Baltimore Orioles and Visit Sarasota County Spring Training
Kids Contest Winner Announced
SARASOTA, Fla. (March 21, 2016) – The Baltimore Orioles, Orioles Kids Magazine and Visit Sarasota County once again partnered together to provide a trip to Sarasota, Fla. for one lucky child to see the Orioles play a spring season game. The contest ran in the Orioles Kids Magazine and asked children to submit a one-page statement on why they should be selected for the trip to Sarasota. This year’s winner hails from Towson, Maryland and is nine-year old Cecelia Layfield, the first girl to win the contest.
“Cecelia’s passion for the Orioles and baseball clearly shows,” said Virginia Haley, President for VSC. “She plays baseball, has been to the Orioles Fanfest numerous times and avidly watches spring training games on the TV. She is excited to see her favorite team play in Sarasota County.”
Cecilia and her father will receive tickets to see a spring training game on March 26th and round-trip airfare for two and three night’s hotel accommodations in Sarasota County.
The contest generated entries submitted by children from age 3 to 13 and further promotes the strong VSC and Baltimore Orioles partnership which results in raising awareness of Sarasota County as a year round must experience destination on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
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About the Baltimore Orioles
Established in 1954, the Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Orioles have been a part of the Sarasota community for more than two decades, operating an athletic training center at Twin Lakes Park since 1991. In 2009, the Orioles and Sarasota County began a 30-month construction project to renovate the training center at Twin Lakes Park and the ballpark and training center at Ed Smith Stadium to consolidate the Orioles’ Major and Minor League year round operations. In the six years since the Orioles moved Major League Spring Training to Sarasota, more than 640,000 fans have enjoyed Orioles games at Ed Smith Stadium. The club now generates more than $81 million in economic impact annually to the greater Sarasota area. Whether hosting youth activities, participating in charitable causes or partnering in efforts to boost the local economy, the Orioles are active in Sarasota County all year long, proving that their commitment to the club’s southern home goes far beyond baseball. For details, visit www.orioles.com/Sarasota.
About Sarasota County
Located on Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sarasota County offers a vibrant arts and cultural scene, a diverse array of culinary experiences, a circus heritage unlike no other in the world and a variety of opportunities to take advantage of the clear waters and the great outdoors. Sarasota County provides a beach getaway with numerous sprawling, white-sand beaches, including Siesta Beach, named the Trip Advisors’ People’s Choice Award for “Best Beach” in 2015. In 2017, Sarasota County’s Nathan Benderson Park will host the 2017 World Rowing Championships—the first United States destination to host the event in more than 20 years. For more information on visiting Sarasota County, visit www.visitsarasota.org or call (800) 522-9799.
