ORLANDO, Fla. (April 12, 2021) – The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) welcomed back the ASICS Florida Volleyball Challenge from April 9-11, 2021. Held at the OCCC since 2005, this year’s event hosted a record 25,000 attendees with a projected $32 million of economic impact for the community.

This unique three-day event welcomed more than 600 teams from the Florida Region of USA Volleyball, and allowed teams the opportunity to compete for 22 bids to the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships.

“We remain committed to producing safe and enjoyable events in the Florida region,” said Steve Bishop, Executive Director and President of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball, Inc. “The sporting industry is ready for its comeback and we are excited to celebrate this energy with our athletes, coaches and parents at the Orange County Convention Center. The ASICS Florida Volleyball Challenge staff and volunteers have spent countless hours to ensure this year’s event could be hosted in-person at a safe venue. We have prioritized our health and safety guidelines for our community and continue to make a significant economic impact in the region.”

Enhanced health and safety measures at the Florida Volleyball Challenge included limited team spectators and guests, adhering to Orange County’s mask mandate, increased hand sanitizing stations, and social distancing.

In previous years, the Florida Volleyball Challenge has averaged between 16,610 and 23,000 attendees annually, contributing upwards of $29.5 million in economic impact on average every year in Orange County.

“We value our longtime partnership with the Florida Region of USA Volleyball and understand the importance of prioritizing collaboration with our clients to ensure the health and safety of all guests and attendees,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “It is their continued confidence in our center and trust in our leadership that allows us to host countless sporting events – safely and without incident.”

As a leader in hosting safe live events, the Center is implementing all the necessary protocols to ensure it is Competing Safely Today for a Stronger Tomorrow.

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About the Orange County Convention Center

The award-winning Orange County Convention Center provides approximately $3 billion in economic impact to Central Florida annually. In recent years, the Convention Center has averaged nearly 200 events, including 115 conventions and trade shows that attract more than 1.5 million attendees to the region each year. For more information about the Orange County Convention Center, visit www.occc.net.