Orange County commissioners “pledged to spend” $35M in public money to “help Orlando host a future NBA All Star Week and the Olympic qualifying competitions in 2028” — if the Greater Orlando Sports Commission’s bids win hosting rights, according to Stephen Hudak of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Commissioners “expressed excitement about the possibility of having a longer hoops festival,” before voting unanimously to approve both conditional funding requests from their tourist-tax fund. The board followed last week’s “thumbs-up recommendations” of the Tourist Development Council, an advisory panel of tourist industry figures whose members also include Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. The Sports Commission asked for $20M to stage the weeklong NBA basketball showcase and $15M for the Olympic qualifying competitions to pay for “venue staffing, event security, public safety and other costs related to hosting the events.” Promoters of the game and its featured events, including skills competitions like the slam-dunk contest, said that it “draws large global broadcast audiences.” An accompanying fanfest, which “likely would be held at the Convention Center,” could “lure overnight guests.” Hudak noted “no public money would be spent if the Sports Commission doesn’t win its bids” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/10).