Jose Sotolongo has never spent a day in the minor leagues. He always plays with the “big boys,” to borrow a favorite expression. He’s a local kid who made good.
“I was born in Jackson Memorial Hospital. I grew up in Little Havana,” he said. “My parents still live in the same house that they purchased in 1967. I went to Miami Senior High School.”
Mr. Sotolongo is in sports. But just not into any sport, or just one sport. He’s into all sports. He’s the executive director of the Miami-Dade Sports Commission.
“Our charge is to bring tourism, sports tourism, to South Florida, specifically to Miami-Dade County to bring sports tourism to us,” he said. “Why? Because it creates an economic impact that will generate more tax dollars for our community.”
Mr. Sotolongo talked about what the sports commission is all about and what his responsibilities are at his office in Brickell Avenue with Miami Today reporter Lou Ortiz.