2022 SPG Arkansas Sports State Guide

SPORTS

ARKANSAS GUIDE

Indoors, Outdoors There’s a Perfect Arkansas Venue

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A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

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Arkansas Tourism Partners Assure a Successful Event 30/09/2021 6:49:15 AM

Welcome to

ARKANSAS

On behalf of Arkansas Tourism and the Arkansas Sports Team we’d like to welcome you to The Natural State for your next sporting event.

Centrally located in the mid-South, with a moderate climate year-round, Arkansas is a beautiful, affordable destination for sporting events. An easy drive from anywhere in the south or mid-west with great interstate connectivity, we are also home to two major airports – Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Bentonville. Once you arrive, you will find many reasons why The Natural State works well for groups of all sizes. We hope that your team has time to take a break from playing to seek out adventure in Arkansas. We offer an exciting contrast of fast-paced and laid-back, urban and scenic, business and pleasure, all with genuine hospitality you just can’t find anywhere else.

Need help planning? Arkansas Sports Team members put the “pro” in proficient when it comes to hosting events.

The Arkansas Sports Team is comprised of 13 destinations scattered throughout Arkansas with members who represent cities with a wide array of facilities so you can be sure to find the perfect location for any event. From Texarkana to Jonesboro, monster truck rallies to baseball tournaments, and everywhere and everything in-between, Arkansas is the natural choice for sports!

Sincerely, Shelbey and the Arkansas Sports Team

SHELBEY MORRIS

Sales Specialist Division of Arkansas Tourism 1 Capitol Mall, STE 4A-900 Little Rock, AR 72201 p: 501.682.1081 | c: 501.813.9332 Arkansas.com Cover photo courtesy of Arkansas Tourism 2

Sports Planning Guide

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

INDOORS AND OUTDOORS THE NATURAL STATE HAS THE RIGHT VENUE FOR YOUR EVENT

Above: The new Arkansas Athletes Outreach facility, Rogers Photo courtesy of Visit Rogers

Below: The new Majestic Park facility, Hot Springs Photo courtesy of Arkansas Tourism Sports SportsPlanningGuide.com Planning Guide

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Regardless of the sport, Arkansas should always be considered to host your event

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By David Bodle

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rugby, quidditch, and more. Nearby Beaver Lake has a great reputation for fishing tournaments and is a favorite spot for athletes and their families to cool off swimming, kayaking, or scuba diving after some great competition.

Centennial Park at Millsap Mountain in Fayetteville is a premier destination for world caliber-cycling events.

With multiple world-class and purpose-built race courses that cater to both cyclo-cross and mountain biking, riders are able to access trail inf rastructure unlike any other in the United States. Located within an area of preserved greenspace connected to Fayetteville’s existing 50 miles of shared-used paved trails and 50 miles of naturalsurface trails, Centennial Park is perfect for any cycling and trail event.

Centennial Park has hosted high-caliber events like the U.S. Pro Cup, a mountain bike race that features Olympic athletes from all over the world. It’s also the home of the 2021 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup and the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championship, making it only the second time in the event’s 72-year history it will be held in the United States. These events will bring riders and spectators f rom all over the world to enjoy Centennial Park’s amenities and everything that Fayetteville has to offer.

Also in Fayetteville, there’s plenty of soccer, baseball, mountain biking, running and outdoor sport facilities including Kessler Regional Park. The 10 miles of natural service mountain bike or running trails tie into the Razorback Greenway trail system that meander through beautiful Fayetteville. The 620-acre park also includes six lighted soccer and four lighted baseball fields (more being added by 2022). Fayetteville is the host to many lakes such as Lake Fayetteville, Lake Sequoyah, Lake Wilson, and Wedington Lake; all provide opportunities for fishing tournaments, duathlons and triathlons. Baum Walker Stadium is home to the University of Arkansas baseball team and with 10,000 seats is a perfect championship venue for a tournament. Staying on campus, the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is a championship football

IMBA World Summit, Bentonville

Photo courtesy of Arkansas Tourism

n Arkansas, nothing says outdoors more than cycling.

Little Rock is home to Arkansas’s oldest and newest Mountain Biking Trail System. There are action-packed rides in the heart of the city and massive, interwoven trail networks just on the edge of town. Each trail system contains entry-level trails and white-knuckle adventures that are sure to become some of your most memorable rides.

No matter which path you find yourself, you’re never more than a downhill away from the next adventure. The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau is working with several organizations, including USA Cycling, on future events.

Also in Little Rock is the past recipient of the USTA’s National Public Facility of the Year, Rebsamen Tennis Center. In addition to hosting adult and junior Arkansas tournaments, the center has welcomed USTA Southern Region tournaments and USTA Men’s Pro Circuit to their 17 lighted courts.

North Little Rock is home to the impressive 1,700-acre Burns Park, Arkansas’s largest municipal park. Host to several regional and state tournaments, Burns Park Tennis Center boasts 24 lighted outdoor courts and six indoor courts. With 17 irrigated fields and one quadrant with tournament lighting, Burns Park Soccer Complex is the premier soccer complex in the South. The stadium field is a great place to watch a tournament champion crowned and with 1,500 parking spaces, no event is too large. In addition to the soccer and tennis centers, Burns Park has two golf courses, a baseball complex, softball complex, a BMX track, archery range, boat ramp to the Arkansas River, two disc golf courses, mountain bike trails and a seasonal amusement park.

Aside from the award-winning Burns Park, North Little Rock includes access to the 17-mile Arkansas River Trail system with North Little Rock Riverfront Park as a perfect starting location for 5Ks, adventure runs, marathons and competitive cycling events like the Big Dam Bridge 100.

Other excellent facilities in North Little Rock include North Little Rock High School for football, basketball and volleyball; the 18,000-capacity Simmons Bank Arena; Dickey-Stephens Park, home to AA-baseball team Arkansas Travelers; and Stone Links, a former golf course in the process of being transformed to Arkansas’s newest disc golf course.

Another new addition to the Arkansas Sports scene is Arkansas Athletes Outreach (AAO) in Rogers. AAO was completed in 2020, and the facility is welcoming new tournaments and events. Sporting events at this unique indoor/outdoor facility include basketball, volleyball, wrestling, football, soccer, lacrosse, and more. There are four multi-purpose courts with 20- to 30-foot ceilings. Two courts are 65’ x 100’ and two at 76’ x 100’. Also included are two outdoor grass multi-purpose fields. AAO’s goal is helping athletes become better players and people. A sister facility is in nearby Fayetteville providing additional courts.

Rogers Regional Sports Park has six baseball/softball fields each with designated warm-up areas for home and visitors on each field. Two additional baseball fields and two softball fields are located at Veterans Memorial Park. Five grass multipurpose fields can accommodate soccer, football, lacrosse,

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venue seating 80,000 and a journey through Razorback football history.

Runway Bike Park, Springdale, is a 2.75-acre state-ofthe-art outdoor bicycle skills training area located at The Jones Center. It’s comprised of three separate areas: Pump Track (one of the largest asphalt tracks in North America), Skills Course, and Bicycle Playground. The bike park was conceived out of an idea to give a training ground for aspiring mountain bikers in the flourishing Oz Trails network of mountain bike trails in Northwest Arkansas.

Runway Bike Park was made possible through a grant f rom the Walton Family Foundation. In 2018 when the Pump Track hosted the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championship. A qualifier for the world championships was held there in June 2021. An All-Cross event will be held in November 2021.

Springdale’s C.L. “Charlie” and Willie George Park features a lighted football field three lighted tennis courts, four artificial turf baseball fields and six soccer fields.

Bentonville is home to the Slaughter Pen Trail System.

More than 40 miles flow through Slaughter Pen with easy trail connections being provided to Lake Bella Vista or the Blowing Springs mountain bike trails system. Trails throughout the system range in difficulty from beginner to expert.

Bentonville is certainly capable of hosting simultaneous outdoor events in multiple sports. Memorial Park has a tennis center with 12 lighted courts, five lighted baseball and four lighted softball fields. The soccer complex includes seven lighted fields and two multi-purpose fields. There are four lighted sand volleyball courts. The aquatic center features an Olympic-size pool and diving pool. Bentonville Tiger and West Athletic Complexes are championship-caliber facilities with college-like stadiums seating more than 6,000 and indoor practice facilities.

In Texarkana, Ed Morrell Memorial Baseball Park is all about baseball with seven lighted baseball fields and two concession stands. Nearby Ermer Dansby Poindexter Sports Complex has an outstanding playing surface, new lights, 200-foot tournament fences, concession and picnic areas welcoming players to five softball fields.

When you come to Conway for sports, expect topSportsPlanningGuide.com

Photo courtesy of Arkansas Tourism Photo courtesy of Arkansas Tourism

KingKat Tournament, Helena

notch facilities. From the Conway Tennis Center, which opened in 2016 with eight lit courts, to the five-field City of Colleges Softball Park, Conway is a destination for sports of all types. Conway Station Park is a premier, 8-field baseball facility that hosts more baseball tournaments each year than any other single facility in the state.

Centennial Soccer Complex is a 12-field facility with concessions and restrooms available on site. Basketball and volleyball are also popular at the Don Owen Sports Center and McGee Center indoor facilities.

There’s plenty to fill your time between games as well.

Whether you’re into shopping, cycling, hiking or just grabbing a good bite to eat, you will find whatever it is you’re looking for in Conway.

Located near the Arkansas River and Lake Dardanelle, Russellville is all about outdoor sports. Russellville Soccer Complex has multiple lighted fields, while Lake Dardanelle State Park is ideal for fishing tournaments. Pleasant View Park, Shiloh Park and M J Hickey Park combine for six softball fields, seven baseball fields with lighted pavilions and picnic areas.

Softball says it all at Jonesboro’s Southside Softball Complex. The complex has 10 lighted softball fields, six batting cages and two large concession stands. The complex is host to Arkansas’s oldest youth tournament, the Mountain Dew Grand Slam Classic. Another Jonesboro favorite is the Joe Mack Campbell Sports Complex. Batting cages are part of the 14 baseball fields, 10 with turf infields and grass outfields and are ideal from 7U to 14U. Soccer features six micro fields adaptable for 6U to high school. Craighead Forest Park will keep athletes busy with basketball, hiking, disc golf, softball, volleyball, mountain biking and fishing. The park is a favorite of RV travelers journeying to Jonesboro for competition.

Pine Bluff’s Taylor Field Baseball Stadium is a classic.

Constructed in 1939 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it seats 2,400 with 1,800 behind home

Pitcher delivers at C.L. “Charlie” and Willie George Park, Springdale

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plate. Perfect for serious tournament competition, it measures 315’ down the lines, 360’ dead center and 390’ to a tricky deep corner of centerfield.

Disc golf rights holders Fort Smith is calling you to the largest disc golf course in the area at Ben Geren Regional Park. The park also includes 12 soccer fields, 10 softball fields, six lighted tennis courts and three sand volleyball courts. More than 7.4 miles of paved biking trails and 14.10-miles of rough mountain terrain attract biking enthusiasts. Riverfront Skate & Bike Park features pump tracks, a 12’ vertical wall, a Plexiglass wall, and cool art used as a skating apparatus. The park has a bridge that connects to the Greg Smith River trail.

Only at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs will you f ind horse racing and track & f ield. The track with 100+ years of horse racing tradition hosts The Arkansas Derby during the racing season. Rights holders take notice the track’s inf ield has proven a perfect venue for the Arkansas High School Cross Country Championships.

Nearby Majestic Park Baseball Complex was designed for youth baseball and softball tournaments. Three f ields are 225’ to center, lighted and fenced with artif icial turf inf ields and outf ields and stationary mounds. Two additional f ields 200’ and 400’ to center are lighted and fenced. Dugouts are covered.

When the Games Go Indoors Arkansas Has You Covered

Staying in Hot Springs, the Bank OZK Arena is perfect for basketball, cheer, volleyball, pickleball and concerts and is no stranger to big-time competition. The arena has hosted the Sunbelt College Basketball Championships, FLW Fishing Tournament and state championships in basketball, cheer and GAC Volleyball and the U.S. Indoor Pickleball Championship. Connected to the Hot Springs Convention Center and hotels, the arena has convenient accommodations for athletes and attendees.

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Sports Planning Guide

Photo courtesy of Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission

Photo courtesy of Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

Wrestling tournament, Little Rock

Poly vs Titans, Pine Bluff

Fort Smith Convention Center is well suited to host volleyball, dance and gymnastic events. The 116,000-square-foot center is flexible with the ability to tailor to multiple events’ special needs. More than 3,400 hotel rooms, dining options and shopping are within walking distance to the center.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Jack Stephens Center is a multi-purpose facility home to the university’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and women’s volleyball. The center has hosted the state’s High School Wrestling Tournament, regional cheer and dance competitions and the U.S. Baton Twirling Championships.

The Jones Center in Springdale houses a year-round ice arena, junior Olympic-size lap pool, basketball court and indoor track. A wonderful venue for skating competitions, there’s a café for grabbing a bite on campus. Springdale Recreation Center is an ideal facility for hosting basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer for any age. The newly remodeled center features six hardwood courts and two indoor soccer fields.

Pine Bluff Convention Center hosts basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and boxing events in its 23,000-square-foot arena. With NCAA-approved lighting and impressive audio-visual technology the center is home of the King Cotton Holiday Classic basketball tournament, a premier national-level high school basketball tournament. Pine Bluff Aquatic Center is a first-class facility with an eight-lane 25-yard short course competition pool and a therapy pool. The center accommodates 1,600 people with a state-of-the-art timing scoreboard.

Texarkana Arkansas Convention Center is a premier location for regional events in the growing eSports competition segment.

Indoors or outdoors you’ll find the perfect facility for just about every competitive event. Get started with a call to Shelbey Morris, Sales Consultant/Division of Arkansas Tourism 501-682-1081, or email Shelbey.Morris@arkansas.gov. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

ARKANSAS SPORTS The sales section of Arkansas Tourism, in collaboration with the Arkansas Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, promote The Natural State as a prime sports destination in the United States and internationally. Professional, collegiate, interscholastic, amateur and youth events are all welcome. Arkansas is home to outstanding destinations, sites and venues that enhance recruiting efforts and support events coming to the state. Sports tourism enhances the quality of life for residents of Arkansas and presents a welcoming place to visit and play for visitors. The 13 partners of Arkansas Tourism share a common goal of assuring sporting events will achieve their greatest success.

BENTONVILLE KNOWN AS THE MOUNTAIN BIKE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, BENTONVILLE IS A TOWN WHERE PROGRESS MEETS HISTORY AND SPORTS AND ARTS MEET INNOVATION. Bentonville Tiger Athletic Complex

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT 1. Slaughter Pen Trails Bike events

The Slaughter Pen trails in Bentonville provide a unique urban mountain biking experience. The 40- plus miles of single-track flow alongside the paved Razorback Regional Greenway and

by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, where the path is dotted with public art. The Slaughter Pen system includes trails ranging in difficulty from beginners to expert, with connector trails taking riders between the various hubs of the system.

2. Memorial Park

Baseball, softball, tennis, biking Memorial Park is home to several sporting facilities, including a tennis complex with 12 lighted courts, five lighted baseball fields, six lighted softball fields and four T-ball fields. The soccer complex has seven lighted soccer fields and two multi-purpose fields. It has two basketball courts, four lighted sand volleyball courts, one multiuse skate and bike part, and an aquatic center featuring an Olympic size pool and a separate diving pool with a water slide.

3. Bentonville Tiger and West Athletic Complexes Baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, track, skateboarding

Both complexes have numerous facilities, college-like stadiums, and indoor practice facilities. Events can seat over 6,000 people with over 232,000 square feet. Both feature courts, arenas, auxiliary gyms, and hardwood surfaces. There are also track/soccer stadiums; championship softball fields and Philips Park, a 40-acre home to Bentonville High School and American Legion baseball teams.

DIVISION OF ARKANSAS TOURISM

VISIT BENTONVILLE

Shelbey Morris Sales Specialist 501-682-1081 Shelbey.Morris@arkansas.gov

Dax Hale Sports Sales Manager 479-326-8421 dax@visitbentonville.com

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CONWAY

FAYETTEVILLE

WITH MORE THAN 1,200 HOTEL ROOMS, CONWAY HAS PLENTY OF SPACES FOR YOU TO REST YOUR HEAD AFTER ENJOYING A LONG DAY AT A TOURNAMENT.

FAYETTEVILLE IS MORE THAN A CITY. IT’S AN EXPERIENCE. WITH A SLEW OF BIG-TIME SPORTS, FAYETTEVILLE IS A GREAT PLACE TO HOLD A TOURNAMENT OR EVENT OF ANY STYLE.

Conway Station Park

Razorback Natatorium

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

1. Conway Station Park

1. Kessler Regional Park

A top park in the state, Conway Station Park is home to eight fields with a 225-foot fence, while the final field features a 350-foot fence, giving sluggers an impressive challenge to aim for. This massive park is also equipped with its own concession stand, heated/cooled bathrooms, maintenance shed, and a beautiful pond.

This regional park is home to six lighted soccer, four lighted baseball fields, and two restroom/concession buildings. On its 620 acres, the park is also home to historic Kessler Mountain. The park operates as a regional sports park with popular areas for mountainbikers and hikers, with more than 10 miles of natural-surface trails that tie back into the amazing Razorback Green-way trail system.

2. City of Colleges Park

2. Baum Walker Stadium

The gorgeous layout of this lovely award-winning park in Conway allows enough room for five entire softball fields. After being completed in 2009, City of Colleges Park has become known as one of the top softball parks in the area. It also features a playground for children to enjoy. This park is also home to Central Baptist College, St. Joseph High School, and Homeschool softball.

Large enough for more than 10,000 visitors, Baum Walker Stadium is home to the University of Arkansas baseball team.

This stadium won Baseball America’s poll of best college facilities in 1998 and took second in the same poll five years later. Baum Walker Stadium has hosted five NCAA Regionals and a NCAA Super Regional and has undergone three renovations including the enclosure of hitting and pitching cages and adding 2,600 chair back seats.

Baseball

Softball

3. Conway Tennis Center Tennis

This beautiful tennis center has eight courts where lessons, leagues, events and reservations are available for players to hone their tennis skills. If a reservation is made, the Conway Tennis Center even rents out ball machines for a small fee. The center is made up of eight courts surrounding two smaller buildings with bathrooms and lounging areas.

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3. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Football

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium houses the University of Arkansas football team. Following a major $110 million renovation project prior to the 2001 season, the stadium’s capacity was increased to 80,000. The east concourse is “Championship Alley” with displays of conference championships, the 1964 national title and every football letterman. The south end zone concourse is “All-American Alley” and is dedicated to Razorbacks All-Americans.

CONWAY CVB

EXPERIENCE FAYETTEVILLE

Rachel Shaw Executive Director 501-932-5409 rachel@conwayarkansas.org

Tina Archer-Cope VP of Sales 479-521-5776 ext 310 tarcher@experiencefayetteville.com

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Soccer, baseball, mountain-biking, hiking

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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FORT SMITH

HOT SPRINGS

WHEN YOU AREN’T ENJOYING A SPORTING EVENT, YOU CAN RELIVE HISTORY THROUGH STORIES AND RE-ENACTMENTS OF OUTLAWS, LAWMEN AND SOLDIERS IN FORT SMITH.

ENJOY A RELAXING SPA VACATION GETAWAY IN HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, WHERE YOU CAN HIKE, BIKE, SHOP, AND EAT BEFORE AND AFTER YOUR EVENT.

Riverfront Skate & Bike Park

Bank OZK Arena

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

1. Ben Geren Regional Park

1. Bank OZK Arena

This picturesque park is home to the largest disc golf course in the area, 12 soccer fields, 10 softball fields, six lighted tennis courts, three sand volleyball courts, and plenty more. This regional park has its own 7.4 miles of paved biking trails and 14.10 miles of rough trails for mountain bikers. Torraine Lake is also on the property and covers almost 42 acres of the park.

Bank OZK Arena seats 6,300 and is connected to the Hot Springs Convention Center, Hotel Hot Springs and Embassy Suites. Bank OZK Arena has hosted the Sunbelt College Basketball Championships, FLW Bass Fishing Tournament, Arkansas High School Basketball Championships, Arkansas High School Cheer Championships, and GAC Volleyball Championships. The Arena has hosted U.S. Indoor Pickleball Championships, and concerts ranging from Foreigner to Tony Bennett to Willie Nelson.

Soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, disc golf, biking

2. Fort Smith Convention Center Volleyball, dance, gymnastics

Basketball, cheer, volleyball, pickleball, concerts

Located at the center of historic downtown Fort Smith, the convention center resides within minutes of more than 3,400 hotel rooms and just steps from the best shopping, dining, attractions and live entertainment in the city. The convention center offers 116,800 square feet of practical and flexible event coordinating space, and is also home to the ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center. The center contains a 40,000-squarefoot exhibit hall, eight standard meeting rooms, planning/event services and more.

2. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

3. Riverfront Skate & Bike Park

Baseball, softball

Skateboard, bikes

Still freshly finished from the Fall of 2018, this 12,000-squarefoot park is perfect for people of all talent levels. The park features a great view of the Arkansas River, pump tracks, a 12-foot vertical wall, a Plexiglas wall, art as skating apparatuses, and more. The Riverfront Skate & Bike Park even has a bridge that connects it to the Greg Smith River Trail. This park is great for beginners and even more advanced level skaters and bikers.

FORT SMITH CVB Amy Jones Director of Sales 479-788-6533 amy.jones@fortsmithar.gov SportsPlanningGuide.com

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Horse Racing, track and field, concerts Oaklawn is known for its 100 + year tradition of professional horse racing which is highlighted each season by The Arkansas Derby. The tracks infield has also proven to be a great setting for the Arkansas High School Cross Country Championships. Oaklawn’s newly opened expansion includes a 4-star hotel, spa, multi-purpose event & concert hall, multiple restaurants, sportsbook, and casino.

3. Majestic Park Baseball Complex The Majestic Park Baseball Complex was specifically designed for youth baseball & softball tournaments and features five fields.

Three of the fields are 225 feet to center field, lighted, and fenced with artificial turf infields and outfields, as well as, stationary mounds. The other two fields are 200 feet and 400 feet to center field, lighted and fenced. This new park is one of the best in its area with covered dugouts, covered grandstand seating, concessions and playground.

VISIT HOT SPRINGS Craig Durmon Sales Manager 501-321-2027 cdurmon@hotsprings.org Sports Planning Guide

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JONESBORO

LITTLE ROCK

FILLED WITH GIFT SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, ART GALLERIES AND A DAY SPA, JONESBORO HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AFTER A LONG DAY AT A TOURNAMENT.

THE NATURAL STATE’S CAPITAL CITY, LITTLE ROCK IS HOME TO FABULOUS SHOPPING, IMPRESSIVE ART GALLERIES AND SOME OF THE FINEST DINING IN ARKANSAS. Jack Stephens Center

Joe Mack Campbell Sports Complex

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

1. Craighead Forest Park

1. Rebsamen Tennis Center

This 770-acre park opened in 1937 and in the last 20 years, the park has gone through numerous renovations improving the playgrounds (4) and RV campgrounds (41 spaces).Craighead features many popular outdoor activities such as basketball, hiking, disc golf, softball, volleyball, mountain biking, camping and fishing.

The Rebsamen Tennis Center is a tennis player’s utopia.

Open year round, the tennis center offers 17 lighted courts, three lighted backboards and is a past recipient of the USTA‘s National Public Facility of the Year Award. Rebsamen hosts Adult and Junior Arkansas tournaments, and the tennis center has hosted USTA Southern Region tournaments and an annual USTA Men’s Pro Circuit Tournament.

Basketball, hiking, disc golf, softball, volleyball, fishing

2. Joe Mack Campbell Sports Complex

Tennis

Baseball, Soccer

2. Jack Stephens Center

The Joe Mack Campbell Sports Complex is home to 14-stunning baseball fields as well as 19 soccer fields. Right off Interstate 555, this complex has baseball fields that accommodate athletes from 7U to 14U leagues. Ten of the 14 fields have turf infields and manicured grass outfields. The complex also has its own batting cages. Soccer has 6 micro fields for 6U all the way up to high-school sized fields. Spectators can enjoy watching all the games in designated picnic areas around the complex with 4 full-function concession stands.

Basketball, wrestling

The $25-million Jack Stephens Center is a state-of-the-art 5,600-seat, multi-purpose arena at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Stephens Center hosts the school’s men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, the Boy’s and Girl’s State High School Wrestling Tournament, regional dance and cheer competitions, and the U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships.

3. Southside Softball Complex

Soccer, lacrosse, tennis

Softball

The Southside Softball Complex hosts the Mountain Dew Grand Slam Classic, the oldest youth tournament in the state of Arkansas. The complex has six batting cages and 10 softball fields, split between four pavilions. The softball complex also has two large and fully equipped concession stands for athletes and spectators to enjoy food at the ballpark. The fields are available day or night with updated lighting system installed in 2018.

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At 1,700 acres, Burns Park is Arkansas’s largest municipal park. The Burns Park Soccer Complex boasts 17 irrigated fields with tournament lighting on seven fields and 1,500 parking spaces. The complex has hosted several US Youth Soccer Region 3 Tournaments and the 2008 USYS National Tournament. The Burns Park Tennis Center has 24 lighted outdoor courts, six lighted indoor courts and has hosted state and regional tournaments and a Davis Cup Tournament!

JONESBORO PARKS AND RECREATION

LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

Danny Kapales, Director 870-933-4604 dkapales@jonesboro.org

David Russell, Senior Director of Sports Sales 501-370- 3227 davidr@littlerock.com

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3. Burns Park

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NORTH LITTLE ROCK PINE BLUFF NATURAL BEAUTY MIXED WITH A BUSTLING SOCIAL AND DINING SCENE MAKES NORTH LITTLE ROCK A FABULOUS DESTINATION FOR TOURNAMENT PLANNERS AND ATHLETES.

THIS ARKANSAS DELTA CITY IS EXPERIENCED IN HOSTING A VARIETY OF SPORTING EVENTS. BE SURE TO ENJOY THE MANY MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS PINE BLUFF HAS TO OFFER. Pine Bluff Convention Center

Burns Park

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

1. Burns Park

1. Pine Bluff Aquatics Center

The premier soccer complex of the South, Burns Park Soccer Complex contains 17 irrigated fields located between White Bayou and the Arkansas River. The complex features tournament lighting on one quadrant, Stadium Field, pavilions and 1,500 parking spaces. Sitting on 135 acres of preserved wetland, Burns Park is home to three-mile hiking and biking trails, trees and plenty of scenic beauty. The 1,700 acres of Arkansas’ largest ubran municipal park offers two 18-hole golf courses, a baseball complex, softball complex, Bonzai BMX track, the Burns Park Soccer Complex, a tennis center, disc golf course, playgrounds, camping and a seasonal amusement park.

Located in the heart of Pine Bluff, the $11 million 36,000-square-foot center offers first class facilities including an eight-lane, 25-yard short course competition pool with water maintained at 82 degrees, state-of-the-art timing scoreboard, a therapy pool, water sports area, and can accommodate up to 1,600 people.

Soccer, golf, baseball, tennis, disc golf, BMX

2. North Little Rock Riverfront Park Bicycling, running

This 3.3-acre park with a 17-mile trail system along the Arkansas River is the perfect starting point for large events. A popular run for numerous 5K events, adventure races and marathons there are plenty of open spaces for competitors to relax after the event.

Competitive cycling events also call North Little Rock Riverfront Park home with riders in Arkansas’s largest competition the Big Dam Bridge 100 beginning their journey here.

3. North Little Rock High School

Football, baseball, basketball, softball, wrestling North Little Rock High School opened multiple new facilities in the 2015-16 school year, including a brand new 5,000-seat stadium and track which is utilized for football. Along with the stadium is a fitness center, locker rooms, a weight room and a wrestling room.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Erica Warden, Director of Events 501-404-0192 erica@northlittlerock.org SportsPlanningGuide.com

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Swimming

2. Taylor Field Baseball Stadium Baseball

Taylor Field Baseball Stadium is a regulation-size baseball field featuring a U-shaped grandstand that holds 1,800 seats behind home plate. The stadium was constructed in 1939 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It seats 2,400 and reaches 315 feet to the right and left field foul poles, 360 feet in left centerfield, and 390 feet to the deep corner in centerfield.

3. Pine Bluff Convention Center

Basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, boxing Home of the world-renowned King Cotton Holiday Classic basketball tournament, this impressive center features a 23,000-square-foot arena with tiered seating for up to 7,600.

Recent upgrades include the latest in audio visual technology such as overhead communications module with live video feed, replay, and broadcast, 12-foot videoboards, 18-foot digital scorer’s table, NCAA-approved lighting, renovated restrooms and dressing rooms, and adjoining concourses with flat-screen monitors and concession stands.

EXPLORE PINE BLUFF Sheri Storie Director 870-534-2121 sstorie@explorepinebluff.com Sports Planning Guide

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ROGERS

RUSSELLVILLE

THIS VIBRANT OUTDOOR COMMUNITY FEATURES GLISTENING LAKES, MUSEUMS OVERFLOWING WITH ARTWORK, AND A VARIETY OF RESTAURANTS FOR ALL TASTES.

SITUATED NEAR THE ARKANSAS RIVER, THIS CITY OFFERS 23 PARKS, SOCCER, SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL COMPLEXES AND PLENTY OF OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES. Lake Dardanelle State Park

Veterans Memorial Park

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

1. Rogers Regional Sports Park

1. Russellville Soccer Complex

Rogers Regional Sports Park features six baseball/softball fields. Each field has a water fountain in every dugout and a designated warm-up area for each team. The park has a central concession stand and is linked to the Rogers trail system.

Russellville Soccer Complex has multiple soccer fields for tournament play and plenty of open space for outdoor activities. The park has a 1.1-mile trail that can be used for running and walking. The path is also paved so it’s ADA accessible. The soccer complex has 3 lighted fields.

Softball, baseball, kickball

2. Veterans Memorial Park

Soccer, baseball, softball, football, quidditch, lacrosse, rugby, kickball Veterans Memorial Park features two baseball fields, two softball fields, five grass multi-purpose fields, and one turf multi-purpose field. Amenities include grills, pavilions, picnic tables, sand volleyball courts, a pond, and it is connected to the Rogers trail system.

3. Beaver Lake

Fishing, boating, swimming, scuba diving, kayaking Beaver Lake, a 28,370-acre freshwater lake, is located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains and is a popular place to boat, camp, fish, scuba dive, canoe, wake board, kayak, stand up paddle board, and swim. It is nationally renowned for bass fishing and has become a destination for fishing tournaments.

4. Arkansas Athletes Outreach

Basketball, volleyball, cheer, dance, wrestling, table tennis, flag football, lacrosse Arkansas Athletes Outreach is a newly built indoor/outdoor facility that features four indoor multi-purpose courts and two outdoor 100-yard grass fields. The Rogers facility has a sister property in Fayetteville with additional courts.

VISIT ROGERS Luke Wiggins Director of Sales 479-619-3191 luke@rogerslowell.com 12

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Soccer, hiking

2. Lake Dardanelle State Park Fishing, hiking, camping

This park is located in two areas on Lake Dardanelle, a 34,300 acre reservoir on the Arkansas River. It features a fishing pier, boardwalk trail and visitor center with five aquariums and the Lakeview Room meeting facility. There are 57 campsites in the Russellville area of the park. The park is also a National Park Service-certified site on the Trail of Tears water route.

3. Pleasant View Park, Shiloh Park, M. J. Hickey Park Baseball, softball, swimming

Pleasant View Park and Shiloh Park have 6 softball fields with covered pavilions, restrooms and a dog park.

The 7-field M.J. Hickey Park baseball complex has 3-lighted pavilions, restrooms, picnic tables and a 50-meter municipal swimming pool. The baseball and softball fields all feature benches, barbeque grills and picnic table so fans can eat heartily while enjoying the action.

RUSSELLVILLE TOURISM & VISITORS CENTER Christie Graham, Executive Director 479-967-1762 cgraham@discoverrussellville.org @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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SPRINGDALE

TEXARKANA

SPRINGDALE IS FOR EXPLORING. WORLD-CLASS CYCLING TRAILS, PRO BASEBALL AT ARVEST BALLPARK, ART, AND HISTORY COLLIDE FOR A CHANGE OF SCENERY AROUND EVERY CORNER.

UNIQUE IN THAT IT STRADDLES TWO STATES, TEXAS AND ARKANSAS, THIS CITY HAS A WIDE ARRAY OF RESTAURANTS, SHOPPING AND A BUSTLING NIGHTLIFE.

Ed Worrell Memorial Baseball Park

The Jones Center

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

1. C.L. “Charlie” and Willie George Park

1. Ed Worrell Memorial Baseball Park

This park features several amenities including one lighted football field, three lighted tennis courts, four artificial turf baseball fields with concessions, six soccer fields, a dog park, a paved walking trail, two pavilions, play structures and a splash pad open daily.

Ed Worrell Park in Texarkana has 115 acres of recreational land area with amenities including seven lighted baseball fields, running/jogging trails, parking, restrooms and two concession stands. It features concessions, off-street parking and is located near the Texarkana Regional Airport.

2. The Jones Center

2. Ermer Dansby Pondexter Sports Complex

This state-of-the-art 220,000-square-foot recreation, community and event center is located in the heart of Northwest Arkansas. This massive facility houses a year-round ice arena, junior-Olympic-sized lap pool, activity pool with a slide, world-class bike park, basketball court, fitness center, indoor track, conference center and chapel/auditorium.

Also located in the center is a cafe with a menu designed in collaboration with local partners.

The Ermer Dansby Pondexter Sports Complex is home to five fields, a walking trail, playground, a huge pavilion, concession stand, air-conditioned bathrooms, plenty of shade for a picnic, and lots of parking. Guests appreciate the digital scoreboards courtesy of Youth Scoreboards of Arkansas as well as the convenience of using debit/credit cards at the concession stand. Players and coaches enjoy the playing surface, new lights and 200-foot tournament fences.

3. Springdale Recreation Center

3. Texarkana Arkansas Convention Center

This newly remodeled facility boasts six indoor hardwood courts for basketball and volleyball, two indoor soccer fields, group fitness areas, and weight training equipment. The center is home to area youth sports and is an ideal location to host a tournament or camp at any age level. Ample parking, spectator seating, and full-service concessions are available to accommodate guests. The Springdale Recreation Center offers yearly memberships and facility reservations to meet any number of needs.

Nestled in southwest Arkansas, just one mile f rom the Texas border in Texarkana, the Arkansas Convention Center is the premier location for events in its area. Its 10,000-square foot state-of-the-art facility was newly constructed in 2014, and is conveniently located on Interstate 30, just miles from I-49 south. The ballroom can be divided into four breakout rooms and it features a brightly lit gallery space that connects the four rooms.

Baseball, softball, football, soccer, tennis, walking

Skating, swimming, fitness

Basketball, volleyball, soccer, group fitness, weight training

Baseball, softball

Conventions

EXPLORE SPRINGDALE

CITY OF TEXARKANA ARKANSAS

Bill Rogers, President 479-872-2222 bill@chamber.springdale.com

Adam Dalby Sports Manager 870-779-4943 Adam.Dalby@txkusa.org

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Baseball

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JON SCHMIEDER

SPORTS TOURISM TRENDS FOR 2022

W

e have a secret … sports saved the tourism industry’s bacon in 2020 and 2021.

Yes, COVID-19 knocked us all for a loop, but one great thing came from it. Most tourism leaders across the country finally realized the value sports brings to the collective table. We say most because, ironically, there are still some destinations that are talking about when leisure travel and the meetings industry will bounce back.

The answer may be “never” but some are still holding out hope that the tourism industry will be back to normal in the near future. We think that is very unlikely. Sports tourism will continue to drive the bus for our industry in 2022 and likely the years that follow.

For our seventh edition of the SPG trends article, we did a little something different this year. We reached out to our entire Huddle Up Group team as well as a couple of key industry gatekeepers to compile this year’s list.

Without further ado, we offer you the top 10 trends we are closely following as we move into 2022.

1

Downsizing – Nearly every CVB, sports commission, or event organization we work with cut their staff in 2020 and 2021. Most reduced their working teams by 40-60% during the peak of the pandemic. Some have slowly started hiring people back, however many have not. A good number of folks figured out they could run with a leaner ship and are going to see if that is sustainable as things ramp back up.

2

Alignment – In times of crisis, communication becomes more important. This was certainly true of the sports tourism industry over the past 20 months. The pandemic forced tourism driven organizations to fight for declining resources, which means they had to be able to effectively message their mission and impact and how that aligns with the community

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“The New World”

they represent. This forced alignment should bear fruit in the future as communication lines are more open now than in years past.

3

Vulnerability – Many of the CEOs we have spoken to recently talked about the limited control they had over their funding sources. Most of the resources spent in our industry are discretionary. If nobody travels and bed taxes are not collected, tourism agencies suffer financially. If parents get furloughed, there is no money to spend on travel sports, including annual membership dues to NGBs. If events are cancelled, there are no registration fees collected and event owners lose a primary revenue source. It’s a vicious circle that leaves organizations at financial risk. The goal is to diversify revenue streams as much as possible so your organization is not vulnerable if one financial channel shuts down.

“The key is choosing the right tools to engage with and work through that will drive the highest and most efficient return on investment.”

4

Accountability – Resources are more limited today than in prior years. Given that we have to try to do more with less, the microscope is now on every transaction that is made. Every dollar has to have a good result and those that are tasked with governing our organizations are paying a lot more attention to how money is spent. Transparent organizations have a process for why decisions are made and document every move.

5

Choices – Today, our industry has an unprecedented number of resources available to leverage in an effort to drive our organizations forward. There are more conferences, events owners, digital tools, certifications, and (of course) consultants that sports organizations can use in an effort to grow their impact. The key is choosing the right tools to engage with and work through that will drive the highest and most efficient return on investment.

Going back to the previous item on accountability, industry leaders have to be sure and measure the results of every investment to preserve the integrity of their organizations.

6

Focus – We can all agree the pandemic has changed the way we all do business. This would include adjusting the approach on what events we look to partner on, whether you are an event owner or a destination. It’s more important today to “right size” the events you seek to host or produce to generate maximum impact. This can include how we market the event, when it takes place on the calendar, and even if we limit capacity to create scarcity in the marketplace.

7

Development Mentality – Destinations have been forced to become more of a creator than a responder. We work with many CVBs and sports commissions to help build a culture of “development.” These

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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organizations are now leading efforts to develop physical products (new venues), develop new events, develop human capital (staff and board), and to develop relationships (with local sporting clubs and regional/national event owners). Today, tourism leaders are proving to be more proactive than reactive. They are seeking to create vehicles to push their sports tourism agenda forward. Develop your pathway or leave it to others to potentially choose your fate for you.

8

Remote Control – This one is a carryover from last year’s list.

Working remotely is not just a trend that industry was forced to adopt due to the pandemic. It is here to stay. If anything is the “new normal” this is it.

Given that the generations entering the workforce today largely prefer flexibility, remote work teams were likely going to take over the business world anyway. COVID-19 just sped up the process. Some organizations we work with have decided to keep the remote work team in place, and a few in the extreme have decided to not renew their office leases.

9

Silent Sports – Several outdoor sports have seen massive spikes in participation the past two years.

Golf, canoe/kayak, and fishing (among others) all offer opportunities for those destinations that seek them.

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These “silent sports” have become a cornerstone for business development with many CVBs across the country.

10

DMO vs. CVB – We have seen more CVBs transition to a bigger vision for their destinations.

Numerous tourism bureaus are moving towards a destination marketing organization (or DMO) mission. The difference between the two is subtle but its important. DMOs are responsible for branding and marketing their destination beyond working to attract visitors as a primary mission. DMOs have a lot of verticals to contemplate and manage. Yes, tourism is one, but just one of many things a DMO blends into a community-wide strategy to put their destinations in the best light. We believe this trend is a good one in that DMOs typically have a broader stakeholder audience than CVBs might have, as the DMO works on promotional elements that would appeal to markets beyond tourism. These additional audiences could include the area’s business climate, economic development, politics, arts and culture, and the like.

By transitioning to a DMO, tourism suddenly has a more important and integrated seat at the larger table in these destinations.

While the past two years have been a rollercoaster, a lot of good has and

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com/Virrage Images

“Today, tourism leaders are proving to be more proactive than reactive. They are seeking to create vehicles to push their sports tourism agenda forward.”

will come from what we have all been through. Those that accept the challenges of the past and build from them rather than focus on them have a bright future ahead.

Good luck to all in 2022.

Yours in Sport, Jon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jon Schmieder is the Founder of the Huddle Up Group LLC, a sports industry consulting company led by award winning executives.

Schmieder has 25 years of experience in leading sports tourism and events organizations through strategic growth and increased community collaboration. The Huddle Up Group has worked with more than 250 sports organizations and destinations on over 150 strategic projects. In 2017 the Huddle Up Group was given the Superior Service Award, the highest honor a consulting firm can earn from the National Association of Sports Commissions. We can be reached at Jon@HuddleUpGroup.com or 602.369.6955.

To receive the weekly “Monday Huddle Up” visit www.HuddleUpGroup.com or sign up at www.tinyletter.com/JonSchmieder. © Huddle Up Group, 2021

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LITTLE ROCK LAKE DARDANELLE

Successful tournaments and sporting events are right at home in the Natural State. With the perfect combination of fields and facilities, plus plenty to see and do when the games are over, Arkansas is where teams and their families make winning memories. Find out more at Arkansas.com/sports.

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ARKANSAS.COM/SPORTS

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