is a private, non-profit organization established to attract and manage sports-related events, conferences and activities that drive positive economic development in the City of Orlando, Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, and Seminole County. Founded in 1992-93, the organization has hosted or co-hosted more than 1,660 events in the Greater Orlando area with a total economic impact exceeding $3.3 billion in spending within the community. For more information, visit www.GreaterOrlandoSports.com.