Orlando, Fla. – (May 31, 2022) 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.  

The competitive youth sporting season commenced this spring, and the OCCC is looking forward to welcoming back this robust market and its positive economic impact for the Convention Center District.   

In April, the Center 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 will host a variety of athletic events including the USA Volleyball Open National Championships & Corporate Annual Meeting, the Molten Boys South Eastern Championships 2022, NGA National Gym Fest, 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 said. “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 to the OCCC for a projected economic impact of $290 million. The Florida Volleyball Challenge, 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, Inc. “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 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 for Orange County.

“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 OCCC remains committed to working with event organizers to ensure a safe experience for all guests, as the Center continues to do Business Better Than Usual.

“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.”

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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.