North Carolina State Guide to Sporting Events 2020

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2020

NORTHCAROLINA GUIDE

The Tar Heel State Offers Top-Tier Value

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Site InSpections of Event-Ready Destinations

Hit the Road in North Carolina

SPG A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

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BB&T Sports Park aligns with our goal to develop world class players. We look forward to once again performing in such a premier environment.

– Jared Micklos, US. Soccer Development, Academy Director

Championship Facilities • 30+ soccer fields, including 2 full-size stadium fields • BB&T Sports Park: 13 full-size fields, 4 turf • RISE: 120,000 square foot indoor sports complex opening in 2020 • JDL Fast Track indoor facility with 200-meter Mondotrack, 1,700 seat bleachers • Championship level baseball, basketball, tennis, cycling and track and field complexes • 60,000 flexible square feet at the Winston-Salem Annex and Fairgrounds Complex

Championship Amenities • More than 5,000 hotel rooms • Newly renovated 105,000 square foot Benton Convention Center • 100+ pubs and restaurants downtown

Contact: BONNY BERNAT, CSEE Senior Sports and Events Sales Manager Bonny@VisitWinstonSalem.com 866-728-4200 main • 336-728-4215 direct

VisitWinstonSalem.com

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Bonny Bernat NCSA Chair Dear SPG Reader,

As you flip through the following pages, you will be introduced to several members of the North Carolina Sports Association (NCSA) and SportsNC partners. From this abbreviated glance, you can see that North Carolina should be your first consideration when selecting a destination for your event. But, if you need more convincing, then let me tell you more about our state.

Our pristine coastline offers miles of beautiful beaches and historic fishing villages. Wild horses graze on seagrass-covered dunes and children chase kites on the constant sea breezes. The Coastal Plains spread west where you’ll find the patriot heart of North Carolina. Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg are home to thousands of military personnel and the USS North Carolina, a WWII era battleship, made its final resting place on the Cape Fear River for Wilmington visitors to explore.

The Triangle of North Carolina is anchored by Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. If those cities resonate with you, then you also know that this is an educational hotbed with Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University all within the Triangle’s borders. Did I forget to mention, the college basketball isn’t bad either!

Traveling further west on I-40 and deeper into the Triad (not to be confused with the Triangle), home décor fanatics will be thrilled when they visit High Point, host of the bi-annual High Point Furniture Market. Greensboro, affectionately known as “Tournament Town,” will now sport the largest aquatic center in the country and neighboring Winston-Salem offers you a hip and historic experience with a splash of southern charm.

Heading south on I-85, Cabarrus County rumbles to life as the state’s center for motorsports.

Dirt, drag, roval…it’s all here! While motorsports might be king in this region, the stars shine bright in the Queen City of Charlotte as both the NBA Charlotte Hornets and NFL Carolina Panthers play before their dedicated fans.

As we journey to the western borders of our state, you’ll intersect with the Blue Ridge Parkway.

While traveling the Parkway and experiencing our beautiful mountains, you’ll learn that it’s not just about winding roads and waterfalls. It’s honey farms and historic estates, bluegrass and breweries, lush meadows and lively downtowns.

Rest assured, our communities will offer you everything you need to put on a world-class event, but more importantly, they also offer your participants, their fans and families, a memorable experience!

For additional information on the wide variety of sports-friendly communities and award-wining venues in North Carolina, please contact info@sportsnc.com or visit sportsnc.com.

Yours in Sport,

Bonny Bernat NCSA Chair SportsNC.com

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NORTH CAROLINA

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More Wheels Are Rolling In North Carolina Than Just NASCAR North Carolina Visits Are a Value In Every Season

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Crystal Coast, NC

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Gaston County, NC

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Asheville Buncombe, NC

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Greensboro, NC

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Greenville-Pitt County, NC

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Mooresville, NC

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Hickory Metro, NC

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Nash County, NC

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Winston Salem, NC

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Wilmington & Beaches, NC

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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Our ďŹ eld of play goes well beyond the sidelines.

There’s more to North Carolina than just our world-class sporting venues and renowned sports events. From our diverse landscapes and exciting attractions to our famed welcoming hospitality, North Carolina makes it easy to plan unforgettable events that thrill players, families and hosts on and off the field.

info@sportsnc.com

.com

@SportsNC

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MORE WHEELS ARE ROLLING IN

NORTH CAROLINA THAN JUST NASCAR N

You'll be hard-pressed to find a better backdrop on your next ride than the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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events into Bailey Park in Winston-Salem in 2019, where the party didn’t stop once the sun went down. The event brought a number of local and national music acts to the stage, headlined by Stone Temple Pilots, Drive-By Truckers and Trampled by Turtles. Top cyclists and prestigious teams from around the globe are drawn to a challenging road race course, which winds through downtown Winston-Salem as well as through its historical neighborhoods. The “Biggest Party on Two Wheels” will return to Camel City for its fifth-straight year over Memorial Day Weekend in 2020.

North Carolina certainly has a place among the best for paved road rides, but the state’s reputation as a leading mountain bike destination is also secure. Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Recreational Forest, Tsali Recreation Area, the Kerr Scott Trails and others are hosting events from early spring through late fall. The scenery is stunning, while the rides are testing.

The Pisgah Stage Race is a five-day, fully supported endurance event. The 12th annual event headquartered in Brevard is scheduled for April 13-18, 2020. Some of the best single track and most rugged trails Downtown Thomasville Chair

VisitNC.com

orth Carolina’s commitment to cycling events began long before the 1999 inaugural Cycle North Carolina Mountains to Coast Tour. The annual fall event has attracted participants from 50 states and eight foreign countries. Participants have passed through 700 communities and overnighted in more than 100 towns. A 7-day ride traveling along the scenic backroads showcases the state’s dining, shopping and entertainment options, from the mountains to the coast.

In 2004, Cycle North Carolina introduced Coastal Ride. This 3-day weekend spring event offers loop rides from one central spot. You can count on 2,000 riders from almost 40 states participating. It’s a fun-filled family weekend, on and off the bike. Flat roads and minimal traffic allow riders to fully enjoy the sites and sounds of the coastal communities. A variety of routes ranging from five to 100 miles are offered, with each ride returning to the base campsite.

Cycle North Carolina launched the Mountain Ride in 2013, a 2-day weekend event. Like the Coastal Ride, cyclists will have loop rides, returning to home base at the end of the day. This is a great weekend for the outdoor enthusiast, with the beautiful landscapes of Western North Carolina on full display. The routes will vary from 15 to 70 miles before returning to the central campsite. Details are available on each of the fully supported Cycle North Carolina events at ncsports.org.

Asheville was awarded the 2019 Gran Fondo National Championship and will host the event again in 2020. The 100-mile Gran Route during the championship event is the main draw, though riders can also compete in the 60-mile Medio Route or the 30-mile Piccolo Route. This timed segment racing event features four timed sections in the Gran Route.

The event is not to see who finishes first, since the winner will have the best-combined time.

Gears and Guitars rolled its cavalcade of amateur and pro cycling

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From the coast to the Piedmont to the mountains, SportsNC members are hosting a bicycle event nearly every weekend.

North Carolina is a leader in cycling as sport and recreation.

VisitNC.com

SportsPlanningGuide.com

VisitNC.com

Bike Fest in Hillsborough

in the country are to be found on the five marked courses. Discover the beauty of Pisgah National Forest in all its spring glory.

The Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell (ORAMM) is a 60-mile, mainly off-road bike race with more than 10,000 feet of climbing. You’ll ride mostly on Forest Service roads uphill and some of North Carolina’s best single track on the downhill ride. The course is demanding and difficult, and it’s not uncommon to see wildlife. The 21st Annual ORAMM will be held on a Saturday in late July of 2020.

In the fall of 2018 at the 3rd Annual BikeFest, the Gaston County Parks and Recreation department cut the ribbon on a new addition to its more than 10 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails. The new 10,000square-foot pump track is a great recreational addition for Gaston County residents. On the competition stage plans are for Gaston to become a qualifying site for the Red Bull Pump Track World Championship.

Officially opened in May of 2014, the Daniel Dhers Sports Complex is one of the largest family-oriented, year-round skating and biking training facilities in the country. Action sports athletes from the U.S.A., Latin America and Europe have used the facility and shared their expertise with recreational riders. The Outdoor Park features a technical section with a pump track, jump line and four-foot quarter roll. The Indoor Park riding terrain has a resi box jump, foam pit, resi quarter, resi spine and a mini ramp.

Raleigh’s Capital City BMX begins a full schedule of racing and practice times beginning in January/February and continuing until midDecember. Burlington BMX host volunteer-run BMX off-road single lap races, sanctioned by the American Bicycle Association. Hornet’s Nest BMX in Charlotte brings 37-years of industry experience to the dozens of events they’ve hosted. Tanglewood BMX in Clemmons rounds out an impressive list of BMX sites.

Asheville’s Carrier Park Velodrome (Mellowdrome) completed

extensive renovations and reopened in the spring of 2018. The project included re-grading and resurfacing the track surface, the installation of new lighting, new fencing, repair, the cleanup of the outer wall and guardrail and improved drainage.

We’ve gone from paved highways to Forest Service roads to single tracks to pump tracks to BMX to a Mellowdrome surfaces in small towns and big cities. The only North Carolina surface that wasn’t covered is sand, and you’ll find plenty of that at Wrightsville Beach.

The North Carolina beach community will be the host for the 6th Annual U.S. Open Beach Fat Bike Championships on March 28, 2020. More than 100 participants joined the event in 2019. When bikes with more than four-inch tires came on the scene, it didn’t take much time for athletes to develop a completion. The course has elements such as tight turns and flat sections for speed at low tide and truck tire grooves in the sand. Registration for the 2020 event is available at fatcross.com.

If you’re a rights holder or event planner looking for a great cycling site, begin your research at Sportsnc.com. SPG Sports Planning Guide

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NORTH CAROLINA VISITS ARE A VALUE

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1. FREE HISTORY MUSEUMS Located in Raleigh, the North Carolina History Museum is the state’s only Smithsonian-affiliated museum and provides free admission, as well as a bevy of programs and events. The NC Sports Hall of Fame is housed inside the history museum.

Located in Elizabethtown and serving the northeast portion of the state is the Museum of the Albemarle.

Here you’ll find an interesting tale profiling the surrounding area, which is half land, half water.

In Fayetteville the Museum of the Cape Fear showcases 400 years of history through wonderful exhibits.

Also located in Fayetteville, the Airborne and Special Operations Museum offers free admission, where United States military history including airborne and special operations is emphasized.

IN EVERY SEASON

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Great competition venues along with nearby affordable, fun attractions make a visit to the Tar Heel state a natural fit

Meredith Travel Marketing

Airborne and Special Operations Museum

t’s no secret that the cost of traveling to individual and team competitions is increasing. Rights holders and event planners are well aware of that fact. In addition to venues and local expertise they’re also considering what’s affordable for athletes and families when the participants are off the field. Here’s a look at North Carolina attractions that will help competitors and families keep dollars in their wallet.

The Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center in Old Fort presents the Southern Appalachian

Meredith Travel Marketing

culture and history of western North Carolina. Housed in a 1936 WPA stone building, a wide variety of exhibits and programs are available. Check out the Farmers Market on Thursdays from May to early October.

Three NC Maritime Museums, located in Hatteras, Beaufort and Southport are also free. With more than 300 miles of Atlantic Ocean shoreline, plus bays, wetlands and sounds it’s understandable three separate Maritime Museums are needed to tell the history.

Located in Hatteras, the aptly named The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum has a daily family friendly scavenger hunt throughout the museum exhibit area, with prizes for the winner. The NC Maritime Museum in Hatteras opens a new exhibit annually.

The NC Maritime Museum Beaufort displays more than 300 artifacts from Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge, which sunk off the North Carolina coast. Check out North Carolina’s surfing history, where you can track the evolution of surfboards from the plain wooden slabs to the colorful boards that populate the waves today.

Focusing on the maritime history of the Cape Fear coast, the NC Maritime Museum Southport is close to Wilmington. Exhibits cover a wide scope from fisheries and hurricanes to shipwrecks and military conflicts, including pirates and WWII.

Basketball has a long and storied history in North Carolina, one filled with iconic teams and moments.

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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2. FREE STATE PARKS Admission is free at most of North Carolina’s 41 state parks and recreation areas. Three in particular are family favorites.

Located in Atlantic Beach on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, Fort Macon State Park has three distinct personalities. Almost totally surrounded by water there’s plenty of shoreline for swimming, surf fishing or beach exploring. The perfectly restored Civil War era fort was once a project of Robert E. Lee as a young army officer. The museum quality coastal education center tells the story of the barrier island ecology and the interaction of nature and Fort Macon. Although the exhibit rooms are being restored and renovated, guided tours and demonstrations are regularly scheduled.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head is like no place else on the Atlantic Coast. A perfect location for sunsets and sightseeing, it’s here the tallest living sand dunes on the east coast can be found, and you’ll probably want to bring a kite. The visitor center has a museum and 360-foot boardwalk featuring exhibits that

detail the dunes’ ecology. The Southside entrance to the park delivers a different experience with a one-mile nature trail and great spots for sunbathing and paddling.

By giving 24-hour’s notice, mobility-impaired visitors can schedule a ride to the top of the dunes in an ATV. Just 60 miles from Winston-Salem you’ll find Roaring Gap, North Carolina and Stone Mountain State Park. The park draws its name from a colossal granite mountain that seems to overlook the park. There’s plenty to see and do in the park. There’s the restored 19th century Hutchinson Homestead mountain farm, plus almost every type of outdoor activity. Nine trails wind through the park ranging from moderate to strenuous difficulty. More than 20-miles of streams are designated trout waters. There is a cost for a North Carolina fishing license at ncwildlife.org. Rock climbing is permitted, with permits available at the climber’s area at the base of the mountain. Beginner climbers must have an experienced climber with them and have basic rock climbing safety equipment. Near the visitor center there are 75 picnic sites with tables and grills.

3. THERE’S STILL MORE! From art and gardens to racecars and quirky sideshows, there are still more stops to make in the Tar Heel State when traveling on a budget.

In Raleigh there’s the highly popular NC Museum of Art. Admittance to both the museum’s permanent collection and Museum Park are free. In 1947, the museum’s collection began when the state’s general assembly authorized $1 million for purchasing art, making North Carolina the first state to use public funds to procure art. The Museum Park connects art and nature with people through installations of public art along a trail system.

Fifty miles from Raleigh is downtown Wilson. It’s here that there’s a one-of-a-kind intersection of art and science at the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park & Museum.

Charlotte is abuzz with options, including the Billy Graham Library,

Kite flying at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.

where its barn structure and exhibits within reflects Graham’s journey from humble farmer to international ambassador of God. The building is a few miles from where Graham grew up. Both the Mint Museum on Fridays and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art on Wednesdays offer free admission from 5-9 p.m.

In nearby Concord and Mooresville, admission is free to the NASCAR Race Shops. Just a 30-minute drive from Charlotte you’ll arrive in Midland, where the Reed Gold Mine was the first documented gold find in the United States. There’s no fee for a tour of the mine, though you can buy a $3 bag of sand that just might hold enough gold to pay for your entire North Carolina trip.

For more information about these attractions and many others visit online at visitnc.com. SPG

VisitNC.com

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Crystal Coast, NC WHITE SAND BEACHES, CRYSTALLINE WAVES AND TOP ENDURANCE COMPETITIONS MAKE NORTH CAROLINA’S CRYSTAL COAST AN EXCELLENT PLACE TO PLAY AND STAY

Cape Lookout National Seashore

Big Rock Stadium

Crystal Coast Civic Center

U.S. Highway 70 runs throughout the Crystal Coast on its way northwest to Raleigh. If you’re flying in, the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN) in New Bern offers flights through US Airways and Delta and is around 33 miles northwest of Morehead City.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Crystal Coast Civic Center

has 700 hotel rooms, making this a quick drive away for tournament participants.

Multipurpose indoor Located just three miles from Atlantic Beach and with a waterfront patio overlooking the gorgeous Bogue Sound, this well-designed and ideally-located center in Morehead City offers tournament planners flexibility when hosting indoor events. The center features more than 20,000 square feet of versatile floorspace with four main quads, a large ballroom, kitchen, restrooms and lobby available. The surrounding area

Rotary Park Basketball, soccer Home to Seashore Soccer League play, Rotary Park in Moreheead City is equipped with three large soccer fields. Two fields are divisible and house academy as well as 10U, 11U and 12U play for games of 9 vs. 9 or full 11 on 11 at the youth levels. The park also includes a .89-mile walking/running loop track, a playground, and multiple covered grill @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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POPULAR ACTIVITIES areas and is in close vicinity with the Puck O’Neal Baseball Field.

Big Rock Stadium Baseball Erected in 2010, Puck O’Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium in Morehead City is home to the Morehead City Marlins of the Coastal Plain League. The stadium’s grandstand seats 1,800 spectators, while it has room for another 400-500 walking around the complex. The state-of-the-art field itself has dimensions of 320-foot fences down the left field line, 318foot fences in right field and 394-foot fences in dead center. The beautiful complex hosted the 61st Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in 2019.

tournament, with six baseball and softball fields, five soccer fields, a tennis court, football field, bathrooms and a playground.

The complex was one of the host sites for the Crystal Coast Wood Bat World Series in July 2019.

▶ Take part in the horse watching, shelling, fishing, birding, camping, lighthouse climbing or touring historic villages as you prowl the 85 miles of coastline from the Cape Lookout National Seashore to the New River.

Freedom Park

▶ Examine an immaculately

Baseball, softball Beaufort-based Freedom Park is a staple for baseball and softball tournaments. The park was one of the host sites for the Crystal Coast Wood Bat World Series in July 2019, which — since 2012— has hosted more than 700 baseball teams.

restored Civil War-era fortification when you visit Fort Macon State Park.

▶ Historic downtown Beaufort is full of lush gardens, places to worship, ancient graveyards and a history that preserves an

CRYSTAL COAST TOURISM AUTHORITY

antebellum legacy around every

Eastern Park

Jim Browder

street corner.

Baseball, football, soccer, softball, tennis

252-726-8148

Located in Smyrna, Eastern Park has everything you need for an outdoor

www.crystalcoastnc.org

▶ Come face-to-face with sharks

jim@crystalcoastnc.org

and rare sea turtles at the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

winning comes

naturally.

Known as North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks, the Crystal Coast is a new and exciting sports destination. From helping you plan events, to selecting outstanding accommodations, your needs are our top priority. We’ll make sure everything is perfect so you can focus on creating champions, enjoying our beautiful beaches, unique activities and natural beauty.

Call us at 1-888-891-0021 or email groups@CrystalCoastNC.org

BookTheCoast.com

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Gaston County, NC WITH NATURAL FEATURES IN ABUNDANCE TO BOOST ITS OUTDOOR OFFERINGS, GASTON COUNTY INVITES YOU TO INDULGE YOUR INNER EXPLORER

Belmont Abbey College

By air, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in nearby Charlotte is the nearest option for those flying to Gaston County. If you’re driving, Interstate 85 runs straight through Gastonia on an eastwest basis, while U.S. Highway 321 connects the region with northeast Georgia to the south.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Belmont Abbey College All As the home of the Crusaders, Belmont Abbey College competes in NCAA Division II athletics and won a national title in men’s lacrosse in 2018. The university has many top-notch facilities and recently underwent an overhaul of its Sports Performance Center to include new customized weight lifting equipment, new flooring, and a 1,350-squarefoot artificial turf functional training area that serves all 39 men’s and women’s athletic

programs. The Reidy Tennis Center behind Alumni Field boasts 11 tennis courts ready for tournament play.

Riverside Marina Fishing, boating, cornhole, disc golf, volleyball Riverside Marina in Belmont combines all your summertime activities into one convenient central location, located on the banks of the Catawba River. Enjoy canoe, paddle board and kayak racing on the river and stop by Muddy River Distillery for a group tour in between @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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POPULAR ACTIVITIES events. A disk golf course, corn hole boards, horseshoe pits and a private covered shelter with an outdoor kitchen, grills and seating make this a wonderful venue whether you’re in the water or on the shore. In August of 2019 the Marina helped host the Southeast Paddle Sport Championship Series—Bon Temps Paddle Battle on Wylie event.

George Poston Park Baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, horseshoes, fishing, mountain biking With 10 miles of multiuse trails looping around offshoot creeks of the Catawba River’s south fork, George Poston Park combines outdoor adventure paths with conventional sport facilities. Four lighted softball/little league fields, four lighted soccer fields, a volleyball court, horseshoe complex, fishing lake with a pier and batting cages round out an exceptionally well-equipped property.

lighted youth softball field, a scorers’ tower, concessions, batting cages and restrooms.

Walking trails loop around the outer edge of the baseball fields, while two large picnic shelters, a sand volleyball court, two horseshoe courts and more make this a prime stop when the weather is nice.

▶ Hike around a nine acre lake on any of the 11 trails with various degrees of intensity when you visit Crowders Mountain State Park.

▶ Train with the best at the US National Whitewater Center,

Poston Pump Track at George Poston Park

where whitewater rafting,

BMX

and hiking are all available along

In addition to all the other great things going on at George Poston Park you’ll find a 10,000-square-foot pump track, great for skateboarding, long boarding, blading and BMX biking. The track is open from 7 a.m. until sunset and hosted the Red Bull Pump Track World Championship Qualifier in September of 2019.

the Catawba River.

kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing

▶ Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden features luscious gardens, vibrant fountains, a nature walk and more.

▶ Walk with dinosaurs through the Mesozoic Era at the Schiele Museum of Natural History and

GO GASTON

Planetarium.

Martha Rivers Park

Brandon Black, Sales & Marketing

Soccer, baseball, softball

Manager

With more than 50 acres to work with, Martha Rivers Park features four lighted soccer fields, three lighted youth baseball fields, one

704-829-2239

through a diverse collection of

brandon.black@gastongov.com

materials at the Gaston County

www.gogaston.org

Museum of Art & History.

George Poston Park

▶ Explore the region’s history

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “It has been a wonderful experience organizing the USA Qualifier for the Red Bull Pump Track World Championship along with Brandon Black and GO Gaston. I am more than confident that the event will exceed all of our expectations and will be a standout on our race calendar. We can’t wait to bring the global series to North Carolina in conjunction with Brandon and his excellent team. ” — Maryke Zietsman, Red Bull Pump Track World Championship

Riverside Marina

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Martha Rivers Park

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Go Gaston. Get Outside.

Shealen Reno wins at the 2019 Red Bull Pump Track World Championship Qualifier held in September at the new Velosoultions pump track located at Poston Park in Gaston County. Let us help you plan your next event and connect you with the many sports venues Gaston County has to offer.

620 N. Main St., Belmont, NC | 704-825-4044 | #gogaston | gogaston.org

GASTON COUNTY, NC

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Asheville, NC EMBOLDENED BY ITS NATURAL BEAUTY, THE ASHEVILLE AREA UTILIZES ITS GREAT NATURAL RESOURCES TO PRODUCE SPLENDID SPORTS EVENTS SUCH AS SPARTAN RACE AND CYCLING EVENTS

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “Asheville, NC proved to be the ideal destination for our event, so much that we decided to go back the next year as well. Their sports commission team is second to none and their southern hospitality also sets them apart from other destinations we consider.”

Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville

— Jeff Ryan, USTA Senior Director, Team Events

Bob Lewis Ballpark

If you’re driving, Asheville is easily accessible from all directions, with Interstate 26 running north and south and I-40 running east and west.

If you’re flying in, Asheville Regional Airport carries flights through Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, Elite Airways, Spirit and United.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Visit America’s largest home at the Biltmore Estate, which combines a majestic house built in 1895 with a winery, breathtaking gardens and

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville Arena & Auditorium As the largest event venue in Western North Carolina, the Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville is a multipurpose complex containing a 7,000-seat arena and 3,200 auditorium.

The Exploreasheville.com Arena annually hosts the Southern Conference Basketball Championships, the Great Smoky Mountain Grapple, the Harlem Globetrotters and Gala Gymnastics. The arena has hosted two Fed Cup first round ties along with exhibition games for the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets. The Thomas Wolfe Auditorium hosts cheerleading competitions and is a great auxiliary function area for sports events.

fascinating history.

▶ Follow the winding road of the Blue Ridge Parkway for 469 miles through a pastoral landscape to the Appalachian Mountains.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Buncombe County Sports Park

planners. This complex additionally features an 18-hole disc golf course, a sand volleyball court, bocce ball courts, a walking trail, picnic tables, restrooms, a playground and more. As part of a new master plan, three of the fields will be converted to artificial turf and will have lights in 2020.

Bob Lewis Ballpark Baseball, softball Asheville’s newest sports facility, the Bob Lewis Ballpark, has seven fully lit baseball/ softball fields with artificial turf infields. This complex is designed to provide the best experience for both the player and the fan.

ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE REGIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION

Soccer, lacrosse, disc golf, volleyball, bocce

Demp Bradford, President

With eight soccer fields, the Buncombe County Sports Park is a haven for tournament

demp@ashevillesports.org

828-398-0295 www.ashevillesports.org

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Greensboro, NC WITH ITS FAMOUS GREENSBORO COLISEUM COMPLEX AND OTHER FACILITIES, GREENSBORO IS WILLING AND ABLE TO HOST ANY SPORTS TOURNAMENT THAT COMES ITS WAY

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “A heartfelt thank you to Henri Fourrier and our primary contact Brian Ambuehl at the Greensboro CVB office for seeing the incredible value in youth sports. From the very beginning, their insight and service have been a guiding force in NC AAU consistently growing our event base in the Gate City.”

Greensboro Coliseum Complex

— Sean Kilmartin, Governor, NC Amateur Athletic Union

Greensboro Aquatic Center

Irwin Belk Track

Three major thoroughfares in the Piedmont region (I-85, I-40 and I-73) all intersect in Greensboro, making it easy to travel here by car. If coming by air, Piedmont Triad International Airport is 12 miles west of central Greensboro.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Greensboro Coliseum Complex Football, basketball, figure skating, roller derby, boxing, gymnastics, wrestling and volleyball The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is a multibuilding facility with eight different venues that offer unique opportunity to host nearly any sporting event one could think of. The main staple, the Greensboro Coliseum, can seat anywhere from 4,500 - 22,000 people depending on the need and has hosted NCAA and ACC Men’s and

Women’s basketball tournaments in the past.

Other venues within the complex include the Fieldhouse — a state-of-the-art structure that features a 30,000-square-foot, column-free area and currently houses the Greensboro Swarm NBA G League team—and the Special Events Center, a 167,000-square-foot space that include three exhibit halls. The complex will host the ACC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament in 2020. Additionally it was one of the sites for the AAU Junior Olympic Games this summer and hosted the USA Gymnastics American Cup back in March. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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POPULAR ACTIVITIES Greensboro Aquatic Center Swimming, synchronized swimming, diving and water polo The Greensboro Aquatic Center is a 78,323-square-foot facility with a long history of hosting national swimming meets. Located in the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and only one minute from the Greensboro Visitor Center, it offers plenty of lodging and eating options in the surrounding area. The Aquatic Center has five, seven and 10-meter diving boards and a 25-yard pool that can be transformed into 10 different configurations based on event needs.

A new pool was constructed and opened in August of 2019. In the past, the facility has hosted the U.S. Synchronized Swimming 2012 Olympic Team trials, the 2012 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships and the 2019 USA FINA Synchronized American Open.

previously played host to the 2009 Junior Olympics and has hosted the National Scholastic Sports Foundation’s Track & Field event numerous times. Home of the NC A&T Aggies and capable of seating 23,000 spectators, it is a Mondo Super X Performance track with eight lanes as well as javelin and discus throwing areas. The space also offers 10,500-square-feet of coach offices, locker rooms and hospitality rooms.

▶Experience a zoo, aquarium and museum all in one day at the Greensboro Science Center.

▶ SKYWILD offers 60 different challenges aimed at giving you an inside look into animal movement and behavior among the trees.

Waddle, leap, brachiate and crawl through a variety of zip Iines, bridges and climbs.

GREENSBORO AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

▶ Check out the 84-feet wide tsunami waves at Wet n’ Wild

Brian Ambuehl, Sports Sales Manager

Emerald Pointe, one of North

1-800-344-2282

Carolina’s largest water parks.

bambuehl@visitgreensboronc.com www.VisitGreensboroNC.com

▶ Get a glimpse of the world’s largest china shop at

Dennis Edwards, Sports Sales Manager

Replacements Ltd.

1-800-344-2282

Irwin Belk Track at NC A&T State University

dedwards@visitgreensboronc.com www.VisitGreensboroNC.com

Track and field

▶ Step back in time to the forefront of the civil rights movement with a visit to the International Civil

An IAAF-certified track, Irwin Belk Track

Rights Center and Museum.

COMPETE IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL. From world-class championships to youth tournaments, Greensboro makes sporting events successful. The recently expanded Greensboro Aquatic Center is the largest in the United States, with four indoor pools.

Come and see for yourself. You will be surprised by all we have to offer.

VisitGreensboroNC.com #VisitGSO SportsPlanningGuide.com

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Greenville, NC SOUTHERN CHARM, A PASSION FOR SPORTS, AND A GROWING METROPOLITAN REGION MAKE THE EAST COAST’S EMERALD CITY A SPORTS PLANNER’S DELIGHT

ECU’s North Recreational Complex

Greenville is mainly accessible from the east and west via future Interstate 587. About an hour and a half to the west of downtown Greenville is RaleighDurham International Airport, which offers countless domestic and international flights to meet travelers’ needs. For connections to and from Charlotte, local PittGreenville Airport offers flights via American Eagle.

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Sports Planning Guide

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT ECU’s North Recreational Complex Cross-country, disc golf, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, Ultimate Frisbee Just 10 minutes from the East Carolina University campus, you’ll find a selection of versatile playing fields, all surrounding a quaint lake that makes for the perfect backdrop to any event. The North Recreational Complex features eight multipurpose fields including one championship field, along with walking and jogging trails. This is the perfect setting for cross-country, where runners can

follow any of the six trails or the 5k running route. The 18-hole disc golf course offers a unique layout, and the fields are a popular spot for Ultimate Frisbee, with invitational tournaments taking place throughout the year.

ECU Sports Facilities Baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball East Carolina University’s state-of-the-art facilities house some exceptional collegiate talent. These same venues are also available @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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for tournaments, meets, competitions and other events that sports planners are putting together throughout the year. Be sure to check out the 50,000-seat Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, home to the Pirates’ football program, the 8,000-seat ECU Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum for both basketball and volleyball games and the 1,000-seat Stewart Johnson Soccer Stadium.

Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park Baseball Greenville has a strong connection to baseball, and in particular, Little League.

Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park is a premier choice when planning an event in the region. The Southeast Tournament of State Champions has been hosted at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park since 2010. The stadium is also the permanent home to the Greenville Little Leagues City Championship Series, and could be the site of your next big event! The stadium was completely renovated in 2012, making for a state-of-the-art experience. There are 234 stadium seats, 400 right field bleacher seats, and additional space for lawn seating, in all, the stadium can seat around 1,000 spectators.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

Sara Law Softball Complex

▶ Knee Deep Adventures is a

Softball In the world of softball, Greenville is arguably among the top contenders. The all-female Pitt-Greenville Babe Ruth squads have won several World Series titles in recent years, and made it all the way to the World Series in 2018.

So, it makes sense that Greenville would be home to some of the best softball facilities in the nation. The Sarah Law Softball Complex has hosted its share of champions and is home to the Pitt County Girls Softball League as well as many fastpitch tournaments throughout the year. It offers a four-field lighted complex with restrooms, parking, a concession stand and meticulously maintained landscaping — all creating the perfect recipe for a successful softball event.

watercraft outfitter that rents out kayaks and stand-up paddleboards so you and your group can navigate the Tar River and explore the forests at a leisurely pace.

▶ For another peaceful getaway, check out River Park North, a 324 acre park with outdoors fun for everyone.

▶ For a bit of educational insight into the natural surroundings and waterways of Greenville, pay a visit Walter L. Stasavich Science & Learning Center.

▶ Taste real southern barbeque at the Pitt County Brew & Cue Trail.

GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

▶ Treat your sweet tooth at Simply

Paul Sheehan, Director of Sports Dev.

Natural Creamery in Hookerton

252-329-4200, ext. 4232

where there are ice cream

paul@visitgreenvillenc.com

sundaes and cones galore.

www.visitgreenvillenc.com/sports

ECU Softball Stadium

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “FIRST North Carolina was thrilled to work with the Greenville-Pitt County Convention & Visitors Bureau both before and during our high school robotics competition at ECU last March. They were instrumental in helping us secure hotels for our teams, meals for our volunteers and so much more. They are one of the best CVBs we have ever had the privilege to work with in our planning.”

— Marie E. Hopper, President FIRST North Carolina

Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Sara Law Softball Complex

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Mooresville, NC LOCATED 25 MILES NORTH OF CHARLOTTE ON THE SHORES OF LAKE NORMAN, MOORESVILLE IS A HOTSPOT FOR MOTORSPORTS ENTHUSIASTS, EARNING ITS NICKNAME AS RACE CITY, USA

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “We appreciate the relationship we have built with Leah and the Mooresville CVB over the past five years. Our lacrosse tournament has grown and it takes a partnership with folks all working in the same direction to make that happen.”

Mazeppa Park

— Trent Brown Carpetbagger Lacrosse

Talbert Recreation Center

When driving, Mooresville is located off Interstate 77. I-85 is located south of Mooresville, while I-40 is located north of Mooresville. For those traveling by plane, the closest major airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Talbert Recreation Center Basketball, wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics, martial arts This 26,000-square-foot facility offers two regulation basketball courts and has hosted basketball, gymnastics, martial arts and wrestling events.

Edgemoor Park

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Get in touch with your wild side at the Zootastic Park and Lazy 5 Ranch.

▶ Fulfill your need for speed at Pit

Tennis This state-of-the-art tennis facility offers seven lighted courts, including a championship court with bleachers and a hitting wall. Edgemoor also has free Wi-Fi, a state-of-the-art playground and two shelter areas. Edgemoor Park has hosted numerous USTA events.

▶ Adventure through the outdoors at Lake Norman State Park.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Cornelius Road Park Softball, baseball, tennis, lacrosse, soccer Cornelius Road Park features four baseball and softball fields with dirt infields, portable pitching mounds and 250 foot fences. The park also contains three multipurpose fields for lacrosse and soccer. Six lighted tennis courts, a disc golf course and a walking trail round out this facility.

MOORESVILLE CVB

Indoor Kart Racing and GoPro Motorplex.

turf. Mazeppa Park also boasts a mountain bike trail. With so many different features, this site has been a favorite among baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer tournament planners, as well as with families looking to enjoy a picnic and joggers who want to enjoy a nice run.

Mazeppa Park

Leah Mitcham, CSEE, TMP

Baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse This do-it-all sports complex boasts a regulation-sized baseball field, three softball fields and six soccer fields—two of which sport artificial

Executive Director 704-799-2400 leah@racecityusa.org visitmooresville.com

Sports Planning Guide

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Hickory, NC WITH A WORLD-FAMOUS RACING SHORT TRACK, PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGIATE FACILITIES AND A GREAT HISTORY AND HERITAGE, HICKORY’S ROOTS RUN DEEP IN NORTH CAROLINA SPORTING LORE

Rock Barn Country Club & Spa

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “Everybody loves it here, it’s beautiful. It (Lake Hickory) is the perfect size for a competition such as this one. It offers a variety of fishing experiences depending on how the anglers prefer to fish.”

— Secret York, Co-founder of LBAA

Hickory Metro Convention Center

Henry Fork Regional Recreation Park

Hickory is conveniently located off Interstate 40, which connects Knoxville to the west with Raleigh to the east. If you’re flying in, Charlotte Douglas International Airport is around 42 miles away in Charlotte.

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Sports Planning Guide

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Hickory Metro Convention Center Multipurpose indoor As one of the premier trade show and meeting locations in the Southeast, the Hickory Metro Convention Center features more than 76,000 square feet of meeting space, making it ideal for tournament planners looking to host fantastic indoor events. The center hosted the XCEL Regional Gymnastics Competition in May 2019, which drew in more than 1,500 gymnasts from eight southeastern states. Additionally, it will host

the United States Powerlifting Association’s 2020 Drug Tested Collegiate National Championship from February 14-16.

Henry Fork Regional Recreation Park Canoeing, running, soccer With eight soccer fields, an 8,000-squarefoot picnic shelter, picnic tables and grills, an alpine tower ropes course, two playgrounds, a concession stand, walking trail, canoe launch and horseshoe pits, this multiuse park is ideal for soccer, lacrosse, rugby and other sports. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Immerse yourself in the Rock Barn Country Club & Spa Golf, tennis With a foundation tracing back to the early 19th century, this gorgeous country club has a storied history, one which grew to include golf in 1966 when it added The Rock Barn Club of Golf to its grounds. Today the club features two championship golf courses which have yielded praise from Golf Digest. The club was chosen as the host site for the American Junior Golf Association Championship in summer 2021.

Lake Hickory (Catawba River) Boating, fishing, swimming Take in the magisterial beauty of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains when you plan an outdoor tournament on Lake Hickory.

Fishing tournaments are popular here during the summer months, when the lake has an abundance of largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and channel catfish. Lake Hickory hosted a Lady Bass Angles Association Pro

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Tour event in late March 2019 and an episode of “Fishing University” in 2018.

interactive opportunities presented at the Catawba Science Center, which combines

Catawba Meadows Park

a science technology children’s

Baseball, disc golf, multipurpose indoor, softball

museum with a salt and

With the Catawba River Greenway serving as a border, this multipurpose park is an ideally located hotspot for tournament planners. The park features five lighted Little League baseball fields, four lighted youth and adult softball and baseball fields, a field house with concessions, a disc golf course with 18 holes, an umpires and coaches meeting room and much more.

of-the-art digital planetarium

VISIT HICKORY METRO

freshwater aquarium and a statetheater.

▶ The best dinner, holiday and private chartered boat cruises in Catawba Valley can be found onboard one of the vessels at Lake Hickory Adventures.

▶ Downtown Hickory yields a fantastic communal feel as you

Sarah Davis, CMP

explore a bevy of local retail shops,

Director of Sales & Marketing

locally owned restaurants and

1.800.509.2444

breweries, entertainment options,

sarah@hickorymetro.com

theatrical pursuits and more.

www.visithickorymetro.com

Sports Planning Guide

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Nash-Rocky Mount, NC NASH-ROCKY MOUNT IS YOUR PREMIER DESTINATION FOR FIRST-CLASS SPORTS EVENTS AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE IN THE TAR HEEL STATE

Rocky Mount Event Center

Rocky Mount Event Center

Rocky Mount Sports Complex

Nash-Rocky Mount is easily accessible by both land and air. If you’re flying in, Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located 60 miles to the west and primarily serves the Raleigh, Durham and the Research Triangle region of North Carolina. If you’re driving, Interstate-95 runs through the heart of the county to the west of Rocky Mount, while U.S. Route 64 runs east and west on the way to or from Raleigh.

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Sports Planning Guide

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Rocky Mount Sports Complex Soccer, baseball, softball, disc golf, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, football Nash-Rocky Mount’s leading sports facility, Rocky Mount Sports Complex is dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service by offering first-class facilities, outstanding staff and a professional level of maintenance. This 143-acre facility is home to an assortment of recreational programming.

The complex includes six youth baseball fields, four interchangeable baseball and softball fields, one championship baseball field, eight soccer fields, a football field, a professional disc golf course, two outdoor basketball courts, outdoor volleyball courts, picnic shelters and a walking trail.

Rocky Mount Event Center Cheerleading, dance, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, pickleball Rocky Mount Event Center is the ultimate sports tourism, events and entertainment @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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destination in North Carolina. The facility has hosted several thousand players and visitors since opening in the fall of 2018. This 165,000-square-foot, multimillion-dollar facility is dedicated to providing spectacular event, tournament and competition experiences.

The Rocky Mount Event Center consistently draws players, coaches and parents from all over the country, making it a premier destination for tournament exposure. The facility hosts everything from National Championship Cheer and Dance, or gymnastics competitions to top-flight basketball and volleyball tournaments.

program, the Bishops provide a familyf riendly weekend option, where ticket prices are low for adults and kids six years old and younger get in free! Further amenities at the stadium include an upgraded athletic training facility, a private locker room, weight training area and the Vernon T. Bradley, Jr. Practice Field.

Football Part of Rocky Mount Sports Complex, Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium seats more than 5,000 spectators and features a natural grass playing field, team field house, large press box and elevated coaching areas. Home to the North Carolina Wesleyan College football

SportsPlanningGuide.com

▶ The Imperial Center for Arts and Sciences gives you a close-up look at alligator and crocodile skulls, while its galleries feature more than 400 works or art from around North Carolina.

▶ Explore the region’s only beer incubator and tour seven oncampus breweries at Rocky

ROCKY MOUNT SPORTS COMPLEX Lynn Driver Sports Complex Supervisor 252-467-6483 lynn.driver@rockymountnc.gov

Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

rockymountsportscomplex.com

Mount Mills.

▶ Catch a live show at The Rocky Mount Event Center.

▶ Hike the walking trails at City Lake on your quest to find an

ROCKY MOUNT EVENT CENTER Art Thomason General Manager

exotic waterfowl.

▶ All of your boating and fishing

252-231-3490

needs can be met with a trip to

athomason@sportsadvisory.com

Tar River Reservoir.

rockymountevents.com

Sports Planning Guide

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Winston-Salem, NC WITH AN IMPRESSIVE RANGE OF SPORTS FACILITIES, WINSTON-SALEM IS A MUST-SEE DESTINATION OF THE SOUTH

BB&T Ballpark

Known as one of North Carolina’s major cities, Winston-Salem is a popular destination for many travelers during any time of the year. The city is highly accessible, with numerous interstate highways and the Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) located about a half-hour away.

With 65 non-stop flights from various destinations, this airport will get you where you need to be without any hesitation.

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Sports Planning Guide

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

JDL Fast Track (Indoor)

BB&T Sports Park

Crossfit, indoor track & field

Lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, ultimate

JDL Fast Track just completed a busy season as the host of the USATF Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships in March. This premium 105,000-square-foot indoor facility is no stranger to prestige. Sporting a 200-meter oval track made of Mondotrack FTX surfaces, this complex has held four national championships in the past four years. Teams also have access to a 100-meter training track and fitness room.

Hospitality suites await game day officials and coaches.

Located along the Yadkin River, BB&T Sports Park boasts 13 full-sized, Bermuda soccer fields and 11 lighted fields totaling 90 acres. Off the field, players may retreat to the field house, train in the athletic room or review practice performance from the park’s film tower video tapes. Everyone will have room to watch the game from a 1,400-seat stadium featuring plenty of elevated seating arrangements.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Enjoy a stroll through the Old Salem Museums & Gardens to tour dozens of 18th and 19th-

Benton Convention Center Gymnastics, cheer/dance, fencing, martial arts Since undergoing a major $20 million renovation in 2017, the Benton Convention Center has enhanced its reputation as one of Winston-Salem’s prime sports venues. Most recently, the convention center hosted the 2019 USA Gymnastics Elite Challenge for Trampoline & Tumbling in May 2019. The Benton covers 105,000 square-feet of space and includes expansive reception areas, as well as exhibit halls and ballrooms for martial arts, fencing and cheer/dance competitions. In addition, the facility is conveniently joined with the 319-room Marriott Hotel Winston-Salem and 146-room Embassy Suites Hotel Winston-Salem.

same court that is used at the U.S. Open. The six courts used for varsity matches are divided into two banks of three that are arranged in a V-shape, allowing for ideal spectator viewing.

century restored buildings.

▶ Families with young children enjoy Kaleideum Downtown as storytelling comes to life through

BB&T Ballpark

an enchanted forest and kid-sized

Baseball Opened in 2010, BB&T Ballpark is host to the Winston-Salem Dash, a Class-A advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. This downtown ballpark features 5,500 stadium-style seats, 16 luxury suites on the Club Level, three concession stands, state-of-theart LED scoreboard with video and animation capabilities and a 200-foot LED outfield wall scoreboard with video and animation capabilities. It also has one of the best skyline views in the city.

Krispy Kreme doughnut factory.

Kaleideum North appeals to all ages with hands-on science exhibits, planetarium and outdoor animal habitats.

▶ Breathtaking Tanglewood Park, which houses natural beauty and signature golf courses, is especially known for hosting the Festival of Lights, the largest winter holiday lighting display in

Wake Forest Tennis Complex Tennis This complex opened in the summer of 2011 and is one of the finest facilities in college tennis. The home of the Wake Forest men’s and women’s tennis teams along with the ATP’s Winston-Salem Open, this state-of-theart venue features 13 Deco-Turf II courts, the

the Southeast.

▶ Explore the North Carolina

VISIT WINSTON-SALEM Bonny Bernat, CSEE

Zoo, the world’s largest-walking

Senior Sports & Events Sales Manager

zoo and observe chimpanzees,

336-728-4215

elephants, flamingos, black bears

bonny@visitwinstonsalem.com

and lions. Visitors can view nature

www.visitwinstonsalem.com

inspired art throughout the zoo.

JDL Fast Track

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “BB&T Sports Park has provided U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy with a facility that aligns with our goal to improve world-class player development. We look forward to once again providing our players, coaches and referees with the opportunity to perform in a premier environment.”

— Jared Micklos, U.S. Soccer Development Academy Director

Wake Forest Tennis Complex

SportsPlanningGuide.com

BB&T Sports Park

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WILMINGTON, NC WILMINGTON AND ITS ISLAND BEACHES HAVE BECOME A SOUGHT-AFTER DESTINATION FOR SPORTS PLANNERS THANKS TO A VARIETY OF VENUES AND PLENTY TO SEE AND DO BEFORE AND AFTER THE EVENT

Althea Gibson Tennis Complex

The major east/west interstate artery, I-40, leads to Wilmington and Beaches, which is located halfway between New York and Florida. The destination is also served by Highways 17, 74/76, 117 and 421. Interstate I-95 is 73 miles away.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Althea Gibson Tennis Complex at Empie Park Tennis The Althea Gibson Tennis Complex has 24 lighted hard courts, a clubhouse and restrooms. Courts are open for public play, while the City of Wilmington offers recreational programs throughout the year, and the Greater Wilmington Tennis Association uses the courts for tournaments and league play.

Cape Fear Regional Soccer Complex Soccer, lacrosse, running This soccer complex offers seven full-sized soccer fields for challenge and classic soccer leagues, adult leagues and other soccer tournaments. Home to the Cape Fear Soccer Club, this complex also offers the opportunity for other events such as lacrosse and running races.

Legion Sports Complex Football, soccer, baseball, tennis With more than four acres of paved parking,

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Sports Planning Guide

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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this great complex includes Legion Stadium/ Jurgenson-Gabriel Field (which hosts football and soccer matches on artificial turf), the Legion Back Field, Buck Hardee Field (baseball), four lit tennis court and the Robert Shipp Pool.

Located next to Greenfield Lake and minutes from the historic downtown area, the complex is fantastic for hosting athletic events.

court, three soccer/football fields and a youth football stadium, which are all equipped with lights. Ogden Park additionally has a 10,000-square-foot concrete skate park equipped with a skate bowl, rails and steps.

Olsen Park

Located in central New Hanover County, Hugh MacRae Park includes four Little League baseball fields with lights, four lighted tennis courts, a sand volleyball court and a full-sized basketball court with lights. Picnic shelters and a gorgeous garden area with a pond and gazebo can be reserved for outdoor activities as well.

Baseball, softball This city park has five lighted baseball/softball fields along with concession stands and a picnic shelter. It is used to host regional and state athletic tournaments.

Ogden Park

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Step back in time when you get onboard the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, a WWII-era vessel that faced fierce combat in the Pacific Theater.

Hugh MacRae Park Baseball, tennis, sand volleyball, basketball, equestrian

▶ Climb along the Adventure Reef, witness an albino alligator, wonder at baby sea turtles or feel the smooth skin of a gliding stingray at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

▶ The Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park features water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, rock climbing,

Tennis, baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, football, skating Enjoy the outdoor experience provided at Ogden Park, which features three picnic shelters, restrooms, a playground, an off-leash dog park and more. Tournament planners will enjoy nine tennis courts, three baseball fields, one softball field, a full-size basketball

go-karts and more awesome family fun.

WILMINGTON AND BEACHES CVB

▶ Get outdoors at Greenfield Lake

Robert Cox, CDME, CSEE

Park, where biking and walking

Director of Sports Development

trails, tennis courts, an outdoor

800-650-9064, ext. 124

amphitheater and boat and

rcox@wilmingtonandbeaches.com

kayak rentals all await your

SportsWilmington.com

next workout.

Carolina Cup at Wrightsville Beach

Ogden Skate Park

The Miracle Field at Olsen Park

SportsPlanningGuide.com

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JON SCHMIEDER

Sports Industry Trends for 2020 I

t is that time of year to chime in on the

teams/athletes participating. There are several

true with golf courses and aquatics facilities

top trends we are seeing out in the sports

new sports that will be contested next year in

that are owned by municipalities. If a venue

tourism trenches. The arms race in our indus-

Tokyo that bear watching. We think freestyle

has a negative cash flow, cities and counties

try is at an all-time high and the competition

BMX and skateboarding are naturals to gain

are looking to get those assets off their

has never been greater. From larger markets

momentum.

balance sheets one way or another.

battling to host high-profile mega events to the smaller markets investing significantly in tourism-driving facilities, there doesn’t seem to

2

Tourism-Driving Facilities – More tourism related dollars are being

4

Non-Traditional CEOs – More and more tourism organizations today are

invested into venue development than ever

being led by people with entrepreneurial busi-

tinations are laser focused and allocate their

before. Communities are allocating bed-tax

ness backgrounds than those with experience

resources efficiently to compete. If there ever

money, restaurant taxes and tourism-improve-

in the hospitality sector. This not only applies

was a time to recalibrate what your organiza-

ment-district funds directly into facilities that

to convention & visitor bureaus (CVBs) but

tion has always done, now is that time.

be an end in sight. The top sports tourism des-

will drive economic development back to their

also sports organizations. New leaders at

Since this is a look ahead to 2020, it only

destinations. Unlike years past, if you are not

USA Swimming, USA Cycling and USA Gym-

goes to reason that we would offer up a vision

leading the discussion on planning and fund-

nastics all come from the private sector. Max

for the future, a crystal ball if you will. We hope

ing tourism-driving sports facilities in your

Siegel at USA Track and Field came from

you enjoy this year’s list.

destination, you are in the minority today.

Nike and NASCAR. The USOC’s new CEO came from a golf and media background.

New Olympic Sports – Nearly every

Retrofit Projects – Golf courses turned

One of the founding father sports commis-

into soccer complexes. Big-box retail

sions in our country is led by a person with a

program, that sport sees a significant bump in

stores becoming hardwood sports venues.

background in politics. In addition, several

exposure. That interest usually manifests itself

Tennis courts converted to pickleball. Pools

CVBs have tapped into the sports profession

in more kids wanting to try that sport, which

retrofitted into skate parks. If there is a facility

to lead their organizations – Monroe, Tulsa,

leads to more membership with the National

that isn’t pulling its financial weight, it is ripe

Quad Cities, Butler County and Cleveland, to

Governing Body (NGB), and often times more

for a change. We are finding this especially

name only a few.

1

3

Freebird7977/Bigstock.com

time a new sport debuts on the Olympic

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

SPORT_389-390.qxp_Layout 1 11/16/19 1:23 PM Page 390

5

Measurement – We are often asked, “How do you keep score beyond room

nights and economic impact?” It is a good

T 8

he last few trends for 2020 are holdovers from last year that are worth monitoring.

10

Oversight – Non-profit organizations are being looked upon more

and more scrupulously on how they operate,

Expanding Roles – One trend from last

and specifically, how they spend the funds

year that we are keeping our eye on is

that are given to them. This includes conven-

Tourism Index™. We surveyed the top event

the expanding of mission and purpose of

tion and visitor bureaus, sports commissions,

professionals in our industry to ask them

many sports tourism organizations across the

NGBs and others in our industry. Whoever

what was important to them in a host desti-

country. The skill it takes to successfully exe-

manages the various funding pipelines to your

nation. These leaders helped us shape a

cute a sporting event is quite similar to the skill

organization are becoming more interested in

measurement tool that numerically evaluates

it would take to produce a music festival,

how those funds are allocated. With C-level

a host destination across four areas including

Harley rally or chicken festival (yes, you read

professionals having lost their jobs over

1,900 different metrics. Add to this the in-

that right, we have a client that runs a chicken

spending practices, today’s leaders need to

creased focus on primary research by our

festival). Many of our clients are adding spe-

be overly transparent in this area.

national association, and it’s evident that an

cial events to their sports staff’s plate. If it uses

added emphasis on identifying and measur-

the same event production skills and drives

ing success is critical for our industry going

overnight stays, why not expand from just

forward.

sports to sports and events?

question and one that we are addressing with a tool we created called the Sports

6

Participation (or lack thereof) – Research by the Aspen Institute, the driv-

ers of Project Play, indicates that a majority of youth stop playing sports at age 11. Three years ago the average age was 14. This trend is not only bad for sports tourism, it is bad for our nation. Sedentary kids playing video games all day is not a pathway to success on several fronts. Sports teaches kids so many valuable life lessons that a video game console cannot. We are losing this battle and if the tide doesn’t turn, the sports tourism industry will take the brunt of the hit in the future.

“If you are not intentionally leading the charge in building relationship bridges with your stakeholders, sustainable success will be a challenge.”

11

Safety – A closely related issue to

oversight, athlete safety continues

to serve as a high-profile issue on multiple fronts. The discussion on football concussions has escalated to the highest levels, and additional sports are joining the fray.

Athlete safety in several Olympic sports has spawned the creation of Safe Sport, an independent investigative organization created to protect athletes and those involved in the Olympic movement. Safe Sport, and in some cases full background checks, are now mandated by numerous sports organizations across the country, and it doesn’t stop with coaches. Officials, board members, event volunteers and others are now very likely to be required to complete a background check and the Safe Sport training program. Where the merry-go-round stops,

Relationships – More and more, our

7

9

destinations, but to also referee relationship

team at the Huddle Up Group is asked

Creating Owned Events – Another

nobody knows.

repeat from years past, our destination

Leaders in our industry have a lot of hard

clients are more and more opting to invest

work ahead of them. While these challenges

their resources in created events. This is now

may seem daunting, that is what we love about

issues between CVBs/sports commissions

especially true in small and mid-tier markets

our industry. Every day we get the chance to

and their local stakeholders. Specifically, the

that don’t have the resources to compete with

lace ‘em up and go out into the sports tourism

issue nearly always includes a rift between

the big boys. If you can create an event with

and events market and compete. No matter

our client and the local parks and recreation

your local partners (or enhance/replicate

how challenging the tasks that lie in front of us,

department and/or elected officials. As in most

ones that already exist), those are assets that

we are all blessed to go to work every day and

industries, relationships are key in opening up

you don’t have to bid for against your well-

call sports our profession. SPG

doors for success. No matter your position, if

funded competitors. This doesn’t just apply to

you are not intentionally leading the charge in

the traditional sports either. CVBs and sports

building relationship bridges with your stake-

commissions across the country are devel-

holders, sustainable success will be a chal-

oping new events in many of the emerging

lenge.

sports noted above.

to not only consult on strategic planning for

SportsPlanningGuide.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jon Schmieder is the Founder + CEO of the Huddle Up Group LLC, an award-winning sports tourism industry consulting firm based in Phoenix, AZ. Jon can be reached at Jon@HuddleUpGroup.com. For weekly best practice articles, sign up for the Monday Morning Huddle Up at www.tinyletter.com/JonSchmieder.

Sports Planning Guide

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RECORD RACES & EPIC PLACES

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