ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is hosting several large sporting events with an estimated 426,224 attendees and a projected $565 million in economic impact to the region during the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
In April, the venue hosted multiple cheer, volleyball, and dance events including the Sunshine Volleyball Classic and the ASICS Florida Volleyball Challenge, the Open Championship Series 2022, and The ONE Cheer & Dance Finals 2022.
From May to June, the OCCC is home to a variety of athletic events including the USA Volleyball Open National Championships and corporate annual meeting, the Molten Boys South Eastern Championships 2022, National Gymnastics Association National Gym Fest, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Wrestling 2022, and Fusion National Dance Competition 2022.
“We are thrilled to welcome the strong sporting market back to Orange County and the OCCC because our partners are such a big part of our success,” OCCC executive director Mark Tester says. “We are confident that our guests from across the nation will have a fantastic experience during their visit to the convention center and International Drive.”
From April through June alone, six volleyball events are estimated to bring in about 226,312 attendees for a projected economic impact of $290 million. The Florida Volleyball Challenge, hosted by the Florida Region of USA Volleyball, was held from April 22-24, and hosted 20,356 attendees with nearly $26 million in economic impact.
“The volleyball community is excited to celebrate our comeback with our athletes, coaches, and parents at a safe venue,” said Steve Bishop, executive director and president of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball. “We have prioritized health and safety for our volleyball community and look forward to making a significant economic impact in the region.”
The largest volleyball event this year is the 49th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championship. Of all OCCC’s events, this major sporting event brings in the largest number of attendees of the year. This will also take place in June, welcoming nearly 137,000 coaches, players, spectators, and parents, creating an economic impact of approximately $176 million.
“We have enjoyed a tremendous relationship with the OCCC for more than 25 years and are thankful for our continued partnership with Mark Tester and his entire team,” said Jason Siegel, president and CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. “The student-athletes, coaches, and families who travel to Orange County for these events are provided with such a positive experience while competing at the OCCC, and we look forward to welcoming them back to Orlando for many years to come.”
“The tournaments that we organize in Orlando are very well received,” said Kristy Cox, director of events for USA Volleyball. “We have certainly grown a lot since we first started hosting tournaments at the Convention Center. The customer service we receive in Orlando is unparalleled.”
