This week in FlaSports - October 1-7
 

Welcome to This week in FlaSports.  This space on the Florida Sports Foundation web site will give a weekly smattering of information about what's going on in sports in the Sunshine State.

Whether it be professional, amateur or recreational sports, and it's happening in Florida, look for it at This week in FlaSports.

Information on this page will be updated on Monday of each week.  To have your organization's events or happenings on This week in FlaSports, send an email to ngandy@flasports.com. 

Volume 1, Issue 6
October 1, 2007

► NHL seasons begin in Tampa Bay and South Florida
► FSF Awards Quarterly Sports Grants
► Junior Golf Programs Receive Grants
► Lightning Hockey Players host Casino Night for Charity 
► This Week in FlaSports Calendar of Events
► Archive of previous issues of This Week in FlaSports

One season ends and another begins

Now that the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays have concluded their respective seasons on the baseball field, attention turns to the ice as the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning begin their 2007-08 seasons.

Having finished their five-game preseason schedule with a 2-2-1 record, the Lightning prepare for their regular season opener against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, October 4  with the puck dropping at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Pete Times Forum.

The two teams are set to face off for the first time since last year’s first round matchup during the 2007 postseason.  On Saturday, the Lightning return to action to face the Atlanta Thrashers at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Lightning single game tickets begin at $19 and are available through Ticketmaster.  The Lightning also offer Family Packs that includes 4 tickets, 4 sodas and 2 Westshore Pizzas. To receive the family pack value fans must purchase at least 4 tickets which are available on all regular games.

Although the Florida Panthers open on the road against the New York Rangers on Thursday, October 4, the team returns to Sunrise for its home opener on Saturday, October 6 at the Bank Atlantic Center against the New Jersey Devils.

While the team may be at Madison Square Garden, fans can watch the season opener at the Bank Atlantic Center on Thursday at the “Opening Night Watch Party.”  Gates open at 6PM at the Bank Atlantic Center to watch the game on the big screen.

If the prospect of home games in the Tampa Bay and South Florida areas don’t get hockey fans excited, consider the following reasons listed among “82 reasons to rejoice in hockey’s return,” on www.nhl.com.
 

Florida’s Rostislav Olesz taking another step in his journey toward delivering on his status as a first-round draft pick. The 22-year-old center could well be one of the biggest surprises this season.

A rebound season from Brad Richards. He is too good to get down on himself like he did last season in compiling a 70-point season. A happier, more confident Richards will restore the “Big Three” concept to the Lightning, combining with 100-point men Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis to give opposing coaches a three-headed monster to try to slay.

Ah, Vincent Lecavalier. How about his quest to become the acknowledged best all-around player in the League? It’s a title that has been handed to him by several influential commentators -- interesting stuff, for sure

FSF Awards Nine Sports Grants

The Florida Sports Foundation (FSF) awarded nine grants totaling $67,000 to various sporting events throughout the State of Florida at its September 2007 Quarterly Board of Directors meeting. The sale of professional sports team’s license plates throughout the state provides the source of funding for the FSF Board to award funds to statewide sports commissions hosting the events.

Sporting events bring additional tourism to Florida causing a significant out-of-state economic impact on an annual basis. Since 1996, the FSF has been assisting communities around the state in their efforts to attract sport events and opportunities. This was the first disbursement of regional grants in the 2007-2008 fiscal year for the FSF.

The nine events granted funds are expected to bring over $14 million into Florida’s economy and over 36,000 tourists to the Sunshine State between October and December 2008.

Two granted events upcoming in Tampa, the ESPNU Women’s Basketball Invitational and the Tampa Bay College Hockey Classic, are preview events for much larger stages in the future.  The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is playing host to the 2008 Women’s Final Four, April 6-8 and the 2012 NCAA Collegiate Hockey Frozen Four.

The ESPNU Women’s Basketball Invitational, to be played in a doubleheader game format on November 15 at the St. Pete Times Forum, features national powerhouses Tennessee and Duke along with Oklahoma and the University of South Florida.

The Tampa Bay College Hockey Classic, also to be played at the St. Pete Times Forum on December 29 and 30, will find Notre Dame, the University of Massachusetts, Colorado College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on the ice.

The following nine grants, totaling $67,000, were awarded at the Florida Sports Foundation’s September 2007 Board of Director Meeting:

-- 2007 Pan American Taekwondo Junior Championships, October 4-6, 2007, Daytona Beach

-- 2007 Chiro Games, November 1-4, 2007, St. Lucie County

-- 2007 USA Gymnastics State Team and Rhythmic Championships, November 9-11, 2007, Kissimmee

-- ESPNU Women’s Basketball Invitational, November 15, 2007, Tampa

-- U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Tournament, November 14-26, 2007, Coral Springs

-- 2007 American Youth Football & Cheer National Championships, December 1-8, 2007, Kissimmee and Orlando

-- 2007 USA Rugby All Star Men’s 15s Championships and U19 National Team Training/Matches, December 7-9, 2007, Sanford

-- Tampa Bay College Hockey Classic, December 29-30, 2007, Tampa

-- Ironman Triathlon 70.3 Series, December 12, 2008, Amelia Island

Golf Grants benefit Junior Golf Programs Statewide

The Florida Sports Foundation (FSF) awarded six Junior Golf grants totaling $192,000 to youth golf programs around the State of Florida at its September 2007 Quarterly Board of Directors meeting. The sale of  “Golf Capital of the World,” specialty license plates provide the source of funding for the FSF Board to award these funds.

The FSF Junior Golf Grant Program is designed to assist organizations in the State of Florida for the benefit of youth, introduce young people to golf, instruct young people in golf, teach the values of golf, and stress life skills, fair play, courtesy, and self-discipline.  Additionally, the Grant Program is intended to help organizations that provide junior golf programs that serve economically disadvantaged youth, children with special needs and the general population. 

With the latest six awards, the Junior Golf Grant program exceeded the $1 million dollar mark since the program’s inception in 2005.  Since that time 54 statewide Junior Golf programs have received a total of  $1,057,722.

Since the “Golf Capital of the World,” tag was introduced in 2002, it has climbed into the Top 20 of Florida specialty license plates according to the 2006 figures made available by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

The following six Junior Golf Grants, totaling $192,000, were awarded at the Florida Sports Foundation’s September 2007 Board of Director Meeting:

-- The First Tee of St. John’s County Programming, September 1, 2007-August 31, 2008

-- Children’s Golf Foundation, West Palm Beach, September 1, 2007-August 31, 2008

-- First Step to the First Tee, Maitland, September 1, 2007-September 1, 2008

-- The First Tee National School Program, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk and Hernando Counties, September 17, 2007- September 17, 2008

-- Golf For Everyone, Martin County, October 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008, $30,000

State High School Golf Championships, Location TBD, October 30 – November 1, 2007

Tampa Bay Lightning Players Host Casino Night
 

The Tampa Bay Lightning will once again play host to “Glitz & Sticks, A Celebrity Casino Evening,” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11 on the ice at the St. Pete Times Forum.

This year’s extravaganza will once again serve as the Lightning’s major fundraising event of the season, with proceeds benefiting The Tampa General Hospital Foundation’s community grants program and to renovate the pediatric intensive care unit at Tampa General Hospital.

Glitz & Sticks guests will enjoy dancing, gourmet delicacies and Carrabba’s Italian Grill specialties while the Lightning players deal black jack and spin roulette wheels. There also will be a silent auction featuring personal player baskets, sports memorabilia and unique hockey-themed items. Major sponsors ($1,500 or more) will receive an invitation to arrive at 6 p.m. that evening for a special cocktail reception with Lightning coaches, players and team representatives.

The annual event is again being planned by the Lightning Foundation, an organization dedicated to the support of local organizations that enrich the lives of those in Tampa Bay. In gratitude for the support and compassion shown by the community, the foundation focuses its resources to advance amateur hockey and educational enrichment opportunities for children, along with medical research and treatment for those in need.

FlaSports Calendar of Events this week, October 1-7
 

This week in FlaSports Archive
Volume 1, Issue 1, August 27
Volume 1, Issue 2, September 4
Volume 1, Issue 3, September 10
Volume 1, Issue 4, September 17
Volume 1, Issue 5, September 24

 

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