Florida Citrus Sports
Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit membership organization in Central Florida which runs four signature events: The Citrus Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl, the Orlando Citrus Parade and the OUC Half Marathon and 5K.
Florida Citrus Sports’ (FCSports) roots date back to 1947 with the establishment of the Tangerine Bowl. The original purpose of the game was to benefit the Harry Anna Children’s Hospital for disabled children and was organized by the Elk’s Club, a volunteer-driven fraternal organization.
Control of the game was transferred with the creation of the Tangerine Sports Association in 1972. This group of volunteers reflected the community at large and set the groundwork for the organization that would become today’s Florida Citrus Sports.
The Champs Sports Bowl is the second college bowl game hosted by Florida Citrus Sports. The fastest-growing bowl game in America, the Champs Sports Bowl continues its upward climb as the game took on a new look in 2010. The Bowl's ACC pick has been elevated one slot and will now be the third pick. On the other side of the field will be the second pick from the Big East Conference. In addition, as part of the agreement with the Big East, the Champs Sports Bowl has the option to select Notre Dame in at least one of the four years.
FCSports’ third signature event, the OUC Half Marathon and 5K, brings close to 3,500 runners to Downtown Orlando each year, while the Orlando Citrus Parade—its fourth—is one of Orlando’s holiday events and draws 65,000 spectators to the city’s streets as well as millions of viewers on an internationally syndicated broadcast.
FCSports also presents the Florida Classic presented by State Farm. A week-long celebration in November culminates with the Bethune-Cookman University vs. Florida A&M University football game that annually attracts crowds 60,000-70,000 range.
Over the years, the organization has hosted many other events—like Florida Hospital Gator Jam and this year's Florida Citrus Sports Shootout—on a non-annual basis. Soccer, NFL exhibition games, regular season college football games, college baseball tournaments, college basketball tournaments and sailing regattas are examples.
Two years ago, FCSports added neutral site games featuring Florida State (2012 or 2013) and Notre Dame (2011 and 2014), with those games being played in a newly renovated Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.
Charity plays a major role in the mission of FCSports, and the Florida Citrus Sports Foundation is the charitable arm of the organization. The cornerstone program of the Foundation is the Florida Citrus Sports Summer Camp. More than 450 disadvantaged youth from Orange and Seminole counties participate in the three, four-week camps.