2022 SPG State Guide to Sports in North Carolina

2022

NORTH CAROLINA GUIDE

Leave Your Ball at Home

North Carolina Sports Has Been a Leader in Supplying Facilities That Don’t Require a Ball

North Carolina Beaches are Calling Your Name Enjoy Some Fun in the Sun and Marvel at a Beautiful Coastline SPG2022_NC_Cover.indd 1

A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

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NC

SportsNC and its winning team of partners invite you to choose North Carolina for your future sporting event. Anchored by Visit North Carolina, North Carolina Amateur Sports, and the North Carolina Sports Association, SportsNC channels the expertise of local sports commissions and authorities, chambers of commerce, and convention and visitors bureaus into helping you create tailored experiences and ensuring that every tournament, game and trip is a success.

With world-class indoor and outdoor venues, top professional and collegiate teams, and exciting vacation destinations, North Carolina builds the action from your arrival to beyond the final whistle. As your dedicated partner, we will work with you to create unforgettable events and experiences that drive attendance, interest and success for athletes, families and fans.

Start of the All-American Marathon and the Mike to Mike Half Marathon Photo courtesy of Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

From amateur events to international championships, North Carolina can provide the perfect location for any sports activity. Situated in the center of the Eastern seaboard, North Carolina is an easy drive for the nearly 39 million potential event participants who live within 300 miles of our mountains, Atlantic coastline and Piedmont landscapes. With international and regional airports, extensive rail service and well-maintained highways, travel to, from and around North Carolina is fast and convenient.

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

We look forward to seeing you here soon.

Yours in Sports, The SportsNC Team https://www.sportsnc.com

Oceanfront on Carolina Beach Photo courtesy of Wilmington and Beaches CVB

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

NORTH CAROLINA 4 D o You Hear the North Carolina Beaches Calling?

6 L eave Your Ball at Home for These Fun Sports

©iStock.com/bgblue

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Winston-Salem

16 Nash County

10 Haywood County

18 Hickory Metro

12 Greenville-Pitt County

20 Alamance County

15 Cabarrus County

22 Mooresville

Site InSpections

Having fun!

Photo courtesy of Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority

ON THE COVER: Whitewater competition Photo courtesy of Nantahala Outdoor Center

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Rock climbing at Crowders Mountain State Park Photo courtesy of Gaston County Tourism Department

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DO YOU HEAR THE

NORTH CAROLINA BEACHES CALLING?

Enjoy some fun in the sun and marvel at one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country

Photo courtesy of Wilmington and Beaches CVB

By Isabella Wilkes

A Carolina beach family on the boardwalk

N

orth Carolina is filled with world-class venues for an assortment of sports perfect for teams of all ages and experience levels. When they aren’t competing, teams and their families can enjoy one of the nation’s most gorgeous shorelines. These cities and beaches along the coast offer an abundance of family-friendly fun that will satisfy all ages.

THE OUTER BANKS: AN ICONIC EXPERIENCE

The Outer Banks stretches more than 175 miles north to south along North Carolina’s shore, featuring endless expanses of shoreline and protected natural land broken up by small villages.

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A cruise down Highway 12 from Corolla to Hatteras allows you to see much of this area in a limited amount of time during your trip. In many parts of the Outer Banks, you can rent an off-road vehicle and drive it on the beach. Or, put that Jeep or SUV to the test and drive it right to the shore for a perfect day’s setup.

To squeeze in a history lesson before or after a big beach day, the Wright Brothers National Museum is a must-visit.

Here, you can stand in the exact spot where the Wright brothers took flight in the first airplane. A few minutes away, Jockey’s Ridge State Park is a great place to set up for the day, where you can marvel at the East Coast’s largest natural sand dune. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

The Crystal Coast spans 85 miles along the central coast of North Carolina. One way to explore this area and come away feeling like a local is through the numerous guided tours offered across the region. Some of the most popular include Crystal Coast Aviation, Hungry Town Tours, Sandbar Safari Fishing & Eco Tours, and Lookout Adventures.

There are multiple experiences that define the uniqueness of this region, making it a must-visit. Kids will love Beaufort Pirates Revenge, a boat ride on a pirate ship with a fully costumed crew, who put on a spectacular show of sword fighting, water cannon battles, and treasure hunting. At Shackleford Banks, you can have some of the few remaining wild herds of horses. Bogue Sound offers up conditions perfect for kiteboarding novices: shallow, warm, and calm waters for miles. Visit Blown Kiteboarding or Teach’s Kiteboarding to set up a lesson or rent equipment.

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH: A WATERSPORT HUB OF N.C.

The locals and tourists to Wrightsville Beach are known for being the active, outdoorsy type, so much so that the area is often referred to as the water sport hub of the nation.

There are multiple schools for surfing instruction at Wrightsville Beach for all ages and experience levels.

These include Crystal South Surf Camp, Indo Jax Surf School, Sean’s Private Surf Instruction and WB Surf Camp.

For those who would rather observe, these beaches are often filled with the state’s best surfers on days where conditions are right.

Scuba diving and snorkeling are popular activities off of Wrightsville Beach. About 40 miles off the coast, divers may find fossils of giant Megalodon teeth in their exploration of ancient reefs and ledges with Aquatic Safaris and WB Diving. To enjoy the entirety of the picturesque coastal city, take your group on the 10-mile River to Sea Bikeway. This path can be enjoyed by bikers of all ages and experience levels.

KURE BEACH: A QUAINT GETAWAY

To escape the bustling crowds and commercialism of an average beach town, Kure Beach is your ideal location.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area is the best stretch of beach to make a set-up for the day. This beach is relatively quiet and is kept pristine. The abundance of wildlife that visitors can see at this beach attracts birders and photographers from across the nation. Located nearby is SportsPlanningGuide.com

There are wonderful restaurants on the Beaufort Waterfront

Photo courtesy of Crystal Coast Tourism Authority

THE CRYSTAL COAST: PARADISE ON THE EAST COAST

Photo courtesy of Crystal Coast Tourism Authority

Cape Hatteras is arguably the best place to surf in all of North Carolina, with near-perfect waves for both expert surfers and beginners. For younger children, Pamlico Sound, located a short walk away from the cape, is a safer destination without the rough waters.

Horseback riding along the shores is an experience that can be found in few places in America other than the Outer Banks. Equine Adventures, Buxton Stables, and Hatteras Island Horseback Riding are just a few locations that can take your group on guided rides.

The views are great from the Cape Lookout Lighthouse

the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, home to over 2,000 animals including an albino alligator and a family of Asian small-clawed otters. Kure Beach is also known for its high-quality fishing locations like Kure Beach Fishing Pier.

CAROLINA BEACH: THE TOWN THAT HAS IT ALL

The appreciation that this town has for arts and culture is evident as soon as you arrive. The Carolina Beach Mural Project includes five beautiful murals and growing painted across the town, and there is always live music playing at The Fat Pelican or the Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar. Families will enjoy the Boardwalk Film and Fireworks Series, which runs June through August, and the Island of Lights Festival, a holiday event running from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. Carolina Beach State Park is the most popular destination in town to catch some rays. The boardwalk is a beach staple, featuring plenty of rides, carnival food favorites, gift shops, and games. From the Ferris wheel, your group will get an amazing view of both the city and the ocean, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

If your group wishes to avoid the crowds, there is also an abundance of walking trails along Carolina Beach State Park, where you can spot wild Venus fly traps and rare coastal birds. Carolina Beach Lake Park is an 11-acre freshwater lake located just a short drive away from the shore. This location is perfect for those who want to try out water sports like kayaking and paddle boarding without the pressures of being out in open water. You can also rent a boat at places like Carolina Beach Pontoon Rental to further explore these intercoastal waterways.

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Photo courtesy of raleighsports.org

BMX racing competition

LEAVE YOUR BALL AT HOME FOR THESE FUN SPORTS North Carolina sports has been a leader in supplying facilities and services that do not require a ball

F

By David Bodle

rom baseball and softball to soccer and virtually every sport that involves a ball, North Carolina has the venue and expertise to provide an outstanding experience and a successful event. Many sports that don’t require a ball also enjoy their own exceptional venues and memorable events in North Carolina. Here are some of those sports:.

WATERSPORTS

With a geographic footprint that goes from the mountains to the piedmont to the coast, there are an abundance of watersport competitive options. Nantahala Outdoor Center’s main campus is one of the oldest active paddle sports event sites. The host for the 2013 International Canoe Federation Canoe Freestyle World Championships, the site annually welcomes the nation’s oldest whitewater slalom race along with numerous other competitive events.

Lake Norman has a well-deserved reputation for hosting professional fishing tournaments out of Blythe Landing. Not to be overlooked is its reputation for hosting premier dragon boat races. The annual Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Race out of Ramsey Creek regularly attracts more than 5,000 attendees. A favorite stop for the Governor’s Cup Regatta, Jordan Lake is also ideal for professional fishing tournaments.

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Journeying to the coastal side of the state, Wilmington and Beaches is surrounded by water, including the ocean, a river, inlets and marshes and the Intracoastal Waterway.

Each lends itself to numerous watersports. Competitive surfing events are a fixture along with windsurfing, kite surfing and wakeboarding. Sailing, kayaking and rowing events find a home on the ocean, river or waterway. There’s plenty of fishing available, including saltwater and fresh water. Swimming events find a home in the ocean and sound while indoor swimming competitions are held at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Seahawk Natatorium and the local YMCA and YWCA.

DISC GOLF

As competitive disc golf competition grows and the athletes become more skilled, top facilities are opening across North Carolina. Diavolo at New Hope Disc Golf is located in the Town of Cary and part of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. Opened in 2020, it has been ranked No. 7 on UDisc’s list of The World’s Best Disc Golf Courses 2021. Earlier in 2021, Diavolo hosted the BODYARMOR State Games Disc Golf Championship and the 7th Annual Airborne @ Diavolo PDGA Tournament. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

SHOOTING, AX THROWING & HORSESHOES

Wilkesboro and Wilkes County are home to three top courses offering a variety of challenges for the novice or pro disc golfer. Fort Hamby at W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir offers beautiful lakefront disc golf and a variety of challenging terrain. North Wilkesboro’s Highland Hills is a woodland course with hills and hollers to provide a unique and fun playing experience. The crown jewel of Wilkesboro’s disc golf scene is Rolling Pines, the 2nd ranked course in North Carolina on Udisc. The layout is a beautifully manicured course trademarked by its tall pines.

Visit Lake Norman has also enjoyed the growing popularity of disc golf. Three area courses at Bradford Park, Robbins Park and Bailey Road Park have been used for PDGA World Championship events. Just off I-95 in Johnston County, disc golf courses can be found hosting events at East Clayton Community Park and Smithfield Community Park.

Fayetteville has more than 10 disc golf courses with Fowland Counter-Culture Outlet, Reservoir Park and Harris Lake County Park each receiving a 5/5 rating. Greenville-Pitt County is home to five regulation 18-hole courses, each having hosted local and regional tournaments with a history of hosting A-tier PDGA Tournaments. Gaston County adds disc golf locations and two Ultimate Frisbee courses to the state’s menu of offerings.

Fort Bragg’s Clay Target Center is located in Spring Lake and has hosted numerous specialty tournaments. Open to both civilians and military the center has welcomed the US Open Skeet Championship and the Armed Forces Skeet Championship.

Duncan Gun Shop and Range in North Wilkesboro maintains an indoor and outdoor shooting range and hosts numerous competitions throughout the year. Horseshoes is well worth the mention with more than two-dozen side-byside pits at Lowe’s Park at River Edge, Wilkesboro.

In Gaston County, there are two ax throwing venues that host competitive events. Valhalla Ax Throwing Company in Belmont and Ole Dallas Brewery in Dallas welcome competitors.

CHEER, DANCE, GYMNASTICS & MORE

ESports competitive events have exploded in North Carolina. Just about every destination with a convention center is hosting events. For more on eSports in the Tarheel State, visit the North Carolina Guide in the 2021 Sports Planning Guide, featuring the story “North Carolina is a Leader in ESports Competitions.”

The Crown Complex in Fayetteville is a four-building campus that has hosted ice hockey, roller derby, wrestling, boxing, cheerleading and dance competitions. Christian Cheer Nationals and All-American Dream Gymnastics Invitational are just a few national competitions that found a home in Fayetteville.

Wilmington Convention Center has hosted curling events, wrestling and cheerleading. In addition to the convention Center, CFCC Schwartz and the University of North Carolina Wilmington are capable of hosting every imaginable sport.

While the Wheeler Center in Belmont has hosted cheer and dance and tumbling, wrestling and eSports.

We’ve just begun to reflect on the competitive options for sports without a ball. For more information check all of North Carolina’s world-class facilities at sportsnc.org.

Wilkesboro boasts more than 50 miles of EPIC-rated single-track mountain biking trails. Forty miles of those thrilling trails are found at W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir. Annually, the Warrior Creek Trail hosts the Six Hours at Warrior Creek event, which attracts enthusiasts from around the country. Cub Creek Park in downtown Wilkesboro features more than 10 miles of exciting rides with wooden berms, water and a swinging cantilever bridge. The track is perfect for timing laps and sprint runs.

Fat Tire and IRONMAN races find the Wilmington Beaches and surrounding area very suitable. The NC Ironman 70.3 begins with a swim in the channel at Wrightsville Beach, cycling the countryside and a run through Wilmington ending in the Historic River District.

Wilmington also has a designated bicycle route that is suitable for competition, the Gary Shell Cross City Trail.

Additional bicycle routes are the Island Greenway in Carolina Beach and the Mountain Bike Trail at Blue Clay Bike Park in Castle Hayne. Chatham County is no stranger to cycling and running competition. The abundance of natural terrain is perfect for an IRONMAN 70.3 event and the Tobacco Road Marathon, a Boston Marathon qualifier.

Communities are also an important element in Cycle NC. Fayetteville’s 8th Annual All-American Marathon was held virtually in 2021, but plans are underway for the late spring event in 2022. Spartan Races can be found in Fayetteville, Concord and Asheville.

Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area just might be the best fit for rock climbing. Throughout the park there are approximately 60 established rock-climbing routes suitable for the beginner and advanced climber. Get a taste of running competition on Rocky Face Mountain at the 8th Annual Vertical Mile Challenge in June 2022 and the 3rd Annual Vertical Night Challenge in early October 2022.

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Photo courtesy of Visit Lake Norman

BIKING & RUNNING

Dragon boat racing on Lake Norman during Asian Fest

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Winston-Salem, NC

Scan to discover more of what Visit Winston-Salem offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

WITH AN INCREDIBLE ARRAY OF SPORTS FACILITIES, WINSTON-SALEM IS A MUST-SEE DESTINATION OF THE SOUTH

JDL Fast Track

Conveniently and centrally located, Winston-Salem is North Carolina’s fi th largest city and home to DI, DII and DIII institutions with world-class sports facilities. Numerous interstate highways and three international airports are located within 1.5 hours of the city.

Winston-Salem is also home to more than 5,000 hotel rooms and 50 hotel properties.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT RISE Indoor Sports

Basketball, volleyball, training, soccer, cheer, gymnastics Newly opened in 2021, RISE Indoor Sports is home to more than 123,000 square feet of fl xible, programmable space including eight high school regulation basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, 28,000-square-feet of sports indoor turf, 8,300-square-feet of Torque Performance and Fitness training, 6,000-square-feet of fitnes and cardio space, concessions with indoor and outdoor dining, and onsite meeting rooms.

JDL Fast Track

Indoor track & fiel This premium 105,000-square-foot facility is no stranger to prestige. Sporting a 200-meter oval track made of Mondotrack FTX surfaces, this complex has held multiple national championships since opening in 2012. Teams also have access to a 100-meter training track and an athletic trainer room. Hospitality suites await game day officials and oaches.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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Truist Sports Park

Lacrosse, soccer, field ockey, ultimate Truist Sports Park boasts 13 full-sized fields, including four artificial turf (450,000 otal square feet) and 11 of which are lighted. The field house provides concessions, offi e facilities and a multi-purpose meeting room with multi-media, audiovisual and seating for 120. Spectators enjoy elevated viewing areas, including the 1,400-seat stadium field.

Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex and Education Buildings

Hockey, wrestling, martial arts, gymnastics, archery The Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex and Education Buildings encompass a roughly 70acre property minutes from downtown. This multi-purpose complex features over 55,000 square feet of programmable event space, including a 4,000-seat arena at the WinstonSalem Fairgrounds Annex, home to the Carolina Thunderbirds, a minor league hockey team.

Wake Forest University Tennis Complex

Tennis, pickleball Built as the home to the Wake Forest men’s and women’s tennis teams along with the ATP’s

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Winston-Salem Open, the Wake Forest Tennis Center opened in the summer of 2011 as one of the finest acilities in all of college tennis. The state-of-the-art complex features 13 Laykold courts, the same court surface that is used at the US Open. The 64,000-square-foot indoor tennis center houses eight climate-controlled indirect-lighted Mondo-Ten tennis courts.

Enjoy a stroll through theOld Salem Museums & Gardensto tour dozens of 18th and 19th-century restored buildings.

Winston-Salem’s award-winning, walkable downtown boasts more than 100 restaurants, shops, art galleries, and nightlife options.

Truist Stadium

Family-friendly fun can be found

Baseball Truist Stadium is host to the Winston-Salem Dash, a Class-A advanced minor league affilia e of the Chicago White Sox. This downtown ballpark features 5,500 stadium-style seats, 16 luxurious suites on the Club Level, three concession stations, and a 200-foot LED outfield all scoreboard with video and animation capabilities.

at ROAR, a 42,000-square-foot entertainment venue, opening fall 2021.

Tanglewood Park offers 1,100 acres of recreation space, complete with a BMX track, aquatic center, equine facilities, soft golf course, signature golf courses, gardens, and more than eight miles of mountain bike and multi-use trails.

VISIT WINSTON-SALEM

T our the Reynolda Mile, a historic

Bonny Bernat, STS

stretch of homes, gardens, shops,

Senior Sports and Events Sales Manager

galleries and restaurants that

336-728-4215

comprise what was once the

Bonny@VisitWinstonSalem.com

country estate of tobacco

visitwinstonsalem.com

magnate R.J. Reynolds and his wife Katharine.

RISE Indoor Sports

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Visit Winston-Salem not only met our expectations but exceeded them. From the bid process, hotel and venue negotiations, pre-event planning to event execution, they were with us from beginning o t end, assisting us with whatever we needed. A truly great experience.”

— Corinne Shigemoto, Director of Membership and Events, USA Judo

Truist Stadium

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Wake Forest University Tennis Center

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Haywood County, NC

Scan to discover more of what Visit NC Smokies offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

THIS LOVELY PORTION OF THE COUNTRY OFFERS A TRUE AUTHENTIC OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE FILLED WITH ADVENTURE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES AND UNIQUE EVENT LOCATIONS

Blue Ridge Parkway

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The NC Smokies is a great plac e for hosting our annual event. All of our participants enjoy staying in the mountains, exploring the national park and parkway. They especially love the fresh mountain air and open space.”

— Matthew Bounds, SOWO Partners

Lake Junaluska

Maggie Valley

Haywood County, home to the Great Smoky Mountains, is located 20 miles west of Asheville, 20 minutes east of Cherokee and two hours and 30 minutes from Atlanta. Haywood County resides around 30 minutes from the Asheville Regional Airport, which offers daily flights across the country.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Lake Junaluska

Golfi g, fishi g, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, tennis Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, Lake Junaluska is a tranquil body of water that covers 200 acres amid a peaceful mountain setting. With 60,000 sq f t of meeting and event space in total and room for 2,000 overnight visitors the lake is ready to host your next event.

Maggie Valley Festival Grounds

Festivals, concerts, car shows, archery, grass volleyball, 3v3 soccer The festival grounds, which reside in the heart of Maggie Valley is within walking distance of shopping, dining and lodging. This 8-acre fenced in facility includes a permanent stage, lights, restrooms and plenty of parking.

Smoky Mountain Event Center

Equestrian, dog competitions, cornhole, timber-sports, CrossFit, archery The fairgrounds is comprised of two

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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large exhibit halls, a covered regulation size arena, a livestock barn, 30 stalls and beautiful grounds with Smoky Mountain views, these versatile facilities will satisf y a range of needs. This facility is located next to Lake Junaluska and just minutes from both Waynesville and Maggie Valley.

Lake Logan

Swimming, kayaking, cycling, fishi g, running, festivals Located in a pristine valley near the Blue Ridge Parkway, Lake Logan is a 300-acre sanctuary that houses lakeside cabins featuring decks with incredible views, firepla es and kitchenettes. There is a permanent stage in the lower meadow and a large dining hall with meeting space.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Cycling, hiking, trail running The first national ru al parkway to be designed for a leisure-type driving experience, the Blue Ridge Parkway’s varied topography and numerous vista points

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offer easy public access to spectacular views of Appalachian rural landscapes and forested mountains.

Chestnut Mountain Nature Park

Mountain Biking, Cycling, Trail Running, Hiking This newly created 450-acre nature park is located in Canton. Berm Park is a Mountain Bike complex with-in Chestnut Mountain and will feature 6,835 linear feet of trails!

Additionally there will be over 15 miles of multi-use, hiking and biking trails when all phases of the plan are complete, spanning both the front country and backcountry.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES The most visited park in the country, Great Smoky Mountains National Parkencompasses 522,419 acres and is internationally recognized for its mountains, waterfalls, biodiversity and forests.

Considered by many to be America’s Favorite Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway passes beautiful topography and picturesque vista points.

Dale’s Wheel Through Time Museum, in Maggie Valley, is home to the world’s premier collection of rare American motorcycles,

VISIT NC SMOKIES

memorabilia and a distinct array of unique American automobiles.

Ben Wilder 828-944-0762

Scenic Lake Junaluska is home to

ben@visitncsmokies.com

the Lake Junaluska Conference

visitncsmokies.com

and Retreat Center, which hosts a variety of events.

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Greenville, NC

Scan to discover more of what Greenville-Pitt County Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

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

Aaron Hines/City of Greenville, NC

Tar River View of Uptown Greenville

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 o meet travelers’ needs. For connections to and from Charlotte, local PittGreenville Airport offers flights via American Eagle.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

ECU’s North Recreational C omplex

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

Baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field volleyball East Carolina University’s facilities are stateof-the-art and home to some exceptional collegiate talent. These same venues are also @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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available 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, fully lit DowdyFicklen 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

Baseball, Softball 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, and played host to the Little League Softball® World Series in 2021 for the first time and loo s forward to being its new home. The stadium is also the permanent home to the Greenville Little League’s City Championship Series, and could be the site of your next big event! While players have been stepping up to the plate here since the 1950s, the stadium itself 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 spa e for lawn seating - in all the stadium can seat around 1,000 spectators.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

Greenville Convention Center

Martial arts, Gymnastics, Dance, Cheer, Cornhole Situated on 32 sprawling acres, the Greenville Convention Center Campus features over 91,000 square feet of fl xible indoor and outdoor event space, including a 57,000-square-foot convention center with 28-foot-high ceilings. Three on-site premiere hotels offer over 400 rooms, two restaurants and bars, indoor and outdoor pools, ample parking, shuttle service, on-site catering, and much more with an additional 1,700 rooms within fi e minutes of the campus.

The Convention District is also convenient to lots of restaurants and retail shopping, and a just short drive to the Uptown and Dickinson Avenue Districts, as well as the Greenville Town Common on the beautiful Tar River.

The new NC Museum of Natural Sciences-Greenvillecampus on Dickinson Avenue offers STEM exhibits and activities for children and adults to explore nature, learn history and do science. The onsite The Art Lab incubator also offers visitors a chance to visit and shop with local artists while they work.

Knee Deep Adventures and Riverside Recreationare watercraft outfit ers who rent out kayaks and stand-up paddleboards so you 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

GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

for everyone.

Paul Sheehan, Director of Sports Dev.

Treat your sweet tooth at Simply

252-329-4200, ext. 4232

Natural Creamery & Jersey Farm

paul@visitgreenvillenc.com

in Ayden where there are ice cream

www.visitgreenvillenc.com/sports

sundaes and cones galore.

Rugby at ECU’s North Recreation C omplex

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Aaron Hines/City of Greenville, NC

Little League Softball World Series at Stallings Stadium

Aaron Hines/City of Greenville, NC

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Hosting the 2021 Little League So ftball World Series at its new home in Greenville was truly an amazing experience both on and off the field not only for all the participants and volunteers, but also for all the communities that made the trip to support their teams. We look forward to returning in 2022 as we continue to find n w ways to provide life-long memories to girls.”

— Demiko Ervin, Director of Urban Initiative, Little League Baseball & Softball®

Tae Kwon Do at Greenville Convention Center

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Cabarrus County, NC ONE OF THE TOP MOTORSPORT DESTINATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, CABARRUS COUNTY ALSO FEATURES PLENTY OF GREAT RESTAURANTS, VENUES AND ATTRACTIONS

Scan to discover more of what Visit Cabarrus offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The Team at Cabarrus County CVB have been amazing to work with.

With each of our events in Cabarrus County, they have been more than helpful and accommodating from start to finish. abarrus County CVB is among the best support team we deal with in the country.”

West Cabarrus Turf Complex

— Kevin Williams President, World Karting Association

Carolina Courts

Just outside of Charlotte is a motorsport fan’s dream destination: Cabarrus County.

The closest major airport o t Cabarrus County is Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which is located 20 minutes southwest of the county.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES In the heart of rejuvenated Downtown Kannapolis, Atrium Health Ballpark is open daily as a public park. Catch a Cannon Ballers game or enjoy the amenities of this state-of-the-art facility anytime.

Concord Mills Mallis where visitors can get plenty of shopping done with a number of popular brands and stores to choose from including Adidas, Aeropostale, Coach and Forever 21.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

West Cabarrus Turf Complex

Brand new and game-day ready West Cabarrus High School Turf Complex encompasses three new turf fields—on stadium field and t o practice fields. Per ect for tournament play, each state-of-the-art field is equipped with lights and eatures T°Cool ® evaporative cooling technology. Each field is lined or football, soccer, and ticmarked for lacrosse. Cabarrus County is home to fi e locations with turf fields, all in clos proximity to each other, over 30 hotels, and dining and entertainment options perfectly suited for groups of all sizes.

Carolina Courts

Basketball, volleyball, pickleball Carolina Courts is Charlotte’s premier basketball, volleyball and pickleball facility.

This massive indoor facility features 48,000 square feet of available space for various sporting tournaments and event needs.

The facility can host large basketball and pickleball tournaments as it features seven full-size basketball courts and 17 possible pickleball courts.

Cabarrus Arena & Events Center

Consumer shows, sporting events Cabarrus Arena & Events Center in Concord is one of the best places to host events in the county. This huge arena can host weddings, banquets, business meetings, the Cabarrus county fair, and plenty of shows and exhibitions.

The facility has more than 140,000 square feet and hosts more than 150 events on nearly 300 event days each year.

VISIT CABARRUS Jarrod Rabatin 704-456-7972 jarrod@visitcabarrus.com www.visitcabarrus.com

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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

Scan to discover more of what Rocky Mount Sports Complex, Rocky Mount Event Center, and Nash County Recreation & Senior Services offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

Nash County Miracle Park

Gerry Brabham

Rocky Mount Sports Complex

Rocky Mount Event Center

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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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 acilities, 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, our interchangeable baseball and softball fields, one championshi baseball field, eight so cer/lacrosse fields, football field, a pr fessional disc golf course, two outdoor basketball courts, outdoor volleyball courts and a walking trail.

Rocky Mount Event Center

Cheerleading, dance, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, pickleball Located on Main Street in Downtown Rocky Mount, this 165,000 square feet state-ofthe-art facility is host to headlining sporting @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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events all year long. It features 8 basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, 4 locker rooms, an option of a 50’ x 94’ master event space, and spectator seating for 4,000+. The Event Center also houses the Gameday Adventure & Arcade, which includes climbing walls, an aerial ropes course, configu able banquet rooms, and in-house catering. In total, the Rocky Mount Event Center welcomes over 100,000 visitors and athletes per year.

Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium Football

Part of Rocky Mount Sports Complex, Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium seats more than 5,000 spectators and features a natural grass playing field, eam field ouse, large press box and elevated coaching areas.

Further amenities at the stadium include an upgraded athletic training facility, a private locker room.

Nash County Miracle Park at Coopers Baseball, softball

Opened in 2021! It has two 225’ baseball fields a d two 300’ softball fields. Thi

SportsPlanningGuide.com

park also has a state of the art All Inclusive playground, two soccer fields, wo basketball courts and a walking trail.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ The Imperial Center for Arts and Sciences gives you a close-up

look at alligator and crocodile skulls, while its galleries feature

ROCKY MOUNT SPORTS COMPLEX Lynn Driver Sports Complex Supervisor

more than 400 works or art from around North Carolina.

▶ Explore the region’s only beer

252-467-6483

incubator and tour seven on-

lynn.driver@rockymountnc.gov

campus breweries at Rocky

rockymountsportscomplex.com

Mount Mills.

ROCKY MOUNT EVENT CENTER Keorra Taylor Event Coordinator 252-366-8521

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

▶ Hike the walking trails at City

rmeceventsales@sportadvisory.com

Lake on your quest to fi d an

www.rockymountevents.com

exotic waterfowl.

www.sportadvisory.com

NASH COUNTY RECREATION & SENIOR SERVICES

▶ All of your boating and fishi

g

needs can be met with a trip to Tar River Reservoir.

Thomas Gillespie, Parks & Recreation Director, CPRP, CYSA 252-462-2685 Thomas.Gillespie@nashcountync.gov

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Hickory, NC

Scan to discover more of what Visit Hickory Metro offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

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

Hickory Metro Convention Center

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 xperiences depending on how the anglers prefer to fish.”

— Secret York, Co-founder of LBAA

Rock Barn Country Club & Spa

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, Charlot e Douglas International Airport is around 42 miles away in Charlotte.

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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. This facility has been the home to a variety of indoor sports including: Bull riding, soccer clinics, martial arts, wrestling, gymnastics, dance and more. The center hosted the XCEL Regional Gymnastics

Competition in May 2019, which drew in more than 1,500 gymnasts and is slated to host the Camp for a Cause in November 2021.

Henry Fork Regional Recreation Park Canoeing, running, soccer

With eight soccer fields, an 8,000-square foot 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 Lake Hickory (Catawba River) Boating, fishi g, 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. La e Hickory hosted a Lady Bass Anglers Association Pro Tour event in late March 2019 and an episode of “Fishing University” in 2018. The Lady Bass Anglers Association will be returning to Lake Hickory Spring 2021.

Rock Barn Country Club & Spa

Immerse yourself in the interactive

championship golf courses which have yielded praise from Golf Digest.

Catawba Meadows Park

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

opportunities presented at the SALT Block, which encompasses an entire city block filled wit Science, Arts & Literature Together.

Downtown Hickory yields a fantastic community feel as you explore a bevy of local retail shops, locally owned restaurants and breweries, entertainment options, theatrical pursuits and a newly renovated downtown and a new city walk.

The best dinner, holiday and private chartered boat cruises

Golf, tennis

VISIT HICKORY METRO

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

Sarah Davis, CMP

onboard one of the vessels at

Director of Sales & Marketing

Lake Hickory Adventures.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

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in Catawba Valley can be found

828-322-1335 sarah@hickorymetro.com www.visithickorymetro.com

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Alamance County, NC

Scan to discover more of what Alamance County Visitors Bureau offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

ALAMANCE COUNTY WELCOMES SPORTS LOVERS WITH OUTSTANDING FACILITIES IN A DISTRICT THAT BOASTS A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Springwood Park

Burlington Tennis Center

City Park

Burlington/Alamance County offers sports enthusiasts many opportunities for fun and excitement. This charming area in North Carolina features outstanding sports and recreation facilities that host baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, BMX events and more.

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Sports Planning Guide

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT City Park

Baseball, Softball The fl gship of the Burlington Parks system, City Park is home to fi e athletic fields, a amusement area featuring an extensive playground and courtyard and the Historical Dentzel Carousel, a walking track, 12 lighted tennis courts, a year-round aquatics facility, Thataways Youth Center, a state-of-the-art youth center, three enclosed shelters with grills, two open air shelters with grills, picnic tables throughout the park, a peaceful stream

which winds its way through the park, and a greenway. Throughout the spring and summer, the park comes alive with baseball and softball tournaments, and many special events. The park is located one mile from Downtown Burlington.

Springwood Park

Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Walking, Golf, Disc Golf The 78-acre gem sits nestled in the suburbs of Burlington in Guilford County. The park features regulation fields or baseball, softball and @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

soccer, two concession/restroom buildings, two picnic shelters available to rent, a playground, a walking track and disc golf. The Springwood Players’ Course is an 18-hole, championship level disc golf course. It includes a six hole Rookie Run for beginners and for family fun.

Mebane Soccer Complex

Soccer This lovely complex is a fabulous place to host a soccer tournament. Mebane consists of two full-size 11 v 11 soccer fields a d two smaller fields used or small-sided games. All fields h ve Musco field lighti g for night use.

Concessions and restrooms are also available.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

Cedarock Park

Cedarock Parkis a 500-acre

Disc Golf This picturesque locale is a 500-acre park in the foothills of the Cane Creek Mountain Range. It is one of the largest county operated parks in the state and is a great place for disc golf tournaments. Improvements over the last few years included new signage at both courses as well as new scorecards for each course. In addition, concrete tee pads have been installed on the Cedarock Course and the Wellspring Course.

nature preserve that has six miles of equestrian trails and a historical farm restored to the late 1800s. The beautiful scenery that is the park makes for a great place to spend time outdoors enjoying the two fishing ponds, a aterfall, gazebos, and picnic shelters.

Tanger Outletsin Mebane is an excellent place to do some shopping, featuring a variety of brand-name and designer outlet stores.

Mebane Baseball Complex

Baseball, Softball, Football, Track A perfect place to host a baseball or softball tournament, the Mebane Baseball Complex includes four baseball/softball fields one football field, a g ass walking track, playground, two shelters, concessions and restrooms.

Alamance Arts is all about

ALAMANCE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU

portraying the cultural identity

Grace VandeVisser

of Alamance County through art.

Executive Director

They offer exhibits, community

Burlington/Alamance County CVB

classes, special events, programs,

800-637-3804 / 336-570-1444

and trips to surrounding museums

grace@visitalamance.com

and more.

SMALL SURPRISES HOMERUN EVENTS FOR

From baseball, softball and soccer to tennis, swimming and golf, you don’t have to go far to find the most exceptional sports fields, complexes, courses and facilities that can turn your next event into your most successful yet.

Elon burlington Mebane

Graham Saxapahaw

Discover everything our area offers at VISITALAMANCE.COM | 800-637-3804 SportsPlanningGuide.com

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21

Mooresville, NC

Scan to discover more of what Visit Mooresville offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

LOCATED 25 MILES NORTH OF CHARLOTTE ON BEAUTIFUL LAKE NORMAN WITH EXCEPTIONAL SPORTS VENUES AND ATTRACTIONS OFF THE FIELD TO MAKE ANY EVENT ONE THEY WILL LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR

Mazeppa Park

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“This past summer marked the firs NXT Sports lacrosse tournament in Mooresville, North Carolina. It has genuinely been such a pleasure o t work with Leah Mitcham and the rest of the Visit Mooresville team. We ran a successful tournament and we very much look forward to returning to Mooresville!”

— Lorraine Childs, Vice President, Event Operations, NXT Sports

Talbert Recreation Center

When driving, Moores ville 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 Parkand Lazy 5 Ranch.

Fulfill our need for speed at Pit Indoor Kart Racingand GoPro Motorplex.

Adventure through the outdoors at Lake Norman State Park.

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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.

Mazeppa Park

Baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, flag ootball This sports complex features a regulationsized baseball field, three s ftball field

with portable pitching mounds and 300 foot fences and lights. Six full size soccer fields two are artificial turf and our are grass and all six have lights. Mazeppa Park also features a 5-mile mountain bike trail.

Cornelius Road Park

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

VISIT MOORESVILLE Leah Mitcham Executive Director 704-799-2400 leah@visitmooresville.com visitmooresville.com @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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Look Forward,

Compete Again

Championship Amenities • • • • • •

Championship Facilities •

State-of-the-art 123,000-square-foot RISE Indoor Sports Complex opened May 2021

Over 5,000 hotel rooms

•

Truist Sports Park: 13 full-size fields, including four turf

$2 billion invested in downtown development

•

JDL Fast Track: Indoor facility with 200-meter Mondotrack, 1,700 bleacher seats

Downtown Benton Convention Center adding 43,000 sq. ft. of refreshed event space, totaling 150,000 sq. ft.

•

Truist Stadium: Home to minor league baseball team, The Dash, 5,500 stadium-style seats

•

Championship level baseball, basketball, cycling, tennis, track and field, and volleyball complexes

•

Flexible 60,000-square-foot Winston-Salem Annex and Fairgrounds Complex

Conveniently and centrally located in North Carolina

Over 100 restaurants and shops downtown One of Forbes' Top 10 Best Downtowns

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CONTACT: Bonny Bernat, CSEE Senior Sports Sales Manager Bonny@VisitWinstonSalem.com 336-728-4215

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