Volume 1, Issue 3 - December 2004

Tampa Bay Sports Commission Classic

The University of South Florida and Florida A&M University football teams will meet in the inaugural Tampa Bay Sports Commission Classic on September 10, 2005 at Raymond James Stadium. The Tampa Bay Sports Commission has been instrumental in coordinating the first-ever meeting between two programs that have added much to the college football tradition in Tampa Bay.

"Florida A&M is excited to return to Tampa and take on USF," says Florida A&M Director of Athletics Dr. Joseph Ramsey, II. "This is a game that all of our fans have wanted for a long time. We look forward to not only a great football game, but an exceptional weekend of events as well."

The game marks Florida A&M's first appearance in Tampa since 1996, the year prior to USF's inaugual season. The Rattlers and their famed "Marching 100" band are no strangers to playing in front of large crowds, with recent appearances in the Georgia Dome, the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, the Louisiana Superdome, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadephia, and Ford Field in Detroit. "The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is excited to be involved in this strong partnership with Florida A&M University and the University of South Florida," says the commission's Executive Director Rob Higgins. "We are committed to making this an incredible and memorable weekend for all of the fans, players, and coaches."

Game Day of Champions

On December 11, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission will be hosting the Game Day of Champions at Raymond James Stadium. The GDOC is an annual event that gives area youth football players the chance to play on the same field as their favorite Tampa Bay Buccaneer players. The day includes four games hosting youth recreational leagues from Hillsborough County in four age groups. Participating leagues include Florida Youth Football & Cheerleading Association, West Coast Youth Football Conference, New Tampa Wildcats Youth Football Organization, Tampa Bay Youth Football League, and Pop Warner. Games will start at 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm. Admission and parking for the Game Day of Champions is free.  

High School All-Star Game

Immediately following the Game Day of Champions, all-star teams from Hillsborough County High Schools and Orange County High Schools will match-up in two football games. The first game, starting at 4:30 pm, will match the Hillsborough County High School East team against the Orange County High School East team. The two West squads will meet at 7:30 pm. These games will have many of the top seniors from the respective counties and should be an exciting night of football action.

Sunshine State Games Cheerleading and Dance State Championships

The University of Tampa's Martinez Center will be the host site of Florida's Sunshine State Games 2005 Cheerleading and Dance State Championships. The competition will begin on Friday, April 22 and conclude on Sunday, April 24.

The 2005 Sunshine State Games Cheerleading and Dance State Championships are presented by the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization of the State of Florida and hosted by the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.

"We're very happy to be presenting the Sunshine State Games Cheerleading and Dance Championships in the Tampa Bay area," said Florida Sports Foundation President/CEO Larry Pendleton. "Beginning with the 2003 Summer Games, our partnership with the City of Tampa and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission has been a huge success."

AAU Winter Nationals - Dec. 27- 31, 2004

The Amateur Athletic Union Winternationals, Tournament of Champions Baseball Tournament, is coming to Tampa once again at the end of December. This event is the final national tournament of the year for the AAU baseball and quickly becoming one of the largest in size. The Winternationals is played at the Ed Radice Complex and numerous high school and little league baseball complexes throughout Hillsborough County. This "Tournament of Champions" is a very large and unique event that gives championship rings to the teams that win their age group.

Tampa Bay Sun Bowl - Dec. 27-31, 2004

The Tampa Bay Sun Bowl, a prestigious boys soccer tournament, is once again being played in the Tampa Bay area after Christmas. This years tournament, the 27th annual, will be played at the University of South Florida, the Ed Radice Complex, Temple Terrace Youth Sports Complex, and a few additional soccer facilities in the Tampa Bay area. The tournament, which is one of the largest in the nation, features 285 teams from almost every state and even a small number of international clubs. These teams visit the Tampa Bay area each year with the hopes of winning the tournament championship in their age group and to display their skills to the large number of college coaches who attend the event.

Bright House Networks

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission would like to recognize Bright House Networks for their outstanding commitment as a Founding Partner. Bright House Networks recently joined the Glazer Family Foundation and Outback Steakhouse in the top tier of corporate partnerships for the TBSC. "We could not be prouder to partner with an outstanding corporation like Bright House Networks," said Rob Higgins, Tampa Bay Sports Commission Executive Director. "Bright House does an unbelievable job in servicing our entire community and this is just another great example of the commitment they have to making Tampa Bay an incredible place to live." Bright House Networks is a company employing over five thousand professionals focused on their customers' entertainment experience. They serve 2.1 million customers in homes across the United States offering digital cable, Highspeed Online, on demand services, HDTV, and other home entertainment solutions. The Tampa Bay Sports Commission proudly thanks Bright House Networks for their continuing support and dedication to the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.     

 

Paul Catoe

As President & CEO of the Tampa Bay CVB since 1999, Catoe has seen Tampa Bay play host to a Super Bowl and grow rapidly as a convention and vacation destination. Prior to joining the CVB, he served as the President and General Manager of WFLA-TV, Tampa Bay's NBC affiliate. Starting his broadcasting career as a WFLA meteorologist, Catoe moved on to sales management before becoming Vice President and Station Manager of WLFA-TV in 1991 and adding the title of President in 1996. A 30-year Tampa Bay resident, Catoe has been very active in the community, serving on the CVB's board of directors for six years and as chairman in 1998. Catoe is on the board of directors for the Outback Bowl, Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, and the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce.