Experience Kissimmee will be a sponsor of the 2024 P1 Offshore National Championship, the UIM Class 1 World Championship, the P1 AquaX USA National Championship and presenting sponsor of this year’s Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race in Great Britain, renewing a relationship with marine motorsport promoter Powerboat P1 that began in 2016.
The sponsorship package offers a platform to raise awareness of the destination both in the United States and Europe through the live audiences and P1’s national and international television coverage. The P1 race season kicked off last weekend with the P1 AquaX season-opener in Daytona Beach and will head to the Space Coast next month for the opening offshore powerboat racing event at Cocoa Beach, Florida.
“We are thrilled with the evolution of our partnership with Powerboat P1,” said DT Minich, president and chief executive officer of Experience Kissimmee. “What began as a single event collaboration in Lake Toho, Kissimmee, has blossomed into a global activation, showcasing the strong bond and confidence we share with P1. Joining the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race in Great Britain presents yet another exciting opportunity for us to spotlight Kissimmee and its family-friendly attractions. Given the UK’s status as one of our top international visitor markets, expanding our partnership with P1 was an easy decision.”
The Experience Kissimmee sponsorship also includes the five-event Class 1 World Championship and the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes event on the south coast of England in late August. Dating to 1961, the race covers a 219-mile course and remains one of the most prestigious races in the world.
“With our U.S. headquarters being less than 40 miles from Kissimmee, we have enjoyed a close relationship over the last eight years,” said P1 Chief Executive Officer Azam Rangoonwala. “We know that Experience Kissimmee is always seeking new and innovative marketing opportunities to reach its key markets and spread the word about the destination and our powerboat and jet ski race events deliver outstanding family entertainment and provide the perfect arena to promote Kissimmee as a favorite family holiday destination.”
Experience Kissimmee will also host Major League Fishing this weekend for the fifth-annual General Tire Heavy Hitters at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. The All-Star tournament will showcase 30 pros that qualified from the 2023 Bass Pro Tour season competing in a no-entry-fee tournament for a top prize of $100,000 to the winner. Anglers will also be awarded Big Bass Bonuses during the competition, that pay up to $100,000 for catching the single biggest bass. This event marks the fourth time that the MLF Bass Pro Tour will hold an event on the Kissimmee Chain, extending Kissimmee’s record as the most-visited venue on the Bass Pro Tour.
“We are pleased to welcome back Major League Fishing Heavy Hitters to Lake Toho and the Kissimmee area,” said Tyler Weyant, director of sports development for the Kissimmee Sports Commission. “We’re honored to host this prestigious event once again, building on the success of our collaboration back in June 2020. To all participants, families, and friends joining us for the tournament, I encourage you to take full advantage of your time here in Kissimmee. Explore local shops, savor the flavors of our diverse restaurants, and immerse yourselves in the culture of our city. Your support not only enhances your experience but also contributes to the vitality of our community.”