Well, Tony, it's
great to see you again. Thank you. It's great to be
back. It's been a while. Your name came up this morning
in a in a meeting. We're talking about how well rounded you are in
all sorts of different things. It was a meeting and your knowledge and activity
in not only sports and special events, meetings,
conventions, arts and culture. You're like the Renaissance
man of Lakeland. Well, that's what
I came here for. Yeah, that's right. That's
why I made my way to Lakeland. T
here you go from the Windy
City of Chicago. I built up my resume in Chicago
and moved down, down and happy to share and
and everything that I can offer and just make things better. That's that's what it's all about. And I've been
really happy to be here and and glad for the relationship
I had with the county especiall and all the support I get. So I certainly appreciate that
and continue to share my wealth and my experience. Well, we're glad
to have you in the R.P. Funding Center. Mannu,
it's constant with
you guys airs every every weekend, every weekday. There's something whether it's sports, whether it shows musical, there's
there's always tons going on. So, you know, I know we just had
a we were speaking for one on a box lacrosse.
An indoor lacrosse. Those are not familiar with the box across
this past weekend. And but what on the on
the sports venue, what do you guys have coming up
on on the schedule? Well, let me let me touch
on the cross for a minute, because it wa
s great. And the one thing that that that was really good about
lacrosse is you really saw what we're always looking for,
for the county and for the for the city is that
influx of people from outside of the county
and coming here and enjoying a world class venue
and really enjoying their sport and and finding a way to put a tournament on
and in this crazy time and worked out really well. And if you haven't seen box
lacrosse, which is really like street lacrosse, if you will, it was quite,
quite a thing to see. But there was about
400 people in attendance. There was teams from
I think there were 17 teams from all over the country. And there was a tournament
for for one champion. So it was great to see all these
folks come in and do this. And it was this adults tonier. It was a doffs. It was almost
it was adult men. And they were they were
having a good time and living it up and living there,
their sports dream. So it was it was great. But we were happy to do it
and know
we work with the count to bring it in and and certainly
a really successful event. But, you know, as
far as sports going in the ARPI funding center,
we're we're gearing up. This is this is we're getting
into our season here right now. We have a matter of fact,
had a meeting this morning with with Hans Steinbrunner
from the Lakeland Magic that they're G League team. The Magic is getting ready
to kick off their season. Friday, November
5th is the opening night. So we hope to get everybody
out there and support the magic as you may or may not know. But the magic won the season
last year for the G League inside the bubble in Orlando. But it was definitely something that I think we could
all be proud of. I feel like we've we've
we've brought them in and as our partner
and there and they're they're part of the the atmosphere of the Arpey funding center
for sure, and of Lakeland and of the county. And, you know, just having having a champion in in in
our venue is good enough. A
nd we could do it
better hanging. Right? We'll plant a banner hanging. And I think they're going
to hand out some rings. So it's it's pretty cool. But the rest of the season is was just newly announced, too,
or will be in the next few days And then obviously that
that leads to our our tropics, our Florida
tropics, our indoor soccer team You know, once we get to the magic season laid out
and we filter in the the tropic and actually we've got
some pretty good dates for them So they're happy
about that. And we'll get ready to kick off
with them real soon there. And they do have I'll mention
they do have open tryouts. Well, on the tropics,
the tropics do September 25th this Saturday
and then again on October 24th. And, you know, that's
obviously a big community event, as you know. Mark, I know that you were interested
in a little bit in in rugby, but maybe maybe indoor soccer, something you can take a look
at it. Yes, right. Forty five years old.
Yeah. Well, yeah, that's rig
ht. You know, it's it's the tropics
that really put on a good show. Yeah, it's affordable
acom. It's family friendly. You don't have to worry
about, you know. Any nefarious activity
out there? That's a fancy word. Yeah. You know, I just it's just it's just family
friendly, affordable, and it's a great form of
entertainment. It really is fun I enjoy the heck out of it. Yeah. And I, I agree wholeheartedly, especially with kids in the way
they embrace the youth leagues and how that's
a big
part of their their marketing and message. And these kids come out and really can see some really
these are world class athletes right here in the Arpey
Funding Center and in Lakeland. So I would encourage people who haven't had a chance
to see indoor soccer come out and check it out. It's very exciting.
And and that was the same issue I was really not really sure
what to expect when they when it first kicked off. And, boy, to get in there
and watch it and see how how exciting it is,
it's
just really worth it. Super what? You know, go into I know you got
a long list there. Yeah, I do. I do. I say a long list
is probably a short compared to what
you actually could have brought But, you know, any other Broadway series or,
you know, the things that are very popular. Absolutely. Let me let me touch on our Vanguard Fitness
competition now. Another event we worked very closely with the county to bring in and that to take place on October
on the 9th and the 10th. And this is obvi
ously
a fitness competition. And it's not quite
the same as some of the other fitness competitions, but it is
it is a two day event. Teams only. So you have a either same sex team or a
mixed sex team coed. And, you know, it's very exciting you seeing a lot
of these things on TV. I'm pretty sure this will find
its way somewhere in some video atmosphere. But there's
five to six different events. And not only are
they taking place, is it taking place at DRP
funding center, but they have th
ey're incorporating
the Gandi Pool in Lakeland now with their wonderful park district to help out
for some of their water pieces of the event. So super excited about that. And, you know, that's just another one of those things,
that it's a unique sport. It's something that when you when you do it inside, because they do it
indoor and outdoor, but when you have a venue like ours
with the stadium atmosphere, it really adds to the excitement
of an event like this. But obviously, our our Broad
way series
and the rest of our entertainment is is kicking off. I brought one of our one of our brochures to just to show folks,
if you're out and about, you'll probably be able
to pick one of these up. But you can also
go to our website, WWL at our prefunding CENTCOM
and learn about everything that's going on at
the RV funding center. But I want to highlight, obviously, some of our Broadway
shows, which are Tony Award winning and Tony Award nominated
Broadway shows that will be very fam
iliar with people,
including the Buddy Holly story Hairspray , Rent and Rent. I think there's a big
anniversary for for that show. So it's kind of exciting
to be able to celebrate that. And then South Pacific,
these are these are this is Broadway. And this is this is really something
I like to be able to push. And I want people to realize that it's right in their backyard. You can have an opportunity to see
some really great entertainment And we certainly want to see
people come out of it
and and get a chance to see it. And in addition to that,
we have quite a bit of other world class events, Manheim Steamroller
or other Christmas show. Yes. When Jim Davis. Oh, you're
gonna have to test me on a date I'll let you know when we're OK. I'm sure that's that's
like the boshears right here. Oh, yeah, definitely. Yeah. And then a comedian,
Bill Engvall. Big, big daddy. Daddy in the
wild and swinging holiday party Marie Osmond, another one
you might be interested in and the Blue M
an group. And these are all
added entertainment. The bass is really
our Broadway series. But a lot of these shows are
just really great entertainment There's nothing that we've done in the six years
that I've been here that I have I always have a gas. I have a blast when
I go. Absolutely. And it worldclass entertainments
right here in Lake. You know, Tony, I got to tell
you, you do such a great job over there. And people you in
Lakeland and Polk County don't realize how lucky they have i
t to have,
not only the World-Class sports and all of that type of stuff,
but world class entertainment. So kudos to you and the staff
and really appreciate the update. November 7th, November 19th, November 19,
Mannheim Steamroller Sounds. I'm going to do it.
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