The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, non-profit organization committed to enhancing the quality of life through sport. We are contracted by Palm Beach County to:

We achieve these objectives by supporting numerous sporting events throughout the County through our active grant program, corporate partnerships, local membership program and local, regional and national marketing efforts through a network of Olympic and national sports organizations and event owners.

Each year, the events we support are responsible for thousands of sports visitors to the County - sleeping in our hotels, utilizing our facilities, enjoying our attractions and eating in our restaurants - over 110,000 room nights and contributing over $60 million in economic impact.

For the Record:

Economic Profile

Palm Beach County is a great place to do business. The County is over 2,300 square miles in size with a population of over 1 million and a per capita personal income of $42,000. Palm Beach County School District is the 4^th largest in Florida and the 14^th largest in the nation with more than 161,600 students enrolled at 156 schools. The district also offers a total of 40 Magnet Programs and 13 Choice Options to qualified students. Two programs won the nation's top awards from the Magnet Schools of America. The Sports Commission works closely with those students involved in the Sports Management and Recreation Magnet Program. There are 8 colleges/universities, which offer a variety of programs. The 3 major billion dollar industries in Palm Beach County are Tourism, Construction and Agriculture. There are also many high-tech industries such as Pratt & Whitney contributing to the County's growing economy.

Tourism is the County's #1 industry and home to over 200 hotels with more than 16,000 guestrooms. The County's 13,500 hospitality employees annually welcome thousands of visitors and make them feel right at home. The County's wide variety of attractions, shopping and restaurants, combined with its beautiful beaches and ideal year round climate make it a choice location for sporting events and competitions, meetings, family reunions and conventions. Palm Beach County can provide all the amenities and facilities needed for meetings and conventions as small as 15 or as large as 2,000.

Handling 5.6 million passengers annually, Palm Beach International Airport offers state of the art facilities designed to meet the demands of today's air traveler. The airport is located 2.5 miles west of downtown West Palm Beach and 3.5 miles west of Palm Beach and has full international capabilities. Our Airport Ambassadors are on hand within the PBIA terminal to assist passengers on arrival and departure. Recognizable in their distinctive teal-colored jackets, Ambassadors are unique to PBIA, providing much welcomed assistance for those in need of information and direction.

Palm Beach County's 2,386 squarer miles of arts and entertainment include such attractions as the Norton Museum of Art, the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum and the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, the Jupiter Lighthouse Museum and the Loxahatchee Historical Museum to name just a few. For those who enjoy the classical sound of music, the theater and the ballet, Palm Beach County offers the Florida Stage, the Royal Poinciana Playhouse, Watson B. Duncan Theater, Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center, Palm Beach Ballet Society and the Florida Philharmonic. The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts provides the finest theatrical productions and concerts. Big kids and little kids both will enjoy Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park, the South Florida Science Museum and Sports Immortals Museum and Memorabilia Mart. Some of the major cultural events held throughout the year include ArtiGras in February, SunFest the first weekend in May, and the Palm Beach International Art and Antique Fair in February.

The South Florida Fairgrounds host many of the County's premier exhibitions from antique shows to outdoor concerts. The Fairgrounds is also home to the South Florida Fair's 2-week festival in January. Other events of the area include Delray Affair the weekend after Easter, the Palm Beach Tropical Flower and Garden Show in February, the Palm Beach International Film Festival in April, the Palm Beach Boat Show in March, and Palms WestFest in November which highlights the unique culture of the western communities. In April, the Black Gold Jubilee in Belle Glade, is a celebration of our rich soil called "black gold" and the end of harvest.

Palm Beach County is renowned for attracting the rich and famous from around the world and one of the reasons is the shopping. There are 5 regional malls and more than 60 shopping centers where you can "shop till you drop". From Town Center in Boca Raton to the Mall at Wellington Green to The Gardens Mall, shoppers can find just about anything they need while vacationing. Head to either downtown Delray Beach or Lake Worth for small-town Florida charm with an updated twist--quaint assortment of boutiques, galleries, antique shops, cafes and hot night sports to enjoy. Of course, how can you forget world-renowned Worth Avenue where you can find some of the most unique gifts for family and friends. Try City Place or Downtown at the Gardens for the best in shopping, dining and evening entertainment. Journey to Clematis Street for "Clematis By Night" held every Thursday where you can listen to some good music and watch the kids play in the fountain. .

Our local attractions highlight the Countys diversity as well as its unique strengths. Visit a 30-acre preserve and go on safari at Lion Country Safari. Experience the Everglades by airboat tour at the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge. Learn more about exotic trees and plants while strolling the 14-acre grounds of the Mounts Botanical Garden, the County's oldest public garden in West Palm Beach or catch a water taxi and visit Peanut Island.

Whether it's sports, culture, shopping, or entertainment, Palm Beach County visitors can choose from "The Best of Everything". There is something for everyone making Palm Beach County, "The Best Place to Play!"