Important Information for News Media Covering the 2010 FHSAA Football Finals
Dec. 9-10, 18-19 @ Citrus Bowl, Orlando
FHSAA Media Relations Contact
FHSAA Media Relations Specialist Corey Sobers will be on site directing the media relations operation at this event and is the first point of contact if you have any questions or concerns. Jen Lastik will be on site to assist on behalf of the Central Florida Sports Commission. FHSAA Associate Executive Director Dr. Peggy Jones and FHSAA Mermbership Specialist Seth Polansky will also be on site tending to game day operations.
Credential Requests
All media representatives covering this event must submit a credential request via the online credential request form. If your outlet is planning to send representatives to cover this event, please submit a credential request so we can make sure to have adequate press materials and appropriate seating available. Credential requests from Internet sites or magazines will be considered on an individual basis. Credential requests from recruiting services or scouts will not be considered.
Media Hotel Accommodations
The Central Florida Sports Commission has provided a list of local accommodations here.
Media Parking
Media parking is available in the reserved parking area located in Lot G adjacent to Gate D on the southwest side of the stadium. Please have proper media identification ready to present to the parking attendant prior to your first game; when you check-in at the media will call desk to pick up your credential, you will receive a parking pass that will gain you access to the reserved lot for the remainder of the event. Media representatives not pre-registered for the event are not guaranteed access to the reserved parking lot upon arrival, as the parking lot attendant will have only the names of those individuals who are pre-registered.
Media Will Call
Media will call is located in the west breezeway between Gates C and D, and opens at 11 a.m. each game day. To pick up your credential, you must present both a valid driver’s license and proper company identification (provided by the representative outlet). For correspondents and free-lance photographers, etc., a short validation letter from the outlet’s sports editor, printed on company stationery, will suffice. School-based media should have a validation letter signed by the principal.
Professional Attire & Conduct
All media representatives covering the event are reminded that professional attire (i.e., business casual) and conduct are expected at all times.
Weather
The press box at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium is an open-air facility. To view Weather.com's local forecast for Orlando, click here. (The direct URL is http://www.weather.com/weather/local/32805)
Event Security
All persons entering the venue are subject to search by law enforcement. Early arrival is suggested. Proper credentials must be displayed at all times.
Phone Lines & Internet Access
High speed wireless Internet access, as well as an ample amount of phone lines, are available for use by working media in the press box. The phone lines are restricted-access lines (local, toll free and credit card calls only). Though connecting cords should be available on-site, media representatives are encouraged to bring their own, just in case.
Press Coverage Area
The media work area is the press box, accessible via Gate D. Post-game statistics will be available on the press deck as soon as possible after the conclusion of each game. Seating in the press box is first-come, first-serve. Media will have access to the playing field, but must remain outside the team box areas and behind the dotted buffer lines.
Press Interview Procedure
Post-game interviews will occur on the field during a ten-minute period upon the completion of each game. When the ten-minute period expires, all media representatives must vacate the field for the commencement of the awards ceremony, with the exception of photographers and videographers obtaining footage only. No interviews will take place during the awards ceremony. Individuals violating this policy are subject to credential revocation without appeal.
Locker Room Access
Locker rooms are closed to news media representatives at all times. The FHSAA may grant limited access to a team's locker room under certain circumstances, with prior written permission from the school's principal on school stationery. Locker room access requests received on-site will not be considered. To make a primary inquiry, e-mail media [at] fhsaa [dot] org or call ext. 170.
Photo Coverage Area
Photographers may shoot from outside the team box areas and behind the dotted buffer lines. Access to the team box is prohibited and could result in credential revocation if violated. Field access for the awards ceremony is permitted for photographers and videographers only. Individuals attempting to obtain interviews at this time are subject to credential revocation without appeal.
Satellite Television Trucks
Satellite truck parking will be on the warning track on Tinker Field, accessible via Lot C (parking attendants will be available for assistance). Set-up for live shots will be in the north end zone looking toward the field. All representatives from outlets with satellite television trucks must also check in at the media will call desk to secure the proper credentials.
FHSAA Radio Network broadcast
The FHSAA Radio Network broadcast of each game will be available online via FHSAA.org as well as on PSBlive.com. The FHSAA Radio Network broadcast of each game may also be available on Sirius Satellite Radio.
Sun Sports/FSN Florida to air all eight championship games live
Sun Sports/FSN Florida will air live all eight championship games in the 2010 FHSAA Football Finals. Sun Sports also will air all eight games on a tape-delayed basis in a marathon format.
Information for the General Public
The parking areas for the general public opens at 8 a.m. each game day. Parking cost is $5 per car or $25 per bus or recreational vehicle. Buses or recreational vehichles must park on Colyer Street (see parking attendants for assistance). The stadium gates open an hour before kickoff for each game. Admission is $10 per game, with tickets available for purchase via Ticketmaster.com or at Gate D on the west side of the stadium. More information about the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium is available at RoadToOrlando.org. Complete coverage of each game at the 2008 Dodge FHSAA Football Finals, including game stories, live stats and FHSAA Radio Network Broadcast, will be available online at FHSAA.org.
Venue Information
The Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium is owned and operated by the City of Orlando and is part of the Orlando Centroplex, which includes the T.D. Waterhouse Centre, Bob Carr Performing Arts Center and the Expo Center. The stadium turf is 419 Bermuda Grass. The stadium is the home of the annual Capital One Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl and Walt Disney World Florida Classic (Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman). It was also the site of five 1994 World Cup Soccer games and 1996 Olympic Soccer first and second rounds. The stadium also has hosted numerous concerts featuring such performers as The Rolling Stones, The Who, Genesis, Pink Floyd, George Michael, Paul McCartney, Guns N' Roses, Billy Joel/Elton John and The Eagles.
Miscellaneous Information
• Official media materials prepared by the FHSAA, including a complimentary souvenir program, team rosters, and two-deep depth charts, will be available upon arrival to each credentialed media member on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only one packet per credentialed media member is guaranteed.
• Live stats of each game will be webcast on FHSAA.org.
• Hardcopy game stats will be available in the press box approximately 15 minutes after each game.
• Hospitality, including lunch, dinner and refreshments, will be provided on the press deck level to working media covering the event.