2022 Sports Planning Guide

SportsPlanningGuide.com • 2022

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State Guides

Featuring Hundreds of TournamentReady Venues

Sports Industry Trends for

2022

Colleges/DMOs Make Great Partnerships Mutually Beneficial Relationships Lead to a Win-Win Union

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We invite you to come play in Round Rock, the Sports Capital of Texas!

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Sports Planning Guide Vol. 13, No. 1, 2022 Edition

FEATURES 10 Sports ETA Leads Industry with Innovative Programming and Research

Leading trade association created a new education and research platform

12 Take Two

BY NICK POVALITIS

Book smarts of tech-centric sports travel housing platforms

16 Colleges/DMOs Partner to Showcase Facilities

BY PETER SCHMIDT

Developing mutually beneficial relationships leads to a win-win partnership

20 Lessons Earned

BY NICK POVALITIS

Sports tourism’s evolution, maturation to returns on investment, mission and effort

24 Peak Performance

BY NICK POVALITIS

Creating a sports events and tourism marketing apex

COLUMNS 8 Welcome to the 2022 Sports Planning Guide

BY DAN MALONEY

322 Sports Tourism Trends for 2022

BY JON SCHMIEDER

COVER PHOTO:

(iStock.com/microgen)

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Sports Planning Guide

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Biking in Springdale, Arkansas Photo courtesy of Springdale Advertising & Promotion Commission

SITE INSPECTIONS BY REGION Here are hundreds of facilities that host a variety of fun activities at America’s leading sports-friendly destinations to help event planners organize their next tournament or meet.

28 119 201

WEST MIDWEST SOUTH

STATE GUIDES Spotlighting both on-the-field and off-the-field activities, SPG state guides help tournament planners get a complete perspective of top state sports organizations and destinations.

33 73 99 129 171 205 227 241 269 293 315

ARIZONA OREGON WASHINGTON ILLINOIS INDIANA NORTH CAROLINA ARKANSAS FLORIDA SOUTH CAROLINA VIRGINIA MISSISSIPPI

ALWAYS ONLINE Visit SportsPlanningGuide.com for updated stories and event ideas and sign up for our bi-weekly InSite on Sports e-newsletter.

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Sports Planning Guide

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Sports Planning Guide Vol. 13, No. 1, 2022 Edition

DAN DAVIS MALONEY

Editorial & Advertising Office 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com

Welcome to the 2022 Sports Planning Guide…

Where Relationships Begin

S

ports are full of amazing stories of underdogs, unknowns and my favorite, comebacks.

The comeback takes many forms.

Many of the most famous names in sport are famous partly because they had some type of comeback in their career. In almost all circumstances, comebacks provide hope to competitors and spectators alike. Witnessing others as they overcome overwhelming odds provides inspiration and teaching moments to all.

Many of the most memorable comebacks involve athletes who have been out of competition for a time and return to their sport, like Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods, who made comebacks after major injuries. Others involve individual performances, like the famous Dave Wottle comeback in the 1972 Olympic 800-meter race. Take a moment to view the YouTube video of Dave and you’ll witness a perfectly timed comeback that won him the gold medal and a place in history. But like Dave’s comeback in his race, timing is critical. Moving too early or too late has its consequences.

Our current world of sports is facing its own comeback. With no spectators permitted at most events throughout 2020, athletes performed on quiet stages. Whether it was in an NFL stadium, the Tokyo Olympics or just a local volleyball tournament, athletes competed without the cheers and screams of fans and family.

We’ve come almost full circle in a very short timeframe. Tournaments returned in various parts of the country cautiously with new safety protocols in place. Outdoor stadiums are once again operating at full capacities. The

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world of sports is experiencing one of the greatest comebacks of all time. The only remaining question is whether this comeback has been timed correctly.

This issue of Sports Planning Guide highlights a litany of comebacks as we feature destinations from across the country that have rebounded from the pandemic. SPG spotlights more than 100 Site InSpections filled with tournamentready venues and popular activities, and we also feature 11 state guides, giving you an in-depth look at what each state has to offer planners. From the sprawling coastline of North Carolina to the painted desert of Arizona, our state guides cover the nation.

SPG also investigates how top collegiate athletic facilities develop mutually beneficial relationships with communities; we focus on the professionalism of sports tourism and provide helpful tips how to prioritize the content you own. SPG even delves into the state of Stay and Play in the current economic environment.

Next year at this time I hope to be writing, not only about the amazing comeback that sports will have made throughout the country, but also about industry growth due to the creative and resilient nature of all the professionals who are enduring this break in the action. Old sports will return and new sports will be born from the chaos. It’s an exciting time to be in this business.

Booms, more often than not, tend to follow busts.

Be prepared … the best is yet to come!

Dan Davis Maloney Director of Business Development

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk jeff@ptmgroups.com

Associate Publisher – Dave Bodle dave@ptmgroups.com

Managing Editor – Jason Paha jason@ptmgroups.com

Chief Development Officer – Lance Harrell lance@ptmgroups.com

Contributing Writers Dave Bodle Randy Mink Jon Schmieder Nick Povalitis Peter Schmidt Vanessa Day Jill Pillow Isabella Wilkes Jamie Fischer

Director, Design & Production – Lisa Hede lisa@ptmgroups.com

Director of Business Development – Dan Davis Maloney dan@ptmgroups.com

Business Development Manager – Tom Tobiason tom@ptmgroups.com

Business Development Manager – Cheryl Rash cheryl@ptmgroups.com

The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsi bility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos or manuscripts.

Sports Planning Guide (ISSN 2153-4179) is published annually by Premier Travel Media, 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527.

Postage paid at Willowbrook, IL and Lebanon Junction, KY. The magazine is distributed free to sports events organizers. Single copies for all others are $9.95.

Send Address Change to: Premier Travel Media 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527

A

publication All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

unlimited

water breaks The brand new Sports Center boasts 285,000 square feet, 12 basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts, 200 meter hydraulically banked track and seating for 5,000 screaming fans. Awaken to a sunrise over the ocean, and walk or bike to a tournament at the Sports Center. Take in any number of outdoor adventure and unique dining experiences just blocks away — now this is what we call a sportscation.

DANI TIMM, CSEE

BILL KELLY, CSEE

SPORTS MARKETING NATIONAL SALES MANAGER DTIMM@VISITVIRGINIABEACH.COM 757-373-6804

SPORTS MARKETING SALES MANAGER WJKELLY@VISITVIRGINIABEACH.COM 757-385-6651

VBsports.com

SPORTS ETA LEADS INDUSTRY WITH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING AND RESEARCH

Sports ETA, the only trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, leveraged the pandemic to create a new industry-leading education and research platform to reposition the organization to guide its members for the hospitality restart.

Last year, the Sports Tourism Learning Institute (STLI) was launched and includes a variety of online self-paced and self-guided education certificates. The STLI is the exclusive educational platform offered by

Sports ETA. Currently, nine new courses are available with topics ranging from Innovation to Sports Facility Management, Crisis Communications, and Esports for Business.

All of these courses were created by industry experts from the following: 4FRONT, Destinations International, Game Day, GameChanger Consulting, Kansas City Sports Commission, P7 Content and Tourism Economics.

ADVERTORIAL 10

Sports Planning Guide

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

$45.1B SPORTS-RELATED TRAVEL SPENDING ENTERTAINMENT $5.1B LODGING $9.2B RETAIL $5.1B

TRANSPORTATION $12.5B FOOD & BEVERAGE $8.6B

TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS $3.9B Source: Tourism Economics

“One silver lining of the pandemic was the speed with which our team was able to innovate and bring to market new programs and offerings designed to guide our sports events tourism industry in post-pandemic planning,” said Al Kidd, president and CEO of Sports ETA. “During the early stages of the pandemic, we worked to keep members connected and supported through virtual technology. We also created resources for our members to develop new protocols for health and safety standards and we created virtual events and marketplaces for our members and events’ rights holders to conduct business for future planning.”

Additionally, the industry designation of Certified Sports Events Executive (CSEE) was reimagined and modernized with higher-level content and a more industry representative Sports Tourism Strategist (STS) designation. In all, 44 Sports ETA members were recognized in the first class of STS graduates last year.

For the first time since 2019, Sports ETA members and industry thought leaders will gather in Birmingham, Alabama for the organization’s annual symposium over the last week of October.

“The common theme of the symposium will be to discuss and declare the undeniable position of strength that the sports events and tourism business is the main catalyst for the reentry and restart to the hospitality and tourism industry,” said Kidd.

Research will continue to play an important role for Sports ETA. Later this year, Sports ETA will conduct the second edition of its groundbreaking study: “State of the Sports Tourism Industry Report in America presented by the Sports Events and Tourism Association in partnership with the Northstar Meetings Group.”

The inaugural report was released in 2020 to benchmark 2019, and concluded that U.S. sports travelers, event organizers and venues spent a total of $45.1 billion in 2019, an increase of over 5 percent from the previous year, generating $103.3 billion in direct, indirect, and induced business sales.

Earlier this year, Sports ETA led by Dr. Jennifer Stoll introduced the research study: “Expanded Definition of Success for the Sports Events and Tourism Industry” to redefine the impact of sports events and tourism industry in local communities. Dr. Stoll and her research colleagues argue that the success of hosting sporting events for a community should look beyond the number of hotel room nights booked to measure many additional desirable outcomes for host communities.

“A community may host an event due to the platform it provides to enhance the destination’s brand perception and awareness, or earned media, rather than due to economic impact,” said Dr. Stoll. “This is often the case with large-scale sporting events due to the incremental costs associated with hosting. The collective sports events and tourism industry would be wise to embrace a substantial expansion of what success means and how it is measured.”

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2022 • • • • • •

Chief Executive Summit, January 26-27, 2022 in Las Vegas NV 4S & Rights Holders Summit, March 1-3, 2022 in El Paso, TX Women’s Summit, March 30-April 1, 2022 in Minneapolis, MN Sports Facilities Summit, May 2, 2022 in Fort Worth, TX Sports ETA Symposium, May 2-5, 2022 in Fort Worth, TX 4S & Rights Holders Summit, October 25-27, 2022 in Sarasota, FL

ABOUT SPORTS ETA As the only trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, Sports ETA is the most trusted resource for sports commissions, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and sports event owners. Sports ETA is committed to the success of more than 850 member organizations and 2,400 sports event tourism professionals. Our promise is to deliver quality education, ample networking opportunities and exceptional event management and marketing know-how to our members, and to protect the integrity of the sports events and tourism industry. For more information, visit sportseta.org.

ADVERTORIAL SportsPlanningGuide.com

Sports Planning Guide

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TAKE TWO

Book Smarts of Tech-Centric Sports Travel Housing Platforms

M

easure twice, cut once.

Like so many other industries, tourism is seemingly in its umpteenth iteration of that old carpentry adage as the world enters the last quarter of 2021. The lingering nature of COVID-19, including more recent complications from the Delta variant, has left the lodging side of the industry in a start-stop cycle of fog.

Thankfully, as the pandemic haze lifts periodically, there are many positive signs about the health and wealth of sports travel.

From fully integrated cleanliness and safety programs to the continual sophistication of amateur athletics, sports travel groups may be primed for housing’s impending glory days.

“Sports travelers are savvy travelers now, and that’s something that we may not have said 15 years ago,” said Shaun Keough, director of events at Traveling Teams. “Team moms and dads take on roles of handling travel for their teams and sometimes that time spent can equate to a full-time job. They have much more experience both in planning and staying in hotels. Now more than ever due to COVID, they want clean, quality hotels and utilize many resources such as online reviews to consider their options. Expectations have elevated for sports travelers tenfold.”

Since Traveling Teams was established in 2001, the team has navigated through major economic disruptions a few times while watching the youth sports segment it specializes in grow exponentially. Sports tourism’s resiliency has been driven largely by the privatization of the sector that has propelled revenues into the hundreds of billions annually, including the last year and a half when venue feasibility studies and grand openings persisted.

With the influx of sports facilities and competition, destinations market smarter and hotels are taking notice. During the ebbs and

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Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Francisco, Unsplash

By Nick Povalitis, Plus Seven Company

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

“With the influx of sports facilities and competition, destinations market smarter and hotels are taking notice.”

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Sports Planning Guide

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Photo courtesy of Photo Mix via Pixabay

flows since last March, sports groups continue to fill in gaps and weekends due in large part to the all-seasons indoor and outdoor nature of the segment.

“The brands see sports as a contender in the hotel industry and the segment is appreciated now more than ever, especially during times like this when sports travel was one of the first to come back and actually help keep the lights on in hotels,” Keough said. “Our brand reps in the sports world have been pounding on the glass for years preaching sports, and I think the higher-ups are really starting to see the value in this market and what it brings to the hotel industry.”

A parent of former high school and college water polo players, Bruce Rosenberg firmly understands the evolving nature of sports group travel from all sides of hospitality and tourism. A 30-year industry professional with previous roles at Hilton, Marriott, Expedia and Continental Airlines, Rosenberg is now President of the Americas at HotelPlanner, an individual and group travel technology company. Founded in 2004, HotelPlanner serves as a leading provider of online solutions and services to the global hotel market.

“The easier you make it for people—and everybody is super busy—and the better deal that you put on the table, I think it adds to the overall experience,” Rosenberg says.

“We always think about affordability for everybody, and that goes for the organizer and the parents. We want to make sure that what we’re producing is an affordable weekend for the family.”

Making the booking experience easier for hotel patrons and event planners today is a mix of technological advances and old-school servicing. While tech keeps us all in contact digitally at our fingertips through smartphones and Zoom meetings, HotelPlanner has recently deployed a more hightech, high-touch approach to make the hotel booking process more seamless and stress-free.

“We have a large number of people that book hotel reservations for us, so if a customer calls and wants to talk to someone, we have people who can book that hotel at the right rate,” Rosenberg says. “We’re also doing outreach to team parents, team coaches and tournament organizers to say, ‘I’m here, I can help you, here’s what you do.’ It’s a combination of really good tech, really good options, and also making sure there’s a real person who attendees can talk to about how to get the accommodations for their child.”

Making the booking experience easier for hotel patrons and event planners is a mix of technological advances and old-school servicing.

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Sports Planning Guide

Those expanded hands-on booking personnel became what HotelPlanner coined as its gig-based travel agents last year.

The gig-based approach, which replaces crowded traditional call centers as remote extensions of the organization, helped keep the company’s decline in 2020 revenues well ahead of the curve—only a 31 percent decrease compared to the larger online travel agencies that took 50-plus percent hits.

“We think there is a technology maturation play here. If you cannot do machine learning and artificial intelligence, you’re not going to make the next cut,” says Rosenberg. “There is so much data that is flowing through systems that companies need to be able to take that data and make it usable to the customer and the organization.”

An increasing proclivity for tech may be reason enough to lean on organizations that specialize in creating and delivering housing solutions, especially given the amount of cancellations, changes and credit card transactions amidst the pandemic’s unstable environment. Traveling Teams has two decades of dedicating resources toward the youth segment that’s helped build the company to what it is today.

HotelPlanner’s core service offering is an AI-enabled hotel and alternative accommodations booking platform, coupled with a 24/7 global gig-based travel agent model, to serve any traveler, with an expertise in booking group travel for sports leagues and sporting events.

“Technology is extremely important, more so today than ever. Technology advancements are coming at a rapid pace and we, just like anyone else relevant in the industry, must always continue to improve our technology, forms of communication and service,” said Keough.

“I think you’re going to have to be able to offer these services, or at least partner with organizations that will help you provide the back end,” adds Rosenberg.

In 2022 and beyond, that next cut of sports group travel tendencies may include consumers continuing to wait longer to register and subsequently book, as well as rate flexibility for hoteliers while we wait for group travel normalcy to return.

Moreover, given the competition within sports tourism— highlighted by a shift from stick and ball sports to increased nontraditional and individual participation—there may also be more vertical integration between professional and youth sports. This professional-youth integration is a growing possibility demonstrated by HotelPlanner’s stay to play partnership last May with the United Soccer League (USL), a Tampa Bay-based professional property that also produces its own national youth programs.

“We are a proud sponsor of USL and what we like about them are the professional teams and the youth tournaments.

With the USL, they really hadn’t offered housing to their teams before,” said Rosenberg. “We did some sizable tournaments with them, and they did a stay to play.”

“Stay to play is here to stay. When established correctly, stay to play benefits all involved from the consumer, to the hotel, to the event owner and to the community to show a true economic impact,” adds Keough. “Hotels rely on rooms being booked and can confidently count on that with a proper stay to play. When you can offer a product for an event that appeals to all, there is no reason for anyone to want to look elsewhere.”

Not quite a hot take, but, as part of sports group travel’s next iteration, it may be worthy of a double take.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

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Colleges/DMOs Partner to

SHOWCASE FACILITIES E

Developing mutually beneficial relationships leads to a win-win partnership

very young athlete dreams of playing where his or her sports heroes play. Those dreams become much closer to reality when those young athletes can compete on the campus of their favorite college teams, where their favorite athletes compete.

And creating these experiences for young athletes also provides remarkable

By Peter Schmidt benefits for both communities and colleges alike. Communities benefit economically from tourism revenue while colleges reap the benefits of exposure.

While the opportunity to utilize the top athletic facilities at local colleges for outside competition is clearly advantageous, it isn’t as easy as unlocking the gate to the community park and rolling the ball out. Therefore, it is imperative for local CVBs and DMOs to establish and develop trusting relationships with local institutions.

MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS

The biggest key to unlocking the potential to hold events at collegiate athletic venues is to establish mutually beneficial relationships. While one-off events held on a college campus can happen, destinations are better served by developing partnerships that maximize the benefits for both the community and the college.

Colleges need to see how your event will add value beyond just goodwill, and outside athletic competition can do Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon Photo courtesy of the University of Oregon

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

so much, including bringing potential future students to campus and the ability to broaden the college’s brand.

Columbus, Ohio is home to numerous colleges, most notably Ohio State University, which has more than 20 athletic facilities, with numerous options that are available to rent for practices, games, tournaments, clinics and more with an easy-to-use online rental request form.

Columbus enjoys a strong relationship with Ohio State and the city’s other colleges, having partnered with Ohio State to host dozens of volleyball events. The Schottenstein Center has hosted high school state championships for wrestling and basketball and the Ohio State University Golf Club has welcomed many outside competitions.

“The town and gown relationship in Columbus is strong,” said Greater Columbus Sports Commission

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Executive Director Linda Logan.

“We have had the opportunity to showcase the ‘Columbus Way’ of collaboration while driving economic development, raising our image and profile and adding to the quality of life in our city. I have seen our community pride grow significantly and it is hard to put a value on this.”

Similarly, the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission has worked with the University of Oregon in Eugene to host regional, national and international events at its numerous athletic venues.

Hayward Field, a landmark track and field venue that has helped Eugene become known as TrackTown, hosts numerous events including the Prefontaine Classic, U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the 2023 World

Athletics Championships Oregon22, and the 2023 Wanda Diamond League Final.

The University of Oregon also welcomes 264 high school-age teams annually to the Matt Hartner Memorial Volleyball Classic, which is held in the Moshofsky Center and MacArthur Court.

“The economic impact is an obvious benefit, but it’s not the only benefit,” says Philis McLennan, director, Conventions & Sports Marketing at Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission. “Having access to venues is critical, but access to volunteers, interns and student-led projects f rom the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center and, of course, national destination recognition associated with the UO’s athletic programs are also big benefits.”

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PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE

The biggest challenge to utilizing top college athletic facilities is availability. Understandably, these facilities are prioritized for use by the college’s athletic programs first, and then, more broadly, the campus community at-large.

Lengthy lead times are often needed to reserve these facilities and, as is the case with any relationship, building a strong and trusting relationship also takes time.

Lansing, Michigan is the home of Michigan State University and has utilized its outstanding collegiate athletic facilities to open its doors to a number of outside athletic events, including the 2021 NCAA Division III women’s golf championships held at Michigan State’s Forest Acres Golf Course, with a partnership between Olivet College and the Greater Lansing Sports Authority.

“It takes time to develop a true partnership with the local colleges, which goes far beyond just arranging a single event. We have been able to establish trust and understanding while being supportive of their efforts and helping broaden their brands,” said Mike Price, executive director of the Greater Lansing Sports Authority.

None of this is to say that you should be passive while waiting for a door to open. It is important to remember that colleges want to be good community partners and want people to see their campus. The door might not open after the first or second knock, but eventually it may.

PLANTING SEEDS

Hosting a large-scale athletic event on a college campus may not be plausible initially, so starting small can be a great first step for building a bigger partnership.

Showing yourself to be a good tenant during a weekly practice or monthly clinic may be a precursor for hosting a weekend-long tournament on campus.

Additionally, growing your network can help you connect with key decision-makers who will help champion your events. Logan states, “This means getting to know coaches, administrators, and staff in your community throughout the year, not just when you need something.”

“Those seeds that you plant today will grow over time and you will do amazing things together,” said Logan.

PAY IT FORWARD

One surefire way to make a good impression on the institution hosting your competition is to put on a great event. Not only will this create positive memories for participants to associate with the college, but it will highlight you as a trustworthy partner.

Among the ways to stand out here is by ensuring open and timely communication, leaving venues in as nice, condition when you arrived, and offering assistance throughout your event.

As always, it is important to circle back and see what else you can do for the college. Is there anything else you can do to assist with travel for incoming teams and fans? How can you help with marketing, promoting, and fundraising?

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PAY A VISIT TO THESE COLLEGE VENUES

T

he best college sports competitions traditionally feature energetic crowds in a classic stadium environment. Here are some of the finest college sports facilities in the country where gameday is almost always a big-time event.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Popularly known as The Swamp, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville is widely recognized as one of the toughest environments for visiting teams in college football.

Constructed in 1930, the stadium now has an 88,548 capacity and has undergone numerous renovations.

Bud Walton Arena

This beautiful arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas hosts both the men’s and women’s basketball teams of the University of Arkansas. The arena has a seating capacity of 19,368 and often boasts some of the loudest crowds in college basketball.

Dudy Noble Field

Named the new palace of college baseball by Baseball America, Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi was already one of baseball’s most renowned ballparks before it received a $68 million makeover. Dudy Noble Field has hosted 15 NCAA Regionals and regularly features electric sold-out crowds.

Hayward Field

A legendary track and field stadium in Eugene, Oregon, Hayward Field is a world-class facility, having hosted the University of Oregon’s track and field teams since 1921. The newly renovated facility contains comfortable seats, amazing sightlines and the stands are in close proximity to the competitors.

IU Natatorium

Located on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, the IU Natatorium is the biggest permanent swimming facility in the country and, arguably, the most renowned. Since opening in 1982, the 4,700-seat pool has witnessed more than 100 American records and 15 world records set on its premises.

Spry Stadium

Considered one of the finest college soccer facilities, Spry Stadium, on the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, is a jewel. This 3,000-seat stadium features a fully-lit natural grass playing field along with a state-of-the-art scoreboard and sound system and regularly hosts packed crowds.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Photo courtesy of Sports ETA

LESSONS EARNED Al Kidd, president and chief executive officer of the Sports Events and Tourism Association, aims to expand the organization’s footprint.

Sports Tourism’s Evolution, Maturation to Returns on Investment, Mission & Effort

T

By Nick Povalitis, Plus Seven Company

he expanse of sports tourism is a matter of past, present and future contexts, a series of evolutionary events, if you will.

One such instance occurred during a transitional period within the Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA) in 2018 shortly after Al Kidd began his new role as president and chief executive officer at the Association.

“It was clear from the onset that the value chain was much wider and broader than what we were engaged with. From a business standpoint, there was so much more opportunity,” says Kidd. “One of the goals was to expand the organization’s footprint and be fair and equitable across all the different categories.

“The strategic roadmap and 2020 Vision was finalized in 2018 and refined as we went forward. The plan formed in

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June 2017 during the first couple weeks on the job. Once Jennifer came on board, we quickly solidified and expanded our vision. It was a seminal moment for the organization. We clicked immediately and set out to establish our key points of light to build the assets and services to establish a nationally recognized and prominent force. She and our team have been working with me on the execution of that plan ever since.”

Kidd, who previously served as president of the San Diego Sports Commission with additional career stops in venture capital investing, online education services, marketing, advertising and strategic planning, possesses a penchant for data and research that aligns well with the philosophy of Dr. Jennifer Stoll, STS. After serving on the Sports ETA board while she was executive director of the Greater Grand Junction (CO) Sports Commission, Stoll was contracted by @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Sports ETA in late 2018 on the heels of earning her PhD from Troy University.

To complement a PhD-level research expertise—her work has been published regularly in academic publications including the Journal of Sport & Tourism—Stoll’s applied and lived experiences also include numerous nonprofit, athletic, coaching, faculty, volunteer, event management and entrepreneurial successes. Stoll lives with one foot in in the academic arena while also understanding first-hand the value of being a practitioner, a balancing act of learning and application that is ideal for today’s competitive nature of sports tourism.

“A lot of the research is based on theory, which is fantastic, but our core mission is to help our members do better business and be better at the business they’re in,” says Stoll, principal of Stoll Strategies and director of research and education with Sports ETA. “And that really needs to be with practical implementation.”

From Kidd and Stoll’s earliest conversations, Sports ETA began quickly refining its primary delivery mechanisms to include education, advocacy, resources and networking as the Association’s four strategic pillars, and the acronym E.A.R.N., a new organizational compass, was adopted.

“I think that there are people in this city who are proud to say we are Sports City, but when Jerry Jones gets up in front of a press conference and says this is Sports City USA, that really catches on,” says Dill. “I don’t think people can argue the amount of success we’re having in sports.”

After three years at the Fort Worth CVB and five years at the Lubbock CVB, Dill joined Visit Frisco in late 2016 where he’s since helped Sports City USA deliver on its brand promises. The Visit Frisco team recently helped extend the NCAA FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) Championship through 2025 at Toyota Stadium, and it also brought the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation U18 Men’s World Championship to Comerica Center amidst the pandemic.

“I made the leap to Frisco because it had all of the sports teams,” Dill says. “I had the backing that if I wanted to do an event, I had partnerships with teams that say we can make it work. Over time, I was playing tic tac toe, then I was playing checkers and now I get to play chess.”

FROM UNDERSTUDY TO PRACTITIONER

As the industry has matured, so too have the needs of Sports ETA’s membership. Kidd and Stoll remember parsing out bits of data in 2018 so the Association could better understand its members, and in turn curate programs more representative of Sports ETA’s whole membership. And it turned out that a polling of sports tourism leaders verified a high industry turnover rate for the Association to act on.

“It became clear that we had a lot of gaps on the research and education side. Not only did we only have a few courses, but they were only available in person so you had to make the travel roster,” says Stoll. “We were collecting data about content, topics of interest, the level of professionals in terms of tenure, and what markets they were involved with, and we started to realize quickly that we had a few hundred attendees to our first-timers events every Symposium.

“That’s really what led to the cultivation and development of the (Sports Tourism) Learning Institute. With limited resources in time and money that we have, we asked, ‘How do we serve the largest swath of our membership?’.

That’s what you see developing out of the Power Plays and Certificates (online courses) is us really trying to hone in on topics as we build this bike while riding it.”

SPORTING A NEW DIMENSION

SportsPlanningGuide.com

FCS football is growing in popularity.

Photo courtesy of Visit Frisco

A quarter century before Kidd and Stoll joined the Association staff, the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC)—rebranded as Sports ETA in 2019—was established in 1992 to protect the integrity of the industry and to deliver quality education, networking and event management and marketing opportunities to its members.

What started as a couple handfuls of sports commission members is now more than 800 destination, rights holder and industry partner members.

By the late 1990s, Frisco, Texas—which had a population of less than 10,000 in 1998—entered the game when it opened the Superdrome, where the 2000 U.S. Olympic Track Cycling Trials introduced the world to this once-small Texas town.

“You have to understand that sports doesn’t just start with someone sending you an RFP; it starts with destination management and making sure that your destination is hospitable to sports,” says Josh Dill, STS, director of sports & events at Visit Frisco. “I can’t take credit for that. This infrastructure existed so much earlier, and I’ve just been able to capitalize on it.”

The Superdrome project was Frisco’s first foray into a public private partnership (P3) in sports, an entrepreneurial spirit that reverberates loudly more than 20 years later. Some of Frisco’s other projects of note include the Comerica Center (opened 2003, practice facility of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, home of NBA G League Texas Legends), Toyota Stadium & Soccer Center (2005, home of FC Dallas of Major League Soccer) and The Star in Frisco (2016, Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters).

This continued investment in sports has helped spark Frisco’s exponential population growth to more than 200,000 residents.

As sports continues to breathe life into the destination, Visit Frisco also shifted its tourism marketing tagline to “The City That Plays” and its sports-market-specific slogan to “Sports City USA”.

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Photo courtesy of Sports ETA Sports ETA leaders are trying to guide the organization through a decimated tourism industry.

The flagship of the education pillar, the Sports Tourism Learning Institute (STLI) was unveiled in late 2020 as Sports ETA’s targeted applied learning center that serves the entirety of sports events and tourism. Moreover, the Sports Tourism Research Institute (STRI) is a work in process.

“With our education delivery, you have small markets, you have mid-size markets, you have brand new people, you have senior people, you have large markets that do primarily large events. On the destination side, we have significant differences between membership,” says Kidd. ”Coagulating a centralized research or programming output was wrong.

We needed to do a better job of developing target market products and services, and that also includes our industry partners and rights holders.”

As part of the Association’s new certificate stacking model, the STLI currently offers Power Plays (free topical sessions) and a Certificate Playbook (lengthier asynchronous self-paced coursework). Moreover, there is a Front Office Education platform in the works that will be, according to Stoll, more rigorous, admissions-based, and built on consistency and credibility to place everybody who enrolls on equal footing. And as the Association’s contact database indicates—there are more than 13,000 venue contacts—Kidd adds there are substantial growth opportunities related to facilities education and practice.

“The area of great opportunity we see is in sports facilities and that is coming like a train,” says Kidd.

“They are going to be considered a destination and will someday compete, as they already are in some places, with destinations and sports commissions.”

An experienced practitioner now, Dill admits he has grown from listener to event executioner to tactician to strategist throughout his career. Still, there is much to learn and Dill commends Sports ETA—a collective of professionals of all backgrounds and expertise to glean from—for expanding its programs.

“These things are not happening by accident. It’s a very deliberate growth plan and what you’re starting to see is a snowball effect,” says Dill, also a fourth-year Sports ETA board member. “We’ve continued to raise the value of the Association, and people are starting to see that value. The next evolution is to have more resources to reinvest into the Association.

Financial resources and human capital will lead to even more value for the members. I’m very appreciative of where NASC brought us to, and I think now it’s an evolution, that next step of becoming an association truly for the industry.”

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PARTNERING THROUGH A PANDEMIC

The pandemic decimated tourism, and sports tourism’s 2020 impact is projected to show a 60 percent decrease from the previous year—which would be a $27 billion yearover-year decrease in direct impact—when updated figures are released in late 2021 as part of Sports ETA’s State of the Industry Report in partnership with Tourism Economics (A Division of Oxford Economics). However, the segment enjoyed five straight years of growth (up nearly 17% from 2015-19) prior to the pandemic, a trend that figures to return in due time. Despite the effects of COVID-19, there were pockets of strong 2020 performance that included increasing preferences for outdoor activities and regional tourism. And as facilities have continued to come online even throughout the last 18 months, sports tourism is widely regarded as fuel for the future.

“We are not leading out of the pandemic—we are catalysts to the restart to tourism across America. And there is no debate by any CVB president that we are the main catalyst right now,” Kidd says. “The CVB world understands our value.

We’re going to continue to develop the research around the support of those numbers.”

Sports ETA’s partnerships with Tourism Economics, Longwoods International, U.S. Travel Association and Destinations International activate the advocacy and resources pillars, amplifying its data capacity and credibility.

Moreover, the Association continues to lean into techcentric industry partners like Playeasy and EventConnect, a deliberate play on the networking pillar, to serve destinations and rights holders.

“This is the most fun aspect; it’s been incredible to watch the positioning and credibility that Al (Kidd) has built in tangential industries,” Stoll says. “While we were at the Destinations International Convention, people were stopping us all over the place to let us know all the great things Sports ETA has been doing, and how sports has carried them through. That didn’t happen a few years ago, so the partnerships are a really exciting piece of it.”

The Association’s distribution partners on the event operator side include the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Kidd notes the influx of partnerships is about looking inside and outside of the industry and associating with the best of the best, both of which ultimately benefit Sports ETA members.

“Within each of these partnerships, the educational delivery is a big part of the expansion of our capacity outside to build relevancy and aspirational revenue,” Kidd says.

“When we get to the resources, we spend a great deal of time on data collection and trying to move this industry into a better understanding of the importance of data. And frankly, COVID helped us get past the speedbump of getting participation in our surveys and studies, and now we have significant participation by our members that is producing some terrific information.”

The numbers demonstrate the industry’s compound growth is indeed economic, yet indirect impact, induced impact, brand value, return on mission and economic @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

development have also become integral parts of the larger value presented by sports tourism.

“I think as it continues to evolve and get more sophisticated, as people are dipping their toes there’s just one more straw in that bucket,” Dill says. “I still think facilities will set you apart and just taking that approach of being involved in the event and having skin in the game. Honestly, that economic development piece is how you end up being a chess player instead of a checkers player in sports tourism.”

WHERE STARS ARE BORN

Another partnership that pushes the narrative about an expanded definition of success includes Sports ETA’s alignment with the 2021 U.S. Sports Congress (USSC) this December in Frisco, where the Economic Development & Sports Tourism Summit (ED&STS) and the Collegiate Championship Symposium will be produced jointly with USSC. “We realize it’s not necessarily the people that sit at our sports tourism shows that need to hear this, it’s city leaders that need to hear this,” Dill says. “By creating an opportunity for colleges or economic development and city staff, they get to hear and see it first-hand. We’re going to take city and economic development leaders to The Star to show this isn’t just an idea, this is what it became, a whole district. We’re continuing to build districts as miniature city centers around sports venues, and it works.”

According to Dill, the U.S. Sports Congress ED&STS and College Championship Symposium partnership helps magnify an important conversation for those places that want to evolve and operate a high level. It also underscores an important story that Sports ETA is perpetuating.

“From our industry’s contributions to job and company recruitment and retention to our economic development efforts, which ties into school quality and property values, there’s a much bigger onion with a lot of layers that we have yet to tap into,” Stoll says. “We are looking in the future to provide some industry standardization as to how and what is measured, as well as how those metrics are communicated so we can take the platform that sports provides and start to do it justice for our members in terms of the funding behind it. That’s on the destinations side, the rights holders side, and that’s on the venues side across the board.”

And for Frisco’s expanding value proposition, that means continuing to double down on economic development and weaving sports into all of the destination’s work.

“We have some really smart people here in the arts and a lot of our NFL and MLS owners are art collectors.

We’re building a performing arts center that is the newest project, and it’s going to sit across the street f rom The Star,” Dill says. “It’s literally going to be an intersection where sports and art meet. It’s just fun to be in a city where there is constant evolution.”

Photo courtesy of Visit Frisco

The Star Entertainment District in Frisco, Texas.

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PEAK PERFORMANCE

Creating a Sports Events and Tourism Marketing Apex

By Nick Povalitis, Plus Seven Company

S

teeped in the eastern foothills of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs is an apex of sports marketing gold.

Some of the Springs’ natural aesthetics include quaint neighboring towns like Manitou Springs, natural wonders like the Garden of the Gods and 300 days of sunshine per year amidst the backdrop of the Front Range of the southern Rocky Mountains.

Long known for its sports infrastructure, 24 national governing bodies including the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) are headquartered in Colorado Springs, which has since further enhanced its sports prowess the last decade. In 2013, plans were unveiled for the near-complete City for Champions initiative, a quartet of projects marked by five iconic venues, including the acclaimed United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum (USOPM). A year later, Colorado Springs joined forces with the Ragain family, Visit Colorado Springs and many other partners in bringing a United Soccer League professional soccer team, the Colorado Switchbacks, to the city.

Moreover in 2015, Colorado Springs received support from the USOPC to use “Olympic City USA” as its municipal marketing tagline, a destination-defining moment that resonates proudly.

“People know us now as a sports performance destination and all of these people who are performing on the global stage for sports are coming here for competitions, like the marathon up Pikes Peak,” said Alexea Veneracion, communications manager at Visit Colorado Springs. “Only the elite athletes can do that—it’s extremely difficult—so they’re coming here for those very specific purposes where they can showcase their athleticism, but they and their families really want to experience all there is to do here.”

Debuting in 2020, the Pikes Peak Apex is a four-day mountain bike challenge with a vision of making Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region an internationally recognized endurance destination. Thirteen partner organizations support the Apex, a fundraiser for trail stewardship and sustainability and effort that is directed

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by a former events executive at Colorado Springs-based USA Cycling.

“We have one of the largest purses in North America—last year, we had the largest purse for a mountain biking event in the United States,” said Cheryl McCullough, senior director of sports and events at Visit Colorado Springs. “That event was bred from another event that did not happen. Another organization was looking at us for the North American Mountain Biking Championships, but it didn’t work out and we decided we are going to do our own.”

In a place where you can climb a mountain and eat lunch with an Olympian within minutes of each other, experiences are everywhere for residents and visitors, something that Fort Collins, Colorado-based Triple Crown Sports knows firsthand. Since 2007, McCullough has worked with Triple Crown Sports on the Challenge at Pikes Peak, an acclaimed youth baseball tournament that uses nine venues throughout the region. For Triple Crown Sports, destinations like Colorado Springs are ideal places to promote events.

“We focus on finding great destinations that either have a lot to offer or is tied into another event. The College World Series in Omaha or the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City are good examples of where we’ve tied in with another event and created this destination spot for teams to come in, play ball and enjoy some of the other things that are going on,” said Andy Hansen, chief marketing officer at Triple Crown Sports. “Same thing with some of these destinations like Colorado Springs, Park City, Myrtle Beach, where it’s almost like a vacation spot for teams.”

GREATNESS FOR EVERYONE

For five years, the Olympic City USA campaign has been dedicated to amplifying messaging about Colorado Springs as a natural training ground for elite sports performance thanks to its high concentration of headquarter national governing bodies and event owners, continual facilities investments and mainstay venues like the USOPC Training Center. Still, the pandemic provided a reset button for tourism and event

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

marketers, as data showed a rise in a preference to travel regionally, to be outdoors, and to experience local.

“We’re really capitalizing what we’ve deemed as nerd recreationists—people who are looking to experience and learn and nerd out on the things that they are passionate about or interested in, and getting them to do that with a taste through a local’s perspective,” said Melissa Williams, director of marketing at Visit Colorado Springs. “There’s a lot to balance to make sure that’s sustainable as well, so making sure we’re targeting through our advertising efforts for the right people to come for longer, rather than just screaming to the masses to all come at the same time.”

While you can still pick up a souvenir, the City for Champions venues are built for the immersive experience and target marketing. The program’s five venues include the Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center, Gateway Visitor Center at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Sports and Event Center (Robson Arena and Weidner Field), and the USOPM—where the interactive badge each individual wears coupled with the way he or she traverses the museum’s halls shapes a customized experience that, according to McCullough, can move you to tears.

At the Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center, you may see Paralympic track athletes training or one of 12,000 visiting patients in town for a knee replacement. Robson

Arena, home of Colorado College men’s hockey, and Weidner Field, home of the USL’s Colorado Switchbacks, both opened in 2021 as multi-purposed complexes that better connect and brand downtown Colorado Springs. The USAFA Gateway Visitor Center—projected to draw more than 800,000 visitors annually—is scheduled for completion in 2022 and will feature flexible indoor and open-air event spaces including a 250-seat theater and an iFly indoor skydiving center available to USAFA trainees and visitors.

“We’re really touting the things you can do that inspire greatness that don’t have to be Olympic related, but really make us feel like we can own that moniker in a sense,” Williams said. “Welcome to Olympic City USA where greatness is in everyone, whether it’s pushing yourself to the limits on the (Manitou) Incline or just enjoying yourself on a leisurely hike in the scenic beauty that is literally around every corner.”

BE THERE, BE TARGETED AND STAY A WHILE LONGER

Triple Crown Sports hosted its first slow-pitch softball tournament in 1982, and has since diversified into a sports event brand operating more than 200 annual events from the youth to the college ranks. In addition to its premium destination events, Triple Crown Sports’ business model includes its own lodging platform, a sports network and a full-service public relations and marketing department.

Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center in Colorado Springs

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and complexes in the condition that they were in when they arrived, often times in better condition.”

“That was something that was born out of 2018 (destination strategic planning)—we were really looking at focusing on sustainable tourism, not becoming this overpopulated, over-tourist destination where we can actually protect and maintain our natural assets and keep our community members happy,” Williams adds. “Focusing less on inviting more and focusing more on inviting the right people for longer amounts of time was really what started that conversation. And as COVID started, it just kind of solidified that for us. It’s really important to be sustainable in how we’re advertising and be responsible that way as well.”

MARKETING FOR PERFORMANCE U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs

“Since we’ve had a focused effort on our digital brand, we’ve had more outside brands reach out to us because the youth sports industry doesn’t have that,” Hansen says. “There are only a few groups that have the platforms and following that we have, because we are focused on it. Other groups have wanted to be a part of that because they recognize it.

The youth sports industry is such a fast-growing industry that larger brands want to be a part of it.”

The Triple Crown Sports brand has continued to be there, front and center, including when live events came to a halt last year. Hansen and the team—which grew from Hansen solely to a staff of full-time content writers, producers, photographers and videographers—leveraged virtual chats with Triple Crown Sports’ founder Dave King to help keep the company’s presence intact. As the U.S. reopened for events, TCS has also been able to get back to a marketing mix of email targeting and engaging across social and digital channels.

“We focus still heavily on email campaigns that tie in graphics, photos and video to showcase the destination and different experiences these teams will have,” says Hansen. “After that, it’s the social/digital side which we use not only to market. What we’ve found is people don’t want to be marketed to about a brand. They want to engage with the brand, have a reason to follow it, so we try to focus our posts on engaging with the customer, telling stories, highlighting customers.”

Seeking high levels of engagement also shapes the Visit Colorado Springs marketing strategy, especially as people have stayed closer to home since 2020, during which time destinations became conduits to the attractions and events within a few miles or steps of your front door. And with sustainability at top of mind in the Springs, leveraging local tour guides to support leisure travel has become a natural complement to the Visit Colorado Springs group targeting process, which prioritizes the right fit and longer stay.

“We have a lot more attractions and restaurants and things that have opened, even through the pandemic, which has been really impressive for our destination.” Veneracion said.

According to McCullough, the Triple Crown Sports team is that right fit because it is turnkey and responsible, where “they come in, they run their event, they keep the diamonds

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From number of events booked and room nights to average advertising value and media mentions to the number of teams registered, there are ample marketing metrics to measure.

But what really moves the buying decision process from consideration to consumer?

“With our business, it can take six, seven, eight different touchpoints before a team makes a decision,” said Hansen.

“For us to go, ‘hey it was the email, it was the social post, the phone call, it was this,’ is hard. For some of these events, it’s a 30, 40-thousand-dollar decision for the team once you factor in travel, lodging, food and other activities.”

While Triple Crown Sports tracks email opens and attempts to be everywhere in marketing, it attributes longstanding success to running high-quality events, word of mouth and relationships.

“Our event directors are almost like mini marketers themselves. They run the event, but they are also responsible for marketing their events,” Hansen said. “Their focus on marketing is the relationship building, through text message, email, phone calls or in-person meetings. That’s their world and they’re dedicated 100 percent to that style.”

Flush with amenities, Visit Colorado Springs leverages its marketing platforms by focusing first on what its consumers can do only in Colorado Springs, which helps sustain McCullough’s sales efforts.

“When you look at the little seeds that you drop, there’s future tourism with every event that you bring into your area,” McCullough says. “With every baseball event, soccer event, Olympic Team Trials, it doesn’t matter—with our destination there is always a future tourism piece to that. When you’re looking at sports tourism, our destination really fits that model.”

From America’s Mountain to Olympic City USA—the only place where Team USA short-track gold medalist Apolo Anton Ohno might cruise past you while ascending the Manitou Incline, a fond memory for Williams—the Colorado Springs sports marketing reality has become one of dreams lived.

“It was naturally such a good fit for the organizations that are based here, and it really aligned with the City for Champions project as well, which came about a little before that and gave an increase in Colorado Springs as a sports performance destination,” says Williams. “It’s something that we feel really fortunate to be able to call ourselves. There’s a lot of local brand recognition that a lot of the community recognizes themselves as Olympic City USA, and we’re starting to get that regional and national recognition as well.”

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

SI Site InSpections

Cactus League Spring Training baseball Photo courtesy of Arizona Office of Tourism

WEST REGION

T

he Western region of the United States is blessed with pristine weather and impressive landscapes. It is also home to a variety of fabulous tournament-ready fields along with pools, arenas, stadiums and waterways. Each destination featured in this section offers beautiful facilities and a dedicated staff of experts who will help your tournament run seamlessly.

30 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 28

Reno, Nevada Chandler, Arizona Gilbert, Arizona Glendale, Arizona Lake Havasu City, Arizona Mesa, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Scottsdale, Arizona Tempe, Arizona Tucson, Arizona Flagstaff, Arizona Irvine, California Fresno County, California Sports Planning Guide

64 66 68 70 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 97 98 108 110 111 112 114 115

Placer Valley, California Bakersfield, California Tulsa, Oklahoma Colorado Springs, Colorado Eugene Cascades and Coast, Oregon Medford, Oregon Portland, Oregon Oregon’s Adventure Coast, Oregon Corvallis, Oregon Salem, Oregon Round Rock, Texas Portland, Texas College Station, Texas Abilene, Texas Snohomish County, Washington Seattle Southside, Washington Bellingham, Washington Olympia, Washington Visit Tri-Cities, Washington Yakima Valley, Washington @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

WE’RE BIG ON GOING FURTHER AND REACHING HIGHER. No matter what kind of event you’re planning, we’re here to make you the champion. With the unique combination of independently owned facilities, experienced staff, and access to exceptional resources, we can help you and your team get psyched to experience all the energy, excitement and natural splendor Reno Tahoe is known for.

Contact Shelli Fine, Director of Sports Development at 775.827.7790 or sfine@renotahoeusa.com

VisitRenoTahoe.com/Sports

Proud host of the 2021 USA Climbing Youth National Championships

Reno, NV

Scan to discover more of what Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

THIS PICTURESQUE REGION IN NEVADA IS HOME TO A VARIETY OF ATTRACTIONS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE FINEST SPORTS FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY

Reno-Sparks Convention Center

At the crossroads of two major highways, Reno Tahoe is just a half-day’s drive from anywhere in Northern California, and a full day’s drive from major hubs like Southern California, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Reno-Sparks Convention Center Multipurpose

Just south of downtown Reno and minutes from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport is the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. This modern venue features more than 600,000 square feet of single-level exhibition and meeting space with recently upgraded technology and award-winning service. The center has hosted events such as the USA Gymnastics Boys Nationals, Summer National Fencing

Championships, Junior National Volleyball Championships, USA Taekwondo National Championships and Jam On It AAU basketball tournaments. Choose from one of five massive exhibit halls to host your event. The facility contains meeting rooms that can be used for registration, coaches meetings or trophy ceremonies. With more than 15,000 hotel rooms nearby, ranging f rom AAA Four Diamond resorts to boutique hotels, your rooming options are plentiful and rates affordable. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Reno Events Center Multipurpose

Located in the entertainment center of downtown Reno, the magnificent Reno Events Center offers 118,000 square feet of space for sporting events, conventions or meetings.

This flexible 7,000-seat multipurpose arena in downtown Reno offers 56,000 square feet of space for events that range from top-flight entertainment to a variety of conventions and conferences. The center has been the home of multiple NBA G-League showcases as well as World League Volleyball competitions.

Golden Eagle Regional Park

Baseball, softball, soccer, football Located to the east of Reno in Sparks, Nevada, this complex is one of the premier youth baseball venues in the country.

Children of all ages will feel like major leaguers as they compete on beautiful artificial turf, all-weather fields.

The complex is made up of 12 championship-caliber diamonds, high-end Musco lighting, fabulous playing surfaces and a variety of food options. Built in 2008, Golden Eagle covers more than 100 acres and features more than 1.4 million square feet of artificial turf, making it the largest of its kind in the country.

The complex houses four Little League fields, two Babe Ruth fields, six adult softball fields with adjustable fencing and three full-size football/soccer fields.

RENO-SPARKS CONVENTION AND VISITORS AUTHORITY

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ A short drive from downtown Reno, Lake Tahoe is a nature lovers paradise for hiking, biking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and more.

▶ Full of excellent coffee shops, bars, restaurants and shopping, the Midtown District is an eclectic neighborhood that is enhanced by dozens of murals.

▶ The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum is a

67,000-square-foot science museum downtown that appeals

Shelli Fine, Director of Sports

to all ages and interest with its

Development

variety of interactive exhibits and

775-827-7790

exhibitions.

sfine@renotahoeusa.com www.visitrenotahoe.com

▶ In addition to an exciting water park with fun for all ages, Wild

Island has go-karts, miniature golf and a bowling alley.

Golden Eagle Regional Park

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Triple Crown Sports has seen increasing success in the Reno Tahoe area over the last four years.

The RSCVA sports staff, our hotel partners and all the area’s sports facilities have gone above and beyond for TCS and our tournaments. The sports properties that Reno Tahoe hosts are not only successes on the field, but off the field as well. Our athletes and their families truly enjoy the destination as they can come and seriously compete on first-rate fields, then relax after the competition in a world-class setting. The Reno area is a great destination for our growing national event business.”

— Katrina Maestas, Western World Series Director, Triple Crown Sports

Lake Tahoe

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2022

ARIZONA GUIDE Have Fun in the Sun

Exploring Arizona

Schedule Events With Little Fear of Bad Weather

The Grand Canyon State Abounds With Family-Friendly Activities

A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

Welcome to

ARIZONA!

Destinations across Arizona often create a lasting impression. But what makes Arizona truly unique is its ability to inspire an adventurous spirit in visitors and residents alike. This ability to inspire serves as a guiding principle for our work at the Arizona Office of Tourism and we’re excited to share it with you.

Arizona is truly a destination for travelers. Road-trip excursions and bucket-list experiences beckon from every corner of the Grand Canyon State. To not heed their call while you’re considering Arizona would be a pity, if not a crime. Below are a few ways you might extend your trip to Arizona and many more are available at visitarizona.com.

SEE THE WORLD’S GRANDEST CANYON

Inarguably breathtaking, the Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and Arizona’s most-visited attraction. If you’ve never seen it in person, it’s time to rectify that. Stretching 277 miles from end to end, the canyon’s multihued rock walls descend more than a mile to the Colorado River below. There are several ways to see the Grand Canyon, from scenic rim overlooks to hiking trails to air tours.

“Arizona’s ability to surprise and delight awaits every visitor.”

WANDER THROUGH WINE COUNTRY

As Arizona’s reputation for quality wines grows, so does the popularity of the Verde Valley. This green-and-gold river valley—one of three wine regions in the state—is home to seven wineries and eight tasting rooms. The trail winds through lush canyons with stops in Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona, Clarkdale and Cornville. The Verde Valley is about an hour-and-a-half drive from Phoenix, and be sure to designate a driver or hire a shuttle if you plan to hit every winery on the trail.

SAVOR SMALL-TOWN SOUTHWESTERN CHARM

Any road trip is more memorable when it includes little towns with big personalities.

Arizona has those in spades. Several such towns are located along Route 66, which snakes across northern Arizona. Fans of the hit-making band the Eagles will appreciate “standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona,” a 2021 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award winner. Down the road, in Kingman, day-trippers will find classic cars, neon signs and the Historic Route 66 Museum.

Another cool escape north of Phoenix is the mile-high city of Prescott. It’s famous for Whiskey Row, a collection of saloons that sprung up during the gold rush to quench the thirst of cowboys, miners, gamblers and outlaws. The town is filled with Victorian architecture and boasts 700 buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Southern Arizona is also home to a famously charming mile-high town: Bisbee. USA Today named Bisbee America’s best historic small town, and Frommer’s declared it one of the “Best Places to Go” in the world in 2018. This former mining camp is now populated by artists and free spirits whose wares fill shops and galleries on Main Street. Off the main drag, murals adorn alley walls and sculptures decorate the tiny yards of Victorian homes. Arizona’s ability to surprise and delight awaits every visitor. I invite you to enjoy the diversity and splendor of the Grand Canyon State!

Debbie Johnson

Director, Arizona Office of Tourism

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

ARIZONA

36 Exploring Arizona 38 Have Fun in the Sun in Arizona

©iStock.com/bgblue

SI Site InSpections 40 Chandler 42 Gilbert 44 Glendale 46 Lake Havasu City 48 Mesa 50 Phoenix 52 Scottsdale 54 Tempe 56 Tucson 58 Flagstaff

ON THE COVER: Lost Dutchman State Park Photo courtesy of Micah Adams

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Aspens in the Fall, Flagstaff Photo courtesy of John Weatherby

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EXPLORING ARIZONA

From North to South and East to West, the Grand Canyon State abounds with family-friendly sights and activities

W

By Randy Mink hether it’s urban amenities, fun on the water or frolics in wide-open spaces, Arizona simply offers the best of the West.

For the traveler, Greater Phoenix has every kind of recreational, cultural, dining and retail experience imaginable. Sprawling across the Sonoran Desert in the middle of the state, it is one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas and lacks for nothing.

Known as the Valley of the Sun, this population center comprises not only Phoenix but also Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler, Gilbert and a dozen or so other communities. Some of the nation’s best resorts, renowned for their golf courses and luxurious spas, make the Valley a year-round vacation destination.

Those new to the Valley are surprised to find so many parks, preserves and other easily accessible oases where they can commune with nature and enjoy outdoor activities. Phoenix’s South Mountain Park and Preserve, the world’s largest city park, is a vast wilderness with mountaindesert trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.

In the middle of Gilbert, the paved trails at Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch are frequented by bird- and wildlife-watchers; the sanctuary also has a fishing lake and

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covered picnic areas. Desert Botanical Garden, on 150 acres just outside downtown Phoenix, showcases more than 4,000 species of cacti, succulents, trees and flowers.

Desert environments aren’t normally associated with bodies of water, however Greater Phoenix overflows with refreshing options on its lakes and rivers. Kayak, pedal boat and paddleboard rentals are available for exploring Tempe Town Lake in downtown Tempe. In the Lower Salt River Recreation Area in Tonto National Forest, visitors who go tubing and kayaking down the Salt River may see wild horses cooling off at river’s edge and grazing on underwater foliage. Located near Mesa, the popular playground, with its three lakes and two rivers, attracts boating, rafting and fishing enthusiasts as well.

Lush golf greens also provide a striking contrast to the arid landscapes. Some 200 courses in the Valley of the Sun cater to every skill set and budget. Many of these public and resort courses come with spectacular mountain views.

Golfers can sharpen their skills in style at TopGolf’s hightech driving ranges in Gilbert, Glendale and Scottsdale.

Each location has dozens of climate-controlled bays for hitting microchipped golf balls at a target on the field.

Amenities include a restaurant, multiple sports bars, @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Photo courtesy of the Arizona Office of Tourism

musical entertainment and a rooftop terrace with fire pit.

Spectator sports also are a big visitor draw in Greater Phoenix. Every February and March, 15 Major League Baseball teams come to compete in spring training games at 10 stadiums throughout the area. Among the most highly attended Cactus League venues are Scottsdale Stadium, spring home of the San Francisco Giants, and the Chicago Cubs’ Sloan Park in Mesa. During the regular Major League season, the hometown Arizona Diamondbacks play at airconditioned Chase Field in downtown Phoenix.

At shopping/dining/entertainment complexes throughout the Valley of the Sun, families find indoor fun galore. Arizona Boardwalk in Scottsdale, for example, is home to Odysea Aquarium; Butterfly Wonderland, the largest conservatory of its kind in the country with more than 3,000 free-flying butterflies; and Pangaea: Land of the Dinosaurs, a collection of more than 80 animatronic beasts from the prehistoric past.

Arizona Mills in Tempe, the state’s largest outlet mall, houses SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center, a play place for children ages 3-10.

Kids can get creative in a variety of activities at Crayola Experience in Chandler Fashion Center, the state’s secondSportsPlanningGuide.com

Photo courtesy of the Arizona Office of Tourism

Salt River

largest shopping mall (after Scottsdale Fashion Square).

Mavrix, an amusement center with 22 lanes of bowling, 85 arcade games, laser tag and places to eat and drink, entertains kids and parents alike at The Pavilions at Talking Stick Shopping Center in Scottsdale. Also popular with families are the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix and the Phoenix Zoo. Tucson, the state’s second-largest city, is the tourist magnet of southern Arizona. Like Greater Phoenix, it boasts a number of high-end resorts and has some bigtime attractions. Pima Air & Space Museum claims one of the largest private collections of aircraft in the world; on display in hangars and outside are more than 300 planes, including World War II fighters and an Air Force One used

by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Providing a great introduction to desert plants and wildlife is the ArizonaSonora Desert Museum, a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden and natural history museum all rolled into one.

Bordering Tucson are the East and West units of Saguaro National Park, where hiking trails spotlight the majestic saguaro, the cactus variety that graces classic Arizona landscapes. Sabino Canyon, in the Santa Catalina Mountain foothills, is another place offering inspirational panoramas.

In the far northwestern corner of Arizona, Lake Havasu’s 450 miles of shoreline set the stage for some of the state’s best water recreation. On this dammed section of the Colorado River, one can rent everything f rom water skis and kayaks to small fishing boats and roomy houseboats.

The planned community of Lake Havasu City stakes its claim to fame on the London Bridge, a stone-by-stone reconstruction of the fabled bridge that spanned the River Thames from 1831 until 1968. A must-do is walking across the bridge or passing under it by boat.

Flagstaff, set against the backdrop of pine forests and snow-capped peaks, is a thriving college town that many travelers visit on their way to and from the Grand Canyon, 80 miles to the north.

At Arizona Snowbowl, a small ski resort, summer visitors can hop aboard the Agassiz ski lift, which provides a scenic ride through the Coconino National Forest. Lowell Observatory gives tours during the day and at night allows guests to use its telescopes for viewing the planets, stars and other celestial wonders. Storied Route 66 passes through the heart of downtown Flagstaff, a delightful historic district full of shops, eateries and landmark buildings.

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ARIZONA HAVE FUN IN THE SUN IN

Tournament planners can schedule events with sunshine in the forecast

By Jason Paha

W

hen scheduling an outdoor sporting event across much of the country, a major problem planners face is the unpredictability of weather.

The United States records an average of 205 sunny days per year, meaning inclement weather can wreak havoc on outdoor tournaments considerably more than 1/3 of the time. That is, unless your event takes place in Arizona.

With 300-plus days of sunshine per year, planners aiming to schedule an outdoor tournament can do so in Arizona with almost zero trepidation.

Here are some locations in the Grand Canyon State that have excellent outdoor sports facilities and are also perfect for those looking to embrace Arizona’s enticing natural beauty.

CHANDLER

The Chandler Tennis Center is a beautiful venue that features 15 newly renovated, lighted courts and offers recreational leagues, tournaments and drop-in play. The 3,000-square-foot facility is a perfect locale for tennis players of all ages to hone their skills. Outdoor enthusiasts will also cherish Chandler’s picturesque Sonoran Desert terrain, which is ideal for those who prefer to hike, mountain bike, cycle, horseback ride, kayak, fish and even explore the area in a hot air balloon.

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FLAGSTAFF

Flagstaff is a popular outdoor destination and features a variety of trail systems hikers love to embrace. The city has easy access to mountains and canyons including the Grand Canyon, whose South Rim is just over an hour drive from Flagstaff. Grand Canyon National Park is one of the planet’s greatest natural wonders as it stretches 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and reaches a depth of more than a mile. Famed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the park is unmatched in the vistas and views it offers visitors.

GILBERT

Children can feel like a professional ballplayer at Cactus Yards, home to eight baseball fields modeled after legendary major league fields: Ebbets Field, Sportsman’s Park, Dbacks Field, Wrigley Field, Yankee Stadium, Angel Stadium, Fenway Park and the Polo Grounds. Gilbert is also a tremendous spot to birdwatch thanks to the Riparian Preserve that contains close to 200 species of bird. It’s a perfect spot to take a long stroll and survey the surroundings.

GLENDALE

Camelback Ranch is the Spring Training home ballpark of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. This state-of-the-art 10,000-seat stadium with 3,000 lawn seats, @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Camelback Ranch

and Saguaro Lake. The ranch also features numerous hiking and biking trails.

PHOENIX

Photo courtesy of City of Glendale

Reach 11 is a perfect complex for athletes, regardless of skill level. This massive venue contains 18 lighted soccer fields, 17 grass fields and one artificial turf playing surface. The facility also boasts two traditional grass baseball fields and two accessible rubberized baseball fields which are perfect for athletes comfortable playing in any environment. Ability360 continues a 40-year tradition of promoting programs to empower people with all disabilities to live independent lifestyles within their community. Its sports and fitness center is one of only a handful of centers in the country designed for individuals with disabilities and it provides exceptional adaptive sports, recreation, aquatic and fitness programs. Phoenix is also home to an extraordinary outdoor landscape including South Mountain Park, the largest municipal park in the U.S., perfect for hikers of all abilities.

118,000 square feet of clubhouse space and eight practice fields features picturesque walking trails, one-of-a-kind fan photo opportunities and a five-acre lake that separates the Dodgers and White Sox practice areas.

LAKE HAVASU

Lake Havasu is a year-round fishing paradise where anglers savor the lake’s scenic natural beauty as they reel in bass, bluegill, sunfish, catfish and crappies. For those looking to get their blood pumping, Lake Havasu City BMX is a USA BMX-sanctioned non-profit race track which is perfect for bikers to perform their tricks. Another great outdoor spot is Tinnell Memorial Sports Park, Arizona’s largest skate park and the largest multi-use skate park in the Southwest at 40,000 square feet.

MESA

Legacy Sports Park is a $300 million, 320-acre multi-use family sport and entertainment complex of outdoor and indoor team athletic facilities that will open in January 2022.

The park will feature state-of-the-art training and wellness centers, nutrition professionals and a wide selection of dining options. Those seeking an active outing prior to that date can embrace Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch, which offers visitors the chance to kayak and tube the Lower Salt River SportsPlanningGuide.com

SCOTTSDALE

The Scottsdale Sports Complex is a 71-acre sports facility that has amenities to accommodate a variety of field sports including soccer, rugby, football, ultimate frisbee and lacrosse.

The complex contains 10 grass fields, four regulation-sized and six international-sized with soccer goals installed on all fields.

The city boasts eight lakes and rivers within an hour’s drive.

Among those include the scenic Salt River, which is popular for water rafting, tubing, kayaking, canoeing and fishing; and Bartlett Lake, a desert gem containing a full-service marina with pontoon and ski boat rentals.

TEMPE

Built in 2005, Tempe Sports Complex includes seven athletic fields and four softball fields. The skate park, featuring two bowls and multiple street-style ramps, is a social hub for skaters of all experience levels. Tempe is also an outdoor haven as it is home to Tempe Town Lake, a desert paradise that provides visitors with aquatic recreation and outdoor activities year-round. This twomile-long body of water is a popular destination for visitors to kayak, sail, fish, row and even jog. Another favored destination is “A” Mountain, also known as Hayden Butte in downtown Tempe. Hikers of this mountain are rewarded with views of the lake, Arizona State University and rock drawings left hundreds of years ago by ancient people.

TUCSON

From breathtaking Sonoran Desert views to the bustling and vibrant downtown area, Tucson gives travelers the best of both worlds. Kino Sports Complex is a multi-purpose sports venue which provides facilities for both professional and amateur level sports. Less than 14 miles from Tucson resides Saguaro National Park, which contains hundreds of miles of hiking trails and covers 91,327 acres in two districts.

The Eastern Rincon Mountain District rises to more than 8,000 feet and includes more than 128 miles of trails. The Western Tucson Mountain District is lower in elevation with a denser saguaro forest.

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Chandler, AZ UNWIND IN THIS VIBRANT CITY FILLED WITH FAMILY-FUN ACTIVITIES AND FABULOUS OUTDOOR OPTIONS

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

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “We were introduced to the Chandler community five years ago and we now host over 10 running events in Chandler annually and consider Visit Chandler one of the most welcoming and supportive organizations we work with and an integral part in each of our event success stories.”

Chandler Tennis Center

— Sheri Nichols, Managing Director 131 Event Productions

Snedigar Recreation Center

Located in Metropolitan Phoenix, sunny Chandler is home to a variety of outdoor recreation options that will keep your family happy and active.

Chandler also offers a wide range of family-friendly activities, world-class golf facilities and a vibrant downtown filled with excellent restaurants and a multitude of shopping options.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Chandler Tennis Center

Tennis This beautiful center at Tumbleweed Park features 15 newly renovated, lighted courts and offers youth, teen and adult group tennis lessons, recreational leagues, tournaments and drop-in play. The USTA award-winning 3,000-square-foot facility is a perfect locale for tennis players of all ages to hone their skills and have fun.

Snedigar Recreation Center

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Downtown Chandler is a vibrant community featuring eclectic shops, enticing restaurants and exciting events throughout the year.

From fine art to popular breweries, downtown Chandler, which features original buildings from the early

Baseball, softball, soccer, skating, cricket Named after fallen Chandler Officer James Snedigar, the facility is a massive 90-acre sports complex located in South Chandler. The center features two professional-sized baseball fields, four softball fields, four Little League baseball fields, 12 soccer fields, a skate park, a dog park, a full-sized cricket field and a 9,000-square-foot recreation center.

Downtown Chandler

Events Downtown Chandler offers a great blend of annual festivals, nightlife, family-fun activities, live music and a variety of activity-based events.

It is also home to such venues as Soho63, a hip and historic wedding and event venue. Other venues in the downtown district include two hotels, two outdoor stages, and the Chandler Community Center, which provides one-stopshop quality recreational and educational activities for all ages. The center offers multipurpose rooms, a courtyard and a full-size prep kitchen.

VISIT CHANDLER Kimberly Janes 480-782-3037 kimberly.janes@chandleraz.gov www.VisitChandler.com

1900s, is a great spot to gather.

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Sports Planning Guide

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Gilbert, AZ

Scan to discover more of what Gilbert, Arizona offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

A BURGEONING HOT SPOT IN ARIZONA, GILBERT IS A GREAT PLACE TO PLAY BOTH INDOORS AND OUTSIDE

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Cactus Yards is the best overall ballpark in the state of Arizona for our baseball tournaments and leagues.

It’s also now nationally recognized by out-of-state teams as the place they want to play, bringing in economic impact to the community.”

Desert Sky Park

— Rick Perreault, USSSA Baseball-AZ State Director

Gilbert Regional Park

Residing east of Chandler and south of Mesa, Gilbert has surged from an agricultural community into an Arizona hot spot. Gilbert’s popularity grows by the day as excellent restaurants continue to open in its revitalized downtown while its art scene grows more renowned.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Downtown Gilbert, known by the locals as the Heritage District,

is a collection of more than 30 restaurants in a vibrant space.

▶ Riparian Preserve at Water

Ranch covers 110 acres and houses

approximately 298 species of birds.

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Sports Planning Guide

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Cactus Yards

Baseball, Softball Cactus Yards offers an experience like few others. Guests can play like a professional at one of its eight ballfields modeled after legendary major league fields: Ebbets Field, Sportsman’s Park, Dbacks Field, Wrigley Field, Yankee Stadium, Angel Stadium, Fenway Park and the Polo Grounds. The facility is also home to a fieldhouse and batting cages, where sluggers can grab some batting practice.

Desert Sky Park Football, soccer

This lovely new park features four multiuse fields, a fitness course, a kids’ playground and a lake with plenty more to come. When construction is complete, Desert Sky Park has the potential to incorporate 16 multi-use fields including a Championship Field with integrated shade and seating, a sensory playground, plaza areas and a trailhead.

Gilbert Regional Park

Basketball, Pickleball, Volleyball, Tennis This multifaceted park offers post-tension concrete basketball courts with sports surfacing and striping as well as reinforced rims and backboard. Another amenity includes 16 competition-ready pickleball courts; made up of 15 standard dimension courts and one allaccessible showcase court. Lighting is designed to Class II standards for tournament play and have push button controls allowing for two courts to be lit at one time. The park also houses six competition-ready lit sand volleyball courts.

TOWN OF GILBERT, ARIZONA Glenn Schlottman Work: 480-503-6913 Cell: 480-417-8334 glenn.schlottman@gilbertaz.gov discovergilbert.com

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Glendale, AZ

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

THIS SPORTS MECCA, KNOWN AS THE SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, IS HOME TO THE UPCOMING 2023 SUPER BOWL, 2024 MEN’S FINAL FOUR AND ANNUAL FIESTA BOWL. CHAMPIONS PLAY HERE!

Westgate Entertainment District

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “We could not be more thrilled to partner with the City of Glendale on Section 7. Their flexibility, hospitality and overall professionalism is second to none. There is no city in America that we would rather host this event in than Glendale, Arizona.”

— Matt King, Chief Operating Officer, Position Sports Organizer of Section 7 Basketball Tournament

Gila River Arena

With 16 hotels and growing Glendale offers more than 1,800 room nights including on-trend, boutique-style properties. Glendale is located 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport offering nonstop service to more than 114 domestic cities and 24 international destinations.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Westgate Entertainment District The “District of Fun” is a premier entertainment destination for live events, business, concerts, sporting events, celebrations, and a $6 million Bellagio-inspired dancing water feature.

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Sports Planning Guide

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

State Farm Stadium

Football, Sporting Events, and Festivals Delivering a world-class experience for fans, event organizers and participants. The stadium offers an innovative approach to sports facility design by incorporating the first retractable natural grass playing field in North America. It is also the first completely retractable roof to operate at an incline. The stadium’s exterior skin of shimmering metal panels reflects the shifting desert light.

Gila River Arena

Sporting and Entertainment Events This state-of-the-art multipurpose facility hosts national and international chart-topping recording artists and a variety of sporting events. The arena features two separate concourses on two seating levels, providing guests with non-restricted views of the action.

The arena features an intimate seating bowl with modern amenities and anchors Westgate Entertainment District.

Camelback Ranch - Glendale

Spring Training, Baseball Tournaments, Sporting Events Home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, this spring training facility offers 10,000 stadium-seats and 3,000 lawn seats.

The 141-acre campus has 118,000 square feet of clubhouse space with four major league and eight minor league practice fields.

VISIT GLENDALE Eveline Vanda, National Sales Manager 623-930-2954 evanda@VisitGlendale.com www.VisitGlendale.com

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center

Volleyball Tournaments

Camelback Ranch – Glendale

Basketball Tournaments

FACILITIES

ACCOMODATIONS

ENTERTAINMENT

LOCATION

• 8 Sports Venues

• 16 Hotels

• 14 Football & Soccer Fields

• Tanger Outlets – 90+ High End Shops

• Over 300 Days of Sunshine

• 1,800+ Guest Rooms

• 24 Baseball Fields

• 600,000+ sq. ft. of Event Space

• Westgate – 40+ Restaurants • Gila River Arena – A-List Concerts

• 20 Minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l Airport • 4 Hours from the Grand Canyon

9494 W. Maryland Ave., Third Floor | Glendale, AZ 85305 877.800.2601 | VisitGlendale.com | #VisitGlendaleAZ /VisitGlendale

/VisitGlendaleAZ

/VisitGlendaleAZ

Lake Havasu City, Az

Scan to discover more of what Go Lake Havasu offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

DISCOVER ARIZONA’S PLAYGROUND AND HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE IN THIS SUNNY PARADISE

Lake Havasu City BMX

Lake Havasu City is perfectly centered within easy driving from Southern California, Las Vegas and Phoenix to make it the ideal host for regional tournaments.

Tinnell Memorial Sports Complex

With more than 300 days of sunshine a year and a unique mix of tranquil waters, rugged mountains and a slew of fun, it’s difficult to stay inside when you are in Lake Havasu City. This is the perfect place for hikers, bikers, boating enthusiasts, anglers, golfers, shoppers and lovers of fine food. Book your vacation escape to Lake Havasu City and Play Like You Mean It®.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Lake Havasu City is located on the beautiful Colorado River. From fun and adventure on the channel near the London Bridge to the quiet inlets like Teal Cove, the lake is spacious enough for everyone who wants to spend time on the water.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Lake Havasu City BMX

Biking Set amid the scenic Lake Havasu City desert backdrop, this USA BMX-sanctioned nonprofit race track is a perfect place for bikers to strut their stuff. Feel the excitement of BMX racing as riders whip around the track and fly through the air to conquer jumps along the way. This non-motorized sport connects with all ages and has an open enrollment encouraging riders, young and old, to join in on the fun or watch from the stands.

Tinnell Memorial Sports Complex

Skateboarding One of the top five largest skateparks in the U.S. and the largest multi-use skatepark in the Southwest at 40,000 square feet, Tinnell is dedicated to local fallen soldier and BMX rider Patrick Tinnell, along with Colin Sasseen, who lost his life skating in his front yard. This multiuse skatepark is a Street League Skateboarding-

certified facility and is also open to BMX and scooters. Its street course design is inspired by Street League Skateboarding’s skate plaza-style course skated by professional skateboarders at the 2013 X Games in Brazil.

Cypress Park

Baseball, soccer Cypress has beautiful lake views and plenty of space to enjoy soccer, baseball, playtime or just lying on the sprawling grass and taking in the sun and sights. This soccer tournamentfriendly park hosts the only regulation 73-yardwide soccer field in the city and other varioussized soccer fields as well.

GO LAKE HAVASU Jackie Leatherman, Director of Experiences o. 928-453-3444 x 132 c. 928-486-2665 jackie@golakehavasu.com www.golakehavasu.com @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

MESA, AZ

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

DELICIOUS FOOD, FUN ACTIVITIES AND A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN MAKE MESA A DESTINATION VISITORS CAN’T WAIT TO REVISIT

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “Working with Visit Mesa has been more than an enjoyable experience.

When we run events across the country, we like to connect with the local destination marketing organization to help enhance the overall experience of our participants.”

Legacy Sports Park

— Mark Dvoroznak, Director, National Business Development Prep Baseball Report Tournaments

Skyline Aquatic Center

Both upscale and urban, Mesa is a thriving hub of business, culture, arts, recreation and entertainment with culinary outposts and retail shops providing an appealing charm and character exclusive to the city. Mesa is garnering national attention as the culinary gateway in the Southwest.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Sloan Park is a 15,000-seat ballpark in Mesa with seven practice fields and the adjacent The Nike Performance Center. Chicago Cubs fans flock to Mesa every March for Spring Training action at the park.

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Sports Planning Guide

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Legacy Sports Park

Soccer Legacy Sports Park, an impressive $300M, 320-acre multi-use family sport and entertainment complex of outdoor and indoor team athletic facilities will open in January 2022.

The park will feature state-of-the-art training and wellness centers, nutrition professionals and a wide selection of dining options. Legacy Sports Park expands beyond sports; it will also feature an e-gaming center, a multi-purpose arena, and an outdoor amphitheater designed for live events, family shows, exhibitions, conventions, and award ceremonies.

Skyline Aquatic Center

Swimming Mesa is home to some of the best aquatic facilities in the Southwest and is one of the nation’s premier swimming destinations.

Mesa’s most in-demand venue is Skyline Aquatic Center. Offering a view of the majestic

Superstition Mountains, Skyline’s fast pools and coveted outdoor plaza are a popular destination.

Gene Autry Baseball Complex

Baseball Gene Autry Baseball features a total of three professionally-groomed, full-size (90-foot bases) baseball fields, batting tunnels and an eight-pack covered pitching station. There is a 47-acre park area nearby that includes playground equipment, four lighted sand volleyball courts, and ramadas of varying sizes.

VISIT MESA Lance Fite, Director, Sports Sales 480-682-3650 Lance@VisitMesa.com www.visitmesa.com/sports-planner/

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Our entire area

I S A M U LT I - U S E S P O R T S FA C I L I T Y.

While Mesa, Arizona is nationally known for its world-class sporting and aquatics facilities, it’s also known for so much more than that. Come create an unforgettable memory.

VISITMESA.COM

Phoenix, AZ

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

WITH PROFESSIONAL TEAMS GALORE, A BUSTLING DOWNTOWN AND BEAUTIFUL SONORAN DESERT SCENERY, PHOENIX IS A MUST-VISIT DESTINATION “Phoenix is a mecca for sports. From our professional sports franchises to collegiate level to youth and amateur, Phoenix enjoys sports at every level, all year long. Our sports facilities can host any type of event, and our diverse portfolio of hotels and resorts ensures there are accommodations at every price point.”

Reach 11 Sports Complex

— Chris Robertson, Director of National Accounts at Visit Phoenix

Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Suns

Whether you’re up for hiking to stunning mountain views, strolling among the Desert Botanical Garden’s collection of 50,000 desert plants or hunting down murals in the arts district, there are endless sights to take in between games in Phoenix.

As the urban heart of the Southwest, this city is also home to innovative restaurant concepts and lively nightlife. With a wide array of cultural attractions, surrounded by endless natural beauty, there’s always something new to explore in Phoenix.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Musical Instrument Museum offers music lovers the option to travel the world through sound, and Heard Museum celebrates cultures and art of

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Reach 11 Sports Complex

Baseball, Soccer Reach 11 is an ideal complex for all athletes to play, regardless of skill level. This massive venue features 18 lighted soccer fields (17 grass and one artificial turf playing surface).

The facility also boasts two traditional grass baseball fields and two accessible rubberized baseball fields, which are perfect for athletes comfortable playing in any environment.

Rose Mofford Sports Complex

Soccer, Softball, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Pickleball This lighted complex, perfect for latenight competition of any kind, features four soccer fields, six softball fields, four basketball courts, four volleyball courts (two asphalt and two sand). It is also home to eight tennis courts, three pickleball courts, and eight racquetball courts.

Professional Sports

Basketball, Baseball, Football, Hockey With several professional teams competing here, Phoenix is a go-to destination for sports fans. Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns invited the world to their homecourt during the 2021 NBA Finals. Each year, following Cactus League Spring Training, the MLB’s Diamondbacks bring America’s pastime to a climate-controlled ballpark in downtown. The NFL’s Cardinals, led by star quarterback Kyler Murray, hit the field that will play host to Super Bowl LVII in 2023. The NHL’s Coyotes take the ice at one of city’s dozen venues (with more coming soon). Regardless of your favorite sport to watch, you will definitely find a team to root for in this vibrant city.

VISIT PHOENIX Chris Robertson 602-452-6221 crobertson@visitphoenix.com visitphoenix.com

American Indians of the Southwest.

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Sports Planning Guide

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Scottsdale, AZ

Scan to discover more of what Experience Scottsdale offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

EXPERIENCE EXCITING URBAN ATTRACTIONS IN THE CENTER OF ARIZONA’S PICTURESQUE SONORAN DESERT

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “Experience Scottsdale is innovative and progressive. They recognize the value events bring to their community and their support for event producers is second to none. Their lodging options and facilities are some of the best in the country and everything is first class!”

Scottsdale Stadium

— Baseball client, Fort Collins, CO

Scottsdale Sports Complex

Located in Maricopa County, Scottsdale, Arizona, has been called “The West’s Most Western Town.” Scottsdale is set in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, and its McDowell Sonoran Preserve is the largest urban preserve of its kind in the United States. Scottsdale also is home to the McDowell Mountains and in close proximity to the Tonto National Forest and the Salt River.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Popular Scottsdale attractions that also offer flexible meeting and event space include Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, OdySea Aquarium, Mavrix and Topgolf.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Scottsdale and Bell Road Sports Complexes

Soccer, rugby, football, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse These sports complexes contain bermuda grass fields which are all professionally groomed and regularly maintained. The Scottsdale Sports Complex features six international-sized fields (225’ x 360’, four lighted) and four regulation-sized fields (186’ x 300’, unlighted). The Bell Road Sports Complex, which opens in Spring of 2022, features six additional international-sized fields (225’ x 360’, five lighted).

WestWorld of Scottsdale

Equestrian, car shows, festivals, concerts With a large variety of entertainment and dining options, WestWorld is a great venue for hosting events of many kinds. The grounds cover 386 acres in close proximity to the McDowell Mountains and offer 300,000 square

feet of exhibit space. WestWorld is well known for its equestrian center, which has hosted hundreds of events over the years.

Scottsdale Stadium

Baseball, events, festivals, trade shows Built in 1955 and located in Old Town, Scottsdale Stadium is home to the San Francisco Giants during Cactus League Spring Training and hosts a wide variety of events year-round. The main Stadium capacity is 12,000 people, and the facility also is equipped to host weddings, conferences and family gatherings.

EXPERIENCE SCOTTSDALE Erika Pumphrey 480-949-6297 epumphrey@experiencescottsdale.com www.experiencescottsdale.com/ meetings/sporting-events @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Game On!

VENUES & GROUP RESORT HOTEL SERVICES PROFILES

OFF-SITE VENUES

When it comes to top-notch facilities for sporting events of all kinds, Scottsdale’s definitely got game.

I

n Scottsdale, we back up our out-standing sports facilities with year-round sunny skies, hotels and resorts in all price points, exciting off-the-field recreation options, great dining and nightlife, and a lush Sonoran Desert setting. Here are just a few of Scottsdale’s facilities that offer flexibility, comfort and topnotch amenities for tournaments, games, league play and practices.

WESTWORLD OF SCOTTSDALE • Tony Nelssen Equestrian Center (TNEC): 300,000 sq. ft. consisting of a central equidome flanked by two multi-purpose halls (117,000-sq.-ft.

North Hall and 37,000-sq.-ft. South Hall). Seating capacity 3,400. Fully climate controlled. The TNEC’s flexible design and barrier-free, continuous space allows multiple events to take place simultaneously.

• The Fields: A 20-acre grass field split into two areas ideal for polo and other flat-field sports.

• Equestrian Arenas: 10 total with access to horse stalls.

• Monterra: 17,000-sq.-ft. indoor/outdoor event facility.

SCOTTSDALE STADIUM • Full-size Stadium Field (lighted) with grandstand, bleacher and berm seating for 11,000

SALT RIVER FIELDS AT TALKING STICK • Full-size Stadium Field (lighted) with stadium and berm seating for 12,000

• Full-size Practice Field (unlighted)

• 12 Practice Fields

• The Lodge multi-level outdoor event space for groups of all sizes

• Numerous indoor/outdoor Multi-Use Spaces

• The Fieldhouse, a 10,000-square-foot, state-ofthe-art space with pre-function area and patio

SCOTTSDALE SPORTS COMPLEX (pictured) • 6 International-size Fields (225’ x 360’; 4 lighted)

• The Banyan Room, a 3,000-square-foot room with patio • The Press Level, a versatile space for 20 to 120 people

• 4 Regulation-size Fields (186’ x 300’; unlighted) • 1 full-size Basketball Court (lighted) BELL ROAD SPORTS COMPLEX (Opening Spring of 2022) • 6 International-size Fields (225’ x 360’; 4 lighted)

experiencescottsdale.com For more information, please contact Erika Pumphrey, National Sales Manager for Experience Scottsdale, at 480-949-6297 or epumphrey@experiencescottsdale.com

Tempe, AZ

Scan to discover more of what Tempe Tourism Office offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

A VARIETY OF ATTRACTIONS AND INCREDIBLE NATURAL BEAUTY MAKE TEMPE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS IN ARIZONA

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “Tempe is a vibrant urban destination for tournaments just minutes from PHX Sky Harbor airport. By hosting high-level competitions like IRONMAN® triathlons and Cactus League Spring Training our convenient location and sunny skies create a winning game plan.”

Tempe Town Lake

Tempe Sports Complex

With breathtaking landscapes and a vibrant college town, Tempe is on the rise as one of the hottest destinations in the Southwestern U.S. From outdoor attractions and sightseeing ventures to excellent retail and dining opportunities, this metropolitan area is ideal for a week-long getaway.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Tempe Sports Complex

Softball, Skating Built in 2005, Tempe Sports Complex boasts several recreational opportunities. The complex includes seven athletic fields and four softball fields. The skate park, featuring two bowls and multiple street style ramps, is a social hub for skaters of all experience levels. For those who prefer a more leisurely activity, the two-acre dog park is also a great option.

Sun Devil Fitness

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Downtown Tempe offers endless entertainment and dining options for any time of day. Countless culinary choices cover a wide array of cuisines, from quick eats to fine dining.

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Fitness Train like a collegiate athlete at Arizona State University’s world class fitness complex.

The facility is designed to be a center of recreational sports, intramural sports, and overall physical wellness. With an array of f ree weights, exercise machines, and even a swimming pool open year-round, the complex offers enough fitness opportunities to appeal to everyone.

Tempe Town Lake

Kayaking, Sailing, Fishing, Rowing, Jogging Located in the heart of the Phoenix Metropolitan area, Tempe Town Lake is the perfect place to soak up the sun this season.

The desert haven provides visitors with aquatic recreation and outdoor activities year-round.

Guests can do anything and everything, whether it be kayaking, sailing, fishing, rowing, jogging, or even simply picnicking. Patrons may use their own watercraft equipment on the lake with a permit.

TEMPE TOURISM OFFICE Alicia Griffith, Events Coordinator 480-894-8158 Alicia@tempetourism.com www.tempetourism.com

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Photo courtesy of Tempe Tourism

Photo courtesy of Tempe Tourism

— Judy Stowers, Race Director IRONMAN Arizona

Tucson, AZ THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR ADVENTURE SEEKERS, TUCSON IS A GREAT PLACE TO GET OUTDOORS AND GET ACTIVE

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

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“We are currently working on bringing two events to Tucson and Visit Tucson Sports has been a pleasure to work with. Their sports director, Luchie Javelosa, has done a wonderful job in educating us on the city, sports venues and hotels. We are looking forward to a long-term partnership with Visit Tucson Sports.”

Kino Sports Complex

— Eric Carlyle, SDLT, Compete Sports Diversity, CEO

Tucson Convention Center

From breathtaking Sonoran Desert views to the bustling and vibrant downtown area, Tucson gives travelers the best of both worlds. Resort hotels, spas and modern trendy restaurants are perfect for the urban explorer while the Sonoran Desert, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, and Catalina State Park allow for endless hikes.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a 98-acre museum made up of a zoo, aquarium, art gallery, botanical garden and natural history museum.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Kino Sports Complex

Multi-use, Baseball, Soccer, Rugby, Lacrosse, Pickleball This multi-purpose sports venue provides facilities for both professional and amateur level sports, as well as cultural events. As the largest entertainment venue in Southern Arizona, the complex is equipped to host tournaments, concerts, fundraisers, training sessions and more.

The North Complex is composed of an event center, a 3,000+ seat stadium and grandstand field. The Main Complex has a baseball stadium and 7 regulation sized baseball fields with concessions and clubhouses. The South Complex accommodates fields sports such as soccer, rugby, lacrosse and has 20 lighted pickleball courts.

Tucson Convention Center

Multi-use, Volleyball, Hockey, Indoor Football Located in the heart of downtown Tucson, the Tucson Convention Center is comprised of 205,000 square feet of event space and nearly

9,000 seats in the arena. Ballrooms, pre-function spaces, and exhibit halls are just some of the aspects available to make any event a success.

Oro Valley Aquatic Center

Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Water Polo Found in James D. Kriegh Park, this familyfriendly and accessible aquatic center has everything needed to cool off on a sunny Arizona day. Oro Valley Aquatic Center is open year-round with a giant water slide, interactive splash pad, a 25-yard recreation pool and an Olympic-sized, 50-meter competition pool, complete with a Colorado Time System, touch pads and a scoreboard.

VISIT TUCSON SPORTS Luchie Javelosa 520-770-2129 ljavelosa@visittucson.org VisitTucson.org/Sports

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Flagstaff, AZ

Scan to discover more of what Discover Flagstaff offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

THIS FOUR-SEASON SPORTS DESTINATION HAS SOMETHING FOR LOVERS OF CULTURE AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Wall Aquatic Center

J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome

Flagstaff is a popular outdoor destination and is home to a variety of trail systems. The city has easy access to majestic mountains and canyons including the Grand Canyon, whose South Rim is less than a mile from Flagstaff. The city is also a fantastic shopping spot as it features more than 50 shopping options in its downtown area.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Downtown Flagstaff is renowned for having a fantastic social scene, as it offers the best of modern dining, craft brews, local art and community events all packed into a fun, laid-back atmosphere.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Wall Aquatic Center

Swimming The new Wall Aquatic Center, located in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex on the campus of Northern Arizona University, offers NAU and the Flagstaff community one of the finest highaltitude swimming facilities in the world. The facility features a 50-meter by 25-yard competitive pool with a movable bulkhead to convert it to Olympic size. It also houses a separate 25-meter by 25-yard by 17-foot-deep dive tank with a threeline 10-meter dive tower and one and three-meter springboards.

seat building to a panoramic view of the field on the east and west concourses and their comfort is ensured with 21-inch-wide chair back seating. Once the largest wood-span structure of its kind in the world, the Skydome covers an area of 6.2 acres, with the roof spanning more than 500 feet and rising 142 feet above the playing surface. The Skydome showcases a REALGRASS surface installed in the spring of 2008. The 96,000-square-foot surface is covered with Mondo and the track contains a six-lane, 300-meter non-banked loop with the infield containing enough area for six NCAA-standard basketball and volleyball courts as well as two regulation tennis courts.

J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome

Football, basketball, indoor track and field Home to the Northern Arizona football, men’s and women’s basketball and indoor track and field teams, it is one of the most unique venues in all of college athletics. Open for 44 years, the dome underwent a major renovation in 2010-11, at a cost of $26 million. Fans enter the 10,000-

DISCOVER FLAGSTAFF Jessica Young 928-213-2920 jyoung@flagstaffaz.gov www.meetinflagstaff.org

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

FLA GSTA FF, A Z

YOUR FOUR SEASON SPORTS DESTINATION Flagstaff is an avid outdoors community, taking advantage of its many trail systems to enjoy the yearround accessibility of the mountains and canyons.

Jessica Young · 928-213-2920 · jyoung@flagstaffaz.gov · meetinflagstaff.org

Irvine, CA

Scan to discover more of what Destination Irvine offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

IRVINE’S EXCELLENT DESIGN HAS POSITIONED THIS PIVOTAL PACIFIC DESTINATION AS THE CENTER OF ORANGE COUNTY

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “Destination Irvine’s very reliable, resourceful and hardworking staff was very beneficial for my organization and my five youth soccer tournaments and its attendees, which are held in the City of Irvine.”

— Bart Hess, President & Chairman, Community Sports Institute, Orange County Kickoff Classic

Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena

Orange County Great Park Sports Complex

Fueled by a rich, multicultural history, Irvine can trace its roots back more than 2,000 years. The planned city you see today has been ranked within the 10 best places to live in the United States by a multitude of top publications while also garnering high marks for public safety and good governance. Irvine’s fantastic sporting scene makes this Pacific destination a must-visit for tournament planners.

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William J Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Orange County Great Park Sports Complex

Soccer, tennis, sand volleyball, baseball, softball Orange County Great Park has everything a sports planner wants, beginning with a championship soccer stadium with full amenities and seating for 2,500. The Sports Complex includes space for up to 24 soccer fields. Six lighted grass fields, each 120 yards by 75 yards, lighted grass soccer fields that can also be used for lacrosse, several

multipurpose fields, 24 lighted tennis courts with a championship court that houses 132 spectators, four sand volleyball courts with a lighted championship court and seating for 178, four basketball courts and 10 baseball/ softball fields with two championship stadiums make this a formidable venue for every season. The complex was the host site for the 2019 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship in November after the event was a success in 2018.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena

Hockey, curling, figure skating Few facilities throughout the United States offer the unique opportunity presented by Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena seating 2,500, which combines the largest community ice complex in the region with the training facility for the Anaheim Ducks. The $110 million, 280,000-square-foot facility has three sheets of ice designed for NHL regulations, as well as one Olympic standard sheet.

William J Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center Swimming, water polo The Woollett Center is home to Concordia University’s swimming, diving, and water polo teams. It boasts two 50-meter pools and a 25yard pool that’s just right for learning. Recently renovated, this facility has been used to showcase several major competitions, including the USA Swimming National Championships.

Momentous Sports Center

Hockey, curling, figure skating Momentous Sports Center boasts 22 indoor volleyball courts, 21 indoor basketball courts

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and 21 futsal courts, all featuring special lowimpact wooden flooring.

University of California-Irvine Bren Events Center Basketball, volleyball, Esports As a world-class university, the University of California-Irvine has some tremendous facilities, including the Bren Event Center.

The 65,000-square-foot arena is the home site for UCI’s basketball and volleyball programs and has a seating capacity of 5,000. State-of-the-art lighting, sound and acoustic engineering were thoughtfully designed across two levels.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Mediterranean architecture and an open-air shopping center highlight the Irvine Spectrum Center, where fine dining, comedy shows, a carousel and the Giant Wheel ensure a good time for the whole family.

Get off the beaten trail and onto Irvine’s bike trails, where 60+ miles of off-roading await your tires.

Soar into the night’s sky and check out the surrounding landscape when you take a ride on the Orange County Great Park Balloon.

Dine around the world with the

DESTINATION IRVINE Dave Lucey

comforts of Southern California weather when you visit Diamond Jamboree.

949-502-4114 dave@destinationirvine.com www.destinationirvine.com

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FRESNO COUNTY, CA

FRESNO COUNTY IS THE BEST IN ITS FIELD FOR WORLD-CLASS SPORTS EVENTS. OUTDOOR PARKS, RENOWNED ARENAS AND MATCHLESS AQUATIC CENTERS INVITE SPORTS PLANNERS TO THIS BELOVED REGION

Clovis North Aquatic Center

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

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Fresno State Athletics has used the services of the FCCVB for years. Their staff has always worked hard to assist in providing a quality experience for our visiting teams and guests. With the help of their hospitality, we were able to secure the Mountain West Conference Track and Field Championships for the next 3 years.”

– Matt Studwell, Associate Athletics Director for Facilities & Operations, Fresno State Athletics

Chukchansi Park

Veteran’s Memorial Stadium

Fresno County is idyllically located in the San Joaquin Valley, with Fresno itself remaining the Central Valley’s largest city. Fresno County’s sports complexes are second to none, hosting a variety of world-class sports events annually. Sports planners will love all of the guidance and support the county provides, along with endless lodging options, farmto-fork restaurants and outdoor activities to enjoy year-round.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Buchanan Sports Complex

Baseball/softball, track, football This family-friendly, state-of-the-art softball complex is a local favorite and always kept in tip-top shape. Buchanan Sports Complex in Clovis comprises eight softball fields fully-equipped with bleachers, lighting for night games, on-site restrooms and ample parking space.

Clovis West & Clovis North Aquatic Centers Swimming, diving

At Clovis West, featured facilities include three pools, a baby pool, showers, handicapped accessibility, locker rooms, a one-meter diving board, three-meter diving board, an eightlane competition pool at 50 meters, a diving well and an outdoor diving pool. Home for the Clovis North High School competitive aquatics program, Clovis North Aquatic Center offers two parallel 50-meter pools, a diving well and several green aspects, including HVAC water @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

heaters, high-efficiency pool pumps and chlorination and acid systems that consume the minimum amount of chemicals necessary for health and safety.

Chukchansi Park Baseball, soccer

Since opening its gates to the public for the first time in 2002, Chukchansi Park, home to the Fresno Grizzlies, has earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful and modern facilities in the nation. This 10,650-capacity stadium (not including hospitality areas and standing room) in the heart of downtown Fresno features incredible sight lines from every seat and provides dramatic views of the downtown skyline and nearby Sierra Mountains.

Selland Arena

Basketball, wrestling, taekwondo, ice hockey Widely known for having the best sightlines in the Valley, where every seat is close to the action, the arena also boasts the largest general

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admission floor in the region, expanding its capacity to 9,200.

California State University, Fresno Football, basketball, softball, tennis volleyball, wrestling, swimming

California State University, Fresno is home to multiple high-level athletic teams and facilities including 40,727-seat Bulldog Stadium, where the football team plays, the 15,596-seat Save Mart Center, which hosts basketball, volleyball and wrestling competitions, Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium, a premier baseball park that has hosted eight regionals since 1979, and Margie Wright Diamond, a 3,288-seat venue that hosts the Fresno State softball team.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ One of the most legendary national parks in the country, Yosemite

National Park is famed for its giant, ancient sequoia trees and the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome.

▶ Fresno Chaffee Zoo is home to more than 125 animal species. The zoo features a variety of exhibits and attractions including African Adventure, Sea Lion Cove, Valley Farm and Stingray Bay.

▶ The Shinzen Friendship Garden is a serene garden built by the Japanese-American community,

VISIT FRESNO COUNTY Andrew Smith

featuring a tea house and koi pond.

▶ Forestiere Underground Gardens is

Director of Sales

a series of subterranean structures

559-981-5503

and are a spectacular hidden gem

andrew.smith@fresnocvb.org

featuring 65 rooms underground

www.visitfresnocounty.org

along with a multitude of pathways.

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Placer Valley, Ca

Scan to discover more of what Placer Valley Tourism offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

EXPERIENCE FAMILY ADVENTURES AND PREMIER VENUES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Everything went GREAT! You guys have an outstanding facility and outstanding staff! Addison was off the charts impressive! I took a quick trip over to introduce myself to the behind the scenes office crew too. Equally as impressed with them. The feedback from participating teams, their fans, and attending college coaches was similar to my comments above. Thank you for everything!”

— Pat Woodward, EOT Basketball

Roseville Aquatics Complex

Maidu Regional Park

Roebbelen Center @the Grounds

With one-of-a-kind attractions, premier sporting venues and a beautiful scenic setting at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California, Placer Valley is the perfect destination for your next family or group adventure.

The cities of Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln form a uniquely family friendly community with historic charm, state-of-the-art facilities, and ample lodging and dining options.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Roebbelen Center @the Grounds Basketball, Volleyball

The Roebbelen Center @the Grounds, located in Roseville, is the premier venue for sporting events and large gatherings, offering 160,000 square feet of space, meeting capacity of 6,000, and eight flexible meeting rooms. The center can be divided into 12 basketball courts or 24 volleyball courts and is highly adaptable to numerous other sporting events with bleacher seating, 10,000 square feet of lobby space, and ample parking.

Roseville Aquatics Complex Swimming

Featuring the Summer Sanders Olympicsize competition pool, a zero-depth recreation pool with beach entry, a 150-water slide, and a children’s interactive play area, and the Wave Café, the Roseville Aquatics Complex is fun for the whole family.

Maidu Regional Park

Softball, Soccer, Basketball, Skating, Baseball, Biking Covering 152 acres in East Roseville, Maidu @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Regional Park has plenty of space and amenities to delight locals and visitors alike.

A 54-acre developed area features the Maidu Community Center, Maidu Branch Library, Veteran’s Memorial Rose Garden, and Maidu Museum & Historic Site. For sports lovers, the park also includes four softball diamonds, five soccer fields, a regulation covered soccer arena, a skate park, a basketball court, a six-station batting cage and picnic areas and playgrounds.

Foskett Regional Park Softball, Soccer

Boasting the impressive Eleanor Carnesecca Softball Complex and four-field soccer complex, Foskett Regional Park is the perfect venue for your next softball or field event. All fields are well-maintained with lights and scoreboards.

The 42-acre park features a pedestrian and bike path, three children’s play areas, concession stands and parking for 400 vehicles.

Skatetown Ice Arena

Hockey, Skating, Curling, Broomball Located in Roseville, Skatetown Ice Arena features two regulation NHL ice rinks and, with

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a dedicated staff offering world class service, is the perfect place for a day out, a party, or a corporate event. The complex also boasts a fullservice café, a pro shop, a skate rental counter, and free parking.

McBean Stadium Baseball

▶ For an unforgettable outdoor adventure, visit Quarry Park

Adventures, the only adventure park built atop a former rock quarry. Thrill-seekers can zipline 400 feet in the air, swing and soar 100 feet above the canyon floor, or climb rock walls 60 feet high.

Located near downtown Lincoln in McBean Park stands historic McBean Stadium, home of the California Collegiate League’s Lincoln Potters and William Jessup University baseball teams. Built in 1925, the stadium was recently renovated with new batting cages, dugouts and turf.

▶ For an unforgettable experience,

plan your next outing at Topgolf, the premier destination in Roseville. Topgolf features fun golf games for all ages, an outstanding food and drink menu, a full-service restaurant and bar, high-definition TVs, music, and an energized crowd.

PLACER VALLEY TOURISM

▶ Featuring more than 30 exciting rides and attractions, Golfland

Donna D. Dotti

Sunsplash is the destination for

916-773-5400

family fun in Northern California.

donna@placertourism.com

The Sunsplash water park is a

www.placertourism.com

great way to beat the heat with more than a dozen water slides.

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Bakersfield, CA BAKERSFIELD HAS GIVEN RISE TO COUNTRY MUSIC AND THE BAKERSFIELD SOUND AS WELL AS A NEW GENERATION OF TOP-NOTCH SPORTS FACILITIES

Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater & Convention Center

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

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Why Bakersfield? That’s easy. It’s a perfectly-sized modern city with stateof-the-art facilities, a large inventory of clean, family-oriented hotel rooms, dozens of welcoming restaurants, and a city leadership that values our championships and supports us in every way possible. Bakersfield is a tremendous host.”

— John T., California Interscholastic Federation

Kern County Soccer Park

Mesa Marin Sports Complex

Bakersfield is located at the juncture of California State routes 99 and 58, and is accessible via Interstate 5. If you’re flying in, Meadows Field (BFL) is Bakersfield’s main airport, located about 10 miles north of downtown. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 120 miles away.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Mechanics Bank Arena

Basketball, football, hockey, multipurpose indoor, wrestling As the present home of the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League, the Mechanics Bank Arena has hosted NCAA Division I basketball contests in the past and can be used to accommodate many indoor tournaments, events and concerts, including the 2019 boys and girls high school state wrestling championships. The venue seats up to 10,225 with 17,000 square feet of floor

space. Mechanics Bank Arena also houses the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame.

Attached to the arena is the Mechanics Bank Theater and Convention Center, which features a 17,480-square-foot exhibit hall as well as a 3,000-seat theater.

Mesa Marin Sports Complex

Basketball, multipurpose outdoor, pickleball, skating, soccer, softball Spanning across 15 acres, this multipurpose complex features four lighted softball fields, a 1,040-square-foot restroom and concession @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

building, spectator bleacher seating and ample parking.

headquarters building is available for use during the many tournaments this park hosts.

Kaiser Permanente Sports Village

California State University, Bakersfield

Multisport

With construction and renovations done throughout most of this decade, Kaiser Permanente has become one of the premier facilities throughout the region. The complex boasts 12 soccer fields, four youth football fields, a playground, concession stand, restrooms, walking trail, two ponds and ample parking.

Kern County Soccer Park Soccer

Spread across 86 acres with parking for more than 5,000 vehicles available, Kern County Soccer Park is a main fixture on any sports planner’s soccer list. The park is home to 24 regulation-sized soccer fields, with four snack bars, eight built-in restrooms and RV parking. The fields are lighted and a central

Multisport

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ If you’re into country western music, a trip to Buck Owens Crystal Palace is a must.

▶ Jump around at the BLVD,

Temblor, and Flight Adventure

Home to Roadrunners athletics, CSUB features top-of-the-line athletic facilities including the Icardo Center, Hardt Field, Roadrunner Softball Complex, John S. Hillman Memorial Aquatic Center, Barnes Beach Volleyball Complex and the John Antonino Sports Complex. Home to the men’s and women’s basketball as well as volleyball programs, the Icardo Center is a 44,000-square-foot facility that can seat 3,495.

VISIT BAKERSFIELD

Park, where 17,000 square feet of wall-to-wall trampolines make for great group parties.

▶ Experience the lore and tastes of Spain’s Basque country oceans away in California, where boardinghouse cuisine reigns supreme.

▶ Bakersfield’s only high ropes challenge course and outdoor

Matt Billingsley

rock-climbing facility can be

Sales Manager

found in the Condor Challenge

661 852-7236

at CALM.

mbillingsley@visitbakersfield.com www.visitbakersfield.com

LOCATION: •Within a four hour drive of 90% of California’s population •Commercial airline service via Bakersfield’s Meadows Field •Located near Interstate 5 and State Highway 99

VALUE: •Nearly 6,000 hotel rooms- with rates regularly 40% below the state average •Central location reduces travel costs for attendees •Complimentary event planning assistance •Low venue rental fees

WE KNOW THE EEN A DIFFENCE BETW AME! SPORT AND A G

FACILITIES: •24-field soccer complex •Three Olympic-sized pools •10,000 seat multi-purpose arena •Specialty venues including water sports lakes, racetracks, BMX tracks and more!

(866) 425-7353 •VisitBakersfield.com SportsPlanningGuide.com

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Tulsa, OK

Scan to discover more of what Tulsa Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

A SERIOUS SPORTS DESTINATION WITH TOP ATTRACTIONS, RESTAURANTS AND A DIVERSE CULTURAL SCENE

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“I can’t say enough about the support we get here from the local community, the ticket sales are outstanding, and we see continued growth year over year. The Tulsa Sports Commission does a fantastic job supporting this event behind the scenes. And our administrators, our coaches, and more importantly our student athletes, are very excited to be associated with Tulsa and to have this championship here.”

Expo Center

— Bob Burda, Big 12 Sr. Associate Commissioner, Communications from Big 12 Wrestling Championships

Cox Business Convention Center

Tulsa boasts world-class attractions, top-rated sports facilities and a tremendous array of cultural options. This cosmopolitan city is also easily accessible as it can be reached via I-55 and I-44 as well as from I-57. Tulsa International Airport flies nonstop across the country to such cities as Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Utah and Orlando, among others.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Mohawk Sports Complex

Cox Business Convention Center

This impressive venue is one of the state’s premier sports complexes. Mohawk features 17 international size fields, 10 lighted fields, a natural turf surface with advanced irrigation and drainage systems, plenty of spectator seating and a modern concession building.

It also features a team warm-up area between fields and designated tournament headquarters and meeting room space.

Easy to get to and located in the Arena District in downtown Tulsa, the 310,625-squarefoot Cox Business Convention Center is a clean and modern award-winning venue that offers flexible spaces for both small and large events.

The center is within walking distance of more than 2,000 hotel rooms and is surrounded by vibrant music, art and culinary scenes. This multifaceted center has hosted arena soccer

Soccer, football, lacrosse, field hockey, archery, cross country, rugby, multisport

Wrestling, basketball, volleyball, cheer/dance, Cornhole, conventions

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

games, Central Hockey League contests and the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball tournament title game.

BOK Center

Hockey, wrestling, basketball, eSports, concerts This 19,199-seat multi-purpose arena was designed to accommodate arena football, hockey, basketball and concerts. Opened in 2005 at a cost of $196 million, the BOK Center (which is short for Bank of Oklahoma Center) sports a long HD ribbon screen that wraps around the three-level seating arena.

Its second floor is an exclusive carpeted level with a complete bar, press areas and 37 luxury suites, each with 15-22-inch seats and furnished gathering and kitchen areas.

Expo Square

BMX, wrestling, cheer/dance, fencing, volleyball, bull riding, equestrian Every year, millions of visitors experience one of the best event complexes in the country, which features the River Spirit Expo,

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Exchange Center, Central Park Hall and the Pavilion. River Spirit Expo is one of the largest clear-span buildings in the world (it measures 448,000 square feet) and includes an upper and lower level, providing expansive square footage and event versatility. The Exchange Center offers a successful event environment and covers more than 58,000 feet, has three meeting rooms and drive-through doors. One of the most unique venues in Tulsa, Central Park Hall covers 43,000 square feet, has two meeting rooms, two ticket offices and has hosted trade shows and conventions, home and garden shows and more. The Pavilion is Tulsa’s historic art deco arena, which is known for being the ideal venue for concerts, entertainment and horse shows.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Voted USA Today’s Best City Park in the US in 2021, Gathering Place is a

world-class riverfront park designed to welcome all to a vibrant and inclusive space.

▶ Home to the Tulsa Drillers baseball team and FC Tulsa professional soccer team, ONEOK Field is located in the historic Greenwood district.

▶ Opened in 1927, the Tulsa Zoo is home to more than 1,500 animals from nearly 450 species and covers 85 acres. In 2005, the zoo was named America’s Favorite Zoo by Microsoft Game Studios.

TULSA SPORTS COMMISSION Joel Koester

▶ A state-of-the-art history center located at the heart of Tulsa’s

918-560-0291

Greenwood District, Greenwood

joelkoester@tulsasports.org

Rising honors the legacy of Black

tulsasports.org

Wall Street before and after the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.

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Colorado Springs, CO

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

OLYMPIC CITY USA IS HOME TO 60 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS AND IS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT

Weidner Field

No other U.S. destination is as deserving of the name Olympic City USA as Colorado Springs - home to 60 national and international sports organizations including 24 Olympic NGBs, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center and the spectacular U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Weidner Field

Soccer, events A new downtown stadium in Colorado Springs, Weidner Field is the highest elevated professional sports stadium in the U.S. with a 98,000-squarefoot playing field. The new stadium, which is home to the Switchbacks professional soccer team, offers indoor and outdoor spaces for special events ranging from 20 to 15,000 attendees. With 117,000 square feet of event space, the stadium offers sprawling views of Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains, the stadium field

and downtown Colorado Springs.

The stadium, which is near the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum as well as downtown shops and restaurants, is ideal for events, tournaments, competitions, concerts and special events.

Ed Robson Arena

Ice hockey, wrestling, volleyball This indoor facility, located on the Colorado College campus, has 3,400 seats with room to add 650 additional seats. The entire complex covers 120,000 square feet and can host both @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

ice and non-ice events. The arena, which is the home rink of the Colorado College hockey team, is a multi-purpose, state-of-the-art, sustainable sporting event venue that offers the flexibility to accommodate a variety of indoor sports including Olympic-related events, youth sports groups, camps and more.

The Broadmoor World Arena and World Arena Ice Hall

Hockey, figure skating, concerts The Broadmoor World Arena is the premier entertainment and sports venue in the Pikes Peak region. This multi-purpose facility can seat 7,500 for hockey, other ice competitions and competitive sporting events and approximately 8,500 for concerts and various entertainment shows. The Broadmoor World Arena is home to the Broadmoor Skating Club and high-profile events including Cirque Du Soleil, Disney on Ice and the Professional Bull Riders. The World Arena Ice Hall is an official Olympic Training Site and is home to dozens of world-class figure skaters and coaches, The Broadmoor Curling Club and numerous youth, high school and adult hockey leagues and tournaments. With two sheets of ice – one NHL and one Olympic,

four jump harnesses, video analysis and a ballet studio, the World Arena Ice Hall is one of the finest training facilities in the world.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Colorado Springs is home

to Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, the second-most-

El Pomar Youth Sports Complex

visited mountain in the world.

Baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, inline hockey This venue hosts some of the most competitive youth soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball tournaments in the United States, including those presented by Triple Crown Sports, US Lacrosse, Colorado Rush Soccer and Adrenaline Lacrosse. El Pomar offers a unique sense of flexibility, with nine baseball/softball fields, eight natural grass soccer/lacrosse fields, a championship-sized artificial lighted turf field, an in-line hockey rink, onsite staff and a full concessions area.

Boasting stunning views from 14,115 feet, the summit is accessible by train on The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, by car or tour bus and by foot on Barr Trail.

▶ The new Summit Visitor Center at the top of Pikes Peak is a sight to behold. It offers views of the sweeping plains below, interactive exhibits and an elevated walkway.

▶ Garden of the Gods Park is a can’t-miss geological wonder.

VISIT COLORADO SPRINGS

Marvel at the towering red rock

Cheryl McCullough, CSEE,

formations in this free city park

Senior Director of Sports and

rated #1 by TripAdvisor users.

Special Events

▶ Take a walk on the wild side

719-685-7642 Cheryl@VisitCOS.com

at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo,

www.VisitCOS.com

America’s only mountain zoo.

Ed Robson Arena

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Colorado Springs is a great place to host events and Visit Colorado Springs professional and personal staff are awesome to work such as assisting us in promoting and planning our sporting events and quickly and efficiently generating competitive hotel proposals to help us locate appropriate sports venues.”

— Mark Lucas, former Executive Director U.S. Association of Blind Athletes

Broadmoor World Arena

El Pomar Youth Sports Complex

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2022

OREGON GUIDE Rediscover the Outdoors in Oregon

Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of the Pacific Northwest

Sport Oregon Attracts Big Events

Group Generates Major Revenue for the Beaver State

A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

If you’re an experienced event planner, you’ve read a thousand of these letters by now. Every destination thinks they’re special, and honestly, they are. They all have sparkling new venues, wonderful hotels and endless visitor attractions. Here in Oregon, we have all of that too. But that’s not what makes us special.

There’s an intense spirit of sport that flows through our entire state, from the bright lights of Portland to the windswept shores of Bandon Dunes; from the stunning Columbia River Gorge – home to the world’s best windsurfing and kiteboarding – to the high desert adventure oasis of Bend; from the world-famous Pendleton RoundUp in rugged Eastern Oregon to the nation’s undisputed epicenter of track and field in Eugene. On top of that, we have a broad coalition of experienced tourism partners across the state – ready and eager to serve events of all shapes and sizes.

So yes, we think we’re special too. After all, where else can you go surfing in the Pacific Ocean, skiing on Mt. Hood and tax-free shopping at the Nike, adidas and Columbia Sportswear stores – all in the same day? Where else can you run a half marathon through the lush vineyards of Oregon wine country in the morning and be inspired by jaw-dropping scenic wonders like Crater Lake and the Painted Hills in the afternoon?

But enough about all that. Let’s cut through the clutter. You have an endless list of options of where to hold your next event. We know your time is valuable and we know how important it is to have a fully committed local partner by your side at all times.

Together with our hospitality and business partners across the state, this is exactly what we do here at Sport Oregon. We’re fully engaged with you, from the bid stage through the planning process to event execution. This is why we break attendance records for events like the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, earn unprecedented praise for staging best of class events like the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, and usher in brand-new tourism-inducing events like the inaugural IRONMAN Oregon 70.3. And this is why, in 2022, Oregon will host the IAAF World Track & Field Championships for the first time ever in North America.

But we’re not stopping there. We’re looking for every possible opportunity to bring the best in sport to our state. So, give us a shot. If you’d like to explore options for bringing your next event to Oregon, e-mail me at jim@sportoregon.org, and we’ll quickly figure out if we can make it happen. Consider this your formal invitation – please join us as we celebrate the magnificent spirit of sport in the state that we are so fortunate to call home.

Jim Etzel CEO Sport Oregon

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

OREGON

76 Rediscover the Outdoors in Oregon 78 Sport Oregon Attracts Big Events

©iStock.com/bgblue

SI

Hiking in the Coos Bay dunes.

Photo courtesy of Sport Oregon

Site InSpections 80 E ugene Cascades and Coast 82 Medford 84 Portland 86 O regon’s Adventure Coast 88 Corvallis 89 Salem

ON THE COVER: Eugene Cascades and Coast Photo courtesy of Sport Oregon

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OREGON

From Route 5 to the Pacific coast, become immersed in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest

Photo courtesy of Justin Katigbak with Travel Portland

REDISCOVER THE OUTDOORS IN

Forest Park in Portland

T

By Jill Pillow

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spaces for visitors. Notably, Riverfront Park, home to the well-known Riverfront Carousel, has grassy areas, an amphitheater, play equipment and a dock and is known for hosting a variety of large events and festivals. About three miles southeast lies the relaxing Cascades Gateway Park, the perfect way to spend an afternoon with a disc golf course, fishing access, picnic areas and a natural trail system.

About 45 minutes south of Corvallis lies the adventure hub Eugene Cascades and Coast Photo courtesy of Melanie Griffin

he Pacific Northwest is known for its abundance of greenery and beautiful natural attractions and the state of Oregon is no exception. From breathtaking waterfalls to wonderful wildlife and miles of hiking trails, Oregon provides travelers with practically endless opportunities for having fun in the fresh air.

When you first think of city living you may not immediately jump to natural attractions, but Portland is packed with over 200 parks and gardens to satisfy one’s need to disconnect. Northwest of the downtown area, West Hill’s Forest Park expands across 5,000 acres and is home to over 70 miles of hiking and over 100 species of birds.

Leach Botanical Gardens also hosts thousands of species of both plants and animals with wildlife viewing areas and walking trails while a trip to the West Hills and Portland Japanese Garden brings tranquility and one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan.

Farther south, the state’s capital, Salem, is located in the heart of Willamette Valley and is surrounded by orchards, vineyards, and luscious fields of flowers and greenery.

The city prides itself in its parks system, which provides event space, neighborhood recreation and peaceful leisure

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Photo courtesy of Travel Oregon

Photo courtesy of Travel Oregon

that is Alsea Falls. This natural recreation site is the perfect place to spend either a few hours or an entire weekend. With swimming holes, hiking trails, campsites, fishing, and more, the area has activities for visitors of all ages.

Closer to the downtown Corvallis area is the Brandis Natural Area with Douglas fir groves and beautiful views of the open natural landscape.

Southeast of the city is the protected Willamette Crabbing in area which is home to cultivated farmlands, Charleston wetlands, prairies, and forests which provide the perfect refuge for Canada Geese and Tundra Swan making it a must visit for birdwatchers.

ATVing in the dunes on the Coos Adventure Coast With year-round temperate weather, the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region is naturally a great choice for outdoor adventure seekers. “The landscape is perfect for outdoor activities with an impressive range of nearby hikes, bike trails, and natural parks at your fingertips.” Being the sunset state, one can only anticipate gorgeous sunset viewing areas during their stay and the Eugene region has plenty. Fern Ridge Reservoir at Orchard Point and Ferry Street Bridge are both locations where you can watch the sun sink down upon the water. Looking to work for those sunset views? You can hike Mount Baldy for an open view of either sunrise or sunset while avoiding the golden hour crowds.

Due to the higher levels of rainfall typically seen in the region, the Eugene area is also a destination home to an abundance of waterfalls.

The Trestle Creek Falls hike is the “ultimate waterfall adventure” with options for either a moderate 0.75-mile hike or a more difficult 3.25-mile hike which takes adventurers behind the waterfall itself. More experienced trail-goers should also take a trip to the Kentucky Falls, sandboarding, horseback riding, and ATVing among where hikers should expect the unexpected along with a other unique activities. Those interested in sandboarding steep climb on the tail end of the journey. have the option to try both gradual roped off beginner Along the western shore, Oregon’s Adventure Coast is slopes and more thrilling and steep slopes for the more comprised of Coos Bay, North Bend, and Charleston and experienced boarder. is an undiscovered jewel on the Oregon coast that offers In the southernmost region of Oregon and in the heart space to spread out while visitors experience some of the of Rogue Valley, the Medford area has a wide variety of best outdoor recreation in the state. The area has a plethora natural attractions and outdoor activities ranging from of outdoor adventure options both on land and in the water relaxing to adrenaline sparking. Rogue Valley Zipline from crabbing, fishing, and exploring tide pools to visiting Adventure takes guests on a 2-3-hour journey across five one of the many gorgeous lighthouses in the area or different ziplines for views that can’t be found anywhere sandboarding on the dunes. else. Then, explore the Rogue River from the shore or by Coos County has around 30 different fishing locations, paddle board, kayak, or whitewater rafting trip. Jet boat both lake and river, where the fish stay biting throughout tours on the river also allow guests to take in the serene every season. And, with both rocky and sandy beach shores atmosphere while learning about the history behind the along the coast, marine life varies greatly from location to surrounding Table Rock area. location and tidepools allow for clear and easy observation Lastly, among the many beautiful sights in Medford and of the fascinating marine world of crabs, sea stars, sea slugs, Rogue Valley are the aromatic fields of purple lavender and octopods, and much more. vineyards of wine country, the ideal destinations for a summer The Adventure Coast region is also where thrill seekers day trip or weekend getaway. Whether seeking relaxing can experience the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes coastal views or thrilling physical challenges, Oregon’s natural in North America. The 30,000 + acres of dunes allow for beauty brings something fun for every kind of traveler.

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Portland Timbers fans are among the most passionate in sports.

Photo courtesy of Sport Oregon

SPORT OREGON

ATTRACTS BIG EVENTS Nonprofit group generates sizable revenue for the Beaver State through sports

O

By Jason Paha

regon’s reputation as a must-visit destination is well deserved as it is home to a diverse array of mountain ranges, dense forests and a myriad of immaculate lakes. With so much scenery across the state, Oregon has become a popular stop for tournaments, be they indoor or outdoor.

In order to harness the burgeoning interest of tournament planners and the growing importance of sports tourism, Sport Oregon, a nonprofit group promoting athletics across the state, has expanded its staff in recent years.

“We’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth in the last three years alone,” said Matt Reed, director of sports tourism for Sport Oregon. “We’ve got a new brand, a new office, a

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new CEO and we just hired an eight-person staff. We had two-and-a-half people on staff for two decades prior to the new hires.”

With upwards of 150 members, including premier partners like Nike, Adidas, Travel Portland, Travel Oregon, the City of Portland and PNC Bank, Sport Oregon, which has been in existence for almost 30 years, is thriving like never before.

“Our CEO, Jim Etzel, has done a tremendous job of garnering support in the community,” Reed said. “There are people that are always curious about what Sport Oregon is about, but less and less people are asking now that it is being ingrained in their minds.” @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS TOURISM

Photo courtesy of Sport Oregon

“It was more perfect than we could have imagined,” According to Sport Oregon, even when excluding Reed said. “The community embraced it, athletes had an professional sporting events, visitors spent more than $11 awesome time. It was a perfect example of what we can do billion on sports tourism in the U.S. in 2017. Those numbers, across the state to key up that conversation.” prior to the 2020 global pandemic, continued to grow in Positive developments like IRONMAN are poised to be 2018 and 2019 and are expected to reach comparable dollar the norm in Oregon as the Beaver State has multiple other amounts in ensuing years. Those statistics paint a clear events on tap. Among them include the World Athletics picture why organizations like Sport Oregon are so integral Championships that will take place in Eugene in July of to a state’s economic growth.

2022, the first time this heralded track and field event will “Sports people understand the impact of sports tourism be held in the United States; and multiple NCAA men’s and nationwide,” Reed said. “That trickled into Oregon. Sports women’s basketball tournament games which Portland will are an easy thing for people to get excited about. We host in 2022, 2024 and 2026. understand what we are capable of attracting and there’s a “There are other major events we have our sights natural excitement that comes along with hosting sporting on,” Reed said. “Last year, one of the biggest projects I events. We have a very collaborative nature here. It seems worked on was bidding on the Women’s Final Four. It to seep into the events that we host.” was disappointing we didn’t get it, but it was an amazing Sport Oregon owns and produces multiple annual events process and we are much better off now than we were including the Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon, Oregon before. The process enhanced our relationships with the Sports Awards and the TrackTown Youth League. Revenue NCAA and we will bid on that event again. We believe it was from its owned events is continually re-invested into the tailor-made for Portland.” community to grow the organization and to help attract The entire state of Oregon seems tailor-made for events high-impact national events into Oregon. thanks to its small-town charm and impressive attributes.

In recent years, Oregon has attracted some major “There is a kind of pioneer spirit here,” Reed said. “A national events including the 2014 MLS All-Star Game welcoming ‘let’s do it’ attitude. I’m in Portland right now (held at Providence Park in Portland), the 2016 IAAF and I’m an hour and 15 minutes from the coast and an World Indoor Track and Field Championships (held at the hour and 40 minutes from Mount Hood (a legendary Oregon Convention Center in Portland) and the Phil Knight stratovolcano that attracts hikers and outdoorspeople).

Invitational basketball tournament in 2017 (also known “When you come to this state, it’s a big state but there’s as the PK-80 Invitational), which took place at the Moda so many things you can do within a reasonable time frame,” Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland. Most Reed added. “What (Sport Oregon) is trying to figure out is recently, Oregon landed the prestigious 2021 IRONMAN where people are going and what they are doing so we can Oregon 70.3, which unfolded in Salem this past July. make their experience better for them next year.”

“IRONMAN is an amazing example of how things aligned perfectly for us,” Reed said. “I had a previous relationship with IRONMAN from when I worked in the Bay Area that allowed us to go to other Oregon communities and start a conversation with them.

Salem stepped up in a gigantic way and the ducks fell in a row.

With COVID, we had our fingers crossed that this could happen.

Our target date was July 2021 and we held our breath.”

And happen it did. Athletes descended upon Salem to swim 1.2 miles down the beautiful Willamette River, bike 56 miles through Oregon’s magnificent wine country and run 13.1 miles near the lush, 1,200-acre MintoBrown Island Park. The IRONMAN 70.3 brought in an estimated $11 million to Oregon and was a prime example of how Sport Oregon continues to make a name for itself on the national stage.

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament will return to Portland in 2022.

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Eugene, Cascades & Coast, OR

Scan to discover more of what Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST SPORTS COMMISSION DEMONSTRATES LANE COUNTY’S POTENTIAL FOR CUTTING-EDGE SPORTING EVENTS

Jake Willard, TrackTown USA

Hayward Field

Eugene Airport is a mere 15 minute drive from the downtown, which also features Amtrak stops. I-5 connects Portland to the north and Sacramento to the south while running straight through the heart of Eugene. Highway 126 runs east to west through Eugene as well, taking you all the way to the coast.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Hayward Field

Track and Field The newly re-imagined Hayward Field at the University of Oregon is a purpose-built theater for track and field. In the inaugural year after a transformational renovation, the venue has hosted the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field, the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track & Field Championships, and the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic.

The venue will host the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 in 2022 and the

Wanda Diamond League Final in 2023—both being hosted in the U.S. for the first time. The world-class facility offers permanent seating for 12,650 and is expandable to nearly 25,000.

Fans enjoy an unobstructed view of the ninelane track and the first row of seating is at track level.

Autzen Stadium Football

Featured in the 1978 film National Lampoon’s Animal House, Autzen Stadium in Eugene seats 54,000 spectators and is regularly @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ The Oregon coast has the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes

ranked amongst the nation’s top-10 venues to watch a college football game. With consistent renovations since 1969, Autzen Stadium now features a FieldTurf surface with polyethylene and polypropylene fibers designed to resist extreme temperatures and weather conditions. With the 1981 addition of Barker Stadium Club, the facility offers supplementary meeting space and functional surroundings for pre-game activities.

Matthew Knight Arena

Basketball, Volleyball, Gymnastics Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene opened in 2011 and is one of the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified arenas in the NCAA. This 12,364-seat multi-purpose arena is home to the University of Oregon Ducks basketball team. The venue features a 65,000-pound center-hung scoreboard and four 20-by-12foot high definition LED monitors.

in North America, making it

Bob Keefer Center for Sports

the perfect place for some

Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball

sandboarding.

Located in Springfield, Bob Keefer Center for Sports is a planner’s dream when it comes to utility. The center features a 97,000-square-foot venue with three regulation-sized basketball courts, four indoor tennis courts, three roller derby rinks, 11 volleyball courts, eight pickleball courts, a 33-foot high climbing wall and a fitness center. One of the largest sports and recreation facilities in the Northwest, the center can accommodate any type of event, from small games to large scale tournaments.

EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST SPORTS COMMISSION

▶ McKenzie River features crystal clear waters and river rafting along one of the Pacific Northwest’s most heralded treasures.

▶ Explore an abundance of

waterfalls in the area, including Proxy Falls, Sweet Creek Falls and Salt Creek Falls.

▶ Visit Cascades Raptor Center, one of the largest collections of native birds of prey species in the Pacific Northwest.

Joey Jewell, STS Senior Director

▶ Skip the sunscreen at Splash! at

541-743-8757 Joey@EugeneCascadesCoast.org

Lively Park, a year-round indoor

www.eugenecascadescoastsports.org

water park with plenty of options

Autzen Stadium

Peter Callero

for all ages.

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“We could not ask for a better partner in delivering world-class events than the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission. Whether we have hosted a regional, national, or international event, they have been integral to our strategic planning and the overall experience for numerous clients. When collaborating with the Sports Commission, our events enjoy tremendous success.”

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Dave Horton

Bob Keefer Center

Stafford Photography

— Michael Reilly, President of TrackTown USA

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Medford, OR SITTING NEAR OREGON’S SOUTHERN BORDER, MEDFORD IS WHERE FIRST-RATE FACILITIES MEET INCREDIBLE ATTRACTIONS

Rogue Credit Union Community Complex

Scan to discover more of what Travel Medford offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Our relationship with Travel Medford has been invaluable to the operation of our event. They have walked side by side with us from year one through year seven and have helped us roll out the red carpet for our participants. The Rogue Valley Timbers and the Rouge Memorial Challenge are thankful to have a strong working relationship with Travel Medford and the Medford Chamber of Commerce.”

U.S. Cellular Community Park

Gold Hill Whitewater Center

Located within the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon, Medford is accessible by air through Medford Airport, where flights are available from Alaska, Allegiant and Skywest through Delta and United Express. The airport is located just three miles northeast of downtown Medford and is accessible from I-5, which connects Medford along the road from Portland to San Francisco.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

U.S. Cellular Community Park

Baseball, softball, soccer, football Since opening in May of 2008, U.S. Cellular Community Park has hosted more than 47,000 youth and adult games and has generated more than $120 million in economic impact. It spans 132 acres, boasts 15 fields and accommodates several different sports. If it’s not already clear that this complex is a tourney planner’s fantasy facility, some other amenities to take notice of: FieldTurf synthetic grass, Musco lighting systems and Daktronics scoreboards. There are three

full-sized baseball fields, seven fields for both softball and baseball, and five fields for soccer and football.

Gold Hill Whitewater Center Rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding

An Olympic hopeful when the 2028 Games come to Los Angeles, Gold Hill excels in length, water flow and drop, rivaling any natural or artificial course in the country. It is perfect for rafting, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and it is used to host races and events — for @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Jim Craven

— Kevin Primerano, Director of the Rogue Memorial Challenge

example, the facility looks forward to holding the King of the Rogue competition every summer.

Whether it gets an Olympic event in 2028 or not, this course is the real deal when it comes to rafting, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding.

Prescott Park

Running, biking, equestrian Consisting of 1,740 acres, Prescott Park is one of Southern Oregon’s largest and most scenic nature parks. It is home to the annual Tough as Nails race, featuring a 10 mile race as well as a 5K competition. It is also a great place to walk, hike and bike as it contains trails that are both paved and unpaved. Roxyann Peak is the crown jewel of the park with its peak offering stunning views of the park and Rogue Valley.

Rogue Credit Union Community Complex

Basketball, swimming, volleyball, pickleball, wrestling, cheer, dance Slated to open in early 2023, a new indoor 90,000-square-foot center for sports, aquatic and meetings will open for leisure and

SportsPlanningGuide.com

competitive activities. The Rogue Credit Union Community Complex – referred to as “Rogue X” - will boast competition and recreation pools, meeting space, and room for eight basketball courts and any variation for volleyball, pickleball, wrestling, cheer and dance competitions, and more. The site will also feature food trucks, concessions and an information center to accommodate visitors and locals, alike.

Tournament space is filling quickly for this prime venue, so contact Angela Wood at Travel Medford for more information.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Explore the remnants of a destroyed volcano and swim in the deepest lake in the country when you trek along Crater Lake National Park.

▶ Medford’s nature scene is off the charts and there are plenty of areas to go white water rafting, hiking, biking, ziplining and jet boat tours.

▶ Southern Oregon’s burgeoning wine scene boasts more than 88 vineyards and more than 50 wine tasting rooms.

TRAVEL MEDFORD Angela Wood, Director of Sales & Sports Development 541-608-8517 Angelaw@travelmedford.org www.travlemedford.org

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Portland, OR

Scan to discover more of what Travel Portland offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

EXPERIENCE THE CONFLUENCE OF SCENIC BEAUTY AND A VIBRANT CITY IN PORTLAND

Portland, Oregon offers unmatched scenic beauty fused with a sports and recreation culture so rich it flows through the entire state. Headlined by Nike, adidas and Columbia Sportswear, the state is home to more than 800 athletic and outdoor companies.

Expo Center

Moda Center

The seamless fusion of natural scenic beauty with a large vibrant city is unique to Portland, Oregon, which makes it a must-see destination in the Pacific Northwest. Against the stunning backdrop of majestic mountains, rivers and trees, you will find world-class sporting events and state-of-the-art exhibition venues.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Moda Center

Basketball, Hockey With a capacity of nearly 20,000, the Moda Center is the home to the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers and junior ice hockey Portland Winterhawks, as well as concerts, conventions, and more. The state-of-the-art multipurpose arena can also be transformed into an intimate, 6,000-seat venue with its Theater of the Clouds and features six banquet rooms.

Providence Park

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI) Located on the east bank of the Willamette River in the heart of Portland, OMSI features five enormous halls that bring science to life with hundreds of hands-

Soccer Located near downtown Portland with easy access to the MAX light rail line sits Providence Park, home of the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns professional soccer teams.

Since first being used for spectator sports in 1893, the stadium has undergone several major renovations, most recently in 2019, and offers world-class views, private meeting spaces, and

amazing local food and drink while hosting numerous events all year long.

Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Hockey, Events Opened in 1960 as a memorial to veterans of all wars, Veterans Memorial Coliseum features a 12,000-seat arena, a 40,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall, and seven meeting rooms, and can be configured for a more intimate setting of 1,000. The original home of the Portland Trail Blazers now hosts more than 150 events each year including Portland Winterhawks hockey games.

TRAVEL PORTLAND Cathy Kretz, CMP 503-936-2171 cathy@travelportland.com www.travelportland.com

on exhibits.

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Oregon’s Adventure Coast

Scan to discover more of what Oregon’s Adventure Coast offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

BREATHTAKING VIEWS AND OUTDOOR ESCAPADES ARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER IN OREGON’S ADVENTURE COAST: COOS BAY, NORTH BEND, CHARLESTON, WHERE RELAXATION AND SPORT COLLIDE

Southwestern Oregon Community College

Whiskey Run Mountain Biking Trail

Mingus Park Swimming Pool

Oregon’s Adventure Coast is most easily accessible via U.S. Highway 101, which runs from north to south along the Pacific Ocean from Washington to California. If you’re flying into the area, Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend offers passenger flights through United Express.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Whiskey Run Mountain Biking Trail

Southwestern Oregon Community College

Professionally-built to accommodate riders of all skill levels, the Whiskey Run Trails are a blend between flow and cross-country style, giving riders open sight lines, easy climbs and chances to catch big air, if you’re into that sort of thing. Whiskey Run was built to withstand all weather types and feature more than 30 miles of single-track two way trails as riders whip through the forest while experiencing a gorgeous forest floor.

With scenic views of Empire Lakes and the surrounding forests, Southwestern Oregon Community College’s sports facilities provide an excellent backdrop for your next tournament. The campus’ rec center can host basketball, volleyball, wrestling, racquet ball, track and field, dance and rock climbing competitions and features state-of-the-art scoreboards, six automatic basketball hoops, a rock climbing wall and full fitness room.

Biking

Multipurpose

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

City of Coos Bay Mingus Park Swimming Pool

where it hopes to upgrade its existing complex and build beyond one baseball field.

First opened in 1943, this historic pool promotes a healthy, active and fun lifestyle and is open to all ages seven days a week. It serves as headquarters for the Gold Coast Swim Team and a variety of swim meets annually.

North Bend High School

Swimming, diving

Marshfield High School Multipurpose

With five grade levels and a campus consisting of four main buildings, Marshfield High School is one of the hosts of the OSAA 3A Basketball Tournament annually in February and March. The school can host some of the largest indoor events in the region, with a main gymnasium that has seating for 4,000.

Barview Area Charleston Area Park Association Baseball Complex Baseball, softball, multipurpose

BACAPA Park started as a dream years ago and in 2019 made strides toward the future,

SportsPlanningGuide.com

▶ Come meet the local seals and sea lions when you stop at the Cape Arago Beach Loop, or find the cascading waterfall in the

Multipurpose

Golden and Silver Falls State

Longstanding traditions and excellent amenities are the norm at Vic Adams Field, where North Bend hosts its version of Friday night lights during football season. Clyde Allen Baseball Park is another historic venue, with seating for 300 spectators and standing-room for 300 more. In existence since 1947, the field has 8-foot-tall fences that measure 310 feet in left field, 375 to dead center and 289 feet to right field.

Natural Area.

▶ The Oregon Dunes National

Recreation Area are the largest expanse of sand dunes in North America and are perfect for dune buggies and ATVs.

▶ Delicious fresh catch is available throughout the region, which is a hotspot for fishing, crabbing and clamming.

OREGON’S ADVENTURE COAST

▶ A treasure trove of eclectic items

Janice Langlinais

await in downtown Coos Bay and

Executive Director

downtown North Bend, home to

541-269-1181 x2303

unique shopping experiences.

Janice@OregonsAdventureCoast.com www.OregonsAdventureCoast.com

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CORVALLIS, OR

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

WITH A PENCHANT FOR REDEFINING ITSELF AND ITS FUTURE, CORVALLIS IS A HUB FOR INNOVATION, ON AND OFF THE FIELD

Oregon State University Legacy Park

Alsea Falls Recreation Site

Corvallis is located about 10 miles west of Interstate 5, while state Route 99 drives right through it. If you’re flying in, Portland International Airport (PDX) is the closest major airport, located northeast of Corvallis. The Eugene Airport is also available as a closer, regional, airport option.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Make a splash and catch a gorgeous Oregon summer sunset at Otter Beach Waterpark, part of the Osborn Aquatic Center.

▶ Learn what early life was like in

Oregon at the Corvallis Museum, where hands-on art projects, storytelling and artifacts immerse you in the 19th century way of life.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Oregon State University All

As the largest university in the state, Oregon State University features some premier athletic facilities. From Reser Stadium, home of the school’s football team (seats 43,363) to Gill Coliseum (seats 9,604) which plays host to basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and volleyball competitions. The campus can host an array of indoor and outdoor sports like tennis, indoor rock climbing, and ultimate Frisbee, just to name a few.

Alsea Falls Recreation Site

Corvallis Parks & Recreation

Soccer, disc golf, softball, swimming, water polo, pickleball, ultimate Corvallis Parks & Rec has you covered for all your sporting needs. Notably, the Crystal Lake Sports Complex features an impressive display of outdoor fields, with 10 soccer fields that can be used for lacrosse, ultimate Frisbee or rugby and nine little league baseball fields. Parks & Rec also operates the Osborn Aquatic Center which features an Olympic-sized 50-meter pool with a moveable bulkhead that divides the pool between its eight lap lanes.

Trail running, mountain biking, BMX, fishing Located in Oregon’s Coast Range, the site of the Alsea Falls XC Race provides a gorgeous natural backdrop in the titular falls for hikers, runners and bikers. The Fall Creek trailhead provides more than 12 miles of trails specially made for mountain bikers, though hikers are welcome to explore as well.

VISIT CORVALLIS Morgan Baker, Sales Manager 541-231-0297 morgan@visitcorvallis.com www.visitcorvallis.com

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Salem, OR

Scan to discover more of what Travel Salem offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

LOCATED ALONG THE TWISTING TURNS OF THE WILLAMETTE RIVER, OREGON’S CAPITAL CITY HAS PLENTY OF TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE, REVEALING A TOURNAMENT-READY DESTINATION

Riverfront

Salem is located halfway between Portland to the north and Eugene to the south. It’s about a one-hour drive from either city on Interstate 5. To get to Salem from Portland Airport, follow I-205 south to its connection to I-5.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Oregon State Fair and Expo Center Multipurpose indoor, multipurpose outdoor

Spread across 185 acres, the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center presents a tremendous wealth of options for tournament planners. The Jackson-Long Building offers 48,000 square feet of indoor space to work with, ideal for hosting indoor sporting events as well as boat or RV shows. The Pavilion is a 5,000-seat arena with 30,504 square feet of floor space to work with, while the L.B. Day Amphitheater is the

go-to spot in town for outdoor concerts, with seating for 8,900.

Wallace Marine Park Softball Complex

Softball, baseball, soccer, running, fishing, boating Dubbed “Softball City, USA,” Salem’s crowning softball jewel is located within Wallace Marine Park. The softball complex features five natural, lit fields surrounded by shaded and grassy areas. Spectators will also appreciate seating for more than @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

1,000, including an elevated grandstand and portable bleachers. A boat ramp and fishing docks give visitors access to the Willamette River as well. As one of the best sports facilities in the entire Northwest, this complex is annually home to large regional and national tournaments, including the 18A National Girls Fastpitch Softball tournament and the Senior Softball USA Jim Sherman Memorial NW Championships, each held in July of 2019.

Volcanoes Stadium

Capital FC Timbers Complex

The Capital Fieldhouse is the ultimate health, fitness and indoor sports experience in all of Willamette Valley. With more than 51,000 square feet of indoor space to play with, this complex features six basketball courts and six volleyball courts, making it one of the largest in the region.

Soccer

Home to the Capital Futbol Club Timbers, the Capital FC Timbers Complex comprises eight full-sized fields ideal for hosting large tournaments bolstered by a suitable climate.

The complex has eight full-length fields, including the premier John Chambers turf field and two fields for 9 vs 9 play. The complex annually hosts the Capital Cup Soccer Tournament during the final weekend of June and was the host site of the United States Australian Football League tournament from July 26-27 in 2019 as well.

Baseball

Volcanoes Stadium is a fabulous minor league baseball park in the northwest United States, located in Keizer, Oregon. It is the home field of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, formerly the Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants in the Northwest League.

Capital Fieldhouse

Basketball, volleyball, multipurpose indoor

▶ The Gilbert House Children’s Museum is an interactive

museum where kids have plenty of space to play and learn while engaging in STEAMfocused activities.

▶ Salem’s Riverfront Park is the city’s premier urban event park, located near numerous businesses, restaurants, entertainment and other trails and parks.

▶ The Salvation Army Ray and

Joan Kroc Crops Community Center features a waterpark with a junior Olympic competition pool, water slide, lazy river, hot tub and a splash pad.

TRAVEL SALEM Matt Mayfield Sports & Events Sales Manager 503-581-4325 ext. 159 mmayfield@travelsalem.com travelsalem.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Salem has been a wonderful host and a great partner. We look forward to working with you to continue to grow the tournament next year!

— Terry Hennessy, CEO Senior Softball USA

Salem Convention Center

Wallace Marine Park Softball Complex

Volcanoes Stadium

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KNOWN AS THE “SPORTS CAPITAL OF TEXAS,” ROUND ROCK HAS CLEARLY MADE A NAME FOR ITSELF AS ONE OF THE TOP DESTINATIONS FOR SPORTS EVENTS IN THE COUNTRY

Scan to discover more of what Round Rock CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

Round Rock Multipurpose Complex

Centrally located within Texas, Round Rock sits just 15 miles north of Austin. From outdoor adventures to historic landmarks to professional sports tournaments, there’s plenty to do between games. Come see what all the hype is about and stay in Round Rock, the Sports Capital of Texas.

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Round Rock Multipurpose Complex Soccer, football, lacrosse, Ultimate, rugby, quidditch

Located within Old Settlers Park, the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex is an elite sports facility that has hosted several major events, including the US Quidditch Cup and USA Ultimate College D-1 Championships. It features four natural grass multipurpose fields and one natural grass championship field, four synthetic turf multipurpose fields and one synthetic turf championship field.

Round Rock Sports Center

Basketball, volleyball, wrestling, table tennis The Round Rock Sports Center has welcomed numerous sports events. Some of those events have included the USA Deaf Basketball National Tournament, the iSET College Table Tennis National Championships and the USA Judo Senior National Championships. The facility boasts 82,800 square feet of indoor space, with more than 47,000 square feet of flexible, playable space that can be configured in several different @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

▶ Want to know how Round Rock got layouts. It has a total capacity of 3,053, with seats for more than 1,400 spectators.

Old Settlers Park

Golf, soccer, tennis, sand volleyball, cross-country, baseball, softball A Round Rock classic, Old Settlers Park is a well-known sports destination for local and national athletic events. The 645-acre park includes a 20-field baseball complex, a fivefield softball complex, seven soccer fields, two football fields, a multipurpose field complex with 10 fields, 12 tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts, one aquatic center, and a professionally designed disc golf course.

Dell Diamond Baseball

Home of the Round Rock Express—the Triple-A affiliate to the Texas Rangers—Dell Diamond is a fan favorite among athletes and spectators. The stadium is designed to give guests an amazing, up-close view of the action. Not only is it the site for minor league baseball games, but it also hosts amateur sporting events.

its name? Discover a piece of history

Dragon Stadium

by visiting The Round Rock at

Football, track & field

Brushy Creek.

Dr. R.L. Peters Jr. Field at Dragon Stadium is a great spot for a football or track & field tournament. The venue features a regulation football field and a track. The stadium has several state-of-the-art amenities, as well as concessions stands and plenty of parking.

Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex Football, soccer

▶ Spend a day wandering the streets

of Round Rock’s Downtown Historic District and get a glimpse of life during the city’s modest beginnings.

▶ Experience Kalahari Resorts &

Conventions where you can enjoy a variety of attractions all under one roof,

Located in north Austin, the Kelly Reeves ISD Athletic Complex is a convenient walk from nearby restaurants, accommodations and attractions. The facility hosts high school soccer and football games, as well as regional and international athletic events. There is seating for 11,000 spectators, with 5,500 seats on each side.

like America’s largest indoor waterpark and an 80,000-square-foot indoor adventure park called Tom Foolerys.

▶ Shop around at more than 125 stores

at the Round Rock Premium Outlets, an open-air mall where you can find discounts on luxury clothing, shoes, jewelry and more.

Nancy Yawn, Director 512-218-7094

▶ Catch a game at Dell Diamond to see the Round Rock Express hit a home run.

nyawn@roundrocktexas.gov GoRoundRock.com

▶ Enjoy the signature food of the city: Round Rock Donuts.

Round Rock Sports Center

“It was an easy decision to bring the WCLA’s here to Round Rock. Between meeting the staff and knowing how completely comprehensive this venue was, it was an easy selection. They have the turf, and they have the grass which is great for teams because of course, they want the best of everything. The staff here has just been so accommodating with everything that they don’t even have to be accommodating about.”

— Lauren Rossi, Event Manager US Lacrosse

Champion Fields Complex

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Dell Diamond

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PORTLAND, TX

Scan to discover more of what City of Portland, Texas offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

A GROWING HUB FOR BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL IN THE TEXAS REGION, PORTLAND IS MAKING A NAME FOR ITSELF IN THE SPORTS WORLD AND OFFERS PLANNERS A VARIETY OF OPTIONS TO MAKE THEIR EVENT A SUCCESS

Municipal Park

Portland, Texas is a unique familyfriendly area along the coast.

Portland is a quiet community near Corpus Christi, Texas, with diverse outdoor areas along the Corpus Christi and Nueces Bays that attract outdoor enthusiasts and sports fanatics. Our allsynthetic turf fields at Portland Municipal Park and the Sports Complex are award-winning and the best of South Texas.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Municipal Park

Baseball, softball, basketball Opened in 2017, this baseball complex has already hosted its fair share of impressive events, including the USSSA World Series, USSSA Baseball State Tournament, DFW Fastpitch-Texas A&M Kingsville/South Texas Championship and the USA Baseball South Texas Region Team Identification Series (NTIS). The park has been a great asset to the community since its grand debut and was designed with both athletes and spectators in

mind. The park has a total of five baseball fields, along with a basketball court, playground, splash pad and shade structures that are perfect for congregating.

Portland Sports Complex

Baseball, football, softball, soccer Another recent addition to the Portland community, the Portland Sports Complex has provided a second great venue option for sports planners looking to bring their event to the region. As a co-host of the DFW Fastpitch-Texas A&M Kingsville/South Texas @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Championship, the complex made a name for itself in the sports world less than a year after opening. On site you will find four softball fields, a youth football/soccer field, all-purpose turf field and picnic area. Like its counterpart the Municipal Park, the complex is outfitted with a playground, splash pad and shade structures that make it the ideal layout for hosting an event. Both players and fans will love the impeccable facilities and the amenities that go along with them.

Portland Aquatic Center Swimming, diving

The Portland Aquatic Center is a year-round outdoor facility featuring two pools. The recreation pool includes a boat slide, dual slide, bubblers, palm tree splashers, and a zero depth entry. The heated competition pool measures 25 meters by 25 yards and ranges from 4-13 feet in depth. It features diving boards, lily pads and floating play structures. The facility also features four large shade structures with pool furniture to help you relax after your workout.

Ray Akins Wildcat Stadium Football, track, soccer

This stadium is named for legendary football coach Ray Akins, who put the Gregory-Portland High School football team on the map. He coached the Wildcats from 1965 to 1988. During his tenure, Gregory-Portland won 16 district titles and played for a state championship in 1971. This stadium has a capacity of 8,000 people and features an artificial turf playing field. It also has a video scoreboard and can host soccer games, football and track & field events. It is also wheelchair accessible.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Explore the largest aquarium in the great state of Texas just 10 minutes from Portland. The Texas State Aquarium has it all — a dolphin bay, a stingray lagoon, a shark touch pool, an otter creek and much more.

▶ Just next door to the aquarium is the dock site of the USS

Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier and naval museum where visitors can explore historic aircraft, test their skill in the flight simulator, prepare for takeoff at the virtual battle stations and feel the power of flight in the MEGA Theater.

CITY OF PORTLAND, TEXAS

▶ Go outside at Indian Point Pier

Jonathan Besinaiz

& Sunset Lake, where you can

361-777-4680

boat, bird watch, kayak, swim

jonathan.besinaiz@portlandtx.gov

and hike throughout this unique

www.playportlandtexas.com

saltwater wetland, home to many species of migrating waterfowl.

Portland Sports Complex

Municipal Park

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College Station, TX WITH A HOST OF IMPRESSIVE FACILITIES AND A LIVELY ENVIRONMENT, COMPETE COLLEGE STATION WILL APPEAL TO ATHLETES OF ALL AGES

Veterans Park & Athletic Complex

Scan to discover more of what Compete College Station offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Compete College Station is by far a superior group to work with. They truly understand and walk out the “customer first” mindset. Their attention to excellence is unmatched and they are always ready to pivot in order to better serve the athletes and their families if necessary. Their work ethic is second to none and all the while they embrace you as family. We wish we could produce events here every weekend!”

— Cindy Cowart, Cowart Sports Events, Inc.

Texas A&M Natatorium

College Station is located in the middle of the Dallas-HoustonSan Antonio triangle and is in the center of 87 percent of all of Texas’ population. United and American Airlines fly into College Station’s Easterwood Airport from Dallas and Houston. If you can’t make one of those connections, the Austin or Houston airports are both about an hour-and-a-half drive from College Station!

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Visit the George H.W. Bush

Presidential Library and Museum for an intimate look at the life of the 41st president or spend an afternoon learning about our nation’s military history at the Museum of the American GI.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Veterans Park & Athletic Complex Softball, football, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, archery, lacrosse, kickball, quidditch

Home to countless championships and millions of spectators throughout the years, Veterans Park & Athletic Complex is without a doubt the place to Compete in College Station.

Veterans Park & Athletic Complex is an awardwinning outdoor facility that sprawls across 150 acres and features nine grass fields, four synthetic turf fields and five diamonds.

Texas A&M Natatorium

Swimming, diving, water polo The Texas A&M Natatorium, host of the 2018 SEC Swimming & Diving Championships, is a world-class swimming and diving facility that offers its athletes an eight-lane, 50-meter pool with graduated depths of 7-9 feet. The competition pool includes two moveable bulkheads, an electronic timing system and an

underwater viewing window. The Natatorium also boasts a state-of-the-art dive well with platforms ranging from one to 10 meters.

E.B. Cushing Stadium Outdoor track & field

Redefining the norms of track & field stands E.B. Cushing Stadium. Opened in April 2019, this “Cushy” $39.8 million stadium boasts an IAAF certified Beynon track surface, a nine-lane oval, a nine-lane sprint & hurdle straightaway and an initial seating capacity of 2,200. E.B. Cushing Stadium features numerous hospitality amenities, official’s quarters and a cutting-edge press box fit for full broadcasts.

COMPETE COLLEGE STATION Dominique Powell 979-260-9898 dpowell@cstx.gov compete.cstx.gov

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ABILENE, TX

Scan to discover more of what Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

CENTRALLY LOCATED ON INTERSTATE 20 IN CENTRAL WEST TEXAS, ABILENE OFFERS ITS OWN TWIST ON TEXAS TOURNAMENT HOSPITALITY

Dodge Jones Youth Sports Center

Dodge Jones Youth Sports Center

Abilene has been building professional athletes for more than 100 years such as Ray Berry, Charles Coody, Case Keenum, John Lackey, Justin Snow and Hollis Thomas, to name a few.

Abilene isn’t just a city for sports; it’s where champions are made.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Go on safari with a visit to the Abilene Zoo, home to more than 127 species

including lions, black rhinos, monkeys and more.

▶ Stroll Abilene’s charming downtown and meet characters of Texas history at Frontier Texas! plus arts venues, museums and plenty of local dining options.

▶ The Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame is a must stop for athletes to see all the champions who have made history.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Dodge Jones Youth Sports Center Basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, multipurpose indoors

With four regulation-sized basketball courts, eight regulation-sized volleyball courts, Robbins Sports Surface, maple wood, NCAA Division I-class flooring and state-of-the-art technology and equipment, this first-class multipurpose facility has everything you need to host an awesome tournament. Dodge Jones has multiple uses, including youth basketball leagues, youth volleyball leagues, gymnastics competitions, cheerleading and competitions, martial arts competitions, meeting rooms, party rentals, conferences, sports expos and more. It also has a Playsight livestream system that allows you to watch games f rom wherever you are.

Taylor County Expo Center Multipurpose outdoor

The Taylor County Expo Center completed

the final phase of a $55 million renovation and expansion, bringing exciting new facilities to host equine, athletic events and concerts.

The expansive space has a new arena, covered outdoor arena, livestock barn and horse stalls. An estimated 350,000 people visit the Expo Center each year as it hosts a variety of events including the West Texas Fair and Rodeo, Youth Bull Riding, livestock shows, ropings, Western Heritage Classic and equine events. The Expo Center hosts around 270 events annually including powerlifting championships, concerts and shows.

ABILENE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Tiffany Nichols 325-676-2556 tiffany@abilenevisitors.com www.abilenevisitors.com/Sports @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

2022

WASHINGTON GUIDE Washington Sports Scene is Thriving

Savor a Trip to the Pacific Northwest

With a Variety of Attractions, Washington is a Perfect Spot To Gather

The Evergreen State is a Beautiful Place to Host Your Event

A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

Welcome to Washington!

WHEN IT COMES TO NATURAL BEAUTY, few states can match Washington’s array of mountains, forests and crystal-clear lakes. When it comes to sports fervor, Washington is also virtually unmatched as its fanbase for both professional and amateur sports are among the loudest and most passionate in the nation.

Pair those two things together and you have the perfect state to host your next sporting event.

From professionals to amateurs, Washington is an inclusive state that proudly offers sports for everyone. Washington hospitality goes beyond the sporting venues: Our luxury hotels, award-winning restaurants and range of leisure activities make for an ideal experience for both locals and visitors attending your event.

Washington’s impressive sports history spans from the legendary Olympics rowing team of 1936 to its modern teams that compete and thrive in football, baseball, basketball and soon … hockey.

This past decade alone, the state of Washington has seen a Super Bowl champion in the National Football League (Seattle Seahawks) and two titles in the Women’s National Basketball Association (Seattle Storm). Washington is also poised to host the National Hockey League’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken, which will be unleashed on the hockey world for the first time this upcoming season.

Lovers of outdoor activities will also cherish a visit to Washington, as we are home to three national parks, 140 state parks and a multitude of hiking and biking trails amid a picturesque backdrop that will dazzle any lover of the great outdoors.

The people of Washington will be your loyal fans, sponsors, promoters and hosts.

Dedication – It’s how we do things in the State of Washington.

North Sea Tac Park Photo courtesy of Alabastro Photography

Sincerely, Tammy Dunn Executive Director Snohomish County Sports Commission

Stocker Fields in Snohomish Photo courtesy of Snohomish County Sports Commission

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

WASHINGTON 104 Savor a Family-Friendly Trip in Washington 106 W ashington Sports Scene is Thriving Once Again ©iStock.com/bgblue

SI Site InSpections

108 Snohomish County

114 Visit Tri-Cities

110 Seattle Southside

115 Yakima Valley

111 Bellingham 112 Olympia

ON THE COVER: Soccer in Snohomish County Photo courtesy of the Snohomish County Sports Commission

North Sea Tac Park Photo courtesy of Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Photo courtesy of Flowstate Creatives

Savor a Family-Friendly Trip in Washington With a multitude of attractions and outdoor activities, Washington is a perfect spot for families to gather

By Isabella Wilkes

Boating in Olympia is a tranquil and beautiful experience.

W

hen planning a trip with children in tow, the state of Washington is a perfect destination to visit. With a variety of family-friendly activities and a beautiful outdoor backdrop, Washington has something for everyone. These five destinations, in particular, have plenty to offer family members of all ages.

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

OLYMPIA

With an abundance of arts, entertainment, history and delicious food options, Olympia has something for everyone. Olympia is located near many natural attractions and the most efficient way to visit them is through bike rentals. One such example is a free bike rental stop in Tenino at the beginning of the Yelm-Tenino Trail. The trail, spanning 14 miles in total, is the most family-friendly trail for younger children, with paved paths and plenty of exciting stops along the way. The trail also passes by the Yelm Bike and Skate Park and Main Street Cookie Company.

With extra time during your visit, it is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the multiple venues geared towards children in this area. The Hands On Children’s Museum is a giant facility, with 150 hands-on exhibits located both indoors and outdoors. DEFY Olympia trampoline park, Laser Fun Zone, Olympia Pinball Museum and the Puget Sound Estuarium are attractions that are perfect for groups looking to fill an afternoon with actionpacked activities suited for all ages.

A trip to Washington would not be complete without visiting a brewery. The Olympia region offers many kidfriendly breweries that allow groups with children to dine-in while exploring the region’s wines and brews. Some of our favorites are McMenamin’s Spar Café, Top Rung Brewing Co., Three Magnets Brewing Co. and the Well 80 Brewhouse.

SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE

This region of western Washington, just a few miles away from downtown Seattle, is popular for its proximity to the city, abundance of attractions and affordability.

Those seeking action-packed days filled with fun will find everything they are looking for. iFly Seattle Indoor Skydiving, SkyKart Indoor Racing and Wild Waves Theme Park and Water Park will entertain kids of all ages. The Marine Science and Technology Center, and the Museum of Flight are ways to slip a learning opportunity into your trip.

In an attempt to see the Pacific Northwest’s breathtaking views, there are multiple scenic drives that start in Seattle Southside, most of which can be completed in a day. The Historical Military Road Scenic Drive is one of the most popular scenic routes. Stop off this route for a scenic picnic at Angle Lake Park or try some amazing seafood at Anthony’s HomePort. Take the Marine View Drive route for a shorter but equally beautiful road trip near Puget Sound.

Along the way, there are plenty of noteworthy places to grab a bite: Wally’s Chowder House, Des Moines Dog House, and Salty’s at Redondo Beach to name a few.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY

Located in the Northwestern region of Washington, Snohomish County offers hundreds of miles of coastline flanked by sky-scraping mountain ranges, making it a perfect stop for outdoor enthusiasts.

Hiking to the highest point in Snohomish County, Glacier Peak, will probably not be realistic for kids. However, there are many kid-friendly trails in this region: Japanese Gulch, North Creek Trail, and Lowell Riverfront Trail. Whitehorse SportsPlanningGuide.com

Trail and North Mountain Bike Trail are beginner-f riendly biking trails great for families.

There are plenty of other activities in Snohomish County to fill your group’s free time during your stay. For the thrill-seekers, there are plenty high-intensity ways to enjoy the outdoors at High Trek Adventures, including Captain’s Rope Course and Ziplines, and Axe Throwing.

Or, visit the Funko Headquarters where you can go on a tour and make a Funko figure yourself. This region is also home to numerous food trucks, all representing different cuisines from across the world. Lloyd’s BBQ is well-loved by locals, Lari Adda serves up authentic Pakistani food, Tacos Tecalitan is known for their carne asada sopes, and Levantine Cuisine offers Syrian-style Mediterranean food.

TRI-CITIES

The Tri-Cities region is located in southern Washington at the confluence of three major rivers: the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia. With 300 days of sunshine each year, this region’s ideal weather allows ample opportunity to explore everything Kennewick, Pasco and Richland have to offer.

Agritourism flourishes year-round in the Tri-Cities and there are endless opportunities to incorporate the f resh produce, farmer’s markets, and food-inspired festivals into your stay. Pasco Farmer’s Market is the largest open-air market in Washington, open May through October. Bill’s Berry Farm allows groups to pick their own seasonal organic fruit, a perfect activity for kids.

Nearby, Goethals Nature Park, Columbia Park Family Fishing Pond, and Pompy’s Lessons along the Sacagawea Heritage Trail are locations that entertain kids while being immersed in nature. Or, take advantage of the rivers by partaking in water activities like paddle boarding, jet skiing, or boat rentals. For an educational activity, your group can learn about the local history of the Manhattan Project at the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The Bechtel National Planetarium and the Robert & Elisabeth Moore Observatory are also perfect for those curious minds who wish to explore the mysteries of the universe in state-of-the-art facilities.

YAKIMA VALLEY

Yakima is located in the southern region of Washington.

Equal parts big city and rugged outdoors, this city has anything for all ages and interests.

In your free-time, there are plenty of venues nearby that host family-friendly activities. Mini-golf, batting cages, and go-karts are featured at Yakima Family Fun Center. During the baseball season, your group can visit the Yakima County Stadium to watch the local team, the Yakima Pippins.

Yakima is flanked by miles of beautiful Washington landscape ready to explore. Visit Leavenworth Outdoor Center for tubing, kayaking and rafting on the Yakima River. Groups interested in bird and other wildlife viewing should visit Fort Simcoe State Park. In the winter, Yakima is a picturesque place to ski or snowboard at the White Pass Ski Area. A visit to Yakima is not complete without visiting Yakima Steak Company or Hoptown Wood-Fired Pizza for a taste of local cuisine.

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Photo courtesy of Ty Michaelson

WSWA Greco Roman State Boys Wrestling

Washington Sports Scene is Thriving Once Again The Evergreen State is a beautiful place to host your event

By Jason Paha

P

rior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Washington was a flourishing sports haven filled with cacophonous gymnasiums and bustling fields. While the pandemic took some of the starch out of the Evergreen State’s momentum in 2020 as stadiums and complexes were forced to shutter, Washington’s sports scene has again undergone a resurgence in 2021. Across the state, cities are welcoming tournaments and complexes are full on a weekly basis.

Here are some destinations that have been thriving in 2021.

OLYMPIA

Washington’s capital city, Olympia is filled with natural beauty, from the historic falls of Tumwater to the denselyforested parklands of Lacey. It is also a popular sports destination as one of its finest athletic venues, the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey, has been busy.

“Our golf courses are full, our Regional Athletic Complex has been turning away spring and summer tournament 106

Sports Planning Guide

business because everyone is looking to get outdoors,” said Jeff Bowe, vice president of sales and development for Experience Olympia & Beyond. “Our biggest challenge is finding sports events that fit need periods for our hotels.”

The Regional Athletic Complex is regarded as one of the top outdoor sporting venues in the state. This 100acre facility features spectacular views of Mt. Rainier and houses five softball/baseball fields and six regulation-sized soccer/football/rugby fields.

In recent months, the RAC has hosted a USA 12U state fastpitch tournament and Cal Ripken 9U, 10U, 11U and 12U state and regional baseball tournaments.

It’s also accommodated the Flag Football Championship Tour, a Washington State girls high school fastpitch tournament and youth baseball and softball tournaments.

Continuing its multifaceted ways, the RAC has also hosted events like the Capital Lakefair volleyball tournament, Ultimate frisbee leagues and the Lacey Pocket Gophers semi-pro soccer club. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Seattle Southside is home to top-flight facilities just a few miles away from a world-class city’s downtown. Its cities of Tukwila, SeaTac and Des Moines are ideally situated to make the most out of visitors’ Pacific Northwest excursions.

Starfire Sports in Tukwila has earned a reputation as one of the best soccer venues in the country. Located minutes from Seattle, the 54-acre campus features 12 outdoor and two indoor pitches, Starfire Stadium, which has spectator capacity of 4,000, a world-class athletic center, restaurants and retail and a sports performance center and physical therapy.

“We started to reopen for activity in mid-June 2020 with various socially distant soccer club practices, with various league games returning starting earlier this year in January.

Larger events and tournaments started to return in April,” said Kelley Talbot, campus resource manager for Starfire Sports.

Starfire’s exceptional campus attracts more than 100,000 unique visitors per year and more than 15 youth and adult tournaments take place there annually. Among the events held at Starfire in 2021 include Seattle Seawolves Major League Rugby, the Puget Sound Premier League WA Cup Qualifier, Seattle Soccer ID camp, the 2021 Sounders FC Cup and FC Barcelona and Real Madrid soccer camps.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY

Nestled between the waters of Puget Sound and the snowcapped peaks of the Cascade Mountains, Snohomish County is an ideal spot for adventurous travelers. The sporting scene started trending upwards in June 2021 as sports tournaments returned to play. The diversity of sports coming back included figure skating, lacrosse, soccer and wrestling.

“In April, we hosted our first major sports events of the year,” said Tammy Dunn, executive director of the Snohomish County Sports Commission. “We hosted a USA Gymnastics Washington State XCEL Gold/Platinum/ Diamond State Championships, American Cornhole League Regionals and National Amateur Disc Golf Tour. It was exciting to have sports events coming back.”

In 2021, Snohomish County’s outdoor venues have been busy with baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and rugby. Phil Johnson Ballfields, four lighted turf baseball/softball fields, and Meadowdale Athletic Complex, three lighted turf infield baseball/softball fields and two turf multi-purpose fields, have been hosting baseball and fastpitch tournaments every weekend. Stocker Fields Soccer Complex has 15 grass soccer fields with a beautiful backdrop of the Snohomish Valley has hosted three major soccer tournaments.

Other events held in Snohomish County in 2021 included Spikeball National Tour Series, USTA PNW Section Championships, Kayak Point Open Disc Golf Tournament, and Trifecta Seattle North Spartan Race.

TRI-CITIES

These three closely-linked cities (Kennewick, Pasco and Richland) in Eastern Washington are popular destinations thanks to the area’s 300 sun-filled days each year.

Recreation and sports enthusiasts cherish the area’s biking and hiking trails as well as its Columbia, Snake and Yakima rivers, which are great spots to enjoy water sports.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Starfire Sports hosts a variety of soccer camps.

Photo courtesy of Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority

SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE

“Sports in the Tri-Cities are back in full force with us finishing up the month of June with our largest softball tournament since the pandemic began with approximately 100 teams,” said Hector Cruz, vice president of Visit Tri-Cities.

“In addition, we are hosting our largest outdoor event, the Tri-City Water Follies, which is expected to draw 18,000 people along our river shores for the hydro boat races.”

The area’s major venues, the Pasco Sporting Complex, Southridge Sports & Events Complex, and Columbia Playfield have all been busy this spring and summer.

The Pasco Sporting Complex has six softball fields, two sand volleyball courts, batting cages and an aquatic playground. The complex has been the headquarters for major tournaments such as USA Softball Western Nationals, National Softball Association and Triple Crown Sports.

Columbia Playfield, in Richland, is a 28-acre venue with five softball fields, which hosts college, regional and state level tournaments. Southridge Sports Complex is a 52-acre multi-sports facility in Kennewick that contains four lighted softball/baseball fields and two multi-use sports fields. The complex houses the 30,000 square-foot indoor Numerica Pavilion that hosts events such as basketball, volleyball, futsal, pole vaulting and antique shows.

YAKIMA VALLEY

Yakima Valley features some of the most respected winemakers in the Northwest, making it a favorite destination for visitors from across the country. It also has a flourishing sporting scene thanks in part to its sunshine and lovely natural setting.

“After being shut down for most of 2020, and the start of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sports are definitely coming back to the Yakima Valley,” said Rich Austin, director of sports development, Yakima Valley Sports Commission.

“Once restrictions were relaxed, event organizers began scheduling their tournaments. The first ones to host events were the outdoor sports, such as football, soccer, softball and lacrosse.”

Among the many events Yakima Valley has hosted include Yakima Canines indoor football games at the fabled Yakima Valley SunDome (which can host gatherings for up to 8,000); the YakAttack 5v5 soccer tournament and 7 on 7 Association football tournaments at the Sozo Sports Complex (a premier indoor/outdoor complex that features 15 fields plus a 13,500 square-foot indoor facility); several USTA and local tournaments at the Yakima Tennis Club; youth softball and baseball tournaments at the Gateway Sports Complex and multiple golf tournaments at the beautiful Apple Tree Golf Resort.

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Snohomish County, WA

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

EXPLORE SNOHOMISH COUNTY’S DIVERSE LANDSCAPE AND HISTORY TO FIND THE PERFECT FACILITY FOR YOUR UPCOMING TOURNAMENT

Angel Of The Winds Arena

Located just north of Seattle, Snohomish County is directly connected to Interstate 5. Paine Field Everett Airport, just 10 miles from downtown Everett and 7 miles from Lynnwood, has commercial air service with Alaska Airlines.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is just 45 miles south of Snohomish County.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Angel Of The Winds Arena

Basketball, cheerleading, dance, Endurocross, figure skating, gymnastics, hockey, martial arts, volleyball This 10,000-seat multipurpose arena features two NHL-ice sheets that can be converted into a 57,000-square-foot space for hosting trade shows and special events.

The Edward D. Hansen Conference Center is equipped with three 900-square-foot meeting rooms and an 11,000-square-foot ballroom

that can be arranged into a number of different configurations. The Angel Of The Winds Arena is home to the Everett Silvertips, a Western Hockey League team. Past events include 2018 Skate America and 2020 Fed Cup – The World Cup of Tennis.

Meadowdale Athletic Complex

Baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, Ultimate Frisbee Meadowdale Athletic Complex plays home to many Adult Softball, Youth Baseball and Fastpitch tournaments throughout the year. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

The athletic complex is one of the locations for multiple Perfect Game Northwest baseball tournaments in 2021. The complex features three lighted adult/youth softball/baseball fields and two lighted multipurpose turf fields which are lined for soccer, lacrosse and fastpitch/baseball, the facility is equipped with concession stands, a .67-mile walking trail, basketball court, play structure, picnic facilities, pond, restrooms and parking.

Walt Price Fitness Center at Everett Community College Basketball, gymnastics, martial arts, volleyball

This 49,000-square-foot fitness center offers a gym with a basketball court and retractable bleacher seating for up to 2,250 spectators, four team locker rooms, two coaches meeting rooms, concession area and a multipurpose room. The college has over 1,600 parking spaces available. The venue has been home to the NWAC Men & Women Basketball Championships since 2016 and have hosted multiple USA Gymnastics Washington State Championships.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

Lake Tye Park

Baseball, lacrosse, skateboard, soccer, softball, triathlon, wakeboard Located on the shores of Lake Tye in Monroe, this community park covers 64 acres and a 42-acre recreational lake. This beautiful park features one grass baseball field, two lighted all-weather turf multi-use fields which are marked for baseball/softball, lacrosse and soccer, concessions, a serene beach area, picnic area, restrooms, a 1.5-mile walking/ biking loop, pedestrian boat launches a children’s play area, skate park and a parking lot for approximately 200 vehicles.

▶ Visit Funko Headquarters in downtown Everett, one of the leading innovators of licensed pop culture products you can expect to see vinyl figures, action and plush toys, apparel and more.

▶ Spend your afternoon shopping at Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip, where an upscale collection of more than 130 designer names awaits your every need.

▶ Spend a day at Arena Sports Mill Creek bowling, playing arcade, laser tag, rope course & zipline, climbing wall and playing virtual

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

reality games.

▶ Dive into the history of the

Tammy Dunn, STS

Tulalip Tribes by taking a trip to

Executive Director

the Hilbulb Cultural Center. This

425-309-2744

center is approximately 23,000

tammy@snocosports.org

square feet and features a 50-acre

www.snocosports.org

natural history preserve.

Walt Price Fitness Center

Meadowdale Athletic Complex

Hibulb Cultural Center

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Seattle Southside, WA FABULOUS SPORTS COMPLEXES, FAMILY-FRIENDLY PARKS AND COLLEGE-LEVEL GYMNASIUMS ENTICE PLANNERS AND TEAMS TO ENJOY UNFORGETTABLE SPORTING EVENTS AT SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE

Scan to discover more of what Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Seattle Southside does a great job for us. They’ve helped us with getting information on different activities going on during March so we can give our attendees the information on where to go, what to do and have a good time.”

Starfire Sports

— Jeff Lovell, President and Executive Director of the Automotive Service Association

North SeaTac Park

From world-class sports facilities to thrill-filled activities, Seattle Southside provides traveling sports teams the chance to explore Seattle’s backyard.

Not only is Seattle Southside a beautiful locale that will appeal to anyone, it has plenty to do for family members of all ages.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ A t The Museum of Flight, visitors can hop in the pilot’s seat and see what it’s like to soar through the sky with surreal and exciting flight simulator rides.

▶ iFLY Indoor Skydiving makes the dream of flight a reality with indoor skydiving in a vertical wind tunnel. iFLY is safe for kids, challenging for adults, exciting for teens, and realistic for skydivers.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Starfire Sports Soccer, rugby

One of the largest synthetic-turf soccer complexes in the nation, Starfire Sports is the home of numerous soccer and rugby teams, including the practice field of the Seattle Sounders FC and home to Major League Ruby team, Seattle Seawolves. Featuring five grass fields, two indoor FieldTurf fields and seven outdoor FieldTurf fields, the complex’s main stadium also has a capacity of 4,500 spectators.

Field House is an ideal location for basketball tournaments, featuring a gym with 4,000 square feet and a capacity of 225 guests.

North SeaTac Park

Softball, baseball, basketball, BMX racing, disc golf With 160 acres and three different baseball and softball fields available for rent from March to October, North SeaTac Park features an outdoor basketball court, walking and running trails, a BMX track and a disc golf course.

The City of Des Moines

Basketball, volleyball, tennis, cross country, fishing, water sports With a plethora of walking and running trails, beach access and a neighboring marina offering wet and dry moorage for 840 recreational vessels, Des Moines Beach Park has outdoor and indoor space ideal for smaller youth sports teams and events. Listed on the Register of Historic Places, Des Moines

SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE REGIONAL TOURISM AUTHORITY Caitlyn Shearer Business Development Manager 206-686-7261 Caitlyn@SeattleSouthside.com www.seattlesouthside.com @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Bellingham, WA

Scan to discover more of what Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

WITH A SCENIC LOCATION NEAR THE CANADA-U.S. BORDER, BELLINGHAM AND SURROUNDING WHATCOM COUNTY TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THEIR REGION’S ABILITY TO HOST TOP-NOTCH TOURNAMENTS

Civic Athletic Complex

Western Washington University

Interstate 5 runs right through central Bellingham on the road south to Seattle. If you’re flying into the region, Bellingham International Airport (BLI) is the third-largest commercial airport in Washington and offers flights through Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Allegiant Air to major West Coast destinations.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Bellingham is serviced by dozens of forested, interurban and waterfront parks, including hundreds of miles of easily accessible hiking and biking trails.

▶ The SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention is a science and

history museum full of hands-on interactive exhibits.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Civic Athletic Complex Multipurpose

The crown jewel of Bellingham’s facility scene, the Civic Athletic Complex is comprised of a Sportsplex, Civic Stadium, Joe Martin Field, the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, Bellingham Skate Park and Frank Geri Softball Fields.

Civic Stadium has covered seating for up to 4,000 fans. Joe Martin Field has permanent seating for 1,600 fans and room for more on the surrounding lawns. The Civic Athletic Complex has indoor space in the Sportsplex. It features NHL regulation-sized sheet of ice and can support indoor soccer, ultimate frisbee, flag football, wrestling, hockey and figure skating.

Phillips 66 Soccer Park

Soccer, lacrosse, ultimate Frisbee, flag football With spectacular views of Mount Baker in the background, this soccer complex is a mustschedule for tournament planners. Featuring

11 regulation soccer fields, including nine grass fields and two turf fields with lights.

Western Washington University Multipurpose

The university’s Carver Gym complex features five regulation courts, including a championship court for volleyball with a video replay scoreboard and seating for 2,500. Carver hosted the 2019 Men’s and Women’s GNAC Basketball Championships in March. The volleyball matches are played on a convertible SportCourt. Harrington Field is a lighted multipurpose AstroTurf option with seating for 500, while Viking Field hosts softball games with a capacity for 300 seated spectators.

BELLINGHAM WHATCOM COUNTY TOURISM Eric Rainaud-Hinds 360-671-3990, ext. 210 eric@bellingham.org www.bellingham.org Sports Planning Guide

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Scan to discover more of what Experience Olympia & Beyond offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

THE OLYMPIA REGION’S ELITE SPORTS FACILITIES, STUNNING NATURAL BEAUTY, EXCITING ATTRACTIONS AND A PASSIONATE SPORTS SCENE MAKE IT AN IDEAL SPORTS DESTINATION

Lacey-Thurston County Regional Athletic Complex

The Olympia region’s central location in Washington provides reasonable driving distances from several major cities. Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver are all less than a two-hour drive away; while places like Spokane and Yakima are between a 3-5-hour drive. There are two airports serving the Olympia region.

Seattle-Tacoma Airport offers daily flights from national and international destinations.

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Lacey-Thurston County Regional Athletic Complex Baseball, softball, soccer, football, rugby, lacrosse, ultimate f risbee

A premier outdoor sports venue, the 100acre Lacey-Thurston County Regional Athletic Complex can accommodate a number of sports events, large and small. The facility features five softball/baseball fields and six regulation-size soccer/football/rugby fields.

There are also two miles of walking trails and splendid views of Mount Rainier.

The Evergreen State College

Soccer, basketball, track & field, volleyball Home of Geoducks athletics, The Evergreen State College has several facilities that can be used for your sports event.

Saint Martin’s University

Basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennis, track & field Located just east of Olympia in Lacey, Saint Martin’s University boasts top sports venues that have hosted a range of events over the @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

years. It has welcomed the GNAC Basketball Championships, the NWAC Cross Country Championships, and the GNAC Softball Championships. Sports planners can rent the Marcus Pavilion & TwinStar Court for basketball and volleyball tournaments, the SMU Baseball field and the SMU Softball Field for baseball and softball events, and the SMU Soccer Field and SMU Track & Field Complex for soccer and track & field competitions.

South Puget Sound Community College Basketball, volleyball

South Puget Sound Community College, home to Clippers athletics, is available to host basketball and volleyball events at its Gymnasium.

Rainier Vista Community Park

Soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, sand volleyball, basketball, football, rugby, pickleball, ultimate f risbee Rainier Vista Community Park welcomes all kinds of athletic activities throughout the year. The 46-acre park features three football/ soccer fields, three baseball/softball fields, four tennis courts, four pickleball courts, three sand volleyball courts, a basketball court and a skate park.

experiences as it features four ballfields (three lighted) that convert to three soccer fields.

▶ Visit the magnificent Olympia Waterfront. Stroll around the

Swantown Marina to see boat

Pioneer Park

launches out to the sea or take

Baseball, softball, soccer, sand volleyball

a walk on East Bay Trail to get a view of some of the local

Pioneer Park is the perfect place to plan a sports tournament or family event with one baseball field, two softball fields, three soccer fields, two sand volleyball courts, children’s play areas, trails, and access to the beautiful Deschutes River.

bird wildlife.

▶ Check out the Olympia

Farmers Market, the second largest farmers market in Washington.

▶ Experience natural beauty at

Capital Soccer Fields Soccer

Tumwater Falls Park, where

Conveniently located just minutes south of Olympia, this immaculately-groomed soccer complex offers six fields, with two of those fields lighted. Capital also features ample parking and easy access from Interstate 5.

the Deschutes River ends its journey tumbling into Capitol Lake. Take a one-half mile walk on the trails to admire the cascading falls and reflective pools of the park.

▶ Get a glimpse of the Washington political scene Jeff Bowe, VP of Sales & Development

with a visit to the State Capitol

360-704-7544

Building. Take a free guided

Jeff@ExperienceOlympia.com

tour of the Legislative Building

www.OlympiaSportsCommission.com

or wander the campus to view the memorials and gardens.

LBA Park

Baseball, softball, tennis, running Little Baseball Association Park was developed for youth sports games. Its athletic fields are now used for baseball events of all ages and skill levels.

Yauger Park

Baseball, softball, soccer, skating, horseshoes Developed in 1982, Yauger Park resides on 40 acres and offers a wide range of recreation

“The Northwest Athletic Conference has worked with multiple sports commissions throughout the Pacific Northwest on our championship events. Experience Olympia sports commission’s service, hospitality, and regard for our events is second to none. It is because of Experience Olympia Sports Commission we continue to look at future NWAC events coming to the Olympia area.”

—-Marco Azurdia, Northwest Athletic Conference Facilities

South Puget Sound Community College

Ranier Vista Community Park

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Visit Tri-Cities, WA

Scan to discover more of what Visit Tri-Cities offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

FUN IN THE SUN IS THE WAY OF LIFE IN THIS GROWING METROPOLITAN AREA IN SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The Tri-Cities is a very hospitable and welcoming community. The facility and lodging staffs are easy to work with and everyone rallies around the tournament to make it a successful event.”

— Steve Jensen, National Softball Association of WA

Southridge Sports and Events Complex

Pasco Sporting Complex

Centrally located within the Pacific Northwest, the Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland are connected through Interstate 182 from east to west. By air, the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco offers direct flights from Seattle, as well as destinations like Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix/Mesa.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Columbia Playfield Softball

Located in the heart of Richland, Columbia Playfield stretches across nearly 29 acres with 5 softball fields. A recent upgrade has provided new fixtures to the park, giving it updated LED lights and aluminum bleachers with fabric covers. The complex is home to annual youth and collegiate-level tournaments.

Pasco Sporting Complex Baseball, softball

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ The Columbia River snakes through the region, enabling visitors to take it in via boat, kayak or paddleboard.

▶ Hand-carved in 1910, the Gesa

Carousel of Dreams is a treasured

work of quality art in Kennewick.

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This complex, located in Pasco, hosts baseball and softball tournaments and contains six softball fields, two sand volleyball courts, a playground area, a water play area and a concession building with restrooms.

Adjoining to the complex is Gesa Stadium, home field of the Tri-City Dust Devils professional baseball team, and one of the finest youth soccer facilities in the Northwest, the Tri-Cities Youth Soccer Association Soccer

Complex, which includes 15 full-sized soccer fields on 45 acres.

Southridge Sports and Events Complex

Baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, futsal, pole vaulting This 52-acre multisports development in Kennewick offers a variety of sporting, recreation and event amenities to enjoy. It offers baseball and softball fields, an indoor sports pavilion, multiuse fields and the Gesa Carousel of Dreams, a world-class piece of art the whole family can touch and ride. The complex houses the Numerica Pavilion, the only indoor sports pavilion in the region.

VISIT TRI-CITIES 800-254-5824 Sales@VisitTRI-CITIES.com www.VisitTRI-CITIES.com @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

The Yakima Valley is your

SPORTS EVENT DESTINATION WASHINGTON STATE SEATTLE

SPOKANE

YAKIMA

PORTLAND, OR

200 Miles from SEAttle, WA, Spokane, WA, Portland, OR

CONTACT US TO SCHEDULE YOUR EVENT RICH@YAKIMASPORTS.ORG • YAKIMASPORTS.ORG • 509-594-2742

Yakima Valley, WA

Scan to discover more of what Yakima Valley Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

WASHINGTON’S WINE COUNTRY HAS YIELDED AN INCREDIBLE CROP OF TOURNAMENT-READY SPORTS FACILITIES AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YAKIMA VALLEY

Yakima Valley SunDome

The Yakima Valley is mainly accessible from north and south via Interstate 82. If you’re flying in, Alaska Airlines offers connecting flights from Seattle/ Tacoma to the Yakima Air Terminal. The Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, 86 miles away, is the next closest to offer domestic flights.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Yakima Valley SunDome Multipurpose

Located on the grounds of State Fair Park and Event Center, the SunDome annually hosts WIAA State championships in volleyball, basketball, and dance and drill. This multipurpose indoor facility is an ideal venue for tournament planners, where 8,000 spectators can attend tournaments, events and conferences. Recently renovated, the SunDome now is outfitted with video scoreboards, LED lighting, and new permanent seats.

Sozo Sports Complex

Soccer, futsal, multipurpose indoor and outdoor, basketball, lacrosse, running, football The Sozo Sports Complex saw its fifth year of development in 2021, when it continued to make progress on the Sozo Arena, an 80,000-square-foot indoor facility that will hold up to four futsal courts, eight basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts. The complex is home to 13 multipurpose outdoor fields as well, making it a powerhouse for any competition throughout the region. Sozo hosted tourneys @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

and events in several sports this year including soccer, football, lacrosse, pickleball, basketball and running.

Gateway Sports Complex Baseball, softball

With a professional staff dedicated to taking care of your tournament needs, the Gateway Sports Complex has you covered. This stateof-the-art complex features eight softball fields, each with first-class Musco lighting, professional infield mix, electronic scoreboards and more. A PA system reverberates through the park, which also has a basketball court, volleyball court, two picnic shelters, a skate park, three playgrounds, multipurpose field and coach/umpire rooms. The complex is the host site for several WIAA state softball championships each year.

Carlon Park Girls Fastpitch Complex

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

Yakima Tennis Club Tennis

This well-maintained and visually striking tennis club is a hotspot for tournament action, seeing competition f rom the collegiate, high school and adult levels on a yearly basis. The facility maintains 13 outdoor courts, eight indoor courts, a renovated swimming pool with a children’s play area, a clubhouse with locker rooms, a catered snack bar and a pro shop. The club hosted several USTA tennis tournaments in 2021.

Apple Tree Golf Course Golf

Carved from the natural rolling terrain of 100-year-old apple orchards, Apple Tree is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier golf destinations. Over 6,900 yards of championship course features a variety of scenic challenges, including its signature 17th apple green.

▶ More than 40 organic commercial crops are grown throughout the Yakima Valley, so a trip to leaf through some of the valley’s farms and produce is sure to be a hit.

▶ The Yakima Valley’s celebrated arts scene is on display with tasting rooms, museums, local galleries and more found throughout the valley.

▶ Bring the whole family to cool off at the Rotary YMCA Aquatic Center.

Baseball, softball

This newly remodeled complex features four girls tournament-quality fastpitch fields with permanent 200-foot fences and state-of-the-art lighting systems on each field.

The complex hosted the 2022 WIAA 2A State Softball Championships among numerous WASA Softball tourneys.

YAKIMA VALLEY SPORTS COMMISSION Rich Austin, Director of Sports Development 509-594-2742 rich@yakimasports.org YakimaSports.org

Yakima Tennis Club

Apple Tree Golf Course

Sozo Sports Complex

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SI Site InSpections

Indiana University Photo courtesy of Indiana Sports Corp

MIDWEST REGION

T

he Midwest is a beautiful region in the country that sports both flat terrain and rolling hills from state to state. It is also home to a fabulous array of alluring cities and towns that will keep your family entertained when your athletes aren’t competing in the region’s top-notch facilities. Whether you’re planning a basketball tournament or a cross-country meet, these destinations are ready to host you.

120 122 126 136 138 141 144 146 148 150

Topeka, Kansas Branson, Missouri Cape Girardeau, Missouri Quad Cities, Illinois Champaign County, Illinois Lake County, Illinois Williamson County, Illinois Great Rivers and Routes, Illinois Springfield, Illinois Chicago Southland, Illinois

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154 156 159 160 162 164 166 168 178 180 182 184 186 188 190 192 196 198

DuPage County, Illinois Elgin Area, Illinois Effingham, Illinois Aurora Area, Illinois Jacksonville, Illinois Chicago Northwest, Illinois Rockford, Illinois Bloomington-Normal, Illinois Terre Haute, Indiana Grand Park Sports Campus, Indiana Fort Wayne, Indiana South Shore, Indiana Lincoln, Nebraska Greater Akron, Ohio Lake Erie Shores and Islands, Ohio Burlington, Iowa Muscatine, Iowa Quad Cities, Iowa Sports Planning Guide

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Topeka, KS

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

VISIT KANSAS’ BEAUTIFUL CAPITAL AND TAKE YOUR SPORTING EVENTS TO ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES

Stormont Vail Events Center

Located on the banks of the Kansas River, the state’s beautiful capital, Topeka, is known for its vibrant arts and culture, bustling nightlife and rich history. Whether it’s Friday art walks in the North Topeka Art District, kayaking in the Kansas River or learning about the city’s role in the Civil Rights Movement, Topeka has something for everyone.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Stormont Vail Events Center

Basketball, wrestling, volleyball, hockey This 80-acre site has been hosting events for decades, starting with a small fair in 1871. Today, the venue has grown and now features the Landon Arena, which has 22,500 square feet of floor space bordered by a four-foot bulkhead that can be converted to accommodate a range of sporting events. The arena can host up to 10,000 people in its 7,100 fixed seats and over 2,550 floor seats. Landon Arena is also climatecontrolled and includes state-of-the-art sound

and LED lighting systems as well as center-hung, ribbon and endwall video boards.

Bettis Family Sports Complex

Baseball, soccer This 22-acre complex is home to six lighted baseball diamonds with turf infields and grass outfields as well as one multi-use, full-size lighted soccer field. The complex also features two concession stands, restrooms, locker rooms, a plaza area, six offices, a reception area, two conference rooms, an umpires locker room and the Lake Shawnee Event Center overlooking @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

the facility. Past events hosted at the Sports Complex include multiple NBC World Series, minor league baseball and state, national and regional tournaments.

Washburn University Indoor Track and Field Facility

Soccer, football, baseball, softball, track and field This $20 million facility is over 146,300 square feet and includes both a track and turf field. The track is 200 meters, six-laned and includes areas for field and weight events as well as permanent and portable bleachers. The synthetic turf practice field is 110 yards long and 50 yards wide and can be used for women’s soccer, football, baseball and softball practice. There are painted lines on the turf for each of these sports and drop-down nets for batting and pitching practice.

Lake Shawnee Girls Softball Complex Softball With a beautiful view of Lake Shawnee, this complex features four state-of-the-art softball fields, all within close proximity of each other, that can accommodate softball players from the age of four to the collegiate level. With Musco

Lake Shawnee Girls Softball Complex

lighting, each field has a 200-foot surrounding fence as well as backstop netting for optimal and safe spectator viewing. Complex facilities also include restrooms, concession stands and an umpire room.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES For daredevils, dreamers and fans, visit the Evel Knievel Museum to hear the stunt performer’s seemingly impossible tales of glory and see his life-saving, star-spangled

Hummer Sports Park

helmets and impressive bikes.

Baseball, football, soccer, softball, swimming This six-sport facility includes two professional-level grass baseball fields, a football and track stadium with 6,000 seats, a 2,000 seat AstroPlay soccer field, a dirt infield softball field and a premier Olympic-sized 50-meter pool. All fields are lit with Musco lighting.

Additional facilities include concession stands, restrooms, team locker rooms and press boxes.

Visit the state’s greatest architectural treasure, the Kansas State Capitol, to admire its impressive structure, murals, statues and artwork as well as visit a variety of exhibits to learn about Kansas’s rich heritage, history and culture.

Whether it’s an all-day trip or a quick stop, visit the Brown Vs. Board of Education National Historic Site to learn about

VISIT TOPEKA

segregation in America.

Mike Bell 785-234-1030 Mike@VisitTopeka.com visit.topekapartnership.com

Bettis Family Sports Complex

Hummer Sports Park

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Branson, MO

Scan to discover more of what Branson Chamber and CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

THIS POPULAR FAMILY DESTINATION IS YOUR GO-TO YOUTH SPORTS CITY

Ballparks of America

Food lovers, adventurers and thrill-seekers alike should look no further than Branson for an experience that will exceed all of their sporting needs. Located in southwestern Missouri, this Ozark town is known as a family vacation destination for its thrilling adventure parks and roller coasters, beautiful aquarium, interactive entertainment, delicious dining and athletic facilities.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Branson RecPlex

Basketball, Softball, Soccer, Swimming, Track, Volleyball This impressive 35-acre recreation facility is a multipurpose sports complex that combines recreation fitness and sports in one convenient location. The 44,000-square-foot recreation center includes two gymnasiums for basketball and volleyball that are full-sized and features a wood floor and bleacher seating, electronic scoreboards and a divider curtain; a 7,500-square foot fitness center with top-

notch exercise equipment; a three-lane indoor track and concessions as well as locker rooms, a 2,000-square-foot community room with a dividing wall, projector screen, service bar and kitchen; and a 450-square-foot party room with a TV and Xbox. Outside, visitors will find a 12,249-square-foot aquatic center with a leisure pool, water slides, lap lanes and a diving well.

The baseball/softball complex features two 300’ ballfields, two 200’ ballfields, batting cages, entry/ticket facilities, concessions, restrooms and 200-person bleacher seating per field.

There are also several multi-use soccer fields @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

capable of supporting two adult fields or four youth fields. The walking trail is a one-mile asphalt trail that loops around the complex.

2022 Fathers Day Classic (13U) and the Babe Ruth League’s Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series.

Ballparks of America

Power Boat Nationals Grand Prix Series

Baseball Take your next tournament or sporting event to the Ballparks of America, a sprawling 1.2-million-square-foot campus composed of five replica Major League ballparks to give young athletes an experience similar to the pros. Each field is a 2/3 replica of a famous MLB ballpark, featuring synthetic turf, professional scoreboards, sports lighting, sunken dugouts and reclaimed seats to mimic the big league stadiums of St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, Boston and Brooklyn. The team clubhouses are just like those of Major League Baseball, with air conditioning, flat-screen televisions, private showers and personal, pro-style lockers.

Additional amenities include generous amounts of free parking, concession stands located in prime areas of the campus, a restaurant and ice cream shop, restrooms, on-site photography services, plenty of outdoor picnic tables, and a pro shop with bats and merchandise. Ballparks of America hosts numerous tournaments including the 2022 Memorial Day Classic (10U, 11U, 12u), the 2022 Summer Kickoff (13U), the

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Aquarium at the Boardwalk is unlike any other aquarium you’ve visited. Guests will get a thrill from up-close views of amazing sea creatures ranging from colorful fish,

Boat Racing Hosted on Lake Taneycomo at Branson Landing, the Grand Prix of Missouri Powerboat Nationals Race is two days of high-speed racing by some of the world’s fastest and wellknown powerboat racers. This Championship Event is filled with a minimum of 10 of the world’s newest, fastest and sleekest inshore powerboats. Additional events include the recently added jet ski Hydro-Cross event and the Formula 4 event, featuring Formula Lite tunnel boats that reach speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. The race course is designed to stay close to the shoreline, ensuring optimal spectator viewing.

seahorses and jellyfish to octopi, eels and sharks.

With state-of-the-art technology, you’ll have the true feeling of flight at FlyRide inside at Beyond the Lens. You’ll soar over mountaintops and skim over lakes in a suspended, free-floating multi-person ride that glides and tilts, giving you the most inspiring ride of your life over 22 national landmarks.

Fritz’s Adventure has added new components, including over 300 feet of tunnels, 32 obstacles, 11

BRANSON CHAMBER AND CVB

ziplines, six bridges and two drops complementing existing facilities.

Terra Alphonso

Enjoy the City Wall, Sky Trail, Sky

1-417-334-4084

Tykes, laser maze, underground

talphonso@bransoncvb.com

tunnels, treehouses, slides, warped

ExploreBranson.com

walls, half pipe and a real airplane for exploring.

Branson RecPlex

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “The support and extra efforts provided by the City of Branson and the mayor, as well as the Convention & Visitors Bureau and Director of Sports Marketing and Development, Terra Alphonso, has continually exceeded our expectations. This successful partnership has resulted in a first-class and extraordinary experience for our players, as well as their parents, coaches, supporters and fans.”

— Robert Faherty, Vice President, Babe Ruth League

Ballparks of America

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Power Boat Nationals Grand Prix Series

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Cape Girardeau, MO

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

RICH HISTORY AND MODERN DESIGNS MAKE CAPE GIRARDEAU AN IDEAL TOURNAMENT DESTINATION

Cape SportsPlex

Everybody wins when you play in Cape! Conveniently located in the heart of the country, Cape Girardeau is just a short drive from most major Midwest and Southern cities. We have all of the amenities of a larger metropolitan area without the headaches that often accompany them. Our facilities know sports and know how to put on great tournaments.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Shawnee Park Sports Complex

Baseball, Football, Softball, Soccer The Shawnee Park Sports Complex serves as one of the largest youth and adult outdoor sports venues in the region. Fourteen regulation sized soccer fields, eight fields for baseball and softball and two regulation football fields make this a key destination for tournaments. Two regulation sized baseball fields with 375-foot center field fences and six regulation-sized softball fields with 300 foot fences made this an easy choice to host tournaments. The USSSA Boy’s Baseball,

USSSA Girls FP Softball and USA Coed State Slow Pitch Softball are just some of the tournaments that utilized the Shawnee Park Sports Complex this summer. This fall we look forward to safely hosting the USSSA All State Games, USFA Missouri Season Opener Girls FP Tournament and our November College Exposure tournament.

Cape SportsPlex

Baseball, Basketball, Football, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball With 121,000 square feet to play with, the state of the art Cape Girardeau SportsPlex @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES is a tournament planner’s dream with its uniquely utilitarian concept. Two FIFA-approved indoor turf courses with 32,000 square feet of availability can be used for soccer, football, baseball, volleyball and softball tournaments, complete with spectator seating, drop down curtains and several scoreboards. Six high school regulation sized Hard Tru wooden basketball courts over 57,600 square feet can transform into 12 volleyball courts as needed.

Show Me Center

Basketball, Wrestling The home of Southeast Missouri State University, the Show Me Center is located in the heart of campus. After undergoing a major renovation in 2015, the 7,300 seat arena introduced a new center-hung video display on the scoreboard, a high-tech audio system and LED panel lit scoreboards and shot clocks and expanded seating in the lower bowl.

Dalhousie Golf Club Golf

The history of the award-winning Dalhousie Golf Club dates back to 18th century Scotland and tells a tale of the early frontier America. The

Shawnee Park Sports Complex

SportsPlanningGuide.com

1,000-acre complex constructed by renowned designer Gary Nicklaus honors its Scottish legacy with a clubhouse manor fashioned after Dalhousie Castle, as well as four cottages available for overnight stays.

AC Brase Arena

Baseball, Softball, Sand Volleyball, Trail This versatile, multipurpose community center offers more than 13,000 square feet of main floor space. It is home to nine youth baseball fields, six youth softball fields, two outdoor sand volleyball courts, seven concession stands and joins with the Cape LaCroix Recreation Trail. It also has a grandstand that seats 4,000 and is half covered and a dirt area that is perfect for rodeos.

▶ Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center is the go-to spot to beat the summer heat and sate your appetite for thrills on a 265 foot slide.

▶ If you’re looking to knock back a

few pins and pints, Dogwood Social House has something for everyone on the menu.

▶ The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center offers the rich

cultural history and wildlife of southeast Missouri.

▶ Ideally suited for children under

12, Discovery Playhouse features 8,000-plus square feet of exhibit space where kids can play and learn.

VISIT CAPE

▶ Discover what Downtown Cape

Girardeau has to offer before and

Alyssa Phares, Senior Director of Sales

after the game. Downtown Cape

& Strategy

has multiple dining, shopping and

573-335-1631

antquing options.

aphares@visitcape.com visitcape.com

Cape SportsPlex

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2022

ILLINOIS GUIDE

Sports Illinois Attracts Big Events Group Brings in Sports That Create a Sizable Economic Impact

Illinois’ Outdoor Spaces are Enchanting A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

Take a Road Trip and Enjoy the Prairie State’s Natural Splendor

Greetings from Illinois!

Karla Flannery Deputy Director Illinois Office of Tourism

On behalf of all of us here at the Illinois Office of Tourism, we look forward to welcoming you to the Land of Lincoln for your next sporting event. Leading our State efforts as tourism director, I am no stranger to all of the amazing things there are to see and do in the state. Whether you are a returning visitor coming back to the state for a tournament or are a first-time visitor, there is always something to discover when you visit.

We love the opportunity to invite people from all over the world to experience what we have to offer. For many, the first thing that comes to mind when they think of Illinois is Chicago, a world-class city with incredible restaurants, hotels, architecture, museums, and shopping. Illinois is also home to rich presidential history in Springfield and other communities, classic Americana along historic Route 66, great outdoor adventures and scenic beauty in the Shawnee National Forest and our many state parks, more than a hundred wineries and so much more. Illinois offers an amazing experience from the moment you arrive and long after your team finishes up for the day.

With more than 1,200 sporting venues and state-of-the-art facilities, Illinois hosts everything from PGA tournaments and Olympic trials to college and high school sporting tournaments. Sporting events are an important part of the tourism industry in our state, and we continue to strive to be top of mind for sports associations and organizations planning their next event. We appreciate your consideration of Illinois for your future events.

To find a sporting facility and to learn more about holding your next event in Illinois, please visit Sportsillinois.com.

You can also plan an amazing trip to Illinois by visiting EnjoyIllinois.com.

Best regards,

Karla Flannery Deputy Director Illinois Office of Tourism

Camel Rock in Garden of the Gods Photo courtesy of Illinois Office of Tourism

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

ILLINOIS 132 Illinois’ Outdoor Spaces are Enchanting 134 Sports Illinois Attracts Big Events ©iStock.com/bgblue

SI

Sports Illinois Huddle Photo courtesy of the Illinois Office of Tourism

Site InSpections 136 138 142 144 146 148 150 154 156 159 160 162 164 166 168

Quad Cities Champaign County Lake County Williamson County Great Rivers & Routes Springfield Chicago Southland DuPage County Elgin Area Effingham Aurora Area Jacksonville Chicago Northwest Rockford Bloomington-Normal

ON THE COVER: Gemini Giant in Wilmington Photo courtesy of the Illinois Office of Tourism

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ILLINOIS’ OUTDOOR SPACES ARE

ENCHANTING Take a road trip and enjoy this Midwestern state’s natural splendor

By Vanessa Day

I

llinois is known for many things: culture, history, architecture, food. But nature should also be included in that list. It may be difficult to get past the image of towering buildings in metropolitan Chicago, but outside the city, there is so much natural wonder to explore. As you hit the road, you may be surprised at the landscapes you discover and mother nature’s hidden gems waiting around the next turn.

If you’re not sure where to start, there are several road trips that highlight Illinois’ glorious outdoor spaces. From

pristine lakes and state parks to quiet wetlands and breathtaking vistas, Illinois is the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.

Adventure on the Water Some of Illinois’ most amazing adventures can be found at the water’s edge. The state is brimming with rivers and lakes, providing endless aquatic fun for visitors.

The Mississippi River, which runs along Illinois’ western border, is a natural playground that can be enjoyed in

Photo courtesy of Illinois Office of Tourism

Camel Rock in Garden of the Gods has incredible sightlines.

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Get Lost in the Woods Southern Illinois offers a true escape from city life. The impressive landscapes and natural wilderness areas will satisfy any outdoor lover. Wander amid the thick woodlands and steep sandstone walls of Giant City State Park, located in Makanda. This park is perfect for rock climbing and rappelling, but also offers more mellow adventures like hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. Over in the town of Goreville, visitors can explore the lush forest of Ferne Clyffe State Park and take a hike on Waterfall Trail to see dazzling vistas and, of course, the route’s namesake attraction.

The Cache River State Natural Area, in Belknap, is a must see for nature enthusiasts. This ancient cypresstupelo swamp is home to 100 endangered plant and animal species. Rent a kayak or canoe, and paddle through the Cache River Wetlands. You’ll feel like you’re floating through a Louisiana bayou. If you prefer to keep both feet on land, take the Heron Pond Trail to the floating boardwalk to get lovely views of the wetlands.

Shawnee National Forest, stationed between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, is a magnificent example of SportsPlanningGuide.com

Photo courtesy of Illinois Office of Tourism

many ways. Start in Galena, in northwest Illinois, and journey down the Great River Road for breathtaking views of the magnificent waterway. For those seeking something more active, take a hike through Mississippi Palisades State Park, just 30 minutes south of Galena. Those up for a challenge can trek Sentinel Trail, the 1.3-mile path that leads to Sentinel Rock. Visitors can soak in the scenes aboard the Celebration Belle, a paddlewheel boat running a range of tours on the Mississippi from sightseeing to themed. To really get your heart pumping, head further south down the river to Grafton, and try out a zipline adventure or view the mighty Mississippi from an aerial tram with Grafton Sky Tours.

From the Mississippi, venture east into central Illinois to experience all that the Illinois River and its surrounding areas have to offer. Starved Rock State Park feels like a completely different world, you may even forget you’re in the heart of the Midwest. This famed state park boasts 13 miles of trails running through towering trees, rocky canyons, cascading waterfalls, and stunning bluffs. Grab a canoe or kayak to explore the area from the water or hike up to one of the bluffs for gorgeous valley and river views. If there’s time, make your way over to Buffalo Rock State Park, the smaller sister park to Starved Rock. Nestled on the bluffs of the Illinois River, Buffalo Rock is home to an elaborate outdoor sculpture that features five Illinois native species molded in clay, called Effigy Tumuli.

If you find yourself in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, take a paddle down Nippersink Creek. Rent a kayak or canoe and spend the day floating along 11 miles of beautiful calm waters. For a different kind of water adventure, check out The Quarry Cable Park, located in the Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake. This cable wake park lets wakeboarders skid across the water without the use of a boat, allowing them to practice their skills like never before. If you’re not an extreme sports fan, spend some time playing sand volleyball on the beach, or take in the quarry views from the lakeside patio.

Starved Rock State Park is filled with wonderment.

Illinois’ natural beauty. The forest landscape consists of sandstone cliffs, quiet lakes, rippling creeks, and rolling hills. There’s over 400 miles of trails to explore, leading visitors to awe-inspiring lookout points and streams pouring into crisp watering holes. And don’t miss a visit to Garden of the Gods and Rim Rock Recreational Area, filled with dramatic sandstone rock formations just waiting to be photographed.

Hit the Trails No matter which part of Illinois you visit, there’s a trail to enjoy. Up in Lake County, cruise nearly 32 miles of the Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway. Then head over to Half Day Forest Preserve for plenty more hiking and biking trails, plus fishing and birdwatching. Independence Grove offers seven miles of paved trails, ideal for biking and walking. And in the winter, strap on those cross-country skis to enjoy a snow-filled wonderland.

Stroll Through Farms and Gardens Nearly every region of the state features lush gardens and sprawling farms that provide visitors with some unique outdoor experiences. Just outside of Chicago, you’ll discover the Chicago Botanic Garden, which boasts 27 incredible gardens for you to explore.

Over in Lincolnshire, Didier Farms hosts a summer farmers market, as well as several U-pick events. And in the fall, you can enjoy Pumpkinfest, complete with hayrides, a corn maze, homemade apple cider, and, of course, pumpkins. If you love to get lost, check out Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, home to the world’s largest corn maze.

Over in Lisle, you’ll find the Morton Arboretum, a 1,700acre forest with more than 222,000 live plants. It’s the perfect spot for a blissful stroll. Then jet over to Jonamac Orchard in Malta, featuring more than 10,000 apple trees spread across 105 acres. Get your basket ready for some epic apple picking.

Illinois has so much to offer visitors, especially when it comes to outdoor fun. Step out of the city and into the wild, wonderful wilderness of Illinois’ natural backyard.

Visit enjoyillinois.com for more travel ideas about natural wonders across the state.

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SPORTS ILLINOIS BRINGS

BIG EVENTS TO THE LAND OF LINCOLN

Group attracts sports that create a sizable economic impact for Illinois

By Jason Paha

W

professional competitions. Sports Illinois, the official event planner resource for hosting a sporting event in the state, is the catalyst behind attracting these competitions.

Sports Illinois’ goal is to attract, recruit or retain state, regional and national events that increase travel and overnight stays in Illinois. The organization does this as it creates innovative, strategically driven direct sales and marketing and promotional campaigns. They also generate leads through tradeshow partnerships and Photo courtesy of Illinois Office of Tourism

hen it comes to hosting sporting events, few states can rival what Illinois has to offer.

The Land of Lincoln is not only home to Chicago, the third-largest city in America and a sports-crazed town, it also houses a diverse array of smaller cities that enthusiastically embrace competitions.

Each year, Illinois hosts events for hundreds of organizers, rights holders and governing bodies. These include amateur tournaments, regionals, qualifiers, championships and

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Photo courtesy of Illinois Office of Tourism

provides educational opportunities to its members and partners. Membership of Sports Illinois is comprised of sales personnel from all certified Illinois convention and visitors bureaus tasked with selling their communities to national governing bodies and rights holders of varying sporting events.

“As a key and integral part of recovery in the economic development of our state, Sports Illinois has been a huge partner in bringing sporting events into the state for attraction recruitment and retainment for those events,” said Greg Mihalich, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism. “Sporting events increase travel and overnight stays in our state and that’s been vitally important to us.”

Sports Illinois’ humble beginnings can be traced back to 1994 when the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism laid the foundation and committed resources for Illinois communities to capture a share of the sport tourism niche market. That year, the department recognized the importance and financial impact sports travel could have on communities thanks to the overwhelming success of the 1994 Men’s World Cup, which was partially held in Illinois and recorded an estimated economic impact of $230 million.

At that time, many convention and visitor bureaus focused on securing bus groups and meetings and conventions, but Illinois identified the sports market as a growing, untapped resource of visitors in the state.

Research showed communities that attract, create and host organized sport-related events benefit economically through booked room nights, maximize use of sports facilities and traditional tourism infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, stores and gas stations, to name a few). It was then DCEO/IOT laid the foundation and committed resources for Illinois communities to capture a share of the sport tourism niche market though the formation of the Sports Illinois organization. Since then, Sports Illinois has evolved in partnership with the Illinois Council of Convention and Visitors Bureau to what it is today with 37 Convention and Visitor Bureau partners.

“Sports Illinois has been and continues to be a force to reckon with in the sports tourism industry,” said Joan Kranovich, chair of Sports Illinois. “Illinois contains a multitude of diverse, quality and affordable facilities for sporting events, but our real treasure is the family of individuals who represent their respective destinations and make sure that all sporting events, big or small, have success and grow.”

“As one of the first state-led sports tourism organizations in the country, Sports Illinois has been a leader in Sports Tourism for almost 30 years,” said Pete Garlock, director of sales of the Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and former chair of Sports Illinois from 2007 to 2013.

“Sports Illinois can be easily found at many national sports tradeshows in a collective front, whether as a group in a large booth on the convention floor, as a sponsor of one of the many amenities offered at the show or hosting rights holders to a fun night out on the town.”

Illinois is considered a Tier 1 destination due to it being centrally located and easily accessible by most any mode of transportation. An integral part of the way it does this is

The Sports Illinois Huddle was held at the formerly named U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. through a premier event held within the state, the Sports Illinois Huddle.

First held in 2009, this semi-annual event has taken on a new level of pride for the Illinois sports market. The Sports Illinois Huddle is an educational conference and tradeshow created, designed, and produced by Sports Illinois to showcase the state and region’s sports facility assets to sports event owners, rights holders and major decision makers.

The Huddle has been a sizable contributor to bringing amateur events to the state, generating well over $13.2 million in economic impact according to the Illinois Office of Tourism. It has helped the state attract such major sports organizations as Airsoft Republic, Game Day USA, the United States Specialty Sports Association, the Professional Disc Golf Association, USA Ultimate, the American Cornhole Association and NXT Lacrosse. The 2019 Sports Illinois Huddle yielded more than 15,000 contracted hotel room nights and a projected economic impact of $3,345,792 for the 16 Illinois destinations who attended.

“During my time as Chair of Sports Illinois, having established ourselves as a force in sports destinations, we had many states reach out asking for advice on creating sports tourism groups in their own states,” Garlock said.

“In 2009 we held the inaugural Sports Illinois Huddle as a way for NGB’s and Right Holders to not only learn about what great venues Illinois has to offer, but to also see them first-hand.”

With the Sports Huddle going strong and Illinois’ 37 Convention and Visitor Bureau partners working together harmoniously, Mihalich is excited about the state’s future as it continues to attract bigger sporting events.

“We’re working together trying to figure out how to continue to invest in the sports market,” Mihalich said.

“Through conferences, trade shows, marketing promotions and grant opportunities for event owners or CVBs, we’re going to continue to see how we can help f rom that perspective. We are certainly looking forward to achieving new goals and continuing to drive tourism through sporting events.”

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Quad Cities, IL

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

POSITIONED ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, THE QUAD CITIES WELCOMES TEAMS TO EXPERIENCE A PREMIER REGIONAL DESTINATION WITH A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS WHO STAND READY TO DELIVER

TPC Deere Run

Located at the intersection of Interstates 74, 80 and 88, the Quad Cities represent the largest metropolitan area on the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and St. Louis. The Quad Cities International Airport has dozens of daily nonstop flights to 11 cities, as well as hundreds of connecting flights from major hubs.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT TaxSlayer Center

Basketball, ice hockey, figure skating, gymnastics, rodeos, boxing, volleyball, cheer & dance, wrestling, weightlifting This 31,000-plus square-foot arena in downtown Moline features seating for 12,000+ offers ample parking, four locker rooms, six production room offices and a conference center. It also has 20,000 square feet of meeting room space and an 11,000-squarefoot lobby. TaxSlayer Center contains a

regulation size court, full size hockey and figure skating rink, luxury suites, automatic video scoreboards with replay capabilities and PA system. The facility is home to the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Championship, the revived Quad City Steamwheelers of the Indoor Football League and the Quad City Storm, an SPHL team. The arena has earned numerous architectural industry awards and has hosted NCAA Division I college basketball games (including the Mid-Continent Conference men’s basketball tournament from 1996 to 1999) and several @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES NHL and NBA exhibition contests. The arena seats up to 12,000 for end-stage concerts along with center-stage concerts. The seating capacity for theater shows is 3,000 and ampitheater shows can reach 6,000.

professionals every July. Guests can take advantage of the facility’s short game area, full-service driving range, elegant dining at the Deere Run Grille Restaurant and a Top-100 rated Golf Shop.

TPC Deere Run

Green Valley Sports Complex

A nationally ranked golf destination located in Silvis, Illinois, TPC Deere Run golf course is home to the John Deere Classic on the PGA TOUR, NAIA Golf Championships, CCIW Men’s Golf Championship and the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour. The 18-hole course is a beautiful 7,258-yard, Par-71 course, and features a full practice green, 14,000-square-foot clubhouse, dining services, pro shop, locker rooms and 160 parking spaces. TPC Deere Run’s golf course was built on the site of a former Arabian horse farm and its design masterfully preserved the natural, rolling landscape along the Rock River, creating a championship golf course beautifully framed by oak trees and accented by small ponds and deep ravines. At this premier PGA TOUR property, TPC Deere Run allows golfers of all levels to experience the challenge of a course that tests TOUR

The Green Valley Sports Complex plays host to several sporting events throughout the year. The complex features eight lighted softball fields and is host to International Softball Congress world tournaments and ASA National softball tournaments. It also features nine soccer fields, one cricket field, concession stands and two covered picnic shelters. It seats 800 spectators and has 750 parking spots.

Golf

▶ Popular activities include

entertainment centers with laser tag, bowling, arcades, go-karts and escape rooms.

▶ Y ou’ll also enjoy trampoline

parks, numerous museums and

Baseball, Softball, soccer, cricket

fantastic trail systems.

▶ N iabi Zoo in Rock Island County is a public zoological park that offers 40-plus acres of forest preserve bustling with more than 600 animals representing 200 species from around the world.

▶ T he John Deere Pavilion is a popular tourist attraction featuring the story of John Deere and the company he made into the largest

VISIT QUAD CITIES

agricultural manufacturing

Joan Kranovich, Director of Sports &

equipment company in the

Business Growth

world – Deere & Company.

800-747-7800 ext. 831

Explore interactive exhibits,

jkranovich@visitquadcities.com

films, and big machines. Great

www.visitquadcities.com

for all ages.

Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The Missouri Valley Conference teams and fans love being in the Quad Cities for the MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Everything about it is top notch.”

— Patty Viverito, Senior Associate Commissioner, Missouri Valley Conference

ISC Men’s International Fastpitch Tournament

TaxSlayer Center

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Champaign County, IL

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

A FACILITY FOR EVERY SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES SETS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY APART

State Farm Center

Willard Airport, six miles south of Champaign, features American Airlines flights daily to and from Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth.

If traveling by car, I-74 connects Peoria and Bloomington from the west to Indianapolis in the east, while I-57 connects Champaign County to Chicago.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Rantoul Family Sports Complex

Baseball, softball, soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby The new Rantoul Family Sports Complex, just north of the University of Illinois, is a stateof-the-art facility in the Midwest. The complex offers all turf fields with eight baseball/softball, two T-ball/Challenger baseball, eight soccer/ football/rugby/lacrosse multi-purpose fields, over 800 parking spaces, a splashpad, and concessions.

Activities & Recreation Center (ARC) at the University of Illinois Basketball, volleyball, swimming, diving, squash, wrestling, martial arts

The ARC is a 340,000-square-foot oncampus rec center with the capacity to host nearly any indoor sport with its versatile spaces. The space has four gymnasiums that can be converted into 12 basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, three squash courts or 12 racquetball courts. Teams can take advantage of the extensive workout equipment and spaces along with its 35-foot climbing wall and @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

one-fifth mile indoor track. It houses both an indoor and outdoor pool, with diving wells perfect for competitions and a sauna and café great to enjoy afterward.

Dodds Park

Softball, soccer, disc-golf Located at Parkland College, Dodds Park has seven premier tournament quality softball fields, in a 3-plex and 4-plex structure. The site also has 11 top quality soccer fields that have hosted the Illinois Futbol Club Spring and Fall Invites, as well as an 18-hole disc golf course.

Atkins Tennis Center & Khan Outdoor Complex Tennis

Recognized in 1992 by the USTA as the country’s “Most Outstanding Tennis Facility,” Atkins Tennis Center & Khan Outdoor Complex has only gotten better since then.

After an expansion in 2009, the complex boasts 20 outdoor and six indoor courts, with six courts containing individual scoreboards and spectator seating. The complex can hold up to 3,800 spectators and has indoor restrooms, a pro shop and a sound system.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

State Farm Center

▶ Pick your own apples at Curtis

Basketball, wrestling, WWE, gymnastics

Orchard & Pumpkin Patch and

No stranger to large events, the State Farm Center has 15,500 permanent seats, with a max capacity of 16,500 spectators. Its flexible floor space means it’s just as ready to have a Broadway show or rock concert as it is a Fighting Illini basketball game.

The arena has hosted the 2019 National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball tournaments, the Illinois High School Individual Wrestling State Championships, and much more. The center recently renovated its backstage area so that any event can take full advantage of its expansive full-service kitchen, catering/ dining services and locker rooms.

stick around for the corn maze and wagon rides.

▶ Just minutes from the Rantoul Family Sports Complex, hang out with 16 friendly animals at Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch.

▶ Catch a film or have a bite in one of the locally owned restaurants throughout Downtown Champaign’s Entertainment District.

▶ The University of Illinois campus has something for everyone, depending on the season, but the cherry blossoms in bloom are a special treat.

VISIT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY

▶ Champaign-Urbana Adventures

Mike Koon 217-351-4133

in Time and Space escape

mikek@visitchampaigncounty.org

rooms build teamwork through

www.visitchampaigncounty.org

challenging, film-inspired

Rantoul Family Sports Complex

experiences.

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“I have always had great support from the staff at State Farm Center. Their attention to detail in preparation for and management of my events continues to be outstanding. The updates have enhanced the great atmosphere our event has enjoyed for years. We look forward to our annual return to State Farm Center as we know we will be supported at all levels including Visit Champaign County and the great staff at State Farm Center.”

—Craig Anderson, Executive Director, Illinois High School Association, referring to IHSA Individual State Wrestling Championships

Atkins Tennis Center

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Activities & Recreation Center

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When athletes play among the legends that came before them.

BIG TEN

Championship Facilities

NATIONAL

Regional, and State Tournaments

DOZENS

of Sports Capable of Hosting

4,200

Area Hotel Rooms

Champaign County, home to the University of Illinois, a premier Big Ten Institution, offers state-of-the-art facilities capable of hosting any sport.

Schedule a site visit and receive a free Illini t-shirt!

800.369.6151 :: mikek@visitchampaigncounty.org

champaignplays.com

HUNDREDS

of Local Restaurants and Entertainment Options

NEW!

State-of-the-art Outdoor Baseball, Softball, Football and Soccer Complex.

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

THE CHARMING, SCENIC TOWNS OF LAKE COUNTY OFFER ONLY STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES WITH PRISTINE COURTS AND IMMACULATE FIELD COMPLEXES

Canlan Sports in Libertyville

Lake County is easily accessible by car by hopping on I-94, which follows Lake Michigan to connect Chicago with Milwaukee. By air, Lake County is surrounded by three international and numerous regional airports.

O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport, both in Chicago, are under an hour’s drive away.

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Waukegan Fieldhouse & SportsPark Indoor, outdoor, multi-purpose

The impressive and modern Field House Sports and Fitness Center in Waukegan’s Hinkston Park is a great place to visit when planners are looking for a venue to host any type of event. Between its six hardwood courts, two-story fitness center, the 80,000-square foot site has all the space and equipment necessary to make sure your sports tournament goes off without a hitch.

Waukegan’s SportsPark is an award-winning, state-of-the-art sports complex. Enjoy Illinois named us “the top sports complex in Northern Illinois” and “a perfect place to host tournaments and events.” The SportsPark features 14 soccer fields (one championship synthetic field), 4 softball fields, and 685-space parking lot.

Canlan Sports in Libertyville

Soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, football, basketball, volleyball When it comes to premier sporting event

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

facilities in Lake County, the Libertyville Sports Complex is no exception. The complex spans 160,000 square feet and includes a lighted softball field, an award-winning driving range and a fitness center in addition to its Indoor Event Center. This center houses eight multi-purpose courts, two turf fields, a 29-foot climbing mountain and conference rooms capable of holding up to 120 people.

rinks. Each rink features 350 heated seats so your supporters can cheer on their favorite team or skater in comfort. And for the players themselves, the facility is equipped with 12 locker rooms, study rooms, meeting rooms, a video game room and a snack bar for all to enjoy.

Greater Libertyville Soccer Association

Vernon Hills Athletic Complex is an exceptional venue that can host a variety of sporting events. Able to accommodate a range of competitive outdoor sports, the complex’s 41 acres covers 27 different fields, including 11 diamonds, three tennis courts and a full stadium. No fan will go hungry here either, as this location has a full concession stand.

Soccer

Soccer players and their devoted f riends and family who travel to support them will be pleased with their time spent cheering their superstars on at Libertyville Township Soccer Complex. The outdoor complex’s 20 fields over 110 acres mean the location is equipped to host sizable events without waiting for available field space. The complex also has a parking capacity of over 1,200, bleacher seating for 100 and on-site concessions.

Glacier Ice Arena in Vernon Hills Hockey, figure skating, broomball

Stay cool while working up a sweat at Vernon Hill’s Glacier Ice Arena’s two NHL-sized ice

Vernon Hills Athletic Complex

Tennis, baseball, softball, football, soccer, lacrosse

▶ Find plenty of chills and thrills

at Six Flags Great America and its waterpark, Hurricane Harbor, in Gurnee.

▶ Gurnee Mills shopping mall has all the great factory and outlet stores you’re looking for at reasonable prices.

▶ Grab a bite to eat at any of

the hundreds of family-friendly restaurants throughout Lake County.

▶ Explore more than 31,000 acres of outdoor fun and go swimming, boating, hiking, fishing or pack a picnic at the Lake County Forest Preserves.

▶ Pacify your aquatic thrills with Teresa Lewis, Sports Event Specialist 847-662-2700 teresa@lakecounty.org

a tremendous indoor waterpark when you book at stay at Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee.

www.visitlakecounty.org

Waukegan Outdoor SportsPark

Waukegan Fieldhouse

Vernon Hills Athletic Complex

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Williamson County, IL ENJOY THE GAMES, ACTIVITIES AND SCENERY IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

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

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“As Vice President of the North Zone for PONY Baseball and Softball, I have been extremely pleased with the work and the cooperation of the staff of visitSI. They are thorough, dedicated, and knowledgeable in what makes events work here in southern Illinois.

I could not ask for a better fit for our organization than the relationship that we have built with them. We highly recommend their services.”

Rent One Park

— Steve Miller, Vice President, North Zone, PONY Baseball and Softball

Kokopelli Golf Club

Black Diamond Pickleball Complex

With expansive scenic trails, vibrant downtown shopping, and numerous family friendly activities, Williamson County, Illinois offers something for everyone to stand out as a premier destination.

Buoyed by true southern Illinois charm and hospitality, and conveniently located off of Interstate 57, Williamson County has numerous hotels, outstanding dining establishments and ample shopping.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Rent One Park

Kokopelli Golf Club

Featuring 3,400 chair seats and lawn capacity of 2,000, Rent One Park is home to the Frontier League’s Southern Illinois Miners.

The state-of-the-art facility also boasts an HD video board, two picnic gardens, concessions, 10 mini golf holes, a wiffle ball diamond, 14 suites, and a 300-capacity banquet facility.

The park hosted the Colt World Series, the Ohio Valley Conference, college and high school sporting events, and concerts.

Kokopelli Golf Club is ranked among the best in the nation for high quality, affordable course. In addition to the challenging, but f riendly, par 72, 6,716-yard course, members enjoy a full-service pro shop, professional instructors, and eight acre practice facility, a newly remodeled event center and restaurant called The Turn at Kokopelli, which features signature drinks.

Baseball

Golf

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Crab Orchard Golf Club

Black Diamond Pickleball Complex

Since opening in 1959, Crab Orchard Golf Club has proven to be an enjoyable place to play for golfers of all ages and abilities with its focus on being a family friendly environment.

The 18-hole, par 70 layout features excellent greens and lush fairways on its 6,240 yards of play. The club also offers a driving range, club rentals and repairs, a recently renovated Pro Shop, locker rooms, and banquet facilities that can accommodate 140 people.

Opening in September of 2019, the Black Diamond Pickleball Complex is the first of its kind in Southern Illinois, featuring six outdoor, color-themed, lighted courts.

Golf

HUB Recreation Center Fitness

There is something for everyone at the HUB Recreation Center, the place where health and happiness meet. Bring the whole family to have fun while staying active, by taking advantage of aquatic features including full-size and kiddie pools, a three-story water slide, lazy river, and hot tub. Get a workout out on the track, courts, utilize the state-of-art fitness equipment, join a sports program, or take a fitness class. Daily passes and memberships are both available.

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Pickleball

Pharaoh’s Way Disc Golf

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Centered around Crab Orchard Lake, this 43,890-acre National Wildlife Refuge is a premier destination for outdoor adventure, recreation, and conservation. Home to a wide array of flora, fauna, and wildlife,

Disc Golf

Crab Orchard National Wildlife

Located in Pyramid Park, this 18-hole disc golf course winds throughout the park, around baseball fields, and through the woods for an enjoyable, scenic challenge for people of all ages.

Professionally designed by Gateway Disc Sports and built in 2016, the course features concrete tee pads and permanent chain-link targets.

Refuge also features pristine lakes and waterfalls. There are also ample opportunities for camping, boating, hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, biking, and more.

▶ The premier dining and entertainment venue in Illinois,

VISITSI

Walker’s Bluff is a luxurious resort offering breathtaking

Tiffany Yepsen

scenery, gourmet cuisines,

618-997-3690

and numerous venues offering

Tyepsen@visitsi.com

remarkable events both indoors

visitSI.com

and outdoors.

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Great Rivers & Routes, IL

Scan to discover more of what Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

CREATE EXCITING MEMORIES WHERE MAJESTIC RIVERS AND ROADS MEET

Gordon Moore Park

Plummer Family Park

Crawford, Murphy & Tilly

Principia College

Two of America’s most iconic roads meet at the confluence of three of the country’s amazing rivers, providing an amazing backdrop to the Great Rivers and Routes region of southwest Illinois, located just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Here you can find numerous outdoor attractions for adventure-seekers of all ages who can experience the region’s scenic beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Plummer Family Park (Edwardsville)

Baseball, Softball, Pickleball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Football This new, 83-acre, tournament-quality facility features four lighted, full synthetic turf baseball/ softball fields, 12 pickleball courts with lights and sun shades, and six multisport fields that are perfect for lacrosse, soccer, football, spikeball, ultimate frisbee, and more. The park also features a playground, concession stand, and paved walking trails.

Gordon Moore Park (Alton)

Tennis, Golf, Softball, Football, Baseball, Softball There is something for everyone at this 704-acre park, which is home to eight tennis courts, 10 ball diamonds, a 27-hole golf course, six picnic areas, six play areas, 19 soccer/football fields, and a kids’ interactive fountain. Lloyd Hopkins Field is home to the new Prospect League baseball franchise, the Alton River Dragons.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Gateway Convention Center (Collinsville)

Meetings, Dance, Cheer, eSports, Wrestling Conveniently located within 10 minutes of Downtown St. Louis and adjacent to major interstates, this highly accessible and versatile facility is perfect for gatherings both large and small with 23 meeting rooms. Featuring 50,000 total square feet, this multi-purpose convention center boasts outstanding services.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Edwardsville)

Tennis, Cross-Country, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus is home to an array of venues, including synthetic turf and grass playing fields, a six-court outdoor tennis facility, the SIUE Cross County Course which can host 5K-10K races, Cougar Field (softball), Simmons Baseball Complex and Morris University Center (conferences, banquets). The Vadalabene Center features an indoor hardwood surface and a seating capacity over 4,000 and hosts basketball, volleyball and wrestling. Ralph Korte Stadium seats 3,000 and features a turf soccer field and an eight-lane track.

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Principia College (Elsah)

Track, Basketball, Volleyball, Swimming Principia College offers numerous pristine athletic facilities including the Coach Crafton Athletic Center (indoor track and field, basketball, volleyball), the Natatorium (swimming), Hay Field House (basketball, volleyball), the Indoor Tennis Center, which also has six outdoor courts, Clark Field (football, rugby, outdoor track and field), and Cheatham Stadium (baseball).

Glazebrook Community Park (Godfrey)

Soccer This park features five 7 v 7 soccer fields and two 6 v 6 fields. It will be adding two lighted astroturf soccer fields.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES A UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Collinsville, Cahokia Mounds preserves 2,000 acres of archeological remains of the Mississippians. View the awardwinning movie in the Interpretive Center and climb the 147 steps to the top of Monk’s Mound - the largest man-made mound north of Mexico.

Edison’s Entertain Complex, located in Edwardsville, this complex features 12 lanes of boutique bowling, a 4,000-square-foot laser tag arena and a 65-plus game stateof-the-art arcade.

GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES TOURISM BUREAU

Grafton Zipline Adventures With seven zip lines of various heights, lengths, and speeds,

Katie Bennett

thrill seekers of all ages can

618-465-6676

enjoy hours of fun.

kbennett@riversandroutes.com riversandroutes.com

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Springfield, IL LOCATED ON ICONIC ROUTE 66, ILLINOIS’ HISTORIC STATE CAPITAL IS THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR YOUR NEXT SPORTING EVENT

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

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “Thanks to everyone who helped make the 8th Annual SCHEELS Capital City Pickleball Classic tournament successful. Most people don’t realize the number of people it takes to host a major tournament.

Thanks to the Springfield Park District staff who made it easier for us to undertake this project.”

Bank of Springfield Center

— Jack Handy, Capital City Pickleball

Springfield Area Soccer Association Complex

Land of Lincoln Junior Olympic Softball Complex

Springfield boasts a multitude of impressive athletic facilities with added amenities for an all-encompassing experience for athletes of all ages. For outside entertainment, the city is also home to a variety of historic sites and attractions honoring the state’s most noteworthy resident, Abraham Lincoln, as well both the old and current state capitols.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Bank of Springfield Center

Cheerleading, wrestling, gymnastics The Bank of Springfield Center is a worldclass, multi-use facility with 44,000 square feet of column-free space, 21,000 square feet of meeting space and seating to accommodate 7,700 spectators. The Main Floor of the facility houses major events, including concerts, trade shows, graduations, wrestling and basketball tournaments. Additional facility amenities include a parking garage with space for 700, concessions, restrooms, water fountains, air

conditioning, closed-circuit TVs and security for ensured spectator safety.

Land of Lincoln Junior Olympic Softball Complex Softball

One of the largest softball facilities in the Midwest, the Land of Lincoln Junior Olympic Softball complex is home to six main softball fields and four additional fields. Each field offers bleacher seating for optimal viewing and crushed limestone infields that speed up the process of rain delays. Field number four @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

is a centerpiece of the facility, with a 200foot outfield fence as well as a batting cage, renovated dugouts and a new infield.

Springfield Area Soccer Association Complex

Soccer, rugby, football, field hockey, lacrosse Located on the west side of the University of Illinois-Springfield, this state-of-the-art, soccer-specific complex boasts 27 outdoor grass soccer fields. The complex can also be used for a wide variety of sports and activities, including football, archery, field hockey, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee and cheerleading. Additional complex amenities include bleachers, field lighting, a concession stand, chairs, parking and restrooms as well as both field goal and rugby posts, lacrosse nets, soccer goals and tumbling mats.

Nelson Center

Hockey, figure skating The Nelson Center is home to two indoor ice rinks open year-round, eight locker rooms and two concession areas as well as the Nelson Center Pool, a seasonal outdoor aquatic facility.

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Because the Nelson Center contains the only two indoor ice rinks within a 60-mile radius, the complex hosts a wide range of ice-related programs, events and activities. The Nelson Center Pool is supervised by professionally trained lifeguard staff. The facility includes pool lanes for lap swimming, a locker room, picnic tables, a slide, kiddy pool as well as a full concession stand.

Spartan Park

Baseball, softball Located in nearby Chatham, Spartan Park is a spacious facility perfect for any baseball, softball or volleyball event. The facility includes four 315-foot down the line fields, one 180foot field, one 225-foot field and three sand volleyball courts.

VISIT SPRINGFIELD

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Known as the home of Abraham Lincoln, Springfield has a multitude of must-see Lincoln sites for history lovers. Visitors can take a trip to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum (with 40,000 square feet of impressive galleries, theaters and historic displays), Lincoln’s New Salem (a reconstructed depiction of the village where Lincoln grew up) the Lincoln Home (completely restored to its 1860 appearance) or Lincoln’s Tomb (a breathtaking monument with the remains of Lincoln, his wife Mary and three of their sons).

Perfect for all-age fun, Knights Action Park is Central Illinois’

Terry Truman

largest water and amusement

217-789-2360 x5525

park. The park is home to eight

terry.truman@springfield.il.us

water slides, batting cages, a 50-

visitspringfieldillinois.com

tee driving range, a big wheel and a giant wave pool.

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ChiCago Southland, IL

Scan to discover more of what Chicago Southland CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

A DEDICATED TEAM, STATE-OF-THE-ART VENUES AND EYE-OPENING ATTRACTIONS MAKE CHICAGO SOUTHLAND THE PLACE TO BE FOR YOUR NEXT SPORTS TOURNAMENT

Southland Center

In the Chicago Southland, we value all our sports business, no matter the size. Whether we are hosting a small regional tournament or a large national competition, we provide our MVP treatment to all sports groups.

Located within close proximity to downtown Chicago and made up of 62 south and southwest suburbs, the Chicago Southland region is an ideal sporting event location.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Southland Center

Baseball, basketball, cheerleading, dance, gymnastics, football, lacrosse, martial arts, rugby, soccer, softball, volleyball The Southland Center, a Ho-Chunk Nation Enterprise, houses a 41,000+ square foot portable wood court for events of all kinds.

This newly installed floor is the largest continuous portable wood court floor in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest in the world. The portable wood flooring has space that will accommodate 10 basketball

and 14 volleyball courts under one roof, from April through October. Courts of this size allow the Chicago Southland to attract larger regional and national events that prefer to host their entire roster in one location. Due to the functionality of the space, the Southland Center facility is now more attractive to event organizers for gymnastics, cheer and other activities, such as hobby and niche style gatherings. From November through March, the Southland Center offers 100,000 square feet of space and includes state-of-the- art Desso Turf, four hardwood basketball courts @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

and a full-service restaurant and bar, as well as a concession stand.

SeatGeek Stadium

Soccer, extreme sports, football, lacrosse, rugby Formerly known as Toyota Park, SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview is where you’ll find the National Women’s Soccer League Chicago Red Stars and the National Independent Soccer Association Chicago House Athletic Club. This stadium features a natural grass, full-size field of 74 x 120 yards.

Additionally, teams will have access to two practice fields with their choice of a natural or artificial surface. There is also a 90,000 square foot dome, which has a full-size regulation indoor soccer field.

There are also on-site concession stands for spectators. In 2019, Ozinga Field hosted the CollClubSport Division I Baseball Regional Tournament.

Lincolnway Special Recreation Association

Basketball, bocce, fitness, gymnastics, martial arts, outdoor recreation, running/ walking, softball, volleyball The Lincolnway Special Recreation Association (LWSRA), located in New Lenox, provides adaptive and special recreation services for individuals with disabilities.

The facility features four multi-purpose rooms, a learning kitchen, gymnasium with a wheelchair-f riendly floor, a therapeutic garden and a wheelchair softball field.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Zip around the tracks on electric go-karts or challenge your axe-throwing skills at Accelerate Indoor Speedway & Events in Mokena.

▶ Try your hand at games of bowling or billiards, or get moving on the dance floor at Dave & Buster’s in Orland Park.

▶ Witness lively outdoor music between the months of May to October at Fox Pointe in Lansing.

▶ In the Game at Hollywood

Park in Crestwood provides

Ozinga Field

Baseball Home to the Windy City ThunderBolts is Ozinga Field in Crestwood. Ozinga Field is a large baseball venue with the capacity to hold over 3,500 spectators. Batting cages, bullpens, covered/protected dugouts, a press box and more can be found at Ozinga Field.

awesome indoor and outdoor opportunities for family fun.

CHICAGO SOUTHLAND CVB Kristy Stevens 888-895-3211 Kristy@visitchicagosouthland.com www.playchicagosouthland.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The partnerships so far with the Chicago Southland CVB have been wonderful. They’ve allowed us to do so many things that we did not have the opportunity to do before this year, especially reaching out to new players and groups that we had not had the opportunity to before.”

Lincolnway Special Recreation Association

Ozinga Field

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— Brad Schubert, President, Midwestern Amputee Golf Association

Gaelic Park

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DuPage Sports Commission Just West of Chicago Lies a Rich Tradition of Competition

DuPage County, IL

Scan to discover more of what DuPage Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PREMIER VENUES AND ATTRACTIONS BUILD UPON A RICH HISTORY JUST OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO

FMC Natatorium at Ty Warner Park

The DuPage Sports Commission is building on the rich tradition of competition in DuPage County, combining state-ofthe-art facilities with top-notch attractions to position itself as the premier destination to host regional and national competitions year-round. Located just outside of Chicago near O’Hare and Midway International Airports, its 38 communities include more than 100 hotels.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

FMC Natatorium at Ty Warner Park

Swimming, Diving Located in Westmont, the FMC Natatorium at Ty Warner Park is a state-of-the-art, 71,000 square foot aquatic facility built to host regional and national events. The natatorium features a 50-meter Olympic-size competition pool and a training pool. Other amenities include spring boards, locker rooms, weight and strength and conditioning rooms, concession stand, swim shop, and a party room.

Park Districts

Swimming, fitness, hiking, multipurpose Offering thousands of acres of parks and countless programs and activities, DuPage County’s Park Districts have something for everyone. Facilities include pools, golf courses, fitness centers, open spaces, nature preserves, baseball and softball diamonds and soccer and lacrosse fields, gymnasiums, ice rinks, and more, while offering an array of programming for every age group.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Stardust Bowl

Bowling Featuring 84 recently renovated lanes, Stardust Bowl is one of the largest bowling centers in the U.S. and has hosted numerous national events. A staple in Addison for more than 50 years, the center also features four lounges, a video gaming lounge, a banquet facility, a ProShop, and a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system with bumper bowling perfect for young bowlers.

Edge Ice Arenas

Skating One of Chicagoland’s premier ice skating facilities, Edge Ice Arenas features three premier skating surfaces to accommodate practices, games, competitions, shows, and public skates. Located in Bensenville, its main rink seats 2,800 and is the home of the Robert Morris Eagles hockey team, and also features an outdoor in-line skate rink, party facilities, and concessions.

Odeum Expo Center

Multipurpose, trade shows, concerts With 130,000 square feet of space, the

Odeum Sports and Expo Center is DuPage County’s largest sports and special events facility. Conveniently located near major highways, surrounded by major hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and boasting a parking lot that can accommodate 2,000 vehicles, the center is ideal for trade shows, concerts, and sporting events.

Glass Court Swim & Fitness Club

Racquetball, fitness, swimming Glass Court Swim & Fitness has eight full-size racquetball courts and has hosted multiple major events including the Annual KWM Gutterman Shamrock Shootout, which features 300+ male players competing in a top tier event. On the women’s side, Glass Court has hosted the Pro Am Turkey Shoot, an annual tournament which is part of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour.

DUPAGE SPORTS COMMISSION

POPULAR ACTIVITIES With 222,000 live plants and 16 miles of hiking trails on its 1,700 acres, The Morton Arboretum is an impeccable setting for a leisurely stroll or an active adventure.

Located at the former 500acre estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, Cantigny Park is home to a top-ranked, 27-hole golf course, vast formal gardens, and two museums. Enjoy beautiful landscapes and learn about the history of World War I. With 60 forest preserves and 26,000 acres of land, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County offers ample opportunity for recreation, conservation, and education.

The Forge: Lemont Quarries is a state-of-the-art adventure park

Igor Bakovic

designed to deliver year-round

630-575-8070

activities for adventurers of all ages.

igor@discoverdupage.com

It features a versatile and wide-

DuPageSportsCommission.com

ranging mix of activities in a natural landscape.

The Forge: Lemont Quarries

BMW Championship at Medinah Country Club

Stardust Bowl

Edge Ice Arenas

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Elgin Area, IL

Scan to discover more of what Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

ELGIN, LESS THAN AN HOUR AWAY FROM CHICAGO, OFFERS THE PERFECT MIX OF VISITOR ATTRACTIONS AND SPORTS FACILITIES

Elgin Sports Complex

In Elgin, you can experience big-city fun at reasonable prices in a smaller urban area. Elgin offers the perfect mix of visitor attractions and sports facilities.

Fun awaits athletes of all ages and levels. They will be able to train and compete in premier venues that host a variety of sports, from soccer to BMX biking.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Elgin Sports Complex

Softball, T-ball, Volleyball, Soccer, BMX Biking Elgin Sports Complex features tons of championship-level competition spaces all in one location. This 107-acre venue comprises 10 full-size soccer fields (four of which are lit), 10 fully-lit softball fields, two sand volleyball courts, hard-surface paths, a playground and The Hill, which is known as Chicago’s best BMX track.

The sports complex is a pet-friendly facility and is wheelchair accessible.

Lifezone 360

Basketball, Soccer, Lacrosse, Futsal, Gymnastics, Cheerleading Lifezone 360 (LZ360) is a highly versatile 130,000-square-foot sports complex and tournament/meet destination. The facility can be transformed from a turf-only tournament space (soccer, lacrosse) to a 7-court (basketball, futsal) tournament space. Rental flooring/ equipment can be brought in to operate gymnastics, cheer, wrestling and other meets.

The facility is also designed to be transformed into a memorable destination for large-scale @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES (300 to 1,000 person) events and concerts. A pair of high-definition LED screens are available for viewing parties and conferences, as well as a full A/V system, drop-down volleyball netting for up to 10 courts, bubbleball and a ninja course.

Lifezone also encompasses a full restaurant and bar, has private party suites available and a wide range of in-house catering options. A 1,000 spot dedicated parking lot with highway frontage allows for outdoor concerts, carnivals, fundraisers and similar activities.

Canlan ICE Sports

Figure Skating, Hockey Train and compete on any one of three state-of-the-art NHL-size rinks, complete with access to Jerry’s Pro Shops for the newest gear.

Canlan’s recently renovated its space to include large-screen televisions, a patio, tables and fireplaces.

racquetball courts and a lap pool. With a strong history of hosting Team USA, the Centre of Elgin is perfect for larger or international tournaments.

Elgin Community College - Spartan Event Center Basketball, Volleyball, Gymnastics, Tennis

The Spartan Event Center is a multipurpose athletic space that features one of the best basketball facilities in the region. As part of the Elgin Community College campus, the Spartan Event Center includes three NCAA basketball courts, three NCAA volleyball courts and converts into two tennis courts. With stadium seating available for up to 1,550 guests, the Spartan Event Center is designed to take your varsity athlete’s game to the next level.

The Centre of Elgin is the Elgin area’s foremost recreational facility providing nearly 185,000 square feet of recreational space.

Located in downtown Elgin, the Centre offers a three-basketball court fieldhouse, two

Elgin Sports Complex

abounds along the Fox River

Bike Trail or take a stroll through Hawthorne Hill Nature Center or Bartlett Nature Center.

▶ The Grand Victoria Casino offers the best riverboat gambling, dining and entertainment experience in Illinois.

▶ Experience the North Polethemed rides, petting zoo and water park at Santa’s Village Azoosment Park.

▶ Spend an afternoon golfing at

the award-winning Highlands of Elgin or Bowes Creek Country Club.

▶ Explore Gail Borden Public

Edward Schock Centre of Elgin

Basketball, Racquetball, Swimming, Pickleball, Team Handball

▶ Natural beauty and outdoor fun

ELGIN AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Ryan Cortez

Library which is home to worldclass exhibits often seen in downtown museums.

▶ Check out State Street Market

847-695-7540 ryan@exploreelginarea.com

Shops for antiques and locally

www.exploreelginarea.com

made trinkets and gifts.

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The overall experience with the Elgin Area CVB, leading up to and throughout the tournament, was, in its simplest terms, extremely helpful. As a small NGB with very little institutional knowledge on staging events, we had to rely heavily on the CVB to point us in the right direction and help bring things together in numerous areas like transportation, food, and health & safety. The event would not have happened without the help of the Elgin Area CVB.”

Edward Shock Centre of Elgin

–Ryan Johnson CEO USA Team Handball

LifeZone 360

Canlan ICE Sports

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Canlan ICE Sports

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Effingham, IL EVERY DAY, EFFINGHAM BECOMES AN EVEN BETTER DESTINATION FOR SPORT EVENTS, FROM SWIMMING TO SOFTBALL AND BEYOND

Hendelmeyer Park

Scan to discover more of what City of Effingham Convention & Visitors Bureau offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“I would say that the advantage for choosing Effingham, besides being so centrally located, is the community really gets behind and supports the events. We have such a variety of restaurants and hotels for people to choose from, and our shopping choices continue to expand. I feel fortunate to be able to host the event for its businesses and community.”

— Jeff Schafer, Effingham High School Girls Basketball, (Southern Illinois Basketball Circuit Director (SIBC)

Hendelmeyer Park

Effingham County Memorial Airport and Shelby County Airport are reasonable options for those flying in, while Effingham’s central location within Illinois affords easy access for drivers via the crossroads of I-57 and I-70.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Let your cares drift away as you float down the lazy river at the Richard E. Workman Sports & Wellness Center.

▶ You’ll always find fresh produce

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex All indoor sports

The Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex was completed in early 2016. The complex offers a 25-meter, eight-lane swimming pool and indoor 15,500-squarefoot, multi-sport courts. This recreational center offers other amenities too, ranging from rentable party rooms to physical therapy services. The complex will not only offer visiting teams great places to play, but a stellar spot for helping their bodies relax and recuperate from intense activity.

Hendelmeyer Park

and large rooms for group outings

Baseball, softball, tennis

at Firefly Grill.

If you’re looking for outdoor sports, look no further than Hendelmeyer Park. This spot is a charming local park with expansive outdoor fields. At a respectable 20 acres, the park holds two lighted, slow-pitch diamonds and one

▶ Home-made creations and authentic Italian vibes abound at Tuscan Hills Winery.

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lighted, fast-pitch diamond—all with natural grass—plus four lighted tennis courts. The park is rounded out with playground areas, a gazebo, concession stand and skate park.

Evergreen Hollow Park

Softball, baseball, tennis, soccer, swimming Evergreen Hollow Park spans 42 acres and comprises of two lighted softball diamonds, one lighted baseball diamond, four lighted tennis courts and soccer fields. On the west side of the park sits Kluthe Memorial Pool, an outdoor swimming pool with a lap pool, water slide and children’s pool area.

CITY OF EFFINGHAM CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Jodi Thoele, Director of Tourism 217-342-5310 jthoele@effinghamil.com www.visiteffinghamil.com Sports Planning Guide

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AURORA AREA, IL

THE LARGEST CITY IN CHICAGO’S SUBURBS, AURORA, ILLINOIS OFFERS LOCAL SUBURBAN FUN WITH BIG CITY SPORTS FACILITIES JUST OUTSIDE THE WINDY CITY

Scan to discover more of what Aurora Area CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Seminole Sports is thrilled to have established a great relationship with the Fox Valley Park District and Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The FVPD staff does a great job of communicating with our tournament directors and ensuring proper maintenance of their pristine fields.”

Photo caption Stuart Sports Complex

— John Suvada General Manager, Seminole Sports

Great Lakes Volleyball Center

Supreme Courts

Situated just 40 miles west of Chicago makes getting to Aurora a breeze, with a variety of options for traveling teams. Teams can reach the Aurora area via Interstate 88 and taking the IL-31 exit 117 toward Aurora/Batavia.

If driving isn’t a feasible option, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport serve as a gateway for reaching Aurora.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Stuart Sports Complex

Ultimate, football, baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, rugby One of the largest soccer venues in the country, Stuart Sports Complex in Montgomery is suitable for every sport imaginable, namely soccer, lacrosse, Ultimate Frisbee, football, softball and baseball. Stuart Sports Complex offers their facilities at affordable prices, including tournament rentals for exclusive use of fields for an entire weekend. Jam-packed with

amenities throughout the facility, the complex features concessions, restrooms, a dog park, a playground with a splash pad, garden plots, Jericho Lake and a 1,300 spot parking area.

Great Lakes Volleyball Center

Volleyball For all things volleyball, look no further than Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora, one of the largest volleyball facilities in the Midwest and home to the Sports Performance Volleyball Club. Offering sports performance and development and competition workshops @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES for both coaches and players, Great Lakes Volleyball Center is the country’s largest camp and clinic program, with thousands of athletes competing each year. Hosting numerous tournaments throughout the year to both boys and girls volleyball teams of all ages, the center’s facilities include 12 courts, a full-time retail store, an expansive, full-service weight training facility, a spacious concession area, an 11,000-square-foot mezzanine viewing area and more than 500 available parking spaces.

24 collegiate grade ceiling mounted baskets, whose low-profile interwoven subfloor design provides enhanced acoustic and dynamic uniform ball bounce. Teams can participate in Supreme Courts tournaments year-round with several benefits, such as low tournament costs, discounted pricing for minimum required participation, multiple locations to choose f rom each weekend, appropriate competition for all levels, high quality venues and certified referees.

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Yorkville is a fan favorite for all ages and is Illinois’ largest waterpark.

▶ For a day of shopping, Chicago

Premium Outlets is an outdoor mall with all the designer names at discounted prices.

▶ Funway is over five acres of indoor and outdoor activities.

Families can enjoy go-karts, bumper boats, bowling, mini-golf,

Supreme Courts

Basketball Conveniently located five miles from Interstate 88 near Aurora’s Fox Valley Mall, Supreme Courts features four high school basketball courts with premium wood flooring used in 90 percent of NBA courts and top universities. The facility also includes full climate-controlled courts and

▶ Raging Waves Waterpark in

roller skating and more. Open 365 days a year.

AURORA AREA CVB

▶ BALAXI Play is a unique glow-in-

Pete Garlock, Director of Sales

the-dark entertainment center

630-256-3194

that offers fun, physical activities

pete@enjoyaurora.com

that will keep everyone engaged.

www.auroraareasportsalliance.com

Enjoy zip lines, indoor go-karting, rock climbing and a ropes course.

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Jacksonville, IL

Scan to discover more of what Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

COLLEGE-GRADE VENUES, AN EXPANSIVE LAKE AND FACILITIES FOR NEARLY EVERY SPORT BECKON TOURNAMENT PLANNERS TO CENTRAL ILLINOIS

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is a wonderful asset for the Jacksonville community. We began operating Future Champions Sports Complex in March 2020 – the same month COVID-19 caused businesses throughout the United States to close.

We are thankful for this partnership as we continue to navigate the challenges of owning a small business.”

Photo captionSports Complex Future Champion

— Kristin Jamison, Future Champions Sports Complex

Illinois College

Jacksonville Speedway

Home to well-stocked lakes, NCAA-grade facilities and tournament-friendly gymnasiums, Jacksonville offers plentiful facilities in the heart of the Midwest. The city’s small-town friendliness, vibrant business districts and enthusiastic sports community will make the question of your next tournament destination simple.

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sandwiches to and adult refreshments.

Baseball, softball

Illinois College

Future Champions Sports Complex caters to all levels of baseball and softball competition, ranging from youth recreational leagues to collegiate contests and including all levels in between. Not your ordinary ballpark, all six infields are turfed, making it virtually rain-out proof and allowing for play from February to November. The stadium-lighted facilities boast electronic scoreboards, concrete dugouts, a professional sound system, and a concession stand that offers everything from hot

The Bruner Center on the Illinois College campus includes the Coultas Natatorium (an eight-lane, 25-yard pool for competitive and recreational swimming), King Fieldhouse (which houses a six-lane indoor track, four rubberized courts and two batting cages) and the Sherman Gymnasium (a hardwood court that can host basketball and volleyball). Other

Future Champions Sports Complex

Swimming, track & field, basketball, volleyball, football, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

facilities include England Stadium (an artificial turf field surrounded by a track that can host soccer and football), the Bellatti Tennis Complex (which consists of six hard-surfaced courts, lighting fixtures and a windscreen) and Joe Brooks Baseball Field.

Lake Jacksonville Boating, fishing

This 500-acre, man-made lake is filled with bass, bluegill, red-ear sunfish and channel catfish. It is the perfect location for boating, water skiing, fishing, and other water activities.

Camping and boat dock are available, and a new walking path and trails were added in 2019.

The lake is known for their fishing tournaments and was once named the #1 Fishing Spot in the State of Illinois by Field and Stream.

JHS Bowl

Basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, dance This historic semi-subterranean gymnasium was constructed in 1952 and continues to host Jacksonville High School Crimson basketball, volleyball and cheerleading competitions. The venue offers changing rooms, a scoreboard, concession stands and parking.

Midwest Athletic Center

Basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, dance Located in the Jenkins Education Complex on the former MacMurray College campus, this indoor facility includes two basketball courts that can also accommodate volleyball and floor hockey.

Jacksonville Speedway is a high-banked, quarter-mile dirt oval track located at the Morgan County Fairground, corner of East Westgate Avenue. Classes include Sprints, Micro-Sprints, Street Stock, Pony Stock, Modifides and late models.

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▶ Browse some of Illinois’ premier antique galleries, enjoy tasty coffee creations and cuisines and admire beautiful greenspaces of Central Park in historic Downtown Jacksonville.

▶ The 86-acre Nichols Park offers well-equipped playgrounds and an Olympic-sized swimming pool for recreation opportunities. There are gazebos, a newly added RC Car Track Speedway and picnic facilities big enough for any group outing. Also located in the park is The Link Golf Course where you can catch a round of golf overlooking the beauty of the

Jacksonville Speedway Biking, racing

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

park.

JACKSONVILLE AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Brittany Henry 1-217-243-5678 visitors@jacksonvilleil.org www.jacksonvilleil.og

▶ Serene Lake Jacksonville is surrounded by hiking trails for guests to admire the deer that reside in the region and docks for fishing and beautiful sunset views.

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Chicago Northwest, IL YOUR SPORTS ADVENTURE AWAITS YOU IN THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS OF CHICAGO, WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES READY TO ACCOMMODATE EVERY PART OF YOUR STAY

Scan to discover more of what Meet Chicago Northwest offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “MCNW is AMAZING! Melinda and her team are a fantastic help in all aspects of the event contracting process. They are available and eager to help from the earliest stages, and are a great resource for sending out our RFP, consolidating hotel responses, following up when needed and helping to pull all of the final details together.”

Olympic Park

— April LaFramboise, Team Travel Source

The Sport Center

Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel

In the diverse and lively northwest suburbs of Chicago, you will find renowned attractions, modern dining and endless shopping. Chicago Northwest is a destination dream for sports planners, as it features facilities perfect to host soccer, football, baseball, badminton, martial arts, wrestling, gymnastics and more. Meet Chicago Northwest will assist you every step of the way.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel

Martial Arts, Volleyball, Mat Sports, Cheer/ Dance, Meetings, Events This 100,000-square-foot column-f ree convention center has the capability to configure into multiple floor plans to accommodate a wide range of sporting events.

Located 12 miles f rom O’Hare International Airport, the convention center offers f ree onsite parking and is seamlessly connected to 500 guest rooms and suites at the Renaissance

Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel.

The facility hosted the USA Karate National Championships and Team Trials in July of 2019 and September of 2021.

Olympic Park

Softball, Baseball, Soccer, Lacrosse This 72-acre sports venue features five softball/ baseball fields, eight lighted synthetic turf sports fields, two natural grass sports fields. Additional soccer fields available for tournament play.

Having hosted thousands of sports tournaments including annual events such as Schaumburg @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Athletic Association’s Soccerfest, Sockers FC Fall & Spring events and Common Goals Memorial Day Soccer Challenge. Equipped with two concession stands and 700 park spots.

Harper College

Fitness, Swimming, Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, Running Located in Palatine, Harper College offers a fitness center, field house, aquatics center, and more. The 10,000-square-foot Fitness Center underwent a complete transformation. The Field House is equipped with four courts for basketball, pickleball, volleyball, or badminton and a suspended one-eighth of a mile jogging track. Locker and training rooms are available.

The Sport Center

Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Softball, Gymnastics, Pickleball, Lacrosse This 110,000 square-foot building includes four basketball courts, six volleyball courts, two soccer fields and a gymnastic center.

Busse Woods

Kayaking, Boating, Running While the heart of each neighborhood provides

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you with the fun and excitement that is the Chicago city life, Busse Woods can give you a day in the great outdoors for enjoying wildlife and other outdoor activities. You can take in the views from the water by kayak, canoe, or rowboat, which can all be rented on-site, or explore 11 miles of paved bike trails through a Technicolor Forest.

Busse Woods hosted GWN Dragon Boat in 2019 and Ultimate Frisbee in 2021.

Odeum Sports & Expo Center

Soccer, Boxing, Trade Shows, Martial Arts, Cheer/Dance, Rodeo, Mat Sports This 130,000-square-foot facility hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including concerts, trade shows, expositions, and indoor soccer and boxing.

Each year, The Odeum Sports & Expo Center sees over 1.2 million visitors.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Woodfield Mall No trip is complete without a day of shopping. Woodfield Mall is Illinois’ largest shopping destination with nearly 300 shops, restaurants, 800seat Dining Pavilion and familyfriendly amenities.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Enjoy a night that takes you to the Middle Ages at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament where you can sip cocktails and enjoy a four-course meal while watching knights joust, which is sure to be an experience unlike anything else.

Medieval Times accommodates large opening/closing night events.

MEET CHICAGO NORTHWEST

Schaumburg Boomers

Melinda Garritano

Minor league baseball at Wintrust

847-278-3445

Field. Accommodates large

mgarritano@chicagonorthwest.com

opening/closing night events.

chicagonorthwest.com

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Rockford, IL LOCATED ON THE BANKS OF THE ROCK RIVER, THE ROCKFORD REGION GUARANTEES A MULTITUDE OF VENUES AND THINGS TO DO FOR YOUR NEXT SPORTS TRIP

MercyHealth Sportscore One

Scan to discover more of what Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau ofers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in conjunction with the Rockford Park District provided a first-class venue and excellent support for our Division III College Championships. The service provided along with the hospitality shown has made Rockford one of our go-to places for future events.”

— Byron Hicks, Events Manager, USA Ultimate

MercyHealth Sportscore Two

UW Health Sports Factory

The stunning Rockford region comprises a dream venue for sports planners as it allows visitors to revel in numerous engaging attractions, comfortable accommodations and phenomenal athletic facilities. A top-tier host of sports nationally, our community is no stranger to herds of teams visiting, and provides ample space for tournaments and leisure activities.

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UW Health Sports Factory

Basketball, Cheerleading, Dance, Dodgeball, Pickleball, Volleyball, Wrestling This massive indoor sports facility spotlights 108,000 square-feet (96,000 square feet of hard court surface) of space for your upcoming tournament. One of the largest facilities in the Midwest, the venue is comprised of eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, 16 wrestling mats and accommodations for other indoor sports. With a maximum capacity of 3,700 spectators, UW Health Sports Factory spotlights

north and south courts, and a champions court with seating for up to 400 people. Spacious outdoor areas overlook the Rock River with a south patio area. A full-service sports restaurant with a dazzling 180-degree view of the river and north and south courts seats 160 guests, ideal for downtime in between games.

MercyHealth Sportscore Two

Baseball, Football, Pickleball, Rugby, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Golf, Lacrosse, Ultimate Frisbee, Adapted Wheelchair Sports This state-of-the-art sports facility will be @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

sure to impress with 180 acres of courts, fields, concessions and other favorable amenities.

The expansive complex features 26 outdoor soccer fields including seven turf/lighted fields, three sand volleyball courts, a playground, a 4,500-square-foot outdoor concession/ restroom building, a tournament staging area for pictures and onsite parking with more than 2,000 spaces. The Indoor Mega Center is a multi-sport complex consisting of 60,000 square-feet of multi-purpose courts and fields, a full-size (120-by-80-yards, equal to four indoor soccer fields) turf field with 70-foot ceilings, locker rooms, a sports equipment store and Skybox dining overlooking the fields. The existing indoor sports center has plans to convert to turf on both sides.

The vast Wedgebury Stadium seats up to 2,500 spectators, and has been refurbished to include a new synthetic turf field, NCAA professional lighting, restroom buildings, improved pathways and upgrades to bleachers and a press box.

MercyHealth Sportscore One

Soccer, Softball, Baseball, Volleyball (Sand), Kickball, Wiffleball, Golf (Indoor), Ultimate Frisbee Nationally recognized as a premier host of soccer, softball, baseball, Ultimate frisbee and other sports tournaments, this first-rate sports establishment is an excellent option for athletes to duel it out in a nail-biting competition.

Spanning 147 acres, the venue includes 18 soccer fields, eight lighted baseball/softball diamonds, an indoor soccer building, two playgrounds, a fishing pond, a boat ramp, a recreation path and concessions. Aside for competition use, athletes can enjoy recreational activities such as fishing, running and biking when they are not busy strategizing against their opponent.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Traveling to the Rockford region will give your team the opportunity to visit Laurent House Museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and famously known as the only home designed by the architect for a person with a disability.

Enjoy the natural beauty of the city by touring the calming Anderson Japanese Gardens, composed of flowing waterfalls, tranquil streams and beautiful gardens.

Continue your nature walk

ROCKFORD AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

in the captivating Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens, simulating the gorgeous tropics

Lindsay Arellano

with special water features

Vice President of Sales and Servicing

and sculptures right along the

815.489.1653

breathtaking Rock River.

larellano@gorockford.com Gorockford.com/sports

BEAUTIFULLY GAME Towering facilities make for the perfect backdrop for the beautiful game. Sports tourism tradition is embodied by soccer and so much more throughout the Rockford, Illinois, region, thanks to the flexibility of our venues and hospitality expertise. Every tournament operator is welcome to experience first-hand why so many national events call Rockford home.

GOROCKFORD.COM Mercyhealth Sportscore Two

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Bloomington-Normal, IL WITH TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES AND INCREDIBLE ATTRACTIONS, THIS ILLINOIS HOTSPOT MAKES TOURNAMENT-PLANNING EASY

Scan to discover more of what BloomingtonNormal Area CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Hosting major events is no easy task.

Due to the efforts of the BloomingtonNormal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the BN Sports Commission, our association has been fortunate to put on first-class events in Bloomington-Normal for nearly half a century. Their ‘can do’ spirit will make your event a winner, too.”

— Kurt Gibson, Associate Executive Director of the Illinois High School Association

Shirk Center

The Corn Crib

Champion Fields

Travelers heading to Bloomington-Normal by car will find Interstate 55 to be very convenient, which runs right through the area on the drive between Chicago and St. Louis.

I-39 and I-74 are nearby as well.

By air, Central Illinois Regional Airport is your go-to option, offering free parking, a shuttle service and access to five rental car agencies.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Champion Fields Baseball, softball

Considered one of the finest softball complexes in the Midwest, this facility boasts eight lighted diamonds in the main area and two lighted diamonds at Maxwell Park. The host site for 10 ASA/USA National Tournaments in the past two decades, Champions Fields played home to the 2019 USA Softball 12A National Championship in June. Fields have covered dugouts, bleacher seating, scoreboards and a P.A. system. Each

set of four fields also has a concession stand, making this one of the Prairie State’s go-to softball locations.

Hancock Stadium, Redbird Arena

Multisport Hancock Stadium is a 13,391-seat, multipurpose facility in the heart of Normal.

Home to the Illinois State University football team, in 1969 Hancock became the first college stadium in Illinois to feature artificial turf, which was replaced in 2010. That same year, a new scoreboard was installed. Other @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

amenities include a state-of-the-art press level, a 5,500-square-foot indoor club, the Redbird Team Store and a spacious concourse. The crown jewel of Illinois State Athletics, Redbird Arena is used by the men and women’s basketball teams as well as the women’s volleyball team. The multipurpose facility can hold up to 10,200 enthusiastic fans and is a raucous environment on game day..

Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University

Multisport The Shirk Center is a multipurpose athletic, recreation and wellness complex that contains facilities for basketball, volleyball, track and tennis. The facility seats 2,400 with room for an additional 400 spectators. Other incredible features include a 200-meter, sixlane indoor track, two batting cages and four courts for basketball, tennis, volleyball and badminton.

Bloomington Arena

Multisport The premier arena in Bloomington for sports and concerts, this venue can hold up to 8,000 for a concert and 7,242 for basketball and features 24 private suites and two party suites that can host up to 50 people.

Corn Crib

▶ Red pandas, river otters, a ZooLab and more await at Miller Park

Zoo, which offers families exciting chances to see a wide variety of exotic animals.

▶ Touching the exhibits is

encouraged at Children’s

Baseball, soccer, softball A great stadium in Normal and built for fun, the Corn Crib is home to the Normal CornBelters, a collegiate summer baseball team. The ballpark has a capacity of 7,000 and opened in 2010.

Discovery Museum.

▶ Explore the rich connections the area has to Route 66 and Abraham Lincoln at the Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center.

BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL AREA CVB Matt Hawkins, Director of Sports and Market Development 309-665-0033 matt@visitbn.org www.visitbn.org

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POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Normal Theater features a classic cinema experience in a theater that opened in 1937.

▶ Iron Coyote Challenge Park is a fun fitness center featuring a ninja gym and rope course.

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The Terre Haute Convention & Visitors Bureau would love to help you plan your next sporting event in the Midwest. Known as “The Crossroads of America,” Terre Haute provides a central location for any sport. With the Terre Haute Convention Center opening in 2022, Terre Haute can easily provide a venue for your next competition. Our hotel selection continues to grow, offering a variety of convenient rooms for teams.

Popular stops include everything from wineries, breweries, unique restaurants, theaters, museums, spiritual walking tour at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods college campus, Griffin Bike Park and the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.

The veteran-themed Griffin Bike Park features trails that all have special riding styles for everyone of all ages.

It has a new “Freedom Trail,” which is offered for those individuals with differing disabilities or those with adaptive riding equipment. The LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course has hosted a variety of races over many years including: NCAA Division I, Great Lakes Regionals, Division III Men & Women’s, NCAA Division I Championships, IHSAA Sectionals and State Championships and the Nike Cross Country Nationals.

The course is constantly improving and now has a newly built medical building on-site.

www.TerreHaute.com

2022

INDIANA GUIDE Nobody Does Aquatic Sports Like Indiana

The Hoosier State Is Home To Amazing Facilities and Incredible Athletes

4

Site InSpections of Event-Ready Destinations A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

INDIANA

Team Indiana is a statewide effort dedicated to maintaining and strengthening Indiana’s deep sports traditions. The Hoosier State has been referred to as the birthplace of contemporary sport tourism, home to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing and the Amateur Sports Capital of the World. We have hosted hundreds of successful youth, collegiate, Olympic national and international championships across the state, and it would be our honor to host your event in Indiana.

Hamilton County Photo courtesy of Team Indiana

Indiana communities are committed to being the best sports destinations in the country. Our venues span the spectrum from historic to state-of-the-art, so we can find the perfect space to fit your needs. No matter where you go in Indiana, you’ll find consistent, top-notch service from our community members and partners. In addition to experienced professionals, we possess that one invaluable resource – dedicated volunteers who cater to the needs of every participant and fan.

Our state is centrally located, so traveling to Indiana is convenient and affordable. We are within a day’s drive for most of the country, and we have several regional and international airports for those who are farther or prefer to fly. Once you arrive in Indiana, you may be surprised to find the terrain varies greatly across the state, from the beaches along Lake Michigan in the north to the rolling hills in southern Indiana. You’ll discover vibrant cities and quaint towns, boasting plenty of attractions for you to enjoy once the event has concluded.

For more information on the wide variety of sports-friendly communities, please visit team-ind.org or contact me directly at 317-237-5025. We are eager to help you in the planning process and look forward to sharing our Hoosier Hospitality with you.

Sincerely, Shannon Sullivan Team Indiana

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Indiana excels at a variety of aquatic sports including water polo.

Photos courtesy of Indiana Sports Corp

F

NOBODY DOES AQUATIC SPORTS LIKE

INDIANA The Hoosier State is home to amazing facilities and incredible athletes

By Jill Pillow

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Sports Planning Guide

rom state-of-the-art Olympic-sized pools to recreational swimming and diving facilities, Indiana is one of the best states for aquatic sports. Indiana not only has a history of hosting large scale events to back up its lofty reputation, it also has been the home of some of history’s best swimmers, divers, and water polo athletes.

Communities across the state are home to upscale aquatic facilities and the growth of the state’s swim programs call for continuous development. Notably, new pristine facilities in both Elkhart and Evansville will hold largescale events in the near future featuring a variety of amenities.

Opening in Fall of 2021, Evansville’s Deaconess Aquatic Center is a two-story center which is separated into both recreational and competitive areas. Both areas have a 50-meter pool and the competition pool and diving well allow for simultaneous swimming and diving and room for nearly 1,000 event spectators.

Additionally, the space has relay touch pads, a timing system, Durafirm Maxiflex springboards, and full webcasting capabilities.

Elkhart Health & Aquatics provides community members with a comprehensive health and fitness, swimming and community center. The 1.1-million gallon, larger than Olympic-sized pool is event-ready with

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

capabilities for more than 10 swimming lanes as well as spring diving boards, 3 and 5-meter diving platforms, adjustable bulkheads, a full-sized diving well, and seating for 1,200 spectators. In 2021, the pool was home to one site of the Central Zone Section 3 Spring Speedo Sectionals, the summer Central Zone 14 & Under Championships, and the Great Lakes Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Conference Championships.

Central Indiana’s Hamilton County features Forest Park Aquatic Center for swimming and diving. The complex consists of an outdoor heated 50-foot pool with 10 lanes as well as one and three-meter springboards and 5, 7, and 10-meter diving platforms. Recreational amenities include a waterslide, concessions and a toddler pool. In the summer of 2021, both the Indiana Swimming Age Group Long Course Championships and the USA Diving Open Championship were held at Forest Park.

The legendary Indiana University Natatorium, located on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus, can hold up to 4,700 spectators, which makes it the largest indoor pool in the United States. The competition pool is 50 meters in length and contains around 1 million gallons of water with eight racing lanes.

Adjacent to the competition pool is a second 50-meter, sixlane instructional pool. The arena has been the location of 19 world records along with 101 national records. The diving well of the natatorium has a 17-foot depth with five diving platforms, four one-meter diving boards, and four threemeter boards. Both the competition pool and diving well hold underwater windows that allow for easy television coverage as well as coaching analysis. Easily, it is the most iconic aquatic sports facility in the country.

The Natatorium has been home to many elite aquatics competitions throughout its nearly 40-year history including the NCAA Division I , II, and III Swimming & Diving Championships, NCAA Division I Water Polo Championships, USA Swimming and USA Diving National Championships, FINA Championships, International Swimming League (ISL) Professional Match, USA synchronized swimming championships, Collegiate Conference Swimming & Diving Championships, and 11 Olympic Trials across different aquatic sports. Most recently, the 2021 TYR Pro Swim Series featured 300 worldclass athletes from across the country, and the top divers competed for their place on Team USA at the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials – Diving.

The State of Indiana has upheld its distinction as a swimming haven through its training programs, facilities, elite athletes, and collegiate programs. Large-scale and local swimming events throughout the state are sanctioned by Indiana Swimming, which is one of the many local swimming committees under the umbrella of USA Swimming. The committee serves approximately 12,000 athletes from 115 clubs across the state and has the mission of inspiring excellence through progressive, innovative programs and partnerships.

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Additionally, the main campuses of Indiana University and Purdue University, in Bloomington and West Lafayette respectively, each have state-of-the-art 50-meter aquatics venues that attract elite athletes in swimming, diving, and water polo. Both campuses have hosted numerous collegiate and state competitions, including the Big 10 Swimming & Diving Championships. Indiana University has also hosted water polo events, such as the 2019 USA Water Polo Champions Cup. With such great facilities across the state, it’s no wonder Indiana is home to a slew of elite athletes. These products of Indiana’s various high-quality collegiate, professional, and amateur training programs include swimmers Lilly King, Blake Pieroni, Annie Lazor, Michael Brinegar, Cody Miller, Zach Apple and divers David Boudia, Michael Hixon, Andrew Capobianco, Jessica Parratto, Steele Johnson and water polo athletes Jessica Gaudreault and Shae LaRoche.

These are just a fraction of the aquatic legends who have come out of the state’s programs. Indiana’s aquatics programs are continuing to grow along with the number of top-tier facilities across all corners of the state.

Elkhart Health & Aquatics hosts numerous events including the Central Zone Section 3 Spring Speedo Sectionals, the summer Central Zone 14 and Under Championships and the Great Lakes Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Conference Championships.

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TERRE HAUTE, IN

Scan to discover more of what Terre Haute CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

CLOSE TO CINCINNATI AND ST. LOUIS, THIS SMALL TOWN ON THE INDIANA/ILLINOIS BORDER OFFERS PARKS, MUSEUMS AND SOME TOP-NOTCH VENUES

LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course

An abundance of museums makes it a great town in which to learn and explore—venture over to the Indiana Track & Field & Cross Country Hall of Fame Museum, Terre Haute Children’s Museum or check out the military memorabilia on display at the Veterans Memorial Museum. Ready to head outdoors?

This Hoosier State gem boasts a multitude of parks where children can play and adults can spend some time relaxing in the sun.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course Cross Country

This world-class, 240-acre course, located just east of downtown Terre Haute at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center, has the distinction of being one of the few purpose-built cross country courses in the world, as well as one of the most spectator-friendly distance running courses.

It has been home to the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Regional, Division III Regional and Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. It has also hosted the Indiana

State High School Championship Meet, Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional Meet, and numerous invitational and championship meets.

Griffin Bike Park Biking

This full spectrum destination riding experience is designed for riders of all ages, skills and abilities. The Veteran-themed bike park was founded on honoring and empowering those who have served our country. This unique bike park has several specialized riding areas designed to provide a wide range of features for special riding style and disciplines. Griffin Bike Park also @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

has a new “Freedom Trail” designed especially for those with differing disabilities and using adaptive equipment. With a 5-acre terrain park, a basic training skills park, loop trail and racing venues all designed for large scale, national level races makes this park worth visiting.

has 10- and 50-meter training lanes. The 10-by15-foot video board can show live competition.

The center can seat up to 500 people for major events and is the home to three Vigo County High School swim teams, as well as the Terre Haute Torpedos, a local swim club.

Soccer

The Springhill Soccer Complex features 45 soccer fields for varying ages f rom four to 13 years of age. It is home to the Vigo County Youth Soccer Association and host of the Midwest Soccer Classic.

Vigo County Aquatic Center Swimming

is a ½ mile dirt track located at the Vigo County Fairgrounds. It hosts USAC midget and sprint cars. Notable drivers have and Tony Stewart.

Racing

Springhill Soccer Complex

▶ T he Terre Haute Action Track

included A J Foyt, Jeff Gordon

Hulman Mini-Speedway The Terre Haute Quarter Midget Association (THQMA) is based at the Hulman MiniSpeedway. Quarter Midget Racing is a familyoriented sport that involves racing that is designed specifically for kids aged five to 16.

Racing is divided into many different classes based on age, skill level and motor type.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ T he Veteran’s Memorial

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“It would not be possible to provide the many soccer programs and events without the support of the many volunteers, soccer families, local businesses, colleges, universities and especially the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau.”

— Jim Wilkey, VCYSA Tournament Director and Past President

Museum honors veterans from all branches of the military service. This 2,000-plus square feet commemorative space is filled with a varity of military memorabilia from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan.

▶ 1 77-acre Deming Park is home to a miniature train for children to ride, fields for softball and an ADA-certified playground.

TERRE HAUTE CVB David Patterson Executive Director

The Vigo County Aquatic Center, opened in 2016, is a 50-meter-by- 25-yard competition and teaching pool. It is an Olympic-sized pool that

812-234-5555 david@terrehaute.com TerreHaute.com

Griffin Bike Park

Vigo County Aquatic Center

Terre Haute Quarter Midget Association Race Track

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Springhill Soccer Complex

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Grand Park Sports Campus, IN

Scan to discover more of what Grand Park Sports Campus offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

LOCATED IN CENTRAL INDIANA IS WESTFIELD’S 400-ACRE GRAND PARK SPORTS CAMPUS, WHICH IS A DESTINATION LIKE NOWHERE ELSE

Picture your average sports complex or park and multiply it by … a lot. The massive Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield covers 400 acres and is home to 31 multipurpose fields, 26 diamonds, four indoor facilities and has hosted over 100 events in a year.

Grand Park welcomes 2.5 million visitors a year and in 2020 was voted Best Soccer Facility.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Impressive outdoor fields

Soccer, lacrosse, football, ultimate f risbee, rugby, field hockey, baseball, softball, running Grand Park’s 31 outdoor fields accommodate soccer, lacrosse, football, ultimate frisbee, rugby and field hockey. The baseball and softball diamonds all have lighting, and eight of the 26 are synthetic turf. Be sure to also make use of the running/walking trails that span for miles; the campus also features a mapped out 5K course that makes hosting a 5K run/walk a breeze.

Grand Park Events Center

Soccer, football, rugby, field hockey, lacrosse This indoor sports facility is a sight to be seen. Opened in 2016, the Event Center covers 377,000 square feet and features three fullsize synthetic turf fields, a 45,000-squarefoot warmup area, four locker rooms, fully equipped conference rooms and is truly incredible. The facility also has a full-service restaurant and sports pub, which offers viewing suites. 30,000 square feet makes up the mezzanine for spectators. The fields @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Grand Park is proud to be the home

accommodate soccer, football, rugby, field hockey, and lacrosse, and they can further be adapted to accommodate volleyball and futsal. The Events Center can also house events outside of sports, and notably is the home to the Indiana Soccer Association, Indiana Fire Juniors, and Methodist Sports Medicine. It is also the official training center for the Indy Eleven (Indianapolis United Soccer League team) and is home to the College Summer League (a renowned baseball tournament).

Pacers Athletic Center

Pro X Athlete Development

No sporting event can take place without food options, and Grand Park has you covered there also. Throughout the campus are seven concession stands conveniently located among the fields and diamonds where all the sports action will take place. If you are looking for a destination that will elevate your event, then Grand Park Sports Campus is the place to go.

Athletic training

Dedicated to providing sports performance training, Pro X provides sport-specific programming for baseball, softball, golf and football using state-of-theart technology to help each athlete reach their potential. Equally important to sports training is recovery, which Pro X offers sports rehab and physical therapy. Pro X understands all the factors that contribute to optimized athletic performance, which is why they further provide Sports Vision programs, Mental Training, and Nutrition consultations.

Basketball, volleyball, futsal

to the Indianapolis Colts Training

Located in Grand Park is this 88,000-squarefoot athletic facility for youth sports training, leagues, and tournaments in basketball, volleyball, and futsal. Kids are welcome to take part in many different sporting events, camps, or club teams year-round. The Indy Youth Basketball League is the largest youth basketball league in the state and is proudly run by Pacers Athletic Center.

Camp, which you can be a part of.

Going to training camp means you get to watch the team practice and participate in the theme days, which feature food and drink deals, apparel deals, live music and entertainment, special activities, giveaways, and cheerleader performances. The camp is loaded with fun and excitement that you don’t want to miss.

Excellent food

▶ Grand Park is fun for everyone with youth, adult, and high school flag football camps and leagues. The Grand Park Flag Football League is perfect for both players with no prior experience and players looking to be challenged. The 5-on-5 league builds confidence and provides fun and healthy competition for youth.

GRAND PARK SPORTS CAMPUS

The Adult Flag Football League is also the perfect way for friends to

William Knox, Director

get together, play sports and have a

317-804-3010

great time.

wknox@westfield.in.gov grandpark.org

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“It was our first time to host an event at the Grand Park Events Center on a turf surface and the Xcel Regional Championships turned out to be a wonderful competition.

The new sports complex offers state-ofthe-art facilities and plenty of space for the gymnast’s competition, awards ceremonies, spectators and exhibitors.”

–Joan DeVeau, Owner of DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics

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Fort Wayne, IN

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

IN THE HEART OF THE MIDWEST, FORT WAYNE OFFERS COUNTLESS STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES SURROUNDED BY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

“We host events all over the nation and Fort Wayne is our favorite by far! Fort Wayne’s welcoming community and outstanding facilities are second to none.”

— Todd Hensley, Gym Rats

SportONE/Parkview Fieldhouse

SportONE/Parkview Icehouse

Nestled in northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne is approximately 200 miles from three major Midwestern cities in Chicago, Cleveland, and Milwaukee. Rich in history, Fort Wayne was named after a U.S. military fort founded in 1794 by General Anthony Wayne. Originally drawn to its central location as the hub of three rivers, the city developed into the second largest in Indiana.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Basketball, Hockey, Wrestling, Volleyball With the capability to hold 13,000 spectators for basketball games and 10,480 for hockey, this massive arena has hosted many major sporting events since opening in 1952. Its resume includes the 1955 and 1956 NBA Finals, and the 2010 NCAA Men’s DI Ice Hockey Tournament for the Midwest Region. Initially authorized in 1946 to be constructed into a memorial for the nation’s war veterans, the arena now serves the Fort Wayne Komets, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and Fort

Wayne Derby Girls. It will also host the 2022 through 2026 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championships.

SportONE Parkview Fieldhouse

Basketball, Volleyball, Futsal, Pickleball This 57,000-square-foot multipurpose facility is a premier destination for indoor competitions, with its eight hardwood volleyball courts which can transition into six high school regulation basketball courts. Equipped with bleacher seating, on-site storage, and a sports performance area, many clubs around the area @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

ASH Centre

including Summit Volleyball, Fort Wayne Futsal, and Gym Rats Basketball call this facility home.

Located steps from the TownePlace Suites makes a perfect location for tournaments.

SportONE Parkview Icehouse

Hockey, Sled Hockey, Ice Skating, Curling, Roller Hockey With three NHL-sized ice surfaces, SportONE Parkview Icehouse is the only three-sheet facility in Indiana. Home to the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL, Parkview has partnerships with Fort Wayne Amateur Hockey Association, Fort Wayne Ice Skating Club, and the Indiana Tech Hockey teams. The Thirsty Penguin Grill House overlooks all three surfaces to ensure you won’t miss a moment as you visit this full-service restaurant and bar. The Icehouse has hosted many large tournaments such as the 2019 Midwestern Sectional Figure Skating Championships and the United States Roller Hockey 2019 State Wars National Championship.

Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Basketball This facility hosts many tournaments, camps, and instructional sessions from Fort Wayne’s most prominent baseball trainers, the World Baseball Academy. This multipurpose sports facility is located near downtown Fort Wayne, making it accessible for those traveling in and out of town. With three artificial turf baseball diamonds, all equipped with new lighting, the Hoosier Classic Baseball Tournaments are hosted here. The ASH Centre is also equipped with an indoor soccer field, a basketball court, and batting cages.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Experience rides, animals and unique hands-on experiences at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, one of the top zoos in the nation.

Watch the TinCaps battle it out on the diamond at Parkview Field, then run the bases after the game concludes.

Check out more than 200 exhibits at Science Central, a fun interactive science center.

Submerge into an oasis of natural wonders at the

VISIT FORT WAYNE

Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, where you can

Nicolle Campbell

traverse luscious gardens before

260-424-3700

finding a cascading waterfall.

nicolle@visitfortwayne.com www.visitfortwayne.com

More Wins.

Big Grins.

Score Big

in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

You’ll score more wins and grins from your players and parents when you plan your next tournament in Fort Wayne – Indiana’s second largest city.

With a wide selection of premier sports venues, first-rate hotels, family-friendly entertainment and restaurants, Fort Wayne can host tournaments of all sizes and skill levels.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Learn MORE about how we can make your next event a big win! Contact Nicolle Campbell at Nicolle@VisitFortWayne. com to get started. ®

VisitFortWayne.com 260-424-3700

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South Shore, IN

Scan to discover more of what South Shore CVA offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

LAKE MICHIGAN’S SOUTHERN EDGE IS IDEALLY POSITIONED TO HOST YOUR NEXT TOURNAMENT

Hobart Aquatic Center

Dean and Barbara White Community Center

Crown Point Sportsplex

The South Shore of Lake Michigan is the perfect destination for your next sporting event. Situated just 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, our centralized location makes us easily accessible from almost anywhere in the United States.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Hobart Aquatic Center

Swimming, diving, water polo This new aquatic facility in Hobart offers multiple configurations to fit all events.

It features a 50-meter pool with 10 lanes and two bulkheads, 20 starting blocks, four 1 meter and one 3 meter diving boards, infinity gutter system and depth ranges f rom 4.5’ to 13’. The center also features spectator seating for 630, hospitality room with 86” smart display board, six locker rooms, Colorado timing system, eight-place

award podium, state-of-the-art scoreboard/ video player and a fieldhouse attached to the pool for overflow area.

Hammond Sportsplex and Community Center

Basketball, dodgeball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics Opened in 2018, the complex features six basketball courts with practice cross-court rims, six regulation-sized and 12 cross-court practice volleyball courts; two regulation-sized indoor turf soccer fields, six indoor batting @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

cages, a quarter-mile walking/running track and a hospitality room. In October 2021, the Sportsplex is scheduled to host the largest NCAA volleyball tournament, the Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover Tournament.

Dean and Barbara White Community Center

Volleyball, basketball, soccer, football, lacrosse, wrestling Opened in March of 2021, this facility features three regulation-sized basketball courts, six volleyball courts, a rock climbing wall, a multi-purpose turf field for soccer, football and lacrosse, a multi-purpose hospitality room and three meeting rooms.

four locker rooms per rink and bleachers for 200 spectators. The Sky Kube features a trampoline park and Ninja Challenge Course.

Crown Point Sportsplex

Baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball This sportsplex in Crown Point is a 95acre multi-use outdoor sports and event destination conveniently located off I-65.

The facility features two synthetic turf multi-purpose fields, 10 natural grass, illuminated baseball/softball fields including a championship field with stadium seating.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Enjoy year-round fun at Fair Oaks Farms. Guests can enjoy daily

tours and adventures, a farm-totable restaurant and even stay at a modern farm hotel.

▶ Satisfy your sweet tooth at

Albanese Candy in Merrillville where you’ll find World’s Best Gummies and candies.

▶ Visit the Mascot Hall of Fame.

Here, iconic mascot performers, performances and programs are enshrined for educational purposes.

Kube Sports Complex

SOUTH SHORE CONVENTION AND VISITORS AUTHORITY

Kube Sports Complex is Northwest Indiana’s newest recreational facility offering ice hockey, figure skating and trampoline activities. The Ice Kube features one full-sized ice rink (with number two coming soon) with

Megan Goodan

of wooded hiking trails, beaches,

Manager of Sports Development

rugged sand dunes, mysterious

219-301-7762

wetlands, open field prairies and

mgoodan@southshorecva.com

winding rivers at Indiana Dunes

www.alongthesouthshore.com

National Park.

Hockey, figure skating

▶ Explore 15,000 acres and 50 miles

India Illin

na

Ohio

ois

Ken

SportsPlanningGuide.com

tuc

ky

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185

Lincoln, NE

BRIMMING WITH ENERGY AND OPTIMISM, LINCOLN IS HOME TO FIRST-CLASS FACILITIES THROUGH ITS UNIVERSITY CONNECTION—AND A WHOLE LOT MORE

Scan to discover more of what Lincoln CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Obviously Lincoln is a great community and I think it is a hotbed for what we do. The Bob Devaney Center is one of the top venues and that’s why we continue to come back. They have done a great job of integrating the big screen technology, the seating, and keeping it a tight environment.”

Pinnacle Bank Arena

— Pete Isais, Director of National Events, USA Wrestling (USA Wrestling Final X)

Speedway Sports Complex

Bob Devaney Sports Center

Lincoln is easily accessible via Interstates 80 from east to west and 180 from the north. If you’re flying in, the Lincoln Airport (LNK) is located just northwest of downtown and offers passenger flights to and from major destinations Atlanta, Chicago, Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul through Delta Connection and United Express.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Pinnacle Bank Arena

Basketball, hockey, ice skating, multipurpose indoor, volleyball Nicknamed “The Vault”, this multipurpose indoor arena unlocks great potential for tournament planners, offering 15,500 seats for spectator viewing. Located in Lincoln’s West Haymarket District, the arena is home to the University of Nebraska’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and is a premier destination for concerts. The arena has hosted large tournaments and events like the FIVB

Volleyball Nations League, which hosted a round robin tournament in June of 2019.

Speedway Sports Complex

Basketball, football, futsal, soccer, volleyball With nine outdoor sports fields, a 100,000-square-foot indoor turf facility and a 80,000-square-foot indoor basketball and volleyball-centric facility, the Speedway Sports Complex stakes its case for the most utilitarian of its kind within the entire region. The complex additionally features a performance training @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

gym and an interactive trampoline park, giving family members something to do during long tournament hours.

School Finals Rodeo was held at the event center in 2021 and will be held there again in 2026 and 2027.

Bob Devaney Sports Center

Kinetic Sports Complex

Gymnastics, swimming & diving, track & field, volleyball, wrestling Set on campus at the University of Nebraska, this multipurpose complex includes three main buildings which house the Cornhusker gymnastics, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball and wrestling programs. A 7,907seat main arena is home to the volleyball teams, while the Devaney Center Natatorium features 10 swimming lanes and offers seating for 1,000 spectators. The Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track features a 200-meter hydraulic-banked track and offers 5,000 seats.

Lancaster Event Center

Equestrian, multipurpose, rodeo Creating meaningful memories with topnotch events is the goal of the Lancaster Event Center, home to the National Quarter Horse shows and many other events throughout the year. The center features a pair of arenas, three pavilions and office space. The National High

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Volleyball, basketball

One of Lincoln’s newest facilities, the complex boasts 93,500 square feet of indoor space with an eight-basketball court/12volleyball court setup in addition to a 5,000-square-foot athletic training center.

Lincoln Sports Foundation (LSF) Soccer, volleyball, basketball

Located on over 100 acres, LSF boasts professionally maintained soccer fields to host major tournaments in addition to 11 indoor volleyball courts, four basketball courts and one indoor turf field.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Up-close encounters and interactive exhibits are the norm at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, home to more than 400 animals. Now open year-round!

▶ Voted the #1 Attraction for Car Lovers by USA Today, Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed showcases an incredible collection of items in racing and automotive history, a must-see venue for car enthusiasts.

▶ On the National Register for

Historic Places, historic Robber’s Cave offers year-round tours and intrigue.

LINCOLN CVB Derek Bombeck Sales Development Manager 402-436-2354 dbombeck@lincoln.org www.lincoln.org

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Greater Akron, OH

Scan to discover more of what Akron/Summit CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

EASILY ACCESSIBLE FOR MORE THAN HALF THE COUNTRY’S POPULATION, GREATER AKRON’S HERITAGE AND HISTORY SHINES ON AND OFF THE FIELD

Goodyear Hall

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“All positive feedback from teams and players. Mainly, I would hire more ‘Mary Tricaso-es,’ who is an event planner’s dream.”

— Ho Hoffman, 18th Annual Buckeye Classic Softball Tournament

Copley Road Soccer Complex

Firestone Stadium

Akron-Canton Regional Airport serves nearly 2 million passengers each year and is located roughly 10 miles southeast of downtown Akron.

For those traveling by car, I-77 and I-76 connect just southeast of the city, while state routes 59 and 18 run through the heart of Akron.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Copley Road Soccer Complex Soccer

With nine gorgeous grass fields, Copley Road Soccer Complex offers plenty of opportunities for youth teams to compete. Located in West Akron, each field comes netted and lined; spectators may set up chairs behind the lines to cheer on their teams. The Akron Inner City Soccer Club of the Greater Akron Amateur Soccer Association (GAASA) league has hosted youth camps at the complex since 1999 and offers free training for Akron residents. The

facility’s most notable event is its Annual Akron Unity Soccer Tournament.

Firestone Stadium

Baseball, kickball, softball Firestone Stadium works hard to cement itself as a premier venue on the sports scene. The venue was owned by the Firestone Tire Company until 1988 but was later gifted to the City of Akron. The 4,576-seat stadium began a $1.5 million renovation in June 2015 that will improve softball facilities and add a new concession area, two-story team clubhouse, picnic area and training facilities. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Goodyear Hall

Basketball, futsal/soccer, volleyball Hold your next indoor tournament at Goodyear Hall, situated on Goodyear Tire’s sprawling 400-acre campus that dates back to the early 1900s. As part of a 5,500,000-squarefoot project, this hall houses a gymnasium, auditorium, offices, classrooms and numerous other first-class amenities. Designed by Walker and Walker, Goodyear Hall embodies a Gothic Revival style, while the Ohio Savings and Trust inside mimics Neo-Classical Revival architecture. Goodyear has a maximum capacity of 3,500 people and accommodates guests with special needs. The building is conveniently located near the newly renovated Goodyear Theater, which seats 1,458 people.

Louis and Freda Stile Athletics Field House at The University of Akron Field sports, track & field, wrestling

The University of Akron welcomed the $13.8 million Louis and Freda Stile Athletics Field

SportsPlanningGuide.com

House in 2004. This beautiful complex features a 100-yard varsity football training field with turf surfaces and six lanes for indoor track and field events.

James A. Rhodes Arena at The University of Akron Basketball, volleyball

With two courts and a capacity of 5,500 spectators, the arena is home to the basketball and volleyball teams of the University of Akron. A sports medicine and training facility, fan team shop and meeting rooms are also available.

▶ If you’re looking for one of

America’s best burgers, Swenson’s Drive-in offers a unique taste on a classic experience.

▶ Immerse yourself in the total

experience offered by Chill Ice Cream, where the product is made on site in the Historic Arts District of Akron.

▶ Take the family out to the ballgame to catch the Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park.

▶ Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio’s only national park, offers

AKRON/SUMMIT CVB Mary E. Tricaso, CSE CSEE Director of Sales

hiking, biking and running set against a peaceful landscape.

▶ View the eclectic collection

800.245.4254

available at the Akron Art Museum

mtricaso@visitakron-summit.org

or catch a performance by the

www.playakron.com

Akron Symphony Orchestra.

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189

LAKE ERIE SHORES & ISLANDS, OH

Scan to discover more of what Lake Erie Shores & Islands offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

LOCATED ON THE NORTHERN SHORES OF OHIO, AMERICA’S SPORTS & FAMILY FUN CAPITAL OFFERS WORLD-CLASS SPORTS FACILITIES, EXCITING ATTRACTIONS AND THE BEST VENUE FOR WATER SPORTS: LAKE ERIE

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“After 2020 events were cancelled due to Covid, we were able to get multiple events rescheduled on Lake Erie. Without the assistance of Lake Erie Shores & Islands and the City of Sandusky these events could not have happened and much revenue would have been lost!”

— Bill Taylor, Senior Director of Operations Fishing League Worldwide / Major League Fishing

Sports Force Parks

Lake Erie

Cedar Point Sports Center

Lake Erie Shores & Islands is America’s Sports & Family Fun Capital where everyone comes to play! Whether it’s kicking back with toes in the sand or kicking the winning goal, you will discover the region is an extraordinary yearround location to combine sports travel with a family vacation. There are numerous entertainment options to enhance your experience including Cedar Point and the Lake Erie islands.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Lake Erie

Water sports, triathlons One of the biggest attractions of the region, Lake Erie is an ideal spot to host a sporting event. The lake offers several natural venues for different water sports. The tributary rivers serve as courses for canoe and kayak competitions, while the open water provides a good setting for power boating and sailing events. Several bass and walleye fishing tournaments have been held at the lake every year. The shore is also the perfect location for

triathlons, where athletes can enjoy both the land and waters of Lake Erie.

Cedar Point Sports Center

Volleyball, basketball, wrestling, futsal The Cedar Point Sports Center is an exciting indoor recreational facility located a few short miles from Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky. This 145,000 square foot sports complex features 10 full-size basketball courts which convert to 20 full-size volleyball courts.

One of these courts is a championship arena with retractable seating. Other features include @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

a full-service café & concessions, second-story mezzanine with an indoor walking track, event & meeting spaces, and a family entertainment center that includes climbing walls, an arcade, and a “ninja warrior” course.

Sports Force Parks

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

cater to different recreational events. Osborn MetroPark is home to soccer fields, trails, tennis courts, pickleball courts and a nine-hole disc golf course. Eagle Point is a popular spot for kayaking and canoeing and offers several trails for running or walking events.

Baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, football

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions

Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center is a premier outdoor sporting facility located just minutes from Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky. This multipurpose venue features nine synthetic turf fields to host a wide variety of sporting events including baseball, softball, soccer, football and lacrosse tournaments. Every member of the family will enjoy the park’s bungee trampoline, high ropes course, mini-golf, and two playgrounds. An action-packed tournament experience, top-notch food and beverage options and thrilling amenities come together to bring SPORTS.FAMILY.FUN. to life.

Located in Sandusky, Ohio, this versatile sports venue is the area’s largest convention center. The Kalahari Resort features 215,000 square feet of flexible space, with spaces ranging from executive boardrooms to an expansive ballroom. Each space has state-of-the-art A/V and communications technology, wireless internet, varied lighting, house sound and background music. The venue has the capacity to accommodate up to 5,000 people.

▶ Known as the roller coaster

capital of the world, Cedar Point Amusement Park is the place to go for adrenaline-soaked thrills.

▶ Explore the outdoors on Kelleys Island, where you can hike the

Wrestling, cheerleading, gymnastics

coastal trails, kayak near the cliffs or visit the Glacial Grooves State Memorial.

▶ Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island is an iconic place to explore. Check out The Boardwalk to enjoy some delicious food, or head to Massie Cliffside Preserve for beautiful sunset views.

▶ Don’t miss the African Safari

Wildlife Park, the Midwest’s only

LAKE ERIE SHORES & ISLANDS

Erie MetroParks

Baseball, soccer, softball, cycling, running

drive-thru safari. You can feed

Christopher Lewis

exotic animals from your car, letting

Sports Tourism Manager

giraffes and zebras munch straight

419-624-6909

from the food cup in your hand.

chris@shoresandislands.com sports.SHORESandISLANDS.com

The Erie MetroParks consist of 12 parks that

Follow @ChrisLESIsports on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

America’s Sports & Family Fun Capital® Take advantage of our Events Grant!

Contact us today to learn more.

Start coasting at sports.SHORESandISLANDS.com SANDUSKY

SportsPlanningGuide.com

|

PUT-IN-BAY

|

KELLEYS

ISLAND

|

PORT

CLINTON

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191

Burlington, IA

Scan to discover more of what Greater Burlington Convention & Visitors Bureau offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

GREATER BURLINGTON, SITTING ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF IOWA, IS ALREADY ONE OF THE MIDWEST’S FINEST SPORTS HUBS. INDOOR SPORTS FACILITIES ADD TO THE OFFERINGS TO MAKE THIS A YEAR ROUND DESTINATION

Burlington Regional RecPlex

Major airlines like United, American and Delta all fly into the Quad Cities Airport in Moline, about 90 minutes from Burlington. By car, US Route 34 runs from Colorado through the heart of Burlington, while Route 61 runs north-south and stretches to the Quad Cities.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Burlington Regional RecPlex

Soccer, softball, baseball, volleyball The Burlington RecPlex features tournament-class facilities for soccer, softball, baseball and sand volleyball, in addition to concessions and spectator plazas in the guest services building. Top amenities include five softball and baseball diamonds, eight regulation-sized soccer fields, four lighted sand volleyball courts, an all-purpose field, six automatic batting cages, a 1.2-mile paved trail, and shaded outdoor pavilion seating. It

also features great food and beverages, totlot playground equipment and well-lighted, paved parking for 250-plus vehicles. Since its opening in 1999, this versatile complex has served as one of the Midwest’s top facilities for hosting tournaments, including the annual Monster Match soccer tournament hosted by Southeast Soccer Academy.

The FunCity Turf Softball, soccer

After months of buildup and with great expectations, a building set to revolutionize @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES tournament play in Greater Burlington is finally here. The FunCity Turf, which opened in February of 2019, provides almost 80,000 square feet of playing surface. The facility plays host to a variety of sports, including softball and soccer. Standing tall at an impressive 79 feet high and surfaced wall-towall, the facility enables tournament planners and participants to enjoy everything from a full-sized regulation high school soccer field to two 185-foot youth softball fields. Up to eight playing surfaces for soccer can be used at once, as well as two youth softball fields.

The building’s unique design allows for easy field conversion to other sports.

Additionally, the FunCity Turf has batting and pitching cages as well as high-quality turf for longterm use.

The Courts

Basketball, volleyball The FunCity Turf is just the first part of the Greater Burlington Area Indoor Sports Project.

The Courts is an upcoming basketball and volleyball facility which will be located at the PZAZZ! Entertainment Complex in Burlington,

Burlington Regional RecPlex

IA. The project anticipates breaking ground early 2021 and opening fall 2022. The Courts will feature four collegiate basketball and volleyball regulation courts which can be used for a variety of activity outside of just basketball and volleyball. The facility hopes to host a variety of local teams during the week for practices and bring in teams f rom outside the area for tournaments on the weekends. Being located at the PZAZZ! Entertainment Complex will allow visitors access to the already established amenities of the campus; including 3 hotels, indoor/ outdoor water park, hot gaming action, arcade, bowling, laser tag, restaurants, and conference space.

▶ Huck’s Harbor Water Park, part of the PZAZZ! Entertainment Complex, provides fun for the whole family year round with its indoor and outdoor water parks.

▶ Catfish Bend Casino and

PointsBet SportsBook offer a

remarkable gaming experience.

▶ FunCity, another PZAZZ! venue, offers more than 100 interactive arcade games, go-carts and laser tag.

▶ Snake Alley connects the residential and commercial districts via a snaking, winding 275 foot road that drops more than 58 feet, landing it a spot on Ripley’s Believe

GREATER BURLINGTON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

It or Not!’s Odd Spots Across America campaign.

▶ Big Hollow Recreation Area

319-752-6365

houses a 178-acre lake and provides

info@greaterburlington.com

year-round outdoor activities and

VisitBurlingtonIowa.com

wildlife viewing.

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“I have been coming to Burlington for over 13 years to run four different soccer events. The community of Burlington and the people at the RecPlex are second to none. The fields we use and the facility are first class and always ready for us. Staff at the RecPlex are dedicated to providing the best and they leave no doubt. I am excited to start hosting events in the new FunCity Turf facility. My past experiences tell me that it will be first class and well run and supported by the community.”

— Eric Stratman, Adidas Tournament of Champions

The FunCity Turf

The FunCity Turf

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193

Greater Burlington Indoor & Outdoor Sports Facilities

Three Facilities,One Location BURLINGTON, IOWA

The Burlington Regional RecPlex, The FunCity Turf, and The Courts (two new indoor facilities) are your teams destination for tournament play in any season.

Features include: BURLINGTON REGIONAL RECPLEX

YEAR ROUND SPORTS BASEBALL FOOTBALL SOFTBALL SOCCER

• • • • • •

5 Softball/Baseball Diamonds 8 Regulation-Sized Soccer Fields 4 Lighted Sand Volleyball Courts 1 All-Purpose Field 6 Station Automatic Batting Cages Guest Services/Concession Building

THE FUNCITY TURF

• • • •

THE FUNCITY

GreaterBurlington.com

TURF

|

78,500 sq. ft. of Playing Surface 8 Playing Surfaces for Soccer 2 Youth Softball Fields Easy Field Conversion to Other Sports

THE COURTS

Coming Soon

319-750-6365

Muscatine, IA

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

EXPERIENCE WARM MIDWEST HOSPITALITY IN A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION ON THE BANKS OF THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI

Muscatine Soccer Complex

Located in East Central Iowa, Muscatine County borders the Mississippi River and is rich in history, activities, amenities, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. For more information on visiting Muscatine, contact the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 563-263-8895 or www. visitmuscatine.com

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Sports Planning Guide

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Muscatine Soccer Complex

Soccer This impressive 41-acre, $3.8 million soccer facility features eight full-sized state-of-the-art premier soccer fields. Two of the eight fields are internationally sized, lighted and contain amended soils. The complex is fully equipped, including concessions, a media center, restroom facility and a parking area. The complex welcomes about 100,000 visitors annually and hosts events sponsored by national, state and local associations involving participants of all

ages. The complex has been recognized by the National Turf Grass Managers Association as a Best Soccer Facility.

Kent-Stein Park

Baseball, softball, horseshoe, fishing Kent-Stein Park is home to 66 acres and adjoins an 11-acre slough. Park facilities include eight lighted baseball diamonds (including historic Tom Bruner Field), nine lighted softball diamonds, nine lighted horseshoe courts, picnic areas, fishing in the slough, two concession stands and @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

restroom facilities. The park plays host to events sponsored by national, state and local associations involving participants of all ages.

Municipal Golf Course

Golf Golfers of all ages will love this picturesque 18-hole facility located on the north side of Muscatine which offers a complete pro shop, concession area, cart rental and driving range.

Hit your golf ball over the water on No. 13 or test your leg strength on a Par 5 on the nine-hole Foot Golf course (a combination of soccer and golf). In the winter, play a round on the golf simulator and make sure your game is ready for summer. Private and group golf lessons are available.

Rose Bowl Bowling

A bowling center in Muscatine, Rose Bowl also features a nightlife area, banquet room and concessions. With 48 lanes, there’s plenty of space for bowlers of all skill levels and is a great place to host a party. Don’t miss the popular Glow-N-Bowl on Friday and Saturday nights, with large screens playing popular music videos, black lights and all-you-can-bowl for an all-inclusive fee.

Fuller Park Disc Golf Course

Disc Golf Looking for a fun, free activity? This 18-hole disc golf course in Fuller Park accommodates players of all skill levels from first-time recreational players to experienced challengeseekers. Competitors will find themselves going up and down hills and across bridges in this wooded course.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Fish, canoe, kayak, hike and explore at Deep Lakes Park. This 435-acre park includes 130 acres of fishable water and numerous small lakes and ponds with the largest lake totaling 55 acres.

T he National Pearl Button Museum at the History and Industry Center proudly tells Muscatine’s story on

Muscatine Skate Park

becoming the Pearl Button Capital of

Skateboarding, roller blading, BMX Whether you’re a skateboarder, rollerblader or BMX biker, the Muscatine Skate Park is yours for the shredding. This park is located within Musser Park and includes a flat truck, a fenced area with a 100-by-100 foot stunt area and a 90-by-50-foot inline hockey rink.

MUSCATINE PARKS AND RECREATION

the World.

View paintings made by artists recognized from around the world along with fascinating objects connected to Muscatine’s past at the Muscatine Art Center.

Wildcat Den State Park features hiking trails which help visitors enjoy

Richard Klimes

the beauty of nature. Trails wind

Parks and Recreation Director

through various terrain and lead

Ph: 563-263-0241

visitors past Steamboat Rock, Devil’s

rklimes@muscatineiowa.gov

Punchbowl and Fat Man’s Squeeze.

ROSE BOWL Troy Smith Manager Ph: 563-263-0770

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “We love scheduling games, play dates, and more at Muscatine Soccer Complex! We along with our membership have consistently recognized these as top fields in the state, region, and beyond!

THANK YOU MUSCATINE!!”

— Craig Winger, Senior Director, Competitions, Iowa Soccer Municipal Golf Course

Kent-Stein Park

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Fuller Park Disc Golf Course

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Quad Cities, IA

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

WITH VERSATILE VENUES, AN ACCESSIBLE LOCATION LOCATED ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND AFFORDABLE AMENITIES, THE QUAD CITIES REGIONAL DESTINATION IS THE IDEAL LOCATION FOR A SPORTS EVENT

TBK Bank Sports Complex

Located at the intersection of Interstates 74, 80 and 88, the Quad Cities represent the largest metropolitan area on the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and St. Louis. The Quad Cities International Airport has dozens of daily nonstop flights to 11 cities, as well as hundreds of connecting flights from major hubs.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

TBK Bank Sports Complex

Soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, football, lacrosse,tumbling, gymnastics, cheer & dance, wrestling, bowling Conveniently located off I-80 in Bettendorf, Iowa, the TBK Bank Sports Complex is a state-of-the-art, multi-use facility that serves a range of sports events. The 75-acre, 280,000-square-foot indoor complex and its accompanying outdoor sports venue can accommodate all kinds of events and

tournaments. The indoor facility features a turf 11 v 11 soccer/football/lacrosse field, eight regulation-sized basketball and volleyball courts, four sand volleyball courts along with a team training area, fitness center, batting cages, and food vendors. Outside, athletes will find two lighted turf soccer fields, 10 lighted turf baseball/softball fields, and five sand volleyball courts. There are also concessions and 1,571 parking spaces.

The family entertainment center has a fullservice restaurant, 32 bowling lanes, 65 arcade games, two escape rooms, virtual reality, @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

golf simulator, a sports bar and restaurant, banquet and meeting space and a twostory laser tag game. In addition, there is an in-house physical therapy center. Level II Fitness, a full-service, high-end fitness center provides members a top-level fitness experience and has the finest in trainers and equipment. The complex is a great place to host events from big to small.

Modern Woodmen Park Baseball, softball

Located in Davenport, Iowa, Modern Woodmen Park sits right on the banks of the Mississippi River. The stadium is home to the Quad Cities River Bandits, a High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The ballpark has also played host to many collegiate and high school tournaments and events. The facility features 4,000 permanent seats and 2,000 additional seats on the grass and in the picnic area. There is versatile meeting and event space with spectacular views. Families can also enjoy a variety of amusement rides at the park including a Ferris wheel, the Genesis Kidz Koaster, the River Rocker and a Carousel.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

St. Ambrose University

▶Explore QC Museums, family

Track and Field, Soccer, Volleyball, Football, Baseball, Softball, Cheer, Dance

entertainment, river cruises,

St. Ambrose University features an 80,000-square-foot Wellness Center with a 56,000-square-foot field house. Sports events have use of a 200-meter, six-lane track, pole vault areas, long and triple jump pits and four basketball/volley ball courts. The Lee Lohman Arena has a Collegiate regulation size basketball court with seating for 2,000. St. Vincent Athletic Campus features a full-size field for football, soccer, and lacrosse. Two synthetic turf all-purpose fields with spectator seating, press box, and concessions are also part of the St. Vincent Athletic Campus.

St. Ambrose University is located close to shopping, dining, hotels, and entertainment.

outdoor adventures, and live music venues.

▶ QC Ale Trail is popular among craft beer enthusiasts. Quad Cities brewing history goes back as far as 1847 when the first brewery opened in Rock Island, Illinois. Today, new crafters have hit the market to create a scene that is vibrant and continues to grow to all corners of our bi-state region. Blaze a trail through the QC Ale Trail.

▶ Head to a baseball game right along the Mississippi River at Modern Woodmen Park and

VISIT QUAD CITIES

watch the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals go to bat.

Joan Kranovich Director, Sports Business & Growth

▶ Catch a hockey game with

800-747-7800 ext. 831 jkranovich@visitquadcities.com

the Quad City Storm or Arena

visitquadcities.com

Football with the Quad City Steamwheelers.

Modern Woodmen Park

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Working with the Sports QC team was a very enjoyable experience for me. In hosting our NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship, the QC team was on top of everything. They are a great team to work with and really care about the events they are a partner in, which shows through their work.”

— Anthony Goetz, Championship Events Manager, NAIA

St. Ambrose University

TBK Bank Sports Complex

SportsPlanningGuide.com

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SI Site InSpections

Platinum Dance Competition in Columbia, South Carolina.

Photo courtesy of Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center & Columbia SC Sports

SOUTH REGION

T

he Southern area of the country is a great place to compete in sports, be it inside or outside. From football and basketball to a rowing competition and an equestrian event, there is something for everyone in the South. Home to fabulous facilities and superior accommodations and attractions, planners will find these destinations primed and ready to host.

202 212 214 216 219 220 222 224 226 233 234 234 235 235 236 236

Decatur Morgan County, Alabama Winston-Salem, North Carolina Haywood County, North Carolina Greenville-Pitt County, North Carolina Cabarrus County, North Carolina Nash-Rocky Mount, North Carolina Hickory Metro, North Carolina Alamance County, North Carolina Mooresville, North Carolina Bentonville, Arkansas Conway, Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Fort Smith, Arkansas Hot Springs, Arkansas Jonesboro, Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas

SportsPlanningGuide.com

237 237 238 238 239 239 248 250 252 254 257 258 260 264 266 276 279 280 282 284 286 290

North Little Rock, Arkansas Pine Bluff, Arkansas Rogers, Arkansas Russellville, Arkansas Springdale, Arkansas Texarkana, Arkansas Palm Beach County, Florida Orange County Convention Center, Florida Bradenton, Florida World Equestrian Center, Ocala Florida St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Gainesville, Florida Lake County, Florida Lakepoint Sports, Georgia Cobb County, Georgia Columbia, South Carolina Oconee County, South Carolina Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Spartanburg, South Carolina Aiken, South Carolina Greater Beaufort-Port Royal, South Carolina Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Sports Planning Guide

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Decatur, AL

LOCATED ON THE TENNESSEE RIVER AND SPORTING A RICH HERITAGE, DECATUR IS A GREAT PLACE TO HOST YOUR TOURNAMENT

Scan to discover more of what Decatur Morgan County Tourism offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Partnering with Decatur Morgan County Tourism for our nationals events was GREAT! They deliver on all fronts – facilities, resources and support. The whole organization was on board for planning, implementation and wrap-up.

Couldn’t ask for better partners.”

Wilson Morgan Softball Complex

— Sheri Rhodes, National Events Manager, USA Archery

Ingalls Harbor

Jimmy Johns Tennis Complex

Decatur is one of the south’s finest destinations for indoor and outdoor activities. Residing on the Tennessee River, it is home to a gorgeous harbor and pavilion as well as a massive recreational complex. Along with clean and welcoming facilities, Decatur also features a wildlife refuge, visual arts center, water park and a natural science museum. Decatur can be reached by I-65, I-565 and US-72.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Jack Allen Recreation Complex Soccer, disc golf

One of the best multi-use facilities in the South, the Jack Allen Recreation Complex features 10 beautifully maintained international size soccer fields, lighting, locker and shower rooms, a playground area, disc golf course, full-service concession stand, and an easily accessible walking trail. Situated on 77 acres of manicured turf, the complex has hosted numerous soccer events including adult and youth international games, Alabama

State Cup Championships, Presidents Cup and the NAIA Women’s Soccer championships.

Wilson Morgan Softball Complex Softball, baseball

This facility features six 300-foot lighted softball fields with each field equipped with bleacher seating, electronic scoreboards, press boxes, covered dugouts, a telephone system from the press box to the dugouts and more.

Wilson Morgan Softball Complex has hosted slow-pitch softball tournaments, fast-pitch softball tournaments, baseball tournaments @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

and other fun/competitive events. With paved parking for more than 600 vehicles, this massive complex can accommodate nearly any event as it also features a concession stand and handicap accessible restrooms.

Ingalls Harbor & Pavilion Fishing, indoor sports

Construction began in 2011 for the new entertainment pavilion at Ingalls Harbor. The 27,000-square-foot multi-purpose pavilion more than doubled the city’s capacity for hosting large gatherings. Able to accommodate up to 1,200, the pavilion features 23,000 square feet of multi-purpose space and 4,000 square feet of support and service areas. It also features 202 parking spaces and 7 ADA spaces. Ingalls Harbor has also hosted plenty of nationally acclaimed sport fishing tournaments and is considered one of the best boat launch sites in the nation. It has attracted many nationally acclaimed tournaments including the Bassmaster Elite Series, American Bass Anglers, Bassmaster Weekend Series, Major League Fishing – FLW Series events and more.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Jimmy Johns Tennis Complex Tennis

This re-modeled complex features 16 championship hard courts, four championship clay courts, and even two indoor hard courts.

This complex also has a lounge area with restrooms attached, which are handicap accessible. All courts are lighted with a large viewing area. Besides the high-quality courts, Jimmy Johns Tennis Complex also features a backboard area for players to practice their strokes and volleys. In case you forget something, it also has its own Pro Shop.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Wheeler National Wildlife

Refuge is a beautiful 35,000acre wildlife refuge that attracts thousands of wintering waterfowl every year. Twelve federally listed endangered or threatened species call this wildlife refuge home.

▶ Cook Museum of Natural Science is one of the most popular attractions in the community as it hosts educational events for k-12th grade students, contains interactive exhibits, programs for all ages, hands-on stations and live animals.

DECATUR MORGAN COUNTY TOURISM

▶ Point Mallard Water Park features a wave pool, lazy river,

Don Dukemineer, STS, CHSP

speed slides, pro bowl slide, scenic

256-350-2028

lagoon, towering sky pond speed

ddukemineer@decaturcvb.org

slide, three flume tube rides,

www.decaturcvb.org

Olympic pool, and a sandy beach.

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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

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

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

A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

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 208 D o You Hear the North Carolina Beaches Calling?

210 L eave Your Ball at Home for These Fun Sports

©iStock.com/bgblue

SI

212 Winston-Salem

220 Nash County

214 Haywood County

222 Hickory Metro

216 Greenville-Pitt County

224 Alamance County

219 Cabarrus County

226 Mooresville

Site InSpections

Having fun!

Photo courtesy of Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority

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

SportsPlanningGuide.com

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.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

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 fifth 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 flexible, 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 fitness and cardio space, concessions with indoor and outdoor dining, and onsite meeting rooms.

JDL Fast Track

Indoor track & field 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 coaches.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Truist Sports Park

Lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, ultimate Truist Sports Park boasts 13 full-sized fields, including four artificial turf (450,000 total square feet) and 11 of which are lighted. The field house provides concessions, office 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 facilities 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 the Old Salem Museums & Gardens to 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 affiliate 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 wall 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

Tour 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 to 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 place 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

Golfing, fishing, 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 ft 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

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

Lake Logan

Swimming, kayaking, cycling, fishing, 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, fireplaces 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 rural 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 f ront country and backcountry.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ The most visited park in the

country, Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses 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 Ben Wilder 828-944-0762 ben@visitncsmokies.com visitncsmokies.com

memorabilia and a distinct array of unique American automobiles.

▶ Scenic Lake Junaluska is home to the Lake Junaluska Conference

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 to 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 Complex

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

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

ECU Sports

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

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 looks 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 space 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 flexible 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 five 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-Greenville campus 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 Recreation are

watercraft outfitters 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

GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION Paul Sheehan, Director of Sports Dev.

324 acre park with outdoors fun for everyone.

▶ Treat your sweet tooth at Simply

252-329-4200, ext. 4232

Natural Creamery & Jersey Farm

paul@visitgreenvillenc.com

in Ayden where there are ice

www.visitgreenvillenc.com/sports

cream sundaes and cones galore.

Rugby at ECU’s North Recreation Complex

SportsPlanningGuide.com

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 Softball 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 new 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. Cabarrus 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 to 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 Mall is 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—one stadium field and two practice fields. Perfect for tournament play, each state-of-the-art field is equipped with lights and features T°Cool® evaporative cooling technology. Each field is lined for football, soccer, and ticmarked for lacrosse. Cabarrus County is home to five locations with turf fields, all in close 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

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 facilities, outstanding staff and a professional level of maintenance. This 143-acre facility is home to an assortment of recreational programming. The complex includes six

Gerry Brabham

Rocky Mount Sports Complex

youth baseball fields, four interchangeable baseball and softball fields, one championship baseball field, eight soccer/lacrosse fields, a football field, a professional 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

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, configurable 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, team field house, 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 and two 300’ softball fields. This

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park also has a state of the art All Inclusive playground, two soccer fields, two 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 find an

www.rockymountevents.com

exotic waterfowl.

www.sportadvisory.com

NASH COUNTY RECREATION & SENIOR SERVICES

▶ All of your boating and fishing 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 experiences 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, Charlotte 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-squarefoot picnic shelter, picnic tables and grills, an alpine tower ropes course, two playgrounds, a concession stand, walking trail, canoe launch and horseshoe pits, this multiuse park is ideal for soccer, lacrosse, rugby and other sports. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Lake Hickory (Catawba River) Boating, fishing, swimming

Take in the magisterial beauty of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains when you plan an outdoor tournament on Lake Hickory.

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

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 five lighted Little League baseball fields, four lighted youth and adult softball and baseball fields, a field house with concessions, a disc golf course with 18 holes, an umpires and coaches meeting room and much more.

▶ Immerse yourself in the interactive opportunities presented at the SALT Block, which encompasses an entire city block filled with 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

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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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT City Park

Baseball, Softball The flagship of the Burlington Parks system, City Park is home to five athletic fields, an 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 for 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 and two smaller fields used for small-sided games. All fields have Musco field lighting for night use.

Concessions and restrooms are also available.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

Cedarock Park

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.

Cedarock Park is a 500-acre 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 waterfall, gazebos, and picnic shelters.

Tanger Outlets in 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 grass 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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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 first NXT Sports lacrosse tournament in Mooresville, North Carolina. It has genuinely been such a pleasure to 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, Mooresville is located off Interstate 77. I-85 is located south of Mooresville, while I-40 is located north of Mooresville. For those traveling by plane, the closest major airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Talbert Recreation Center

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

Edgemoor Park

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Get in touch with your wild side at the Zootastic Park and

Lazy 5 Ranch.

▶ Fulfill your need for speed at Pit Indoor Kart Racing and 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 f ree 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 football This sports complex features a regulationsized baseball field, three softball fields

with portable pitching mounds and 300 foot fences and lights. Six full size soccer fields, two are artificial turf and four 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, portable pitching mounds and 250 foot fences. The park also contains three multipurpose fields for lacrosse and soccer. Six lighted tennis courts, a disc golf course and a walking trail round out this facility.

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

SPORTS

ARKANSAS GUIDE

Indoors, Outdoors There’s a Perfect Arkansas Venue

13

A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

Arkansas Tourism Partners Assure a Successful Event

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 228

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

I

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 from 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 f rom 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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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 ensuring 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 Shelbey Morris Sales Specialist 501-682-1081 Shelbey.Morris@arkansas.gov SportsPlanningGuide.com

VISIT BENTONVILLE

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

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CONWAY

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. Conway Station Park

FAYETTEVILLE

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. 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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Soccer, baseball, mountain-biking, hiking

Baseball

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.

EXPERIENCE FAYETTEVILLE

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

FORT SMITH

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. Riverfront Skate & Bike Park

HOT SPRINGS

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

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

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

LITTLE ROCK

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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3. Burns Park

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!

LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

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

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

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

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

RUSSELLVILLE

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

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Sports Planning Guide

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

SPRINGDALE

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.

TEXARKANA

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

EXPLORE SPRINGDALE

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

Baseball

Baseball, softball

Conventions

CITY OF TEXARKANA ARKANSAS Adam Dalby Sports Manager 870-779-4943 Adam.Dalby@txkusa.org

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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.

ARKANSAS.COM/SPORTS

2022

FLORIDA GUIDE

Florida is a Sporting Paradise

From Amateur To Professional Events, Florida Has Something For Everyone

The Best Fishing and Boating Can Be Found Here The Sunshine State Is The Perfect Place To Get Active on the Water

A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

Angela A. Suggs President & CEO, Florida Sports Foundation What a great time to be a sports enthusiast in the State of Florida.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have won the last two Stanley Cups. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2021 NFL season as the reigning Super Bowl champions and the Tampa Bay Rays are continuing their 2020 World Series success in 2021.

Besides the success of professional sports in the Tampa Bay area, which has been renamed Champa Bay, there are plenty of other thriving sports ventures in the State of Florida.

Through the efforts and vision of our local partners throughout the state, sports enthusiasts flock to Florida to compete in a variety of athletic endeavors. These efforts on the local level, in turn, produce a thriving economy as athletes come from around the U.S. and the world to “Play in Florida.”

USA Field Hockey Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation

Whether it’s the World’s Largest Amateur Volleyball event, the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, the National Field Hockey Festival at the SportsPlex of Tampa, or the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships at the Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, these events showcase the best Florida has to offer.

These events showcase local facilities, local hospitality and local flavor to visitors from all ages. The local amenities and the generosity of the local hosts sends visitors home with thoughts of planning a return trip to the Sunshine State.

Through the combined efforts of the Florida Sports Foundation and its 30 industry partners, it adds up to a $57.4 billion economic impact of sports, that produces 580.000 jobs statewide. The 2021-22 edition of Sports Planning Guide is an excellent tool to use to plan your next event in the Sunshine State as well as future visits to everything the State of Florida offers.

Come Play in Florida!

Sincerely,

Angela Suggs President & CEO, Florida Sports Foundation

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

FLORIDA ©iStock.com/bgblue

244 T he Best Fishing and Boating can be Found in Florida 246 The Sunshine State is a Sporting Paradise

AAU Volleyball

SI

Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation

Site InSpections 248 Palm Beach County 250 O range County Convention Center 252 Bradenton 254 W orld Equestrian Center, Ocala 257 S t. PetersburgClearwater 258 Gainesville 260 Lake County ON THE COVER: AAU Volleyball Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation

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Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation

Bonefish are plentiful in beautiful Islamorada.

THE BEST FISHING AND BOATING CAN BE FOUND IN FLORIDA An abundance of lakes, rivers and, of course, the ocean makes the Sunshine State a perfect place to get active on the water

By Jill Pillow

W

ith more than 7,700 lakes, 10,550 miles of rivers and 2,276 miles of shoreline, Florida’s fishing options are second-to-none. Thus, it’s no surprise the Sunshine State is often called the Fishing Capital of the World. Florida’s 1,350 miles of saltwater coastline features diverse fish habitats enabling anglers to catch hundreds of beautiful species in picturesque locals.

In fact, more world-record fish are caught in Florida waters than anywhere else in the world.

Not to be outdone, Florida is also known as the Boating Capital of the World as it possesses more registered boats than

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any U.S. state. With so many excellent aquatic destinations across the state, Florida is the perfect place to grab your fishing gear, hop in a boat and enjoy a day on the water.

DESTIN

Destin has earned the nickname The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village because it is home to some of the best saltwater fishing in the United States. Destin’s close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico allows quick access to the gulf’s incredible fishing opportunities. Anglers reap the benefits of generous amounts of fish that reside in the area @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

including snapper, grouper, amberjack, triggerfish, sharks, Mahi Mahi, tarpon, billfish and tuna. Destin is also home to the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo, which began in 1948 and is the ultimate fishing tournament for saltwater anglers of all ages. More than 30,000 people compete for prizes in the annual rodeo.

known for being home to more than 1,000 freshwater lakes with serene hiking trails and nature reserves. Anglers love Lake County because there are a variety of fish to target, but most fishermen (and women) love its excellent array of Largemouth Bass.

FLORIDA KEYS

Sometimes referred to as Florida’s inland sea, Lake Okeechobee, in southern Florida, is the second-largest freshwater lake entirely within U.S. boundaries. Waterways on either side run into the lake, making it part of a 152-mile boating passageway through the middle of the state known as the Okeechobee Waterway.

This picturesque lake is perfect for boat charters and offers some of the state’s best shoreline fishing. And with 730 square miles of trophy-winning saltwater Bass fishing, Lake Okeechobee is a perfect destination to reel in some of the biggest Bass in Florida.

The Florida Keys, and in particular, Key West, are some of the most popular boating destinations in Florida. Stretching from Biscayne National Park in the north more than 125 miles to Key West in the southwest, the Keys attract boaters of all ages.

Some famed boating locations in the Keys include John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo (which encompasses approximately 70 nautical square miles), the Seven Mile Bridge near Lower Duck Key (the longest bridge in the Keys) and Key West Bight Marina, a historic seaport which has plenty of slip-space and easy accessibility to world-class amenities.

FORT LAUDERDALE

Greater Fort Lauderdale has been labeled the Venice of America because it is home to more than 300 miles of inland waterways. It has also been dubbed the Yachting Capital of the World thanks to its more than 40,000 yachts that dock in the area.

This ideal boating combination makes it the perfect place to host the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the world’s largest in-water event showcasing many of the most spectacular boats on the market.

FORT MYERS AND SANIBEL

JACKSONVILLE

The gateway to the St. Johns River, Jacksonville features excellent marinas, hotels and five-star restaurants. This Atlantic Coast city is popular with the boating community thanks to its ample dockage downtown which includes the Metropolitan Park Marina. Jacksonville is also a world-class fishing town as it hosts one of the largest kingfish tournaments in Florida.

LAKE COUNTY

As its name suggests, Lake County, just 35 minutes outside of Orlando, is SportsPlanningGuide.com

Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation

Located on the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida, the Fort Myers/Sanibel area offers a variety of inshore and offshore fishing opportunities. From shorelines to deep sea casting, Lee County is considered one of the best areas in the state for saltwater fly fishing and light tackle fishing. With many world-record fish having been caught in these waters, the area has been called a fisherman’s paradise.

Inshore fishing supplies excellent yearround chances to catch snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, mangrove snapper and a myriad of other species.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

MIAMI

Considered Florida’s Sailing Capital, Miami plays host to three major boat shows: the Miami Yacht Show, Superyacht Miami and the Miami International Boat Show. In February 2022, these three events have joined forces for an unmatched outing of incredible and luxurious seacrafts.

Scheduled for Presidents Day weekend, this massive show will take place at the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center as well as Miami Beach’s Pride Park, which will host experiences for show visitors. Miami is also home to the annual Columbus Day Regatta, which is held in Biscayne Bay. Coconut Grove, which hugs the bay, features the largest marina in Miami with more than 1,000 boats.

ST. AUGUSTINE

The nation’s oldest city is also the nation’s first seaport and is a fishing paradise. Located directly on the intracoastal waterway, this historic town offers a wide range of angling opportunities. Anglers report catching large amounts of redfish in these waters, along with trout, flounder, snapper and even tarpon.

Destin is known as the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG

Tampa contains the state’s largest estuary and is renowned for having some of the best boating in Florida.

Its fishing is also top-notch as anglers are usually assured of a sheltered place to catch a line. St. Petersburg’s inland fishing is renowned as its mangrove shorelines, oyster bars and rich sea grass beds are home to snook, redfish and spotted sea trout.

Those seeking excellent offshore fishing can take a boat that will lead them to beautiful clear water and an abundance of grouper and snapper.

Party boats and private boats are all available to hire, giving anglers more flexibility to target the fish they are seeking.

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Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation

Cross-country meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

THE SUNSHINE STATE IS A SPORTING PARADISE From amateur competitions to professional events, Florida has something for everyone

By Jamie Fischer

W

ith pristine weather and excellent facilities, Florida is a national hub for sports tourism.

Sports enthusiasts travel from across the country, and even globally, to experience the excitement of these events firsthand.

Florida sports have grown into an estimated $57.4 billion per year industry, supporting more than 588,000 jobs for Floridians while attracting more than 16 million international and out-of-state visitors annually. In addition to countless opportunities to watch professionals, Florida also hosts many popular events for amateur athletes. Here are some destinations to consider when planning a sporting event.

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AAU JUNIOR NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS (ORLANDO)

Billed as the World’s Largest Volleyball Event, the 48th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships took place in June 2021 in Orlando and hosted a whopping 56,000 participants from around the world. This annual competition draws thousands of teams (the 2021 event held at the Orange County Convention Center hosted more than 3,400 squads) and accommodates players of all skill levels. The 2021 event brought in an estimated $173.2 million in economic impact to Central Florida during the 12-day competition and hosted nine teams that were ranked in the Top 10 nationally. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

NATIONAL HOCKEY FESTIVAL (TAMPA)

Marking its 40th anniversary, USA Field Hockey will return to the beautiful Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa this fall, taking place November 25-27. The festival will offer play in a variety of ages and always attracts big crowds.

“We are delighted to be returning to Tampa,” said Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s executive director. “The venue is purposely built for elite tournament play and the area is so well served by major airports in Tampa as well as nearby Orlando. We look forward to an awesome National Hockey Festival in the Florida sun.”

The multi-sport Sportsplex is a sizable venue with all fields designed with a professionally maintained Bermudagrass playing surface. Since its last time hosting the festival in 2019, the venue has undergone massive renovations, from the expansion of parking facilities to improved food vending options. The complex is located just 10 minutes from the downtown Tampa area, a spot filled with great dining and entertainment options. Just 20 minutes away there are even more attractions, including Busch Gardens, Adventure Island and the Florida Aquarium.

Tampa is a top-notch destination for amateur competitions, but it is also considered the City of Champions as the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently world champions, while the NHL’s Lightning are back-to-back winners of the Stanley Cup. Even MLB’s Rays reached the World Series in 2020.

NCAA CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (TALLAHASSEE)

Tallahassee, home to Florida State University, is a crosscountry haven as it holds some of the biggest and best crosscountry events in the country. In Fall of 2021, Tallahassee hosts the 2021 NCAA Cross-Country Championships at Apalachee Regional Park. This celebrated meet will feature 255 runners in each of the men’s and women’s races, comprised of 31 teams and 38 individual student-athletes. It is just the second DI NCAA National Championship hosted by Florida State and the first since the 1996 women’s tennis national championships.

“Championship sports are synonymous with Tallahassee.

From youth events through collegiate and professional championships, Visit Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Sports Council and a dedicated community of partners work handin-hand to build winning experiences for sports events,” said Joe Piotrowski, director of Sports for Leon County Tourism SportsPlanningGuide.com

Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation

This unmatched volleyball competition has been recognized over the years as a four-time winner of Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism Award and was named Best Single Amateur Sporting Event by Sports Travel Awards.

When athletes are finished competing, they can enjoy the offerings of Orlando, one of Florida’s most popular destinations that attracts tens of millions of visitors each year. Players can spend time off the court viewing breathtaking fireworks at Walt Disney World or enjoying attractions at Universal Studios Florida. Families can also get an up-close look at dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando or the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium.

USA Field Hockey will return to Tampa this fall. and Visit Tallahassee. “Despite the challenges the industry has faced over the past year, 2021 is shaping up to be Tallahassee’s biggest sports year ever. In addition to crosscountry, Tallahassee will host a multitude of other youth sports including the FHSAA Class 1A, 2A and 3A Football State Championship, Professional Disc Golf’s Open, USSSA Youth Baseball’s Capital Showdown and several elite youth soccer events including the ASG Capital Cup and Florida State Invitational.”

SNOWBIRD BASEBALL NCAA CLASSIC (PORT CHARLOTTE)

This baseball staple is held annually in February in the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Islands area in Port Charlotte. The Classic welcomes teams from across college baseball that hail from the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Eastern United States. Ninety percent of teams return for the Classic each year because it is such a popular event, which makes sense since these Northern teams are thrilled to visit sunny Florida in the middle of winter. Games are run professionally and feature a P.A. announcer, pitch clock and scoreboard operator. All of the fields are ideal for play, dragged, lined and maintained by professional ground crews.

In addition to the Classic, Port Charlotte offers a variety of enticing beachfront attractions and recreational activities.

Located along Florida’s welcoming Gulf Coast, Port Charlotte features more than 165 miles of waterways, and is also home to seven golf courses and Tippecanoe Environmental Park, featuring hiking trails and wildlife viewing through 380 acres of scrub and pine flat woods. From yacht clubs, tennis courts, boating facilities and pools and beaches, there are countless ways to soak up the sun.

FLORIDA SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL

Baseball fans can enjoy a Major League Baseball-centered getaway at Florida’s Spring Training facilities located in various areas. Florida’s Grapefruit League consists of 15 teams playing in 13 cities spanning the state, including the Atlanta Braves in North Port, the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, and of course, the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte. The St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins both train at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, virtually ensuring you’ll see a game at this beautiful stadium during the spring.

Since 2000, more than 31 million fans have enjoyed Florida Spring Training baseball during the month of March. Next year, you can count yourself among that ever-growing number as you watch the boys of summer hone their skills in a picturesque locale.

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Palm Beach County, Fl

Scan to discover more of what Palm Beach County Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

ELITE FACILITIES, WORLD-CLASS ATTRACTIONS AND KNOWLEDGEABLE EXPERTS MAKE PALM BEACH COUNTY A TOP SPORTS DESTINATION

International Polo Club

Stretching from Florida’s Atlantic coast into the state’s rural center, Palm Beach County is easily accessible via Interstate 95. The Palm Beaches are serviced directly via Palm Beach International Airport, with Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport as alternative options to the south.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches Baseball, Multipurpose

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is the Spring Training home to the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals and 2017 World Series champion Houston Astros.

Designed with an elegant wrap-around concourse and inviting sightlines, the 160-acre complex features a fan-friendly 7,700-capacity stadium as its centerpiece, along with six practice fields per team. A total of 13 MLB fields and five 120-by-80-yard multipurpose athletic fields are covered in beautiful Bermuda grass and cater to soccer, lacrosse, football, rugby, and more.

Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium Baseball, Multipurpose

One of the region’s preeminent baseball stadiums for more than 20 years, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is the current Spring Training home of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, and is also the only complex in the country that is home to four Minor League Baseball teams.

The stadium seats 8,030, including box suites, and a press box, professional scoreboard and JumboTron enhance the experience for fans of all ages. In addition to the main lighted stadium field, the complex features 12 full-size baseball fields with MLB dimensions—six which are lit for night play—on nearly 120 acres in the cozy Abacoa neighborhood of Jupiter, Florida.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

International Polo Club Palm Beach Polo, Multipurpose

The International Polo Club Palm Beach is a premier polo destination hosting the most prestigious tournaments in the United States with some of the world’s highestranked players. The centerpiece of the winter polo season, and spanning nearly 250 acres, IPC is the largest spectator-f riendly polo facility in the U.S. Its seven polo fields can be converted into 47 multipurpose fields, ideal for rugby, field hockey, lacrosse, football, soccer and more. In 2017, the Florida Sports Foundation named IPC the “Large Market Sports Venue of the Year.” Created with players and fans in mind, the stadium welcomes up to 794 spectators, with an additional 1,028 box seats, and features 7,000 square feet of indoor usable floor space.

Palm Beach County Convention Center Multipurpose

Walking distance from the bustling nightlife and dining scene of downtown West Palm Beach, the Palm Beach County Convention Center presents a spectacular setting for conventions, tradeshows, meetings and social events. An architectural masterpiece with state-of-the-art amenities, the 350,000-square- foot center features a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall which can

be divided into two 50,000-square-foot areas that can be used for a variety of sporting events, a 22,000-square-foot ballroom and 21,000 square feet of flexible breakout space divisible into 19 rooms. Parking is located onsite at the convention center’s parking garage which features over 2,600 spaces. The Hilton West Palm Beach has 400 luxurious rooms and suites, an additional 24,000 square feet of meeting space, a modern restaurant with outdoor dining and an infinity pool with full-service poolside bar.

Gardens North County District Park

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ The Palm Beaches are home to 47 miles of pristine Atlantic

Ocean beaches from Jupiter to Boca Raton.

▶ Home to more than 160 golf

courses, many of them public, it’s easy to see why The Palm Beaches are Florida’s Golf Capital.

▶ With an average winter

Multipurpose

temperature of 76 degrees, The Palm Beaches has great weather

Gardens North County District Park opened in summer 2019 on 82 acres of land in the immaculate and inviting City of Palm Beach Gardens. Soccer players can get their kicks on the 10 lighted multipurpose fields. The on-site Joseph R. Russo Athletic Complex is notable for its awardwinning Palm Beach Gardens Tennis & Pickleball Center, which contains 18 Har-Tru courts for tennis and 12 pickleball courts, four of which are lit for evening play.

to enjoy golfing, fishing, and other outdoor pursuits.

Palm Beach County Sports

Commission offers unparalleled customer service consistently while offering a multitude of event management services including pre-event planning, operational support, permitting,

PALM BEACH COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

public relations, and on-site staff assistance. Our sports

Glen Allen, Director of Sports

commission has the tools and

Development

resources to make any event a

561-233-3174

success. Just bring your game –

gallen@palmbeachsports.com

we’ll handle all the rest.

www.palmbeachsports.com

Palm Beach County Convention Center

The Gardens North County District Park

Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium

Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

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Orange County Convention Center

Scan to discover more of what Orange County Convention Center offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

THE AWARD-WINNING ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER IN ORLANDO, FLA. IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXTENSIVE SPACE, STATE-OF-THE-ART AMENITIES, COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE

Located in the heart of Orlando’s tourist corridor, The Center of Hospitality is accessible for both domestic and transatlantic travelers. Offering convenience and connectivity, the Center is just 15 minutes from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) and 45 minutes from Sanford Orlando International Airport (SFB) making it easy and affordable for teams in the Southeastern portion of the U.S. to reach the center.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

North-South Building

Volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, gymnastics, taekwondo, wrestling, indoor sports With more than 950,000 square feet of exhibition space, the North-South Building offers exceptional flexibility for diverse sporting events. Home to the world’s largest volleyball competition, the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championship, the 2021 event broke records, welcoming more than 135,000 guests and more than 3,445 teams from around the world.

West Building

Volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, gymnastics, taekwondo, indoor sports Boasting more than 1 million square feet in exhibit space, the OCCC’s West Building has welcomed a wide variety of high-profile sporting events, including WrestleMania Axxess, USA Volleyball Florida Region and American Open Cheer and Mr. Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend. Designed with flexibility and functionality in mind, the modern West Building offers state-ofthe-art amenities for attendees, including newly renovated food courts and refreshment areas. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Competing Safely at the OCCC As a Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accredited venue, the OCCC has taken every precaution to ensure a safe and seamless experience for sporting events at The Center of Hospitality. This includes enhanced cleaning in line with GBAC STAR standards, collaborating with Orlando Health to offer the first-of-itskind medical concierge service for attendees, and working closely with groups to identify safe solutions that tailor to their event and adhere to current guidelines. With ample space for physical distancing, the OCCC can help devise solutions to create a controlled and organized space, so that you can host your next sporting event with confidence.

Notable Recent and Upcoming Events In 2020, The Center of Hospitality hosted 11 sporting events, welcoming more than 72,000 participants, coaches, chaperones and attendees.

In the following year, the OCCC welcomed twice as many – hosting 27 sporting events with more than 393,000 attendees.

2021 Highlights • USA Volleyball Sunshine Volleyball Classic (March 2021)

• All Star Challenge Cheer & Dance (March 2021) • AAU Spring, Easter and Memorial Day Basketball Classic (March – May 2021) • AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships (June 2021) Offering the best-in-class service, location and venue, many sporting events return to The Center of Hospitality year-after-year, solidifying the Center’s ability to satisfy and exceed expectations.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ See your favorite characters, fantasy landscapes and thrilling rides at Universal Orlando Resort, which is home to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay.

▶ Immerse yourself into the wonders of marine life and hop on a variety of rides and enjoy a wealth of attractions at

Returning Sporting Events • All Out Grand Nationals (January 2022) • Florida Volleyball Challenge (April 2022) • USA Volleyball Sunshine Volleyball Classic (April 2022) • AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships (June 2022)

SeaWorld Orlando.

▶ ICON Park is an entertainment complex for the whole family featuring more than 40 restaurants, funky bars, boutique shops and amusement park rides.

▶ P ointe Orlando, a beautiful outdoor shopping center,

ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER

offers more than 40 unique stores, delicious restaurants

Eric Blanc, CMP

and exciting nightlife near

(407) 685-9833

Orlando’s entertainment center,

Eric.Blanc@occc.net

International Drive.

www.occc.net

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“We are pleased to have been able to yet again offer the opportunity to let athletes do what they really want to do, and that’s to play. The 2021 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center welcomed our biggest numbers to date, positively impacting not only the AAU organization but also the Central Florida area as well. Hosting such a large event successfully would not be possible without the dedication, commitment and tireless efforts of the Orange County Convention Center team.”

The OCCC’s West Building has hosted a variety of high-profile sporting events through the years, including WestleMania Axxess, USA Volleyball Florida Region

— Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan, President/CEO of the AAU

and American Open Cheer.

The OCCC West and North-South buildings offer 2.1 million square feet of exhibit space.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

West Building newly renovated food courts and refreshment areas.

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BRADENTON, FL

Scan to discover more of what Bradenton Area Sports offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

WELCOME TO THE EMERGING ALL-STAR OF SPORTS IN FLORIDA. DOZENS OF FIRST-RATE SPORTS FACILITIES ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE BRADENTON AREA—ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CHOOSE WHERE TO COMPETE

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

IMG Academy

“We want to thank Bradenton Area Sports for their continued support and assisting at our tournaments. We have built a great working relationship and look forward to future opportunities.”

— Cristian Cubillas, CONCACAF

Premier Sports Campus

Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex

The Bradenton Area has been a perennial favorite for athletes, teams and their coaches for years. The superb weather, welcoming attitude and tremendous value all combine to make it a top sports destination.

And for many sports, the area offers the finest facilities for training and sporting events in the nation. Let us help you get your game on!

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT IMG Academy

Premier Sports Campus

IMG Academy is the most prestigious sports performance complex in the world. This megacomplex features over 50 tennis courts, over 20 multi-sport fields and an 18-hole golf course. The Academy also has four convertible basketball courts, weight rooms totaling more than 10,000 square feet of space and a 5,000-seat stadium. IMG Academy annually attracts nearly 200,000 athletes, coaches and spectators from 100 countries.

The Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch hosts regional and national tournaments throughout the year. The campus holds 23 contiguous FIFA-approved Bermuda grass fields, eight of which are lighted. A 4,000-seat stadium completes the facility’s offerings. All the fields are equipped with 65,000 square-feet of underground irrigation systems.

Baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field

Ultimate f risbee, football, lacrosse, rugby, soccer

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

LECOM Park Baseball

For more than 90 years, LECOM Park has been a source of fun and excitement in Bradenton. This 8,500+ person, stateof-the-art stadium is perfect for baseball training and tournaments. A 19,000 squarefoot boardwalk spanning the outfield provides an exceptional experience for both athletes and fans.

Pirate City Baseball

Pirate City provides tournament space and amenities for sports planners everywhere.

This massive venue includes four full-sized baseball fields; each named after Hall of Fame or Pirates luminaries and equipped with bleacher and grandstand seats.

State College of Florida (SCF)

Baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, volleyball

of Florida campus in Bradenton offers a number of facilities and accommodations.

Manatee County Sports Complexes Baseball, rowing, t-ball, softball, soccer, football, basketball

The Bradenton Area offers a number of pristine, landscaped parks to host your next sporting event. With six top-notch facilities designed to accommodate large crowds and multiple events, they include seven big league fields, 19 little league fields, five t-ball fields, 13 softball fields, 23 soccer fields, five football fields, eight outdoor courts and the Manatee County-owned Fort Hamer Rowing Facility.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Just minutes from the world-class, white-sand beaches Bradenton is known for, visitors will find unbeatable opportunities to enjoy the region’s rich history.

▶ At the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, visitors can study

fossils and prehistoric archeological artifacts, explore space at the Bishop Planetarium, and learn about wild manatees and witness their rehabilitation at the Parker Manatee Aquarium.

▶ Thrill-seekers can climb, zip BRADENTON AREA SPORTS

and swing their way through TreeUmph! Adventure Course.

Elliott Falcione 941-729-9177 sports@bacvb.com bradentonareasports.com

Home of the Manatees, the State College

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World Equestrian Center, Ocala, FL OCALA’S WORLD EQUESTRIAN CENTER OFFERS STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES, UNBEATABLE LODGING AND A VARIETY OF DINING, MAKING IT THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT

Scan to discover more of what World Equestrian Center Ocala offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

World Equestrian Center

The World Equestrian Center is home to two exposition centers and five climate-controlled arenas with more than 700,000 square feet of flexible indoor space. The center is an allin-one sports and recreation facility featuring full-service dining, shopping, a luxury hotel, RV park and Home Away from Home units. It includes outdoor venues and expansive fields to accommodate many events.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Exposition Centers

Tournaments, Trade Shows, Conventions, Conferences, Events Two state-of-the-art exposition centers provide 132,300 square feet of contiguous column-f ree space, making this the perfect venue for local, regional and national events.

Aside from hosting sporting events, the centers can host sports meetings, conventions and trade shows.World Equestrian Center – Ocala has flexible indoor space along with multiple outdoor venues designed to

accommodate a variety of athletic, recreation and sporting events. The centers’ dimensions are 540’ by 245’ and have ceiling heights of 50’ (highest) to 18’ (lowest point). This multipurpose venue is located near major thoroughfares and is easily accessible to surrounding airports including Ocala, Gainesville, Orlando and Tampa.

World Equestrian Center Stadium

Shows, Tournaments, Special Events The 152,000-sqaure-foot World Equestrian Center Stadium is the jewel of the facility. It @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Grand Outdoor Arena

Shows, Tournaments, Special Events The 128,000-square-foot Grand Outdoor Arena is the centerpiece of the facility. The Grand Outdoor Arena design accommodates international scale competitions in the grand style of the most well-respected equestrian sports complexes in the world. Its amenities include: A covered grandstand on two sides, Alfresco VIP dining, two 30’ by 60’ LED Walls, a state-of-the-art sound system and allweather footing.

Arenas 1-4

Shows, Tournaments Enjoy the comfort of climate-controlled arenas while being up close to the action.

The four multipurpose, indoor arenas accommodate nearly 1,400 spectators in stadium-style seating. World Equestrian

Center – Ocala features LED lighting, three LED screens and high-speed Wifi. Its mezzanine suites are perfect for meetings and hospitality. Arenas one and two feature three mezzanine suites with the largest covering 2,000 square feet. Arenas three and four feature two suites with the largest covering 3,000 square feet and the second measuring 2,000 square feet.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ S ince the 1870s, Silver Springs

State Park has been famous for its crystal-clear, five-mile Silver River and surrounding forest.

Visitors can take a glass-bottom boat tour of the river, walk the park’s gardens, hike, visit the museum or eat at one of the two restaurants.

Arena 5

Shows, Tournaments This new arena complements Arenas 1 through 4 and features 3,400 seats, two LED walls and one four-sided LED wall, which is similar to Expo Centers 1 and 2. It also contains sand/clay footing that can be covered to host various indoor sports. There are also built-in concession stands.

▶ H ome to a collection of over 18,000 permanent pieces, a walkable outdoor sculpture garden and a variety of interchanging exhibits, the Appleton Museum of Art is an art lover’s dream.

▶ O cala’s Historic Downtown

Square is at the center of the historic district and within

WORLD EQUESTRIAN CENTER OCALA

walking distance to shopping, dining, and nightlife. The Square

Rodney Gutierrez, CMP

is a gathering place for concerts

352-414-7849

and community events like First

rodney.gutierrez@wec.net

Friday Art Walks. The Downtown

worldequestriancenter.com/ocala-fl

Square is also the perfect place to meet with friends.

iStock.com/FatCamera

features all-weather footing with dedicated warmup areas and covered pavilions. Covered grandstand seating surrounds the field to provide excellent viewing opportunities for spectators. Amenities include: multiple concession stands, a 30’x60’ LED Wall, stateof-the art sound system and enclosed areas for meetings or merchandise.

World Equestrian Center

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Scan to discover more of what Visit St. Pete Clearwater offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL LOCATED IN FLORIDA’S SUNNY TAMPA BAY AREA, ST. PETERSBURGCLEARWATER SPOT-LIGHTS SEVERAL SPACIOUS SPORTS FACILITIES AND ENTERTAINING ATTRACTIONS FOR YOUR UPCOMING ATHLETIC EVENT

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Visit St. Pete Clearwater’s support and level of commitment to USA Softball year after year is beyond exceptional.

Every event we have in Clearwater has been a smooth process from beginning to end. VSPC has one of the best staff to work with, and we will continue to have our events there.”

-Craig Cress, USA Softball

Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort

Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex

Situated off the coast of the breathtaking Old Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg-Clearwater can be easily traversed by Interstate 75 and Interstate 275 that join to the surrounding neighborhoods. St. PeteClearwater International Airport is conveniently located just 15 minutes away.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ St. Pete Beach offers a variety of watersports, shopping, restaurants, galleries and more.

It has plenty of options that please families or solo travelers.

▶ Touted as the Southeast’s largest waterfront playground, the new St. Pete Pier offers something for everyone.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex Softball, baseball

Serving as Clearwater’s go-to softball facility, the expansive Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex is the city’s state and national award-winning softball complex. Across three locations you will find nine natural-grass fields, all of which are linked by the East-West Trail. Available for tour-naments are five 300-foot fields, two 250-foot fields and two 200-foot fields. The highly-acclaimed facility includes soft toss areas with batting cages for pre-game warm-ups and practices, and two fields feature the latest technology with covered batting tunnels. The complex has hosted the prestigious St. Pete/ Clearwater Elite Invitational.

North Shore Aquatics Complex Swimming, diving, water polo, water sports

Situated on the St. Petersburg waterfront, St. Petersburg’s premier pool spotlights a

number of facilities that will enhance your swimmers’ taxing days of practices and meets.

The complex features a 50-meter main pool, 25-meter warm-up pool, a play pool equipped with flume slides and zero depth entry.

Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort Golf

This beautiful resort has hosted the nationally televised PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship and is a bucket-list golf destination. Home to four outstanding courses, including the top-rated Copperhead Course, this course is a favorite among some of the world’s finest golf professionals.

VISIT ST. PETE CLEARWATER Craig Campbell 727-464-7254 craig@visitspc.com www.SportsSPC.com

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Gainesville, FL

HOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND ELITE SPORTS VENUES WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF MUSEUMS AND STATE PARKS, THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO IN ALACHUA COUNTY

Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center

Scan to discover more of what Gainesville Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“It is our mission to continue to build leaders through teamwork, sportsmanship and citizenship, and there is no doubt in our mind that our partnership with the GSC gives us the ability to follow through with that objective. One of our biggest goals is to find quality venues for our state championship events. We believe that when our student-athletes enter the venues the GSC has to offer, including the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, they immediately think they are on the world’s biggest stage.”

— Kellie Doucette, Director of Athletics, Florida High School Athletic Association

Legacy Park

Champions Park

Gainesville is accessible via a number of local roads, though Interstate 75 at its western edge connects motorists on the road from Atlanta to Tampa. If you’re flying, Gainesville is serviced through Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), which offers flights through American Eagle, Delta and Delta Connection.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Legacy Park

Baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, karate, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, volleyball Legacy Park is a major hub for sports tournaments, including the USA Gymnastics Men’s Florida State Championship, USA Gymnastics Men’s Southeast Regionals and the Sunshine State Basketball Championship.

The 100-acre facility was awarded the Florida Sports Foundation Mid-Market Venue of the Year Award in 2019. The outdoor part of

the complex is joined with the Hal Brady Recreational Sports Complex. Teams will have access to five baseball and softball fields equipped with lighting and six other multisport fields plus a brand new amphitheater.

The Championship softball field offers an air-conditioned press box and seating for up to 2,500 spectators. Planners can also host competitions indoors, where they will find 40,000 square feet of space, 30,000 of which is open wooden floor space.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Stephen C. O’Connell Center Multipurpose

Host sports competitions of all levels at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. This popular venue is home to University of Florida sports as well as the USA Synchronized Swimming Collegiate Championship, the USA Weightlifting National University & Under 25 Championships, and the Florida High School Athletic Association Competitive Cheerleading State Championship. This 292,000-square-foot facility houses a variety of sports arenas, including a main court that seats a maximum of 12,000 guests. Athletes will also find 20,000 square feet of open space and an eight-lane indoor pool.

Alachua County Event Center at Celebration Pointe Basketball, volleyball, pickleball, baseball, cheerleading, track

This 210,000-square-foot indoor facility will consist of an indoor banked track, 13

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basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts, 21 pickleball courts, six basketball cross courts, six MLB batting cages, competition cheer studio, PT and recover room, speed, weight and a conditioning room. Its estimated date of completion is December 2022.

Easton-Newberry Sports Complex Multipurpose, archery

The Easton-Newberry Sports Complex is comprised of 100 acres of multi-recreation use and archery-specific property. The archery program focuses on training archers and coaches and provides a world-class venue to host archery events of all sizes and styles.

GAINESVILLE SPORTS COMMISSION Joleen Cacciatore Miller Executive Director 352-338-9300

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Explore more than 30 miles of single-track mountain bike trails through Florida hammock woodland at San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park.

▶ Hang loose with more than 200

bats on the premises of the Lubee Bat Conservancy.

▶ The Cade Museum for Creativity

and Invention is an immersive and interactive museum named after Dr. Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade.

▶ Tubing down one of Gainesville’s

freshwater springs and rivers is a popular activity that all can enjoy.

▶ Tour the University of Florida and

jcacciatore@gainesvillesportscommission.com

the Gateway of Champions at Ben

www.gainesvillesportscommission.com

Hill Griffin Stadium.

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Lake County, FL

Scan to discover more of what Visit Lake County, FL offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ORLANDO, LAKE COUNTY HAS PLENTY TO OFFER ON ITS OWN MERITS AS IT STAKES ITS CLAIM AS A PREMIER ATHLETIC DESTINATION

The National Training Center

The Big House

Mission Inn Resort & Club

Whether you are hosting a championship event or a team training session, Lake County’s natural resources and top-notch facilities welcomes a variety of sports including golf, fishing, watersports, triathlons, beach volleyball, softball and more. All located 30 minutes from Orlando, Florida.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

complex (six fields) and a boating complex used for fishing tournaments.

Sand volleyball, soccer, fishing

The Big House

Hickory Point Park/Hickory Point Beach Located in Tavares, the Hickory Point Beach sand volleyball complex is Florida’s largest beach volleyball complex with 21 sand volleyball courts ready for action.

Hickory Point Beach is a national training site for the USA Volleyball Beach ParaVolley program. Hickory Point Beach has hosted the AVCA Small College Beach Championships, professional events, and many more. Hickory Point Park is home to the Mike Stone Soccer

Basketball, volleyball The Big House, located in Tavares, Florida, is a state-of-the-art 162,000-square-foot recreational facility with nine basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts and more. The flexibility of the venue allows it to host a variety of events and its proximity to accommodations lends itself to a great visitor experience.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Mission Inn Resort & Club Golf

Spectacular vistas, sparkling water hazards and a stunning—yet challenging—course layout separate tournament play at the Mission Inn Resort & Club, which has a particular expertise when it comes to hosting golf tournaments.

Just 35 minutes from Orlando, the club boasts two championship-caliber golf courses in the El Campeón and Las Colinas courses, which blend right in with the surrounding Florida landscape.

Mission Inn offers you an escape to a spectacular Central Florida golf vacation, a dream wedding or a romantic couples getaway.

sports performance through great coaching.

The NTC campus includes a Track & Field Complex, Aquatic Center, five multipuropse athletic fields and the Legends Way Ballfields softball complex. The Track & Field Complex features a 400-meter Eurotan Premier Sandwich (an impermeable synthetic surface) track and grass infield that supports multiple events. The National Training Center is a training site for many Olympic athletes that competed in Tokyo 2020 and also hosted a Union Americana de Natacion (UANA) Swimming Qualifier prior to the Olympic games.

This state-of-the-art training center located in Clermont is nationally recognized as a USA Triathlon Certified Performance Center thanks to the available services in running, swimming, cycling, wellness and nutrition that maximizes

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▶ Revolution Adventures lets guests cruise around a 230-acre property on ATVs, go land-to-sea with the Mucky Duck amphibious vehicle or try their hand at target archery or clay-shooting.

▶ The Jones Brothers Seaplane

Adventures give guests a birdseye view of Orlando’s attractions, the Harris Chain of Lakes, Mount Dora and much more.

▶ Tour a working citrus and cattle

The National Training Center Swimming, soccer, softball, track and field

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

ranch in the World’s Largest 4x4

VISIT LAKE COUNTY, FL Steven Clenney 352-742-3919 sclenney@lakecountyfl.gov visitlakefl.com/sports

Monster Truck Adventure at the Showcase of Citrus.

▶ Experience award-winning festivals, fine dining, shopping and more in historic downtown Mount Dora.

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better than Business^as Usual

As North America’s premier location for safe in-person events, the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) has successfully welcomed nearly 100 conventions, trade shows, meetings, consumer and sporting events since July 2020. When you host your event at the Center of Hospitality, our expertise and success enables you to do Business Better Than Usual through enhanced health and safety protocols in Orlando, the world’s most trusted destination.

#BusinessBetterThanUsual | 1-800-345-9845 | sales@occc.net | occc.net

LakePoint Sports, GA

Scan to discover more of what LakePoint Sports offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

THIS PREMIER YOUTH SPORTS DESTINATION HOSTS MORE THAN 30 SPORTS YEAR-ROUND

LakePoint Campus

LakePoint Sports, the premier youth sports destination in the country, serves athletes in more than 30 sports yearround, including baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics and cheer.

Based in the greater Atlanta area, the 1,300-acre LakePoint Sports campus features the 170,000-square-foot Champions Center with the world’s largest continuous wood floor.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

LakePoint Champions Center

Basketball, Volleyball, Gymnastics, Cheer, Futsal The 170,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Champions Center is the perfect venue for tournaments and trade shows, as well as corporate meetings and events. Home to the world’s largest continuous world floor, the Champions Center features 12 basketball courts that convert into 24 volleyball courts. The top high school athletes in basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, cheer and Futsal all compete in the

Champions Center. The venue plays host to Nike, Under Armour, adidas, and RYZE Hoops travel basketball tournaments. The venue is equipped with over 70 state-of-the-art cameras for live streaming and video-on-demand services.

The 125,000 square feet of clear-span space is perfect to host local, regional, and national conventions or trade shows.

Baseball Village at LakePoint Sports

Baseball The LakePoint Sports Baseball Village has eight major league-sized, all turf fields with two @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Prep Baseball Report’s Future

scout towers each overlooking four fields. Each field is equipped with two dugouts, two batting cages and two bullpens. LakePoint is focused on state-of-the-art technology in the Baseball Village as there are seven cameras on each field for live streaming and video-on-demand service.

It is the flagship campus for Prep Baseball Report (PBR) and all their major tournaments. It hosts multiple events including the PBR Future Games, National Program Invitational, and Upperclass Fall World Series.

Beach Pavilion at LakePoint Sports

Volleyball The Beach Pavilion features a two-story view deck that overlooks 10 beach volleyball courts.

The venue has played host to AVP qualifiers, collegiate championships, and hundreds of high school tournaments. The Beach Pavilion also plays host to outdoor corporate events and concerts.

Multi-Sport Complex

Soccer, Lacrosse, Flag Football The Multi-Sport Complex has three multisport fields that are home to soccer, lacrosse, and flag football tournaments. State-of-the-

LakePoint Champions Center

art live streaming and video-on-demand technology are also part of each field. The multi-sport fields also play host to concerts and local festivals. The turf is currently being renovated and the venue will reopen in 2022.

Terminus Wake Park

Aquatic Sports Terminus Wake Park is Georgia’s first cable wake venue designed for all ages and skill levels.

It features two full-sized cable lakes, a Learnto-Ride cable and the Aqua park, an inflatable obstacle course on the water.

Games is a premier scouting event that features the top uncommitted high school players in the U.S. and Canada. Over 300 colleges attend this end of summer event with hundreds of scholarships being offered after it is over.

All roads lead to LakePoint as the best travel teams from across the country are invited to play in Prep Baseball Report’s 14u, 15u, 16u, and 17u National Championships.

The RYZE Hoops Tip Off Classic in late March launches the travel basketball events at LakePoint.

This tournament annually features over 100 of the best teams in the country.

LAKEPOINT SPORTS

NIKE, Under Armour, Adidas:

Dean Keener

Each iconic show brand holds a

Senior Vice President,

tournament from their respective

Business Development

premier travel basketball circuit. The

404-263-0495

Champions Center is the only venue

Dean.Keener@LakePointSports.com

in the country to host all three

LakePointSports.com

brands in the same calendar year.

LakePoint Champions Center

Baseball Village at LakePoint Sports

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Cobb County, GA

Scan to discover more of what Cobb Sports Alliance offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTY IS HOME TO MULTIPLE MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS AND HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE Kennesaw State University Sports and Entertainment Park

“Over the past 19 years, Perfect Game has called Cobb County and metro Atlanta home for the largest amateur travel baseball tournaments in the country we host. The Cobb Sports Alliance has been a huge asset to the communities’ efforts to provide leadership, guidance, and access to the many amenities, facilities, and companies that has assisted us in growing the events to the size they are today.”

— Jerry Ford, President/Founder

Football

Kennesaw State University Sports and Entertainment Park

Cobb County is home to more than 100 million square feet dedicated to major league excitement, including the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta United and Rugby ATL. Ready to play?

Then bring your A-game to one of Cobb’s many sports facilities, parks and lakes. Whether you’re spectating or participating, Cobb is ready for you.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Kennesaw State University Sports and Entertainment Park

Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Track & Field, Flag Football, Lacrosse, Rugby KSU Sports and Entertainment Park in Kennesaw boasts Fifth Third Bank Stadium. This 8,300-seat arena can host football, soccer and lacrosse games on its regulation-size field and can keep spectators happy with all the typical amenities you would expect from a large, modern sports arena. It has The Perch, which comprises three lighted synthetic fields, one natural-turf

field and four sand volleyball courts. The park also offers The Track, an eight-lane Rekortan-surfaced, NCAA regulation track with a water pit for steeplechase and separate areas for field events.

Within its 88-acres are numerous concession options, a walking trail, a lake and concert venues.

Cobb Galleria Centre

Volleyball, Wrestling, Cheerleading, Martial Arts, Basketball, Esports Cobb Galleria Centre has garnered national recognition as one of the leading convention centers, hosting over 15,000 events and catering @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

to millions of guests. With 320,000 square feet of overall space including 144,000 square feet of flexible exhibition space, this state-of-the-art venue delivers superior service and amenities within the 88-acre beautifully landscaped Galleria complex, conveniently located in prestigious Northwest Atlanta.

Acworth Community Center

Basketball, Volleyball, Pickleball, Cheerleading The center is a beautiful, 44,000-square-foot facility located minutes from I-75. The facility includes two high school regulation basketball courts, which are also painted for volleyball and pickleball; a multi-purpose classroom, group exercise room and banquet hall. Along with programming in the areas of instructional classes, events, athletics, camps, active adult programs, fitness and therapeutic recreation, the facility includes several rental options for both small- and large-scale events.

Al Bishop Softball Complex

Softball This complex in Marietta offers five softball fields that play host to nearly 2,500 tournament games and another 2,000 league games

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annually. With a control building, a picnic pavilion and parking aplenty, the Al Bishop Softball Complex is more than capable of hosting your next event.

Lost Mountain Park

Softball, Baseball, Football, Soccer, Fishing, Tennis This park in Powder Springs offers eight softball fields, one baseball field, two football/ soccer fields, 12 tennis courts and two fishing ponds. In addition, it boasts three concession buildings, two playgrounds, three picnic pavilions, batting cages and walking tracks. It’s the perfect place to host an event.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES Home to the Atlanta Braves, Truist Park and the Battery Atlanta is a stateof-the-art 41,000-seat ballpark that offers stunning views, foodie-worthy concessions and lots of fun activities for the entire family. It truly is the perfect marriage of classic ballpark feel, modern amenities and Southern hospitality.

Tours are available year-round.

If you stay in Cobb County, you’ll find tons of opportunities for fun and adventure. Scream your head off on a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Go for a walk, run or hike on the scenic Silver Comet Trail. Tour a Civil War battlefield at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park or land an

COBB SPORTS ALLIANCE

ollie at Kennesaw Skatepark.

Rachel Rogers

You can catch a concert or

Director of Sports Sales & Engagement

Broadway show at the Cobb Energy

678-303-2630

Performing Arts Centre or stroll

rrogers@travelcobb.org

around the Marietta Square.

www.cobbsportsalliance.com

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2022

SOUTH CAROLINA GUIDE

South Carolina’s Indoor Venues Something New and Proven Favorites

Bring Your Golf Clubs

Wherever Your Event Plays, There’s Great Golf Nearby

A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

Welcome to

SOUTH CAROLINA South Carolina is OPEN and has the perfect fit for your professional, amateur or collegiate sporting event. South Carolina is Just Right for Champions. We’re just right for soccer games, baseball tournaments, golf championships and tennis playoffs. And let’s not forget about football, basketball and the awesome mud run challenges, cycling events and fishing tournaments. Courts, fields, fisheries and courses…we have it all!

The Palmetto State has played host to national and worldwide organizations including the PGA Tour, NCAA, Women’s Tennis Association, Bassmaster, American Softball Association, USA Cycling and so many more. Whether your event is small or large, professional or amateur, the members of the South Carolina Sports Alliance (SCSA) are committed to helping you create an atmosphere where your sporting event can achieve the utmost success.

Start planning your event in South Carolina today. Our team is ready to assist you in planning a winning event that your participants won’t forget. Become a champion in South Carolina!

Sincerely,

Phil Shirley President discoversouthcarolina.com/sports-alliance

Photo courtesy of Columbia SC Sports

From the deep forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the beautiful beaches of the Grand Strand, South Carolina’s diverse landscapes promise a memorable escape to the great outdoors. Our charming small towns, coastal cities and inland areas offer a unique setting for indoor and outdoor sports. With award-winning restaurants, affordable accommodations and plenty of exciting attractions to keep athletes, families and spectators entertained, we can deliver an unforgettable experience. Did we mention the unrivaled southern hospitality our visitors are certain to receive? You just might want to come back for your vacation!

March Madness at Colonial Life Arena on the campus of the University of South Carolina

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

SOUTH CAROLINA 272 Golfing the Great State of South Carolina 274 South Carolina Has the Venue for You

©iStock.com/bgblue

SI

276 279 280 282

Columbia Oconee County Myrtle Beach Spartanburg

Site InSpections

284 Aiken 286 Beaufort-Port Royal ON THE COVER: Action during the Myrtle Beach Invitational at HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina University Photo courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach

Greenville Convention Center has hosted top-notch events.

Photo courtesy of visitgreenvillesc.com

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GOLFING

THE GREAT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA You don’t need to be a PGA Tour professional to have memorable experiences on South Carolina’s award-winning public courses

By Dave Bodle

I

f you’re a golfer, you likely enjoy watching PGA Tour professionals compete on outstanding golf courses.

It’s particularly enjoyable when they’re competing in my home state of South Carolina. Stewart Cink put on a great performance to capture his third RBC Heritage Championship on Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island. From first-hand experience, I can tell you the course is tight with small greens, but a must play for most amateur golfers.

Phil Mickelson wowed us at this year’s PGA Championship on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort. Ranked the

#4 Public Golf Course in the United States, prevailing winds off the Atlantic Ocean dictate play. At my age it’s not a course I’m ready to challenge, but if you get a chance, tee it up.

At the Palmetto Championship at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South African Garrick Higgo captured his first PGA Tour victory. The Tom Fazio-designed course is certainly spectacular, but the club’s charitable arm Congaree Foundation is the story. Through the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, a college preparatory program for underserved high school players wanting to play college golf is delivering the promise.

Dunes Golf & Beach Club/Myrtle Beach Photo courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

UPCOUNTRY

On the campus of Clemson University, The Walker Course is certainly atop of my list for favorite South Carolina golf courses. Recently, Golfers Choice voted the Walker Course #1 in the “Best of 25 College Golf Courses” for 2021. The course is fit for every level of golfer evident by a recent multi-generational family outing. The beauty of the course is nothing short of spectacular with Hartwell Lake providing plenty of photo opportunities. clemson.edu/madren/golf/.

Another favorite is The Preserve at Verdae in mid-town Greenville, a course committed to the environment. The course uses native grasses and plants to reduce the need for water and fertilizers. The environment has attracted local wildlife and you can expect to see wild turkeys. The course offers different looks on every hole and it’s necessary to choose your clubs wisely. I’ve only played this one a few times, but I always walk away having enjoyed the challenge. thepreserveatverdae.com.

SANTEE COOPER COUNTRY AND PEE DEE REGION

If your stay is in this area of the state, you’ll find an abundance of fun and affordable options. High on my list is The Country Club of South Carolina in Florence. Back in the day, the course was a regular stop on the Nike Tour and I can share from first-hand experience it is a challenge for anyone’s game. Off I-95, or I-26 in the Santee Region with Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie are a number of courses.

Having played Santee National, I can share it has its own character with a different take on “Amen Corner” and a finishing hole you’ll remember. Check out all the area courses at santeecoopergolf.com.

MYRTLE BEACH AREA

Call me a homeboy, but there’s a lot of golf to be played on the area’s almost 100 courses. I’d probably be better at picking my top 10 than just a few favorites, but here we go. On the south end, there are a dozen great courses, but a favorite of mine is the Jack Nicklaus-designed Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club. I’ve played the course numerous times and find it stunning with its live oaks and moss drippings all within the setting of a coastal marsh.

The National Golf Course Owners Association in 2009 named Grand Dunes Resort Golf Club, “National Golf Course of the Year” and it still deserves that accolade.

Moving a little further north, there’s plenty of great courses, but you cannot go wrong on Tidewater Golf Club.

The legendary course sits on a peninsula flanked by the Intracoastal Waterway, ocean inlet and marshes forming a challenging layout in a beautiful natural setting. Browse these and other courses at golfholiday.com.

CHARLESTON AREA

When your South Carolina visit brings you to Charleston, the best place to view courses, rates and ratings is the Charleston Golf Guide. We’ve shared a little about The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, but there’s another championship course, Turtle Point at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. A renovation led by Jack Nicklaus was competed in 2016 and exemplifies Nicklaus’ philosophy of SportsPlanningGuide.com

having a player think through his options, before selecting a club. Check the courses and book a tee time for the Charleston courses at charlestongolfguide.com/courses/ Just as the Game of Golf in America started in Charleston with Harleston Greens in 1786, The City of Charleston Golf Course is where many area golfers get their start.

Affectionately referred to as “The Muni,” The City Course opened in 1929 on James Island with land donated with the stipulation it would only be used for golf. It has known a great deal of Charleston golf history. You can book a tee time online at charleston-sc.gov/644/Golf.

GREATER BEAUFORT-PORT ROYAL

Located on Saint Helena, Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort is perfect for a golfing family vacation or a group of friends that just want to get away and play some golf.

Ocean Point Golf Links opened in 1964. George Cobb’s design features small greens where iron play can be the key to a good round. Since the player on 10 of the 18 holes will see the Atlantic Ocean, wind will be a factor. In true links fashion, players will be able to run their ball onto the green. Ocean Creek Gold Club, a Davis Love III design, is a Par 71 private course with Member cards, or Amenity cards required. Do make the inquiry as the course is well worth playing. Wide fairways and larger greens are very playable, but stray shots can be damaging to your score. frippislandresort.com/golf/ Just 6 miles from Beaufort is the gated community of Dataw Island and its two award winning golf courses, Tom Fazio’s Cotton Dike and Arthur Hills’ Morgan River. Cotton Dike design utilizes a series of dikes from an 18th century cotton fields. Nearly half of the holes are bordered by Jenkins Creek. Morgan River requires a strategic game and along with the courses natural beauty provides a delightful experience for both the novice and professional. Dataw Island has hosted Carolinas PGA “South Carolina Open,” the SCGA ‘Senior Amateur,” “Junior Championship” and the “Amateur Championship” and the ‘TaylorMade/Adidas Intercollegiate.” Learn more at dataw.com

HILTON HEAD ISLAND

Golf has been played on Hilton Head Island since the early 1960s. Today, there’s plenty of golf to be played. We’ve already recognized Harbour Town Golf Links at The Sea Pines Resort, but it’s here you’ll also find Atlantic Dunes

by Davis Love and Heron Pointe by Pete Dye. The former won the prestigious NGCOA’s “National Course of the Year” and the latter has been recognized as “South Carolina’s Golf Course of the Year.”

At the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, you cannot go wrong with the George Fazio Course, or Robert Trent Jones Course. If I have to make a choice, I’ll choose Arthur Hills.

The architect has utilized much of the existing typography to develop a course that favors shot making over distance.

Since I no longer have the latter, it fits my game. There are plenty of additional public courses to get a tee time. Check out the courses at hiltonheadisland.org/golf/golf-courses.

When visiting South Carolina for sports competition, plan to stay a few days and enjoy some golf.

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Basketball action at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center

Photo courtesy of of the City of Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department

WHEN THE GAMES MOVE INSIDE,

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SOUTH CAROLINA HAS THE VENUE FOR YOU South Carolina has a well-deserved reputation for its outstanding facilities that cater to virtually every indoor competition

By Dave Bodle

T

he North Charleston Aquatic Center made a big splash in swimming competitions when it opened in July 2020. The 53,000-square-foot center had a construction cost of $23.5 million and the results are outstanding. There is a 10-lane, 50-meter competition pool and an eight-lane, 25-meter therapy pool for the athletes. The timing system is state-of-the-art, while the 10-foot-by-20-foot full-color scoreboard delivers results to the audience. Locker rooms are complete with showers.

Spectator bleacher seating is approximately 1,000 with athlete bleacher seating at about 300.

Sports Planning Guide

The North Charleston Aquatic Center was built for swimming competition. No time was wasted as in October 2020 it began hosting several meets. In the beginning, the center hosted mostly state meets, including public and private school championships. An invitational meet attracted 600 swimmers and one swimmer made the Olympic Trials cut in the 100 Freestyle. Bids are in place now for regionals and masters events and more.

Rock Hill Sports and Event Center opened December 2019 and is owned, operated, maintained and programmed by the City of Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Built in 2004, the downtown convention center is a modern and architecturally significant complex. From magnificent receptions and cultural galas to corporate functions and international trade shows, the center is adaptable to the needs of most any event planner. The center is a 142,500-square-foot facility that includes a 16,700-square-foot ballroom, 18,560 square feet of meeting space that can be broken into as many as 19 different spaces, and a 23,700-square-foot column

Photo courtesy of of South Carolina Swim Club

Already they’ve been no stranger to hosting big time events such as USA Volleyball Regional Championships, National Travel Basketball Winter National Championships, Big Shots National Basketball Championships and more.

The 170,000-square-foot facility is part of a mixed-use site connecting Winthrop University to Old Town Rock Hill, restaurants, outdoor venues, office space, apartments and more. The venue features a Championship Court of 12,500 square feet for basketball and volleyball with 1,200 stadium seats. The Championship Court can serve as one court or two side courts. The Main Court features either eight basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts on 72,000 square feet with 700 courtside permanent seats.

The recently renamed John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center is a 100,000-square-foot indoor sports facility that helped continue the growth in sports tourism in Myrtle Beach. The facility, celebrating its sixth anniversary in 2021, is centrally located in the City of Myrtle Beach adjacent to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. It is also near the Broadway at the Beach entertainment district, 2,500 hotel rooms and is several blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. The complex includes eight basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts, a café and retail area, several breakout meeting rooms and large multiscreen video wall. The center has 2,000 bleacher seats that can be utilized and configured for numerous indoor sports.

Annual events at the center include the Grand Strand Junior Winter Bump, NTBA Boys and Girls Nationals, Big Shots Myrtle Beach Championships, Coastal Classic Gymnastics and numerous other volleyball, basketball, cheer, dance and gymnastics competitions. Showing its versatility, the center has also hosted the ACL College Cornhole Championships, the NASP National Archery Open Championships, USA Handball Club Championships and the Myrtle Beach International Combine. The Myrtle Beach Convention Center offers 100,000 square feet of column-free exhibit hall space.

The convention center is home to cheer, dance, volleyball, wrestling events and the annual Beach Ball Classic high school basketball event. The 41st Annual Beach Ball Classic (BBC) and the 23rd United Bank Holiday Invitational (UBHI) will be held in December 2021.

The Colonial Life Arena in Columbia is the largest arena in the state of South Carolina with 18,000 seats, and the 10th largest on-campus basketball facility in the nation. Located on the beautiful University of South Carolina campus, this one-of-a-kind facility features 41 suites, four Entertainment Suites, and the Frank McGuire Club, a full-service hospitality room that will have a capacity of 300. The state-of-theart venue also features plush seating, a technologically advanced sound system, a four-sided video scoreboard, and a one-of-a-kind selection of unique foods at 10 concession stands are sure to delight fans of all ages.

Centrally located in South Carolina’s historic capital city, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center is in the middle of a vibrant urban scene with dynamite eats, world-class attractions, breweries and a neverending roster of festivals and live music. Not to mention the affordable accommodations, exciting sporting venues, manageable traffic, and warmer weather year-round. And with three interstates that intersect the city and a regional airport, getting here is straightforward.

IMX swim meet at North Charleston’s new Aquatic Center less exhibit hall. The center hosts most indoor sports events including cheer and dance, cornhole, flat-track roller derby, bodybuilding, grappling, weightlifting and others.

Located in the heart of downtown Greenville, the 285,000 square feet Bon Secours Wellness Arena is an ultramodern, 15,000-seat sports arena. Recognized as one of the top 50 venues in the world, the $63 million facility is one of the region’s top destinations, offering the ultimate atmosphere for sporting events. The facility is column-free with 25,877 square feet as the largest adjoining space. Team meeting rooms are on-site. In addition to being the home ice for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team (an affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and Charlotte Checkers), the Bon Secours Wellness Arena has also hosted mat sports events like martial arts, wrestling, boxing, plus hockey, cheerleading and dance groups. Notable recent and upcoming events include the 2021 USA Taekwondo Regional Tournament, 2021 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, 2021 AAU Karate National Championships, 2022 Bassmaster Classic, and a 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Preliminary Round.

Just minutes from downtown, the Greenville Convention Center (GCC) is one of the Southeast’s largest and more accommodating facilities. GCC offers 280,000 square feet of flexible event space, providing the perfect backdrop for tradeshows, conventions, conferences and special events.

The largest connecting space is 25,877 square feet with team meeting rooms on site. Notable recent and upcoming events include, 2022 Bassmaster Classic and 2021 NC AAU and SC AAU Gymnastics Championships.

Take a look at all South Carolina facilities, indoor and outdoor on the following pages of the South Carolina Sports Guide. Learn more about the South Carolina Sports Alliance at discoversouthcarolina.com/sports-alliance.

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Columbia, SC

Scan to discover more of what Experience Columbia SC Sports offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

A STORIED COLLEGE SPORTS TOWN, COLUMBIA IS HOME TO ENJOYABLE ATTRACTIONS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES

Williams-Brice Stadium

Columbia Metropolitan Airport is located about seven miles south of the city and offers over 36 non-stop flights to 9 major airports in 11 cities each day. By car, Columbia is surrounded by major thoroughfares in I-77 to the north and south, I-26 to the west and I-20 to the east.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Williams-Brice Stadium Football

Opened in 1934 and renovated most recently in 2020, Williams-Brice Stadium is the home of the University of South Carolina football team.

The storied stadium, nicknamed “The Cock Pit,” holds more than 77,500 people and has hosted some of the most thrilling (and loudest) games in college football history. Williams-Brice may be a football fan’s dream venue, of course, but it is also popular with concert-goers. Past performers have included Metallica, Guns N’

Roses, U2, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and, most recently, Beyonce and Jay-Z. Want even more variety? The stadium hosted Pope John Paul II during a 1987 Papal visit to Columbia.

Colonial Life Arena Basketball

One of South Carolina’s most impressive multi-use arenas, Colonial Life is an 18,000seat venue that plays host to both sports and music events. It is best known as the home court of the South Carolina Gamecocks’ men’s and women’s basketball teams, both of which @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

have been highly successful in recent NCAA tournaments. It hosted first- and second-round NCAA men’s basketball tournament games in March of 2019. Beyond basketball, Colonial Life Arena has held concerts by the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen.

Overall, this is a top-notch, multi-surface facility that regularly hosts some of the most exciting events the state has to offer.

Segra Park Baseball

Segra Park is the home of the Columbia Fireflies, the city’s Minor League Baseball team.

The stadium, with the capacity to seat more than 9,000, opened in 2016 for the Fireflies’ first game in April of that year. Baseball fans can catch exciting minor league games here, though Segra Park is much more than just a ballpark. It is also a great choice for weddings and business meetings. Inside the stadium, the Club Lounge has space for 500 guests, while the Broad River Balcony looks out onto the field and can hold as many as 120 people. There are also batting cages that accommodate 20 guests per hour and a large conference room located just off the concourse.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

Cobblestone Park Golf

Cobblestone Park is a wonderful 27 hole golf course. Voted one of the best golf courses in the Midlands, Cobblestone Park features the best design in Columbia. Panoramic views, rolling hills, beautiful oaks and pines take it over the top. As longtime area golfers know, this is the best golf experience in Columbia. Cobblestone Park features a 28,000 square foot clubhouse.

The well-appointed masterpiece also offers an on-site restaurant, Alexander’s. Open for lunch and dinner, stop in for a post round beverage, casual lunch or family dinner overlooking the spectacular 18th hole.

▶ Learn about more than 4,200 species of native and exotic plants and check out the 2,000plus animals at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

▶ The South Carolina State

Museum features a digital dome planetarium, 4D interactive theater and four floors of fascinating exhibits.

▶ Explore the internationally

renowned gallery at the Columbia Museum of Art.

▶ Originally built in 1855, the

South Carolina State House is a great place to learn about the

EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA SC SPORTS Scott Powers, Executive Director

state’s past.

▶ Hop on a boat to traverse the

803-545-0009

650 miles of shoreline over at

spowers@experiencecolumbiasc.com

Lake Murray.

www.ColumbiaSCsports.com

Colonial Life Arena

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Experience Columbia SC and Experience Columbia SC Sports were phenomenal partners with us throughout the conception, bid process and ultimately the execution of the Battle at BullStreet.

We look forward to continuing our partnership for the Battle at BullStreet 2.0 scheduled for March, 2022.”

— John Katz, President, Columbia Fireflies

Segra Park

Cobblestone Park

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#RealColumbiaSC

Oconee County, SC

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

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CALLS THIS COUNTY A DESTINATION OF A LIFETIME. COME SEE WHY

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Lake Hartwell and Keowee are world-class fisheries, and the team at Visit Oconee SC is incredible to work with. Oconee County is always a favorite stop of our anglers and staff. We know the fishing will be great and the hospitality will be even better.”

-Daniel Fennel, Senior Director of Tournament Operations for Major League Fishing

Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park

Outdoor recreation is Oconee County’s calling card. The county is blessed with pristine protected forests (more than 90,000 acres), beautiful lakes surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and waterfalls that you can boat up to or swim under. The county is a perfect place for water sports and has trails to 29 waterfalls.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Known to local cyclists, Oconee

County is a hidden jewel for road

and mountain biking. There are numerous secondary roads with great mountain and lake scenic

Lake Keowee

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

phases completed with 14 miles of trails. Past rides include Road Titans 300, Issaqueena’s Last Ride, Rally in the Valley and Race to Valhalla.

Fishing

Disc Golf Courses

Various lakes including Lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee

With over 90,000 acres of lakes and over 100 miles of rivers and streams, you can hook up with world class stripers, hybrids, bass, trout, catfish, crappie and pan fish year-round. Lake Hartwell and Lake Keowee are both prime bass tournament venues and have hosted the biggest names in the business.

Lake Hartwell hosts a large number of local, regional and national fishing tournaments annually. The lake is also a popular destination for crappie and striped bass tournaments. Sitting just north of Lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee is also a proven tournament favorite for spotted and small mouth bass and plays host to tournament anglers on a regular basis.

Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park

views with little traffic. One can

Cycling

enjoy rides with rolling country

Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park is a stateof-art public mountain biking facility located in Walhalla, SC. It has two of three construction

roads into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Disc Golf

Oconee County is home to four tournament quality disc golf venues and provides some of the most beautiful holes in the United States.

The Courses in Seneca, Walhalla, Westminster and Clemson hosts local, regional and state tournaments and provide a challenging layout to all levels of players. Past tournaments include Golden Corner Classic, South Carolina Doubles championships, the Seneca Open and the South Carolina Junior Championships.

VISIT OCONEE Charlotte Waters (800) 910-4371 charlotte@visitoconeesc.com www.VisitOconeeSC.com

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Myrtle Beach, SC

Scan to discover more of what Myrtle Beach Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

CROWNED AS ONE OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S TOP DESTINATIONS, MYRTLE BEACH WILL BRING YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND MORE WHEN IT COMES TO ORGANIZING AN INDOOR OR OUTDOOR TOURNAMENT

John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center

Visitors can drive to Myrtle Beach along either Highways 51, 73 or 501. The city can be easily accessed from Jacksonville, Atlanta, Savannah, Virginia Beach and Charlotte, which are all situated less than eight hours away from Myrtle Beach.

Visitors from farther cities can fly into Myrtle Beach International Airport, which is seven minutes from central Myrtle Beach.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center

Basketball, volleyball, pickleball, archery, cheer, gymnastics, wrestling Indoor sports thrive at the Myrtle Beach Sports Center, a 100,000-square-foot indoor sports facility that helped expand sports tourism. The $12.4 million facility includes eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, a café and retail area and a large multiscreen video wall. The center has 2,000 bleacher seats that can be reconfigured for various sports.

Myrtle Beach Convention Center

Basketball, volleyball, pickleball, archery, cheer, gymnastics, wrestling Covering 250,000-square-feet, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center provides easily convertible space for sports and trade shows.

Located in the Myrtle Beach Convention and Entertainment District, the center houses a 30,000-square-foot outdoor dance and cheer complex. If you’re not looking to host a tournament, then utilize the venue for trade shows and national meetings. The venue is within walking distance of Broadway at the @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Beach, one of the area’s premier shopping and entertainment destinations.

North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex

Baseball, softball, soccer, flag football, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse This 163-acre park includes two first class sports complexes. The baseball/softball complex consists of 6 total fields with dirt infields and natural grass outfields. The soccer/lacrosse complex consists of 8 natural grass fields (4 with lights). Both areas include concession stands, restrooms and play structures. The NMB Sports Complex is set to expand and will add additional rectangle fields, 6 more diamonds and a new family entertainment center.

Ned Donkle Complex

Baseball, softball Featuring seven fields with natural grass playing surfaces, the Ned Donkle Complex is widely considered one of the best youth baseball and softball complexes in the country. The facility has two adult and five youth fields, as well as batting cages, restrooms, concessions and press boxes. The Complex is located very close to Pepper Geddings Recreation Center and Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.

TicketReturn.com Field

Baseball, concerts, events TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark is home to the area’s minor league baseball team, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Holding up to 6,599 fans in its stands, or up to 10,000 with playing field seating, the stadium offers a unique, memorable space that is perfect for any crowd.

Numerous facility options, a full-service catering team, easy on-site parking and more make TicketReturn.com Field a great venue for a wide variety of events.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Ride the waves at Myrtle Waves

Waterpark, offering more than 30 water slides.

▶ In the heart of Myrtle Beach,

the Funplex has seven thrilling amusement park rides that are suitable for all ages as well as a bar and restaurant.

▶ Pet stingrays, see a mermaid show and learn about marine life

Grand Park Athletic Complex

at Ripley’s Aquarium.

Baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball Located at the beautiful Market Common, this facility includes nine lighted multipurpose Field Turf fields and two natural youth fields, six-lane batting tunnel and complimentary live streaming for those who can’t make the trip.

▶ Find a souvenir at Tanger Outlet malls and specialty shopping at Broadway at the Beach.

▶ Fly through the air at The

Funplex on their seven thrilling

MYRTLE BEACH SPORTS COMMISSION

amusement park rides.

Jonathan Paris, Executive Director 843-916-7264 jonathan.paris@visitmyrtlebeach.com www.myrtlebeachsports.com

Grand Park Athletic Complex

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Myrtle Beach is such an easy sell to my travel teams that play in our events. The city sells itself! With miles of sandy beaches, tons of attractions and plenty of hotels for every budget, teams simply love coming to play in our tournaments. Parents use our events as a vacation while getting a chance to watch their child play in a national championship.”

— John Whitley National Travel Basketball Association

Myrtle Beach Convention Center

SportsPlanningGuide.com

TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark

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Spartanburg, SC

Scan to discover more of what Spartanburg CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

SOFTBALL AND TRACK AND FIELD FACILITIES HIGHLIGHT A SOUTH CAROLINA CITY THAT HOSTS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tyger River Park

Spartanburg County, at the crossroads of Interstates 85 and 26, is less than a sixhour drive from major cities like Atlanta, Birmingham, Lexington, Jacksonville and Richmond. Major airlines serve the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), and from there it’s just a 2030 minute drive east on I-85 to downtown Spartanburg.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Jerry Richardson Indoor Arena Basketball, volleyball

Opened in 2017, the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium is a 123,000-square-foot facility that includes a 3,400-seat basketball arena and a 500-seat volleyball competition venue.

This facility replaced Benjamin Johnson Arena and serves as the home for women’s basketball, men’s basketball and volleyball at Wofford College. The facility has a seating capacity for non-athletics functions, such as commencement and concerts, of 4,500.

Upward Sports Star Center

Soccer, basketball, volleyball Upward Sports recently opened the Upward Star Center, a 120,000-square-foot indoor facility equipped with two regulation-size artificial soccer fields and up to four grass multipurpose fields as well as six basketball courts, 12 full-sized volleyball courts, four lighted sand volleyball courts. This union facility features seven meeting rooms and can host an event of roughly 3,000 people indoors and 8,000 people outdoors. This massive facility is conveniently located 10 minutes from over 3,000 hotel rooms. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

▶ Explore the Spartanburg

Tyger River Park

Spartanburg Viking Track

Tyger River Park, one of the South’s premier baseball and softball tournament complexes, features 12 youth baseball/ softball fields arranged in convenient fourfield clusters, a championship stadium seating 600 people and with unmatched site amenities, clubhouse, concession areas, umpire changing rooms, lounge, VIP Suite, wireless internet, covered seating, two playgrounds and flat-screen TVs at each pod. Located 15 miles from downtown, Tyger River Park has hosted the 2015 USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series, 2015 ASA/USA Girl’s 18 U Class A National World Series and 2015 NSA Girls Fast-Pitch Class B World Series, among other events. All fields are dirt and irrigated. Eight fields have permanent fences at 275 feet, two fields have permanent fences at 220 feet and two fields have permanent fences at 260 feet.

The stadium field has a permanent 300-foot fence. Ample parking and restroom facilities are available.

The Viking Track features world-class MondoTrack FTX surface, the same track surface that was used in the Beijing Olympic Games and the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia. This premium, custom-made track has increased the optimal traction and contact area due to the irregular size and shape of the tessellation pattern and has been designed to provide the best traction between track and spikes and for a greater contact area than other track systems. This improves the athletes’ grip and performance. The track facility contains eight world-class lanes, Lynx MVP fully automatic timing system, two jump pits, pole vault and high jump areas.

Softball, baseball

Track and field

Science Center where you’ll learn about everything from robotics to ecology and unleash your inner architect at the LEGO™ Building Zone.

▶ Pick your own in-season fruits, navigate through a corn maze, go on a wagon ride and enjoy other fun seasonal activities at Strawberry Hill USA.

▶ Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy an afternoon of boating, fishing or hiking at Croft State Park.

▶ Visit the BMW Zentrum

and Performance Driving

SPARTANBURG CVB

Experience, the only BMW

Kristyn Hawkins

factory on the continent. With

Director of Sports Tourism Development

its interactive museum exhibits,

864-594-5000

this attraction will hold the

khawkins@onespartanburginc.com

attention of everyone.

www.visitspartanburg.com/sports

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Spartanburg has built an exceptional facility that provides fans and teams with everything that they could dream of and more. This is truly one of the premier complexes in the United States.”

— Chris Sebren, Director of Championships, USASoftball Upward Sports Star Center

USA Softball National Team

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Spartanburg Viking Track

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Aiken, SC

Scan to discover more of what City of Aiken PRT offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

THE SPORTING SOUTH WHERE YOU CAN BRING GROUPS FOR A SAFE, FUN EXPERIENCE.

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“We love coming to Aiken, and the reason we do is they are always so on top of everything; they anticipate our needs. Aiken is a nice, quaint town that people love going to and experiencing.

At a tournament a couple years back it rained the final day, but that didn’t stop the City of Aiken staff from helping out.

They actually came out and dried the courts for us and we were back playing within 30 minutes!”

Citizens Park

— Mary Goins, USTA Director of Leagues

Weeks Tennis Center

Aiken Horse Park

Aiken is located just northeast of Augusta, Georgia. Aiken is accessible via U.S. Route 78, which runs directly through town and has access to Interstate 20 to the north via U.S. Route 1. Augusta Regional Airport is around 24 miles to the west and offers daily flights through Delta, while Columbia Regional Airport is 50 miles east.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Citizens Park

Softball, soccer, multipurpose outdoor Aiken’s premier athletic facility features 15 lighted baseball/softball fields and eight AstroTurf batting cages, that are able to host a wide variety of leagues and tournaments throughout the year. The park is a familiar host for USSSA baseball and softball tournaments and also housed the Dixie Boys and Junior Boys World Series in August 2019.

A championship soccer field, Banks Mill

soccer field, 14 score towers, concession stands, a playground for kids aged 2-12, sprayground, covered eating areas and more round out this spectacular 123.3-acre complex.

H.O. Weeks Center

Multipurpose indoor, racquetball, basketball, pickleball Located at Virginia Acres Park, the H.O. Weeks Activities Center (HOW) is a versatile, multifaceted indoor facility with two gyms available for rental, including one with a stage. The center additionally features four @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

meeting rooms and a multipurpose aerobics room, as well as a fitness room, indoor racquetball court, kitchen, restrooms, locker rooms and a canteen. The venue is the annual home of the Palmetto Indoor Pickleball Invitational in September.

224 permanent stalls, space for additional temporary stabling, five all-weather rings and two schooling areas, all featuring GGT footing.

Weeks Tennis Center

Home to the University of South Carolina Aiken Pacers volleyball and basketball teams, this multipurpose indoor arena can seat between 3,500 to 4,100 spectators. The arena features a first-class VIP room with a capacity for 200 patrons and also features multiple electronic scoreboards with backlighting advertisement opportunities, rentable meeting space for any function and two practice courts.

Tennis

This state-of-the-art tennis center features 13 hard courts and 10 clay courts, as well as a gorgeous clubhouse complete with a wraparound porch with Adirondack chairs, dining tables and ceiling fans. Located at Virginia Acres Park, the center also features access to 12 indoor/outdoor pickleball courts, a tennis pro shop with racket stringing available, and is the home to many USTA tournaments.

Aiken Horse Park

Equestrian Located in the heart of Aiken’s historic district, Bruce’s Field at the Aiken Horse Park provides premier facilities and a rich heritage for both horses and riders. The park has

SportsPlanningGuide.com

USC Aiken Convocation Center

Basketball, volleyball, multipurpose indoor

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Discover the secrets of the first designed steam-powered commercial railroad at the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum.

▶ Explore the Aiken Arboretum Trail, where visitors can dial a

number on their mobile devices to label and identify each tree they’re viewing.

▶ Celebrate the history of some of the world’s best racehorses with a trip to the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.

CITY OF AIKEN PRT Seth Holley

▶ Shop ‘til you drop with eclectic offerings like women’s clothier

Athletic Manager

Fox and Lady, jewelry store

803-293-7832

Beyond Bijoux, equestrian wear

dholley@cityofaikensc.gov

at Equine Divine.

www.VisitAikenSC.com

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Beaufort, SC

Scan to discover more of what Greater Beaufort Area Sports Council offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

HISTORIC LANDMARKS & HOMES, NATURAL FOLIAGE, MAGNIFICENT GOLF COURSES AND OUR COASTAL CHARM WELCOMES YOU TO SCENIC BEAUFORT ON PORT ROYAL ISLAND

Burton Wells Park

Dataw Island Club

Fripp Island Resort

If you’re driving through the Lowcountry, Beaufort is most accessible via U.S. Route 21, an offshoot running south from Interstate 95. If traveling by air, Hilton Head Airport (HHH) is 38 miles away, while Savannah/ Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is 48 miles away.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Burton Wells Park and Recreation Center

baseball and softball tournaments as well as soccer and lacrosse.

Baseball, basketball, fishing, softball, tennis, soccer, lacrosse

Fripp Island Resort

The Burton Wells Park encompasses a 300-acre recreational complex that features three baseball and softball complexes, a community recreation center with basketball, racquetball and tennis courts.

Passive use facilities, picnic areas, walking and nature trails, lakes and an interpretive botanical garden. The park routinely hosts

Fripp Island is home to a pair of glorious golf destinations in the Ocean Point and Ocean Creek courses, both at Fripp Island Resort. Set against the lively backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean on 10 of its 18 holes, Ocean Point offers sweeping vistas designed by George Cobb. Located on the south end of the island, the Ocean Creek course provides

Golf

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

panoramic views of the Great Salt Marsh and freshwater lakes, while rolling dunes make for challenging play.

Dataw Island Club

Golf, tennis, croquet Dataw Island epitomizes Lowcountry golf, where two 18-hole courses take full advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings. Traverse grounds covered in live oaks that date back hundreds of years as well as Civil War-era ruins. The Cotton Dike course was renovated in 2011 and features emerald fields and fairways with a winding creek. The Morgan River course underwent a renovation of its own the following year and challenges novices and professionals with a strategically demanding layout.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Take a guided tour through

▶ Reconstruction Era

▶ At Hunting Island State

historic downtown and the

National Historical Park

Point by foot, horse-drawn

offers guided tours as park

Park, climb the lighthouse for a panoramic view. Enjoy

carriage or van with one of

rangers educate guests on

a beachfront stroll, spot

the local tour services.

Civil War stories and period-

loggerhead turtles, deer,

specific medicine.

alligators and a variety of birds and more while visiting.

The Legends at Parris Island Golf

A premier golf course in the Lowcountry and one of the top military courses in the world, the Legends at Parris Island has a unique history that can’t be missed.

Each hole is named after a legendary United States Marine who either trained or stationed on Parris Island, including National Baseball Hall of Fame member Roberto Clemente.

Beaufort’s Waterfront Park

Fishing, dragon boat races, swimming, kayak, paddleboard This beautiful park is the crown jewel of Beaufort. The park is set against the backdrop of the Beaufort River and the Woods Memorial Bridge and is flanked by restaurants and shops in historic downtown. The host site of Beaufort heritage festivals, special events, and community events, this iconic park has something special to offer everyone.

BEAUFORT AREA SPORTS COUNCIL Wes Kitashima Director (404) 276-8759 sports@beaufortsc.org beaufortsports.com SportsPlanningGuide.com

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Tyger River Park, Duncan

LYH Welcomes You. Home of the Virginia 10 Miler, the Virginia Commonwealth Games and other nationallyrecognized sporting events, Lynchburg is a small city with a big heart, ready to welcome sports fans of all ages.

lynchburgvirginia.org

Lynchburg

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee WITH ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S BEST BACKDROPS, THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, VISITORS COME FOR THE SPORTS AND STAY FOR THE SCENIC BEAUTY AND WEALTH OF ONE-OF-A-KIND ACTIVITIES

Scan to discover more of what Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Hosting our annual Make It Count gymnastics invitational at the LeConte Center is the best move we ever made! The LeConte venue is unsurpassed in its beauty and spaciousness and the staff at the LeConte Center set you up for success every time! The staff have that unique ability to balance professionalism with friendliness!”

— Tracy Counts, Gymnastics Counts

Ripken Experience

Wears Farm City Park

LeConte Center

Located southeast of Knoxville, Pigeon Forge is accessed via U.S. Routes 441 and 321 to the north and south, respectively.

If you’re flying in, the closest airport is McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, 35 miles to the northwest.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge Basketball, wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics, cheer

Named for the scenic views of Mount LeConte in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this facility sits right in the heart of Pigeon Forge and exudes a mountain lodge ambiance. The center spans 232,000 square feet and prides itself in its flexibility to host competitive events of all types. Plus, as a certified Tennessee Green Hospitality venue, the LeConte Center is committed

to environmentally sustainable practices that continue to protect and enhance the natural beauty and health of the Pigeon Forge community.

The LeConte Center has thrived as a popular spot for sports tournaments since its opening.

Hosting indoor sporting events of all types, the facility features seating for up to 12,000 spectators, free Wi-Fi, eight bay registration areas, a private office for event management and a convenient central location, that borders the Little Pigeon River and Riverwalk.

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Wears Farm City Park

The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge

Thought you were done with America’s Pastime in Pigeon Forge? Guess again: Wears Farm City Park boasts an abundance of fields and the perfect amenities that make it fun for a family to enjoy a summer day at the ballpark. There are five lighted baseball fields in one complex and one additional field close by, located across the 118-acre multipurpose park.

Baseball tournaments are about more than just the games, however. Luckily, the main facilities offer batting cages, warmup areas, restrooms, concession stands and vending machines. A lighted football field, one multipurpose field, two full playgrounds, three pavilions, a basketball court and walking trails are all on-hand for those who’d prefer to stay active as well as for siblings who are bored from watching baseball all day. With such a plentiful array of fields and features, Wears Farm City is a top pick of many tournament directors.

The Ripken Experience might be the best experience possible for an eager youth baseball player or an experienced coach. Hosting a baseball tourney in Pigeon Forge is worthwhile, as the Ripken Experience offers an incredible backdrop of the Smoky Mountains and features replicas of six professional ballparks.

Reserved for the 7U-12U age groups, there is no better place for kids to chase their major league ambitions while learning a little about the history of American baseball stadiums. The complex enjoyed its inaugural season in 2016, when it welcomed over 600 teams to the area. It consists of six youth turf fields with lights, batting cages and bullpens at each field as well as a 14,000-square-foot clubhouse.

Baseball, softball

Baseball

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Dollywood, hosting more than three million guests in a typical season, offers more than 40 rides, fabulous festivals, award-winning music productions and shows, handmade crafts and more.

Another place to cool off during the hot months is at Dollywood’s Splash Country, a 35-acre waterpark.

▶ For outdoor lovers, Pigeon Forge is just a stone’s throw away from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are more than 800 miles of hiking trails, with options for quiet strolls or hearty hikes.

PIGEON FORGE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

▶ Visit one of Pigeon Forge’s educational experiences while

Jennifer Smith, Sales Manager

visiting, from the Titanic Museum

865-429-7432

Attraction, the Alcatraz East

jsmith@mypigeonforge.

Crime Museum, enjoy “edu-

www.mypigeonforge.com

tainment” at WonderWorks.

PART OF YOUR

GAME-WINNING STRATEGY.

Three major venues for both indoor and outdoor competition make our city a prime destination for sporting events. But what really scores with visiting families is our offering of countless entertainment options, including Dollywood, museums, shows, unique dining experiences, water parks, coasters and, of course, incredible views of the Great Smoky Mountains.

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Call Jennifer Smith at 865-429-7432 LeConteCenter.com | Info@LeConteCenter.com

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2022

VIRGINIA GUIDE Virginia Sports Services Shine

Easy Stops Off Virginia’s Interstates

Attention to Detail are the Hallmarks of a Successful Virginia Event

Virginia is for Lovers of Adventure and New Experiences A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

Virginia is for Sports Lovers On behalf of Virginia Tourism Corporation and our statewide Sports Virginia partners, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you, your athletes, and families. Whether you are visiting for the first time or frequently host tournaments in the Commonwealth, there is always something new to discover when you visit Virginia.

Sports Virginia is a statewide collaboration of professionals from local convention and visitor bureaus, sports commissions, parks and recreation offices and facilities. The Commonwealth has been hosting successful sporting events for decades and we are committed to providing excellent service.

Home to state-of-the-art venues for all types of sporting events, Virginia is the perfect location for any type and size of competition. Located midway between New York and Florida, Virginia is the gateway to the South. Easily accessible by major highway systems, Amtrak rail service and nine airports providing multiple affordable options for athletes and their families. Visiting Virginia has never been more convenient.

Soccer at the River City Sportsplex Photo courtesy of Visit Richmond

While you might be coming to Virginia for the sports, you will definitely be staying for all the fun activities that Virginia has to offer. Enjoy the outdoors at one of over sixty state and national parks; discover American history at known historical attractions in the birthplace of our nation; explore breweries and the local cuisine in urban cities or enjoy the charm of small towns. And with its distinct climate regions, welcoming visitors to enjoy a range of activities, Virginia is truly a year-round sport and vacation – destination.

Visit SportsVirginia.org for more information or please contact me at dsaadat@virginia.org for personal assistance and remember…Sports Virginia is with you from start to finish!

Danish Saadat National Sales & Marketing Manager Virginia Tourism/Sports Virginia 804-545-5543 • dsaadat@virginia.org

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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

VIRGINIA ©iStock.com/bgblue

SI Site InSpections

297 U nique Attractions Along Virginia’s Major Interstates 299 Sports Services Help Virginia Host Great Events

302 Hampton

310 Williamsburg

304 Virginia Beach

312 Loudoun County

306 V irginia Blue Ridge Sports

314 Richmond

308 Lynchburg

Thumbs up at the finish line

ON THE COVER: Photo courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation

Overlooking the action at the new Virginia Beach Sports Center Photo courtesy of Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau

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National Museum of the Marine Corps dramatic interior entrance.

Unique Attractions Along Virginia’s Major Interstates Virginia is for lovers of adventure and new experiences and travelers don’t have to go far to find fun destinations for the whole family

E

By Jill Pillow

very corner of Virginia has attractions that satisfy the craving for adventure many have been feeling after a year of being cooped up at home.

With numerous attractions being just off of the state’s three main interstates (I-95, I-81, and I-64), many are just a short car ride away. When traveling north or south on 95, one can find a variety of museums that provide a fun and knowledge-filled outing. Northern Virginia’s Fort Belvoir is home to the National Museum of the United States Army, where galleries, learning centers and audio tours offer an engaging way to learn about our nation’s soldiers. The museum provides a comprehensive portrayal of life in the army with history and traditions being presented through the eyes of a soldier.

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A bit farther south, Triangle brings more military artifacts and education with the National Museum of the Marine Corps. In close proximity to the Quantico base, innovative technology allows visitors to immerse themselves into the lives of Marines. Notable exhibits include the Combat Art Gallery, the Leatherneck Gallery, and war exhibits which include the American Revolution, both World Wars, the Korean War and Vietnam War. Farther down I-95 brings travelers to Richmond, which is home to the Science Museum of Virginia. This museum has hours of interactive exhibits for guests of all ages which tackle a wide range of STEM subjects including climate change, mental health, memory, dinosaurs, and many more.

At 76 feet, SMV’s The Dome is the largest screen in Virginia Sports Planning Guide

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Photo courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation

drive through safari. Giraffes, zebras, tigers and cheetahs are just a handful of the beautiful creatures to look out for.

Only 25 minutes apart via I-81, Quicksburg and Luray provide magnificent underground cavern tours with marvelous geological spectacles. Known as geology’s hall of fame, Luray Caverns is a destination rich with natural pools, stone columns, and huge stalactites that sound almost as cool as they look. Shenandoah Caverns, just a short drive northwest from Luray, is home to underground wonders and hour long personally guided tours of 17 rooms and passageways below the earth’s surface.

After an eventful day of exploring the caverns, a pit stop at Route 11 Potato Chips is a no-brainer. Making delicious potato chips since 1992, the Route 11 team uses high quality ingredients to satisfy their customers and keep them ordering more. The store front brings visitors up close to the chip-making procedure where they can watch the full process of the chips being made, try samples, and then bring some home to enjoy.

Experience living history at the Frontier Culture Center/Staunton.

More than 800,00 gallons of fresh and saltwater house exhibits at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center/Virginia Beach.

Photo courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation

and makes viewers feel like they are really traveling through the rainforest, in the ocean, or outer space. Then, take a short trip to Colonial Heights where you can find Keystone Truck & Tractor Museum and learn about the last century of agricultural heritage and machines. Covering more than 125,000 square feet, the collection has grown from two road trucks to now containing hundreds of farm vehicles and road trucks.

From the eastern shore to the Shenandoah mountains, I-64 has plenty of historic sites, museums, and more located just off of the highway for anyone looking for new experiences without the desire to travel far. The Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton has the goal of educating the public on American folk culture from all perspectives. Exhibits include recreations of farms and schoolhouses from the 17th and 18th centuries in colonial America as well as a 1700s west African farm and an American Indian exhibit that educate visitors on European colonization, suppression, and the impact they’ve had on present day America.

Close to the site of the original settlement, the first permanent English colony in America is the perfect place for field trips and weekend outings. The Jamestown Settlement is a place where guests can learn about the experiences of real people who lived in the settlement and through the cultural convergence of Europeans, Powhatan natives, and enslaved peoples from West Africa. Films, the recreated James Fort, and recreated ships that make up the “Official fleet of the Commonwealth’’ provide for an in depth and fun learning experience. After a morning in Jamestown, travel further east towards the coast for a day cruise on the Victory Rover for a relaxing and informative ride to see the sights of Norfolk Harbor and the destroyers and submarines of the U.S. naval fleet.

Looking to be swept away by the natural beauty of marine life and to learn more about ocean conservation? Then look no further than Virginia Beach’s Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. Through educational programs, research, and sustainable practices, the center is inspiring the public to take steps toward conserving the world’s oceans. Outside, guests can enjoy a short walk through the woods and marshes before observing animals such as sea turtles, harbor seals, zebra sharks, and Komodo dragons inside the aquarium.

In the state’s western region, I-81 stretches across the beautiful mountains and valleys of western Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley area. At the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace, every visit is different with over 180 artisans creating one-of-a-kind and traditional artwork available for purchase. The center is also a music venue that showcases unique and traditional instruments and is home to The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. Guests can sit back and listen to bluegrass and gospel music from local artists and even join in during Thursday night open jams.

Further north in gorgeous Natural Bridge is where visitors can get a view from their vehicle not found anywhere else in the state. With a passion for wildlife conservation, Virginia Safari Park is home to hundreds of animals typically seen on the African savannah. Guests can get up close and personal and even feed animals from their car during the three-mile

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Photo courtesy of Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Competition at the new Virginia Beach Sports Center

Sports Services Help Virginia Host Great Events Intense planning and attention to detail are the hallmarks of a successful Virginia event and the state’s experts deliver

F

By Dave Bodle

rom the outside, it might appear Virginia’s sports services wear multiple hats in their community. In fact, they do, but with just a single mission.

Danny Bonifas, sports event manager/Richmond Region Tourism, describes his organization’s mission as a “Resource to the rights holders every step of the way, including community outreach, vendor sourcing, and side events. Our purpose is to enhance the attendees’ experience.”

Kenneth Payne, of the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, defines the role of sports services in Virginia Beach in a personal manner: “What can I do to make a rights holder experience a great event and make them want to bring their event back to Virginia Beach.” Payne SportsPlanningGuide.com

continued, “That commitment extends to providing a great experience to the participants, too.”

Success from teamwork

Many Virginia sports staffs are small and in most of those destinations the sales team operates as sports services, also. Whether it’s a full-time destination sports services person or the sales team taking on the responsibility, sports services often begin with the conception of the event.

Sports services is looped in from the early stages of bid and site inspection and that often begins with researching past events. Working with the sales team, sports services is looking for ways to make events happen and exceed the past performance.

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Success from experience

When you Google university degrees in Sport Services, the 688,000,000 responses list an abundance of good sources to find degrees in Sports Management, Entertainment and Sports Management and others, but nothing specifically about sports services as a major. It’s certain Sports Management degrees provide coverage and possibly sports service classes.

Full-time sports service professionals, or even a member of the sales team, may very well have a sports management degree. However, it’s more than likely they bring specific experiences that qualify them for their sports services position. Anyone coming from a destination’s parks and recreation will have specific knowledge of facilities and each one’s capability. Likewise, anyone coming from the event-planning environment will have a head start on handling the non-competition side of their position.

Partners throughout Virginia are willing to share their experiences, while organizations like Sports ETA and Events Services Professional Association offer further educational tracks at their conferences.

Success from planning & preparation

Virginia sport services seem to agree that planning and preparation are essential to the success of their events with both the rights holder and athletes. As pointed out earlier, it begins on tradeshow floors, bids and site inspections. And it’s ongoing. How much time is spent on event planning is dependent on the type of event and the level of competitiveness.

Virginia certainly has the facilities to host top-tier events for elite athletes. These top events bring athletes to compete, eat, sleep and compete again. The facilities, accommodations and dining options are each critical and require a close working relationship with partners in the local community.

The community partner relationships are even more impactful when an event requires a dynamite noncompetition event. Sports services is often required to provide an opening event that might include catering, a venue, dejay or volunteers. Virginia Beach recently provided a boardwalk scavenger hunt for a cheerleader competition.

Regardless of the situation or demands, Virginia sports services rise to the occasion.

Although being in regular communication with the original point of contact whether it be the rights holder or their delegate, and in some cases, a Local Organizing Committee (LOC), no two days seem to be the same in sports services. Certainly, the seasons and sports being played impact each day. Beyond that to be the best, Virginians are always planning.

They are staying on top of their touch points that enhance the experiences of their visitors. Sports services 300

Sports Planning Guide

are continually updating their dining and accommodation options along with off-field event venues and the variety of what’s needed to host a successful event. Virginians attribute much of their success to those on their sports team, but also to their community partners where deep relationships have been formed.

Success from evaluation

Another success point for Virginia sports destinations is the detail placed on their evaluations of performance after each event, even the most successful events. The first step is debrief and evaluation with venues and facilities.

An honest assessment of what was done right, what could be done better and how could we improve. In most cases, the next step is to reach out to the rights holder for their assessment to include facilities, off field events, accommodations and dining.

A summary is prepared and distributed, but multiple evaluations are generally the rule. The main purpose of an evaluation is to assure a positive experience with the intent of bringing the event back. Just as importantly, evaluations serve as the benchmark for exceeding expectations of both athletes and rights holders on their next visit.

Success from meeting challenges

Ask anyone in Virginia sports services and you will likely hear they enjoy their job. However, the job does come with challenges. Whether it’s pursuing sponsorships outside your destination due to your bureau’s rules or a caterer cancelling on short notice, there are challenges.

Possibly none will ever be as demanding as presented

by COVID-19. There were shutdowns and mandates that seemed to change state by state. Virginia certainly dealt with its share of problems, but by spring 2021, sports began leading the tourism rebound. With that return another challenge presented itself.

Danny Bonifas said it best, “Welcoming visitors and providing the best experience while not overwhelming our hospitality partners is still a challenge.”

Every segment of the industry is still hurting and many are not yet at full staff and service. Bonifas continued, “Richmond addresses the situation by regular communications with the hospitality industry. The goal is to be pro-active in preparations, so establishments can be prepared.”

Virginia’s sports services people are the poster for how to get things done right. There’s more about Sports Virginia on the pages of this guide, then visit online at Sportsvirginia.org.

Approaching the finish line at the Richmond Aquatic Centre

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Photo courtesy of Richmond Region Tourism

Whether the Virginia sports teams are one person or more and include a sports services member, interaction with the sales team is critical and often includes travel to conferences. Their knowledge of the destination venues is often critical to the process. Likewise their first-hand expertise in non-competition events such as social, opening events and other services that can deliver the full experience is just as important in the early process.

$0.1&5*5*0/ Make an inspired choice for your next sporting event — Hampton.

Located in Coastal Virginia, Hampton boasts numerous venues with nearby attractions, entertainment, and hotels, plus easy airport access. Sail our waterways. Plan basketball and volleyball tournaments at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. Schedule wrestling, boxing, and gymnastics events at the Hampton Coliseum. Bring big conferences and athletic events to Hampton Roads Convention Center. In summer 2022, Hampton Virginia Aquaplex opens for National and Mid-Atlantic competitions!

Schedule your next competition compe in Hampton today at SportsHampton.com

Hampton, VA

Scan to discover more of what Sports Hampton offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

THIS SPORTS-MINDED CITY PRESENTS AN ENTERTAINING DESTINATION WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART SPORTS FACILITIES

Hampton Virginia Aquaplex

Located just north of Norfolk and across the water, Hampton is connected via Interstate 64 on the route from Richmond to the northwest and Virginia Beach to the southeast. If you happen to be flying in, Norfolk International Airport is only 17 miles away and offers flights through Allegiant Air, American Airlines, American Eagle, Breeze, Delta, Delta Connection, Frontier, Southwest, United and United Express.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Hampton Virginia Aquaplex

Swimming, diving, artistic swimming, water polo The Hampton Virginia Aquaplex, Virginia’s largest competitive aquatic facility, is slated to open in Summer 2022. Purpose-built for competitive aquatics, the Aquaplex was designed to host Mid-Atlantic and national competitive swimming and diving events, artistic swimming, water polo, and more.

This new, 62,739 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility features an eight-lane, 50-meter competition

pool, two moveable bulkheads, spectator seating for 1,500 with a mezzanine, on-deck athlete seating for 760, a 25-yard warm-up pool, and an outdoor splash park.

Hampton Roads Convention Center

Aerobics, basketball, body building, boxing, fencing, futsal, gymnastics, team handball, martial arts, table tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, cheerleading, archery, field hockey, volleyball The Hampton Roads Convention Center— boasting 35 flexible spaces with the capacity @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

for up to 14,000 delegates, including a 102,600-square-foot exhibit hall (divisible by three)—is the perfect venue for any indoor event. With portable flooring, the center accommodates 12 basketball courts or eight volleyball courts, ideal for tournament play.

The center is supported by more than 2,000 hotel rooms in close proximity, including the Embassy Suites host hotel. It has 4,000 parking spaces, 11 loading dock bays and three concession stands.

Boo Williams Sportsplex

Basketball, aerobics, volleyball, field hockey, body building, boxing, fencing, gymnastics, team handball, martial arts, table tennis, weightlifting The 135,000-square-foot Boo Williams Sportsplex is specifically designed for amateur sporting competitions. Accommodating athletic events like basketball, indoor field hockey and volleyball, the center boasts eight hardwood basketball courts and retractable bleacher seating for 4,000 attendees. This seating is flexible and can expand upwards to 6,000 with perimeter seating. It includes eight tournament play basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, a 200-meter, six-lane indoor track

Hampton Roads Convention Center

and two training rooms. A 4,238-square-foot concession area is available as well as 64,000and 31,000-square-foot playing pavilions.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Parents and kids alike will enjoy

a visit to the Virginia Air & Space Science Center where the legacy of the Apollo missions

Hampton Coliseum

lives on. Investigate robotics,

Wrestling, boxing, fencing, aerobics, basketball, body building, gymnastics, team handball, judo, karate, taekwondo, cheerleading, archery One of the most recognizable architectural jewels in all of Hampton Roads, the Hampton Coliseum is set on scenic waterf ront at the convergence of I-64 and I-664. The arena has hosted a plethora of world-class sporting events and concerts in its 46-year existence.

The Coliseum holds a 26,263-square-foot arena floor, 3,200 parking spaces, 10 Xenon Super Trooper Lights and a fully equipped sound system.

physics, chemistry and more with STEM Saturdays. This world-class science and learning facility immerses guests into a full-throttle space and aviation experience.

▶ Cast off for an adventure aboard the Ocean Eagle. The friendly crew will have everything you need for a fishing adventure on the Chesapeake Bay.

▶ Plan your day in the sun with a trip to Buckroe Beach and

Park. Bordering the picturesque Chesapeake Bay, this beautiful

SPORTS HAMPTON

beach offers sheltered picnic

Brooks Hierstein, CSEE, Senior Group

areas and a nautical-themed

Sales Manager

playground.

757-728-5315 bhierstein@hamptoncvb.com www.sportshampton.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The City of Hampton, and Fort Monroe in particular, allows an almost perfect location to hold an inboard hydroplane race. Mill Creek is a protected body of water that lends itself to record- setting possibilities. Thanks to the tremendous support we have received over the years from Sports Hampton and the City, the Hampton Cup Regatta is one of the oldest and most successful races in the United States.”

— Lisa Hearn Adkins, President, Chairman/Race Director, Hampton Cup Regatta

Boo Williams Sportsplex

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Hampton Coliseum

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Virginia Beach, VA

Scan to discover more of what Virginia Beach CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

VISIT ONE OF MOST BEAUTIFUL AREAS IN THE COUNTRY AND COMPETE IN SOME OF THE FINEST FACILITIES

Virginia Beach Sports Center

Virginia Beach, located in the Coastal Virginia Region, has a reputation as one of the most attractive destinations in the country. A vibrant coastal city with unique districts that is open year-round, it features a variety of attractions and a beautiful oceanfront and boardwalk.

Visitors can reach Virginia Beach from I-80, I-85, I-95 and I-64.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Virginia Beach Sports Center

Basketball, volleyball, indoor track and field, indoor field hockey This state-of-the-art facility which opened in October of 2020 can host a diverse roster of sporting events and tournaments. With 285,000 square feet of space, including 117,000 square feet of multi-purpose space and 195,000 square feet of programmable space, the center is built to accommodate 12 basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts, a 200-meter, hydraulically banked track,

seating for 5,000 spectators and more. It also offers two skybox meeting rooms overlooking the track and one skybox meeting room overlooking the courts.

Princess Anne Athletic Complex

Baseball, lacrosse, football, soccer, softball This complex features 16 Musco-lit, multipurpose fields, eight of which are fully fenced and equipped with irrigation systems, electronic scoreboards and shaded player benches. Planners can choose between four @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

full-sized synthetic fields and scoreboard or four hybrid Bermuda fields. Between games, spectators can picnic at two nearby Gazebos with four seated areas.

Virginia Beach Convention Center Wrestling, badminton, fencing, gymnastics, cheer/dance

Host your next sporting event in the beautiful, eco-friendly Virginia Beach Convention Center. The center features more than 959,551 square feet of meeting space, 26 meeting rooms and can handle sports of any capacity. The center features portable walls, a staging area, and its largest room is 150,012 square feet. Its second-largest room stands at 112,509 square feet and its column-free exhibit space totals 150,012 square feet.

Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Fat tire biking, roller skating, running, soccer, surfing, ultimate f risbee, beach volleyball This pristine waterfront is home to a 28-footwide boardwalk that stretches three miles and features a separate bike path ideal for strolling, rollerblading and biking. Along the boardwalk there’s a wide variety of shopping,

POPULAR ACTIVITIES outdoor restaurants and vendors offering bike and surrey rentals. Live music and street performers can be found at the Oceanfront, but it is also a go-to place for sporting events and has hosted the North American Sand Soccer Championships, the Shamrock Marathon, and the East Coast Surfing Championship.

Hampton Roads Soccer Complex

▶ Enjoy the majestic views of the Oceanfront, Sandbridge and Chesapeake Bay beaches or take a peaceful walk or bike ride along the three-mile long Virginia Beach Boardwalk.

▶ The Cape Henry Lighthouse is the fourth-oldest lighthouse

Soccer, lacrosse, camps, clinics

in the country and offers an

This complex is located in the beautiful city of Virginia Beach with easy access to restaurants, attractions, hotels and the oceanf ront. The facility has two turf fields with lights and 22 Bermuda grass fields and hosts more than 7,00 games, practices and clinics every year. It also includes two state-of-the-art turf fields, both with Musco lighting (one field has stadium seating for 260 spectators).

unimpeded coastal view and can be enjoyed from the 360-degree lantern room.

▶ Groups can savor Cape Henry’s beautiful 2,888-acre First

Landing State Park, where more than a million visitors hike, bike, swim and camp every year.

▶ The Military Aviation Museum is home to one of the largest

VIRGINIA BEACH CVB

private collections of World War

Dani Timm

I and World War II era military

Interim Director of Sports Marketing

aircraft in the world.

757-385-6648 DTimm@visitvirginiabeach.com www.visitvirginiabeach.com/sports

Virginia Beach Convention Center

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The accessibility of Virginia Beach really does allow us to attract the national audience.”

— Bob Ferraro, Executive Director, NHSC

Virginia Beach Oceanfront

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Princess Anne Athletic Complex

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge Sports

Scan to discover more of what Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge Sports offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

WITH OUR COMBINATION OF AWARD-WINNING SPORTS FACILITIES, CONVENIENT LOCATION IN THE MID-ATLANTIC, AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, YOUR PLAYERS, COACHES, AND FANS WILL HAVE AN OUTSTANDING TIME IN THE HEART OF VIRGINIA’S BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

James I. Moyer Sports Complex

We have an abundance of wellmaintained, centrally-located fields and facilities that can accommodate all types of sports. With over 1,000 miles of trails, Virginia’s Blue Ridge has established itself as a premier destination for outdoor recreation and adventure. The challenging elevations of our landscape allow for many sports such as mountain biking, triathlons, marathons, and disc golf.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

James I. Moyer Sports Complex Softball, baseball

James I. Moyer Sports Complex hosts events ranging from youth, adult, and high school events to collegiate and national level events.

The Moyer Complex boasts four fields. Moyer also has a 50/30 lighting system and electronic scoreboards. Renovations planned for 2022.

Taliaferro Sports and Entertainment Complex

Basketball, volleyball, gymnastics,

wrestling, boxing, pickleball, equine, cheerleading, football, baseball The Taliaferro Sports and Entertainment Complex offers a diverse group of facilities, including the Salem Civic Center, the Salem Football Stadium and the Salem Memorial Ballpark, all located approximately one mile southeast of downtown Salem.

The Salem Civic Center consists of an indoor arena with a 22,000-square-foot floor, seating for 7,000, an annex of 10,000 square feet and various meeting spaces.

The Salem Football Stadium is a 7,157-seat @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

municipal stadium. The stadium proudly hosted the NCAA Division Ill Football Championship for 25 years and the championship plans to return to Salem Stadium in 2023 for its 50th Anniversary Championship. The stadium features dual team coaches’ boxes, suites and broadcast quality lighting.

Salem Memorial Ballpark is home to the Single-A Salem Red Sox and can seat 6,300.

Berglund Center

Basketball, hockey, volleyball, gymnastics, wrestling, boxing, cornhole, cheerleading The Berglund Center is one of Western Virginia’s premier full-service facilities. The multi-purpose facility can accommodate sports events of all sizes, and hosts more than 350 events every year. It features a 10,500 seat Coliseum, 2,148 seat Performing Arts Theatre, 10,000 sq. /ft. Exhibit Hall, and a 46,000 square foot Special Events Center.

Roanoke College Cregger Center/ Donald J. Kerr Stadium

Basketball, track & field, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, indoor track & field Constructed in 2016, The Cregger Center is a 155,000 sq. /ft. athletic center that includes

a 2,000-seat arena, a field house that has an eight-lane, 200-meter track, event seating space for 1,000, a training room, and enhanced locker rooms. Donald J. Kerr Stadium at Roanoke College adjoins the beautiful Cregger Center. Kerr Stadium has seating for 1,400 fans.

Botetourt Sports Complex

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Welcome yourself to Virginia’s Blue Ridge by visiting the must-see Roanoke Star that sits atop Mill Mountain and offers scenic views of Roanoke Valley.

▶ Put on your hiking boots and experience the many incredible

Softball, baseball, soccer, cross country, disc golf

footpaths in the Appalachian Trail.

The Botetourt Sports Complex is located within the 125-acre Greenfield Recreation Park which features a cross-country course, soccer fields and a hiking trail. The complex features four championship level softball and youth baseball fields, all with beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

▶ Explore your wild side at Treetop Quest at Explore Park. Zip-lines

and aerial obstacles will give you the thrill you crave.

▶ Check out the nation’s second

largest municipal park, Carvins Cove Nature Reserve, and go hiking, biking or fishing.

VISIT VIRGINIA’S BLUE RIDGE SPORTS

▶ You don’t even have to leave your car to enjoy the majestic natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

John Oney Director of Sales 540-342-6025 joney@visitvbr.com www.VBRsports.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Having hosted almost 100 NCAA Championships, the City of Salem and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference have become synonymous with successful NCAA Championships. Salem knows how to provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans with an experience that makes them feel that they are truly special. They welcome everyone with open arms and provide them with a once in a lifetime experience.”

— Joni Comstock, NCAA Senior Vice President of Championships Salem Civic Center Arena

Berglund Center

2021 Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Photo credit: Brian Wells

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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Lynchburg, VA

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

HOME OF THE VIRGINIA 10 MILER AND THE VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH GAMES, LYNCHBURG IS A SMALL CITY WITH A BIG HEART, READY TO WELCOME SPORTS FANS OF ALL AGES

Liberty University

Liberty Natatorium

While in Lynchburg, pop in to locally-owned eateries, take a stroll on the Blackwater Creek Trail and Bluffwalk, or bring the whole family to the Lynchburg Museum.

Team friendly lodging, dining and entertainment, coupled with City owned facilities and state-of-the-art athletic venues, make Lynchburg an ideal location for team sporting events and family recreation.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Liberty Natatorium

Swimming and diving Opened in 2018, the 75,000-square-foot natatorium has become a prime venue for collegiate and competitive swimming and diving, standing out in the crowd as one of the few facilities in the nation with an Olympic-distance competition pool and separate 17-feet diving well. Connected to the Liberty Indoor Track Complex, the natatorium features a nine-lane, 50-meter pool with a moveable bulkhead. The

complex shares a 6,554-square-foot weight room and a 2,400-square foot training room that includes a 1,000-square-foot hydro room with an underwater treadmill and two plunge pools.

Liberty Indoor Track & Field Complex

Track, field, judo, jujutsu, Ninja Challenge, tae kwon do, wrestling, aquathon Liberty University added a state-of-theart indoor track facility to its impressive list @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ With James River Adventures, guests can canoe or kayak the

of athletic complexes in January 2017. The 169,000-square-foot facility features a dynamic track, which is one of only a handful of tracks in the country to offer a six-lane, 20-meter hydraulically banked oval. The complex is 425 feet long by 300 feet wide and includes room for all six field events, with the weight throw, shot put and high jump pits located outside the track oval.

Peaks View Park, City of Lynchburg Baseball, softball, disc golf, soccer, tennis, football, lacrosse, field hockey, mountain biking, rugby

The second largest park in Lynchburg, Peaks View Park offers both passive and active recreation for the entire family. The park has three lighted tennis courts, seven multipurpose fields (soccer, football, softball and baseball), volleyball courts, a basketball court, mountain bike trails and a disc golf course.

The park also has a popular sprayground and is ADA compliant.

Lynchburg City Stadium and Bank of the James Stadium Football, baseball, softball, lacrosse, rugby, soccer

Originally constructed in 1939 as a complex for professional baseball teams, Bank of the James Stadium is home to minor league baseball team the Lynchburg Hillcats, a low-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. This classic stadium seats 4,300 fans and has undergone a slew of renovations, most recently in 2005, with six new luxury boxes and a video board in right field. City Stadium, primarily hosting football events but also more recently home to Lynchburg FC professional soccer club, can seat audiences up to 10,000. Renovations completed in 2016 include a new ticket booth, concessions, restrooms and locker rooms and a new scoreboard.

city’s downtown riverfront and within minutes be in a natural river setting teeming with fish, birds and other wildlife.

▶ The award-winning, hands-on

Amazement Square Children’s Museum offers four floors of interactive exhibits designed to make learning fun.

Guests can paint on walls, explore life on a farm and create a rainstorm over downtown Lynchburg.

▶ Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre specializes in year-round mountain activities. Blast down tubing runs or ski/snowboard in all four seasons on Snowflex slopes. It also offers one of the prettiest sunset views around.

▶ Explore Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar

Forest and learn more about Thomas

VISIT LYH

Jefferson and the free and enslaved

Lisa Meriwether

people who formed the community at

434-485-7295

Poplar Forest both inside and outside,

Lisa.Meriwether@lynchburgva.gov

through meticulous historic restoration

lynchburgvirginia.org

and archaeological discoveries.

Liberty Indoor Track & Field Complex

Peaks View Park

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Liberty University

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The experienced staff at the Virginia Amateur Sports organization held a hugely successful 2019 State Games of America. The City of Lynchburg welcomed us with open arms and we still receive compliments from our athletes on Lynchburg’s first-class facilities. I would highly recommend event planners take a serious look at hosting their event in the Lynchburg, VA area.”

— Eric Engelbarts, National Congress of State Games President

Lynchburg City Stadium

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Williamsburg, VA

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

VOTED BY SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINE'S READERS AS "THE SOUTH'S BEST SMALL TOWN" IN 2020, WILLIAMSBURG HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. ESPECIALLY TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS.

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Great organization to work with. Very involved in the whole planning process and execution.

Made our National Softball Association World Series a success.”

Warhill Sports Complex

— Frank Rachubka, National Softball Association Hall of Fame

Kiwanis Park

McReynolds Athletic Complex

Williamsburg is located adjacent to Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60, which connects the city with Richmond to the northwest and Norfolk to the southeast. Three airports are situated within a 45 mile or less drive from the Williamsburg area: Newport News/ Williamsburg International, Norfolk International, and Richmond International airports.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Kiwanis Park

Warhill Sports Complex

Whether your team dons a glove, bat, or tennis shoes, Kiwanis Park is the place for you to host your next sports tournament, championship, or competition. This 27-acre park in Williamsburg has four softball fields with electronic scoreboards, dugouts, and bleachers. It also features a basketball court, six lighted tennis courts, a playground area with a pavilion, a concession building, and restroom facilities.

The Warhill Sports Complex is an excellent facility for outdoor sports. The venue features three lighted youth baseball fields, one lighted majors baseball field, four T-ball fields, outdoor batting cages, and a concession building with restrooms and a playground. Warhill also houses a soccer/multiuse complex that contains four intermediate grass soccer fields, four premier full-size soccer fields, six synthetic turf multi-use fields, and a concession building.

Baseball, softball, basketball, tennis

Baseball, softball, soccer

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

POPULAR ACTIVITIES McReynolds Athletic Complex

Baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse The McReynolds Athletic Complex in Yorktown is a 70-acre park with 13 lighted athletic fields that are available to rent for games, tournaments, and camps. The complex features four regulation soccer fields, two instructional soccer fields, two youth baseball fields with grass infields, three youth baseball/softball fields with skinned infields, one adult softball field, and one adult baseball field.

Quarterpath Park and Rec. Center Softball, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, dance, aerobics

park also houses the Quarterpath Recreation Center, a 35,000-square-foot indoor facility that offers a wide array of amenities.

College of William and Mary Multipurpose

William and Mary fields NCAA Division I teams for men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, diving, and tennis.

Each of these teams, along with the school’s non-Division I programs, compete in topnotch facilities. Among them is Walter J. Zable Stadium at Cary Field, which houses football and track and field programs.

Quarterpath can simultaneously hold outdoor or indoor league play, championship tournaments, or showcase events. This 23-acre facility in Williamsburg features three lighted softball fields, three tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts, a picnic shelter with tables and grills, and a children’s play area. The

▶ Experience life in early America

in Colonial Williamsburg, where visitors can travel back in time and immerse themselves in an 18th-century city, explore historic buildings, and wander through gardens.

▶ The Jamestown Settlement features extensive gallery exhibits and films that explore Jamestown's beginnings as a business venture, the impact of European colonization on the Powhatan Indian culture, and the origins of the first known African people in Virginia.

VISIT WILLIAMSBURG

▶ Busch Gardens offers fun for all ages whether it’s feeling a rush

Julia Smyth-Young

aboard thrill coasters, fulfilling

757-253-2313

an appetite for world-class

julia.smyth-young@visitwilliamsburg.com

dining and shopping, or making

www.visitwilliamsburg.com

memories that will last a lifetime.

play. at your pace.

Williamsburg offers fantastic sports facilities for your next event, with the added benefit of having so much to do after the games are through.

So win or lose, competitors and their families are in for a great time.

We call that a “win-win.”

visitwilliamsburg.com

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Loudoun County, VA

Scan to discover more of what Loudoun Sports Tourism offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

JUST 25 MILES FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., LOUDOUN COUNTY IS THE IDEAL SPORTS DESTINATION, ATTRACTING OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS, FOODIES AND TOURNAMENT PLANNERS ALIKE

ION International Training Center

Located just west of Washington, D.C., Loudoun County is bordered

by Interstate 81 to the west, I-70 to the north, I-66 to the south and I-495 to the east, where state route 267 runs out of the city and through the county’s countryside. If you’re flying in, Washington Dulles International Airport is located in southeastern Loudoun County.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

ION International Training Center

has room to expand to four ice sheets on the 16.5-acre site.

The 90,000-square-foot facility features two NHL ice sheets, including a 3,500-seat area in addition to a full-service gym, café, pro shop, medical room and hockey training room, among other amenities. Ion annually hosts several MYHockey Tournaments and will be the site of the 2022 US Figure Skating Championship Series presented by Toyota.

The center, with nearly 1,000 parking spaces,

Brambleton Sportsplex

Figure skating, hockey, speed skating

Baseball, softball

Renovations to this facility completed in 2016 include upgrades to both the fields and parking on property. The facility now includes four 400’ fields and two 200’ fields with a completely resurfaced parking area. The Sportsplex annually hosts the PONY Nationals, USSSA “C” @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

National Championships, USA Softball Eastern Nationals and Senior Softball-USA Eastern Nationals.

Potomack Lakes Sportsplex Soccer, softball

The 47-acre athletic complex has won numerous national awards including the 2019 Senior Softball USA Softball Complex of the Year Award. The Sportsplex includes four lighted softball fields with 300-foot permanent fences and 200-foot temporary fences as well as six large, irrigated, adjacent soccer fields.

Segra Field Soccer

Located within Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park is Segra Field, which is the home of Loudoun United FC, a Division II affiliate of DC United playing in the United Soccer League; Old Glory DC, a member of Major League Rugby and the Washington Spirit, a member of the National Women’s Soccer League. Segra Field has a seating capacity of 5,000 and includes eight, 24-person suites, which are available for groups.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

Hanson Park

▶ Have a ball and compete with

Soccer, Baseball, Softball, Cricket Coming Spring 2022! Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park will include 17 athletic fields 10 multipurpose soccer fields, four baseball/ softball fields, a cricket field and two artificial turf fields as well as 75 acres of passive recreational space and infrastructure.

friends or family at Topgolf.

▶ Experience the thrills of flying without having to jump out of an airplane when you visit iFly, Loudoun County’s premier indoor skydiving venue.

Evergreen Sportsplex

▶ The largest indoor ropes course in

Multipurpose outdoor, soccer Located on 44 acres of land just outside Leesburg, Evergreen Sportsplex houses four turf fields, CroppMetcalfe Park, a full-service pavilion and an adventure course with zip lines and a ropes course. Each Astroturf field has been FIFAcertified for soccer competition. CroppMetcalfe Park includes additional seating to accompany the complex’s 1,500 bleacher seats.

the U.S., Summit Ropes is a oneof-a-kind indoor adventure park

consisting of 16,550 square feet of ropes course with integrated VIA Ferrata climbing. Fun for all ages, Summit Ropes is divided into a children’s course and an adult course.

▶ Speed demons will thrive at the Autobahn Indoor Speedway,

LOUDOUN SPORTS TOURISM

where the Italian pro-style electric

Torye Hurst

go-karts zip you around the track

Director of Sales, Sports & Services

at speeds up to 50 MPH.

703-669-2005 Hurst@VisitLoudoun.org www.loudounsportstourism.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Loudoun County, VA has hosted the USSSA Class “C” Eastern National Championships for the past five years. Proximity to the nation’s capital and reasonable hotel rates are an attraction, but the support that we receive from Visit Loudoun and Parks and Recreation really make our partnership a home run! Any event organizer would be wise to take a close look at what Loudoun County can offer!”

— Andy Wisk, Program Operations, USSSA East Hanson Park

Brambleton Sportsplex

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Potomack Lakes Sportsplex

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RICHMOND, VA

Scan to discover more of what Sports Richmond, VA offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

TOP-FLIGHT SPORTS VENUES, SCENIC VIRGINIAN LANDSCAPE AND GREAT FUN AWAIT TEAMS IN RICHMOND

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“USA Field Hockey loves working with Sports Richmond, VA. The CVB and Convention Center staff are amazing to work with. We can always count on their professionalism and expertise.

They always put their clients first, and are constantly looking forward on how to enhance the Richmond experience.”

— USA Field Hockey

Greater Richmond Convention Center

The Richmond International Airport, located only 8 miles from downtown Richmond, is home to all major air carriers, including low-cost carriers such as Allegiant Air, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines and Southwest. Due to Richmond’s advantageous location, it’s only within a day’s drive to half of the U.S. population by Interstates 64, 295 and 95.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Stay on the history trail with a walk or bike ride on the Virginia Capital Trail.

River City Sportsplex

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT River City Sportsplex

Soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, flag football River City Sportsplex encompasses 115 acres of top-notch athletic fields, including 12 all-weather turf fields, all of which are fully lighted. In addition to warmup areas, River City Sportsplex includes a plaza and common area with access to electricity, bleachers on both ends, indoor restrooms and a concession stand.

Greater Richmond Convention Center

You’ll encounter various courthouses,

Multisport

forests and rivers.

Teams will feel like champions no matter what the score at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, located only minutes from Richmond International Airport. The 700,000-square-foot facility boasts the title as largest convention center in Virginia with 180,000 square feet of exhibit hall space.

▶ James River awaits those who enjoy white water rafting and boating.

This 348-mile wonder starts in the Appalachians and continues into the Chesapeake Bay. 314

Sports Planning Guide

Dorey Park

Baseball, softball, football, soccer, disc golf This 400-acre park is conveniently located 10 minutes from Richmond International Airport and features abundant competition fields and amazing amenities for the traveling fan. The park features six (four slow pitch and six fast pitch compatible) softball fields, seven 12-andunder baseball fields, one 13-and-up baseball field and seven football/soccer fields with one field featuring a 500 seat grandstand. There is also an 18-hole disc golf course, five miles of horseback riding trails and hiking trails.

SPORTS RICHMOND, VA Jerrine Lee, Director of Sports Development 804-783-7418 jlee@visitrichmondva.com www.sportsrichmondva.com @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

2022

GUIDE MISSISSIPPI Bring Your Tournament to the Magnolia State Mississippi is Home to Beautiful Locales, Fabulous Facilities

Great 6 Places to Play A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com

RIDGELAND

JACKSON

Play Inside + Out in Ridgeland! Some of the state’s finest athletic facilities, over 1,500 hotel rooms and 150 restaurants make tournament and event play a breeze in Ridgeland.

Coastal Mississippi’s location, climate and affordable sports event venues perfectly complement the 62 miles of scenic coastline. With a variety of lodging and family entertainment, the region provides the ideal sporting experience.

Home of the PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms Championship, Jackson is a lively capital city with plenty of southern hospitality. Whether you need courts, fields or arenas, the sports facilities in the City With Soul can accommodate your event and with just over 5,000 hotel rooms you can “Stay Where You Play.”

TOP VENUES:

TOP VENUES:

TOP VENUES:

1. Freedom Ridge Park is a 50-acre complex with four 300’ turf baseball/softball fields, four lighted 360’ x 225’ soccer fields, plus two playgrounds.

1. The Mississippi Coast Coliseum is capable of hosting major events with multiple seating arrangements from 1,500 to 15,000 while the adjacent convention center features over 400,000 square feet of space.

1. Opened in 2009, the Jackson Convention Complex features 330,000 square feet of flexible exhibit, ballroom, and meeting space and is located in the heart of downtown Jackson.

2. Hite Wolcott Park hosts USSSA and Grand Slam baseball tournament on seven lighted baseball/softball fields at a 40-acre complex.

3. Ridgeland Tennis Center contains 17 lighted hard courts, a 2,000-square-foot covered porch for viewing, 4 pickleball courts, a pro shop and men’s and women’s locker rooms.

JANA DEAR 601-605-5253 jdear@visitridgeland.com visitridgeland.com

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Sports Planning Guide

2. MGM Park has been home to the Biloxi Shuckers since 2015.

The park features 4,500 reserved seats, 12 suites, two open-air party decks, a grass berm and a 1,472-square-foot scoreboard.

3. The Gulfport Sportsplex features six full size soccer fields and 15 baseball and softball fields. The facility hosts some of the largest and finest local, state, regional & national tournaments.

MARQUEZ SINGLETON 228-280-3136 marquez@coastal mississippi.com coastalmississippi.com

2. The Mississippi Coliseum is a 25,000-square-foot facility with 70-foot ceilings and permanent seating for 6,500 spectators. The facility has hosted basketball, rodeo, ice skating and wrestling.

3. Adjacent to the Coliseum is the new 110,000-square-foot Mississippi Trade Mart which features 63,000 square feet of column-free space that can be divided into three trade halls.

FLOYD WILLIAMS, JR., CMP 601-345-2535 fwilliamsjr@visitjackson.com visitjackson.com

@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

OXFORD Oxford is an appealing sporting event location with a mixture of smalltown charm and big-town facilities and amenities. As the home of the University of Mississippi, there is always something here to immerse yourself in the “Cultural Mecca of the South.”

HATTIESBURG VICKSBURG With thousands of hotel rooms, more than 200 locally owned restaurants, awardwinning attractions, two universities who call it home and spacious sports facilities, Hattiesburg, Mississippi is a premier destination in the Gulf South.

Vicksburg’s brand-new facilities, central Mississippi location and rich history and culture make it the perfect destination for sporting events. Enjoy the River City’s bustling downtown with many restaurants, museums, shopping and riverfront views.

TOP VENUES:

TOP VENUES:

TOP VENUES:

1. Across its 75-acre campus, mTrade Park is one of the premier soccer, baseball and softball facilities in Mississippi.

The park has 12 synthetic turf infields with natural grass outfields, plus there are five international size soccer fields.

1. Tatum Park offers 18 soccer fields, three softball fields, five baseball fields, two tennis courts, an 18-hole disc golf course, and practice fields.

1. Sports Force Parks on the Mississippi is the best sports park in the southern United States. The 72-acre complex features 10 baseball and softball fields and six full-size soccer fields constructed with professional quality synthetic turf.

2. The University of Mississippi features The Pavilion at Ole Miss with seating for 9,500 people and an additional 1,700 premium seats. VaughtHemingway Stadium has seating for 64,038 and Ole Miss Soccer Stadium seats 1500-plus.

3. The FNC Tennis Center is the largest public hard court tennis facility in the state, featuring 20 lighted hard courts.

JESSICA LYNCH 662-232-2477 jessica@visitoxfordms.com visitoxfordms.com/ recreation/ SportsPlanningGuide.com

2. The University of Southern Mississippi opens their collegiate-level facilities to host a wide-variety of sports, including football, baseball, softball, volleyball, gymnastics, track and field, swimming, marching band, cheerleading, tennis, badminton and golf.

3. Forrest County Multipurpose Center is a 120,000-square-foot indoor facility, available to host rodeos, motocross, barrel races, sports competitions and concerts.

KRISTEN BROCK 601-296-7475 kbrock@visithburg.org Visithburg.org

2. Halls Ferry Park features a state-of-the-art tennis facility with 14 new lighted tennis courts, 10 baseball or softball fields, eight pickleball courts, and two disc golf courts.

3. With 50,000 square feet of space, the Vicksburg Convention Center can accommodate everything from a horse show to sports events.

ASHLEY GATIAN 601-883-9939 ashley@visitvicksburg.com visitvicksburg.com

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Grizzlies. Pirates. Giants.

They’re surprisingly common in Mississippi these days.

In Mississippi, you’ll find a variety of highly competitive youth sports facilities that are ready to host your players’ biggest dreams. Plan now at VisitMississippi.org/YouthSports.

Hope is our state motto and our new mantra. It’s in everything we do. You’ll sense it from the hush that follows the crack of a bat. You’ll see it when the crowd roars for a flawless routine. And you’ll know it after visiting event facilities that are safe, sparkling and ready to go.

It’s time to travel. It’s time to compete.

It’s time to have hope.

We’re ready to welcome your athletes and their families back to Rhode Island.

GoSportsRI.com JGibbons@GoSportsRI.com | 401-456-0240 The Rhode Island Sports Commission is a division of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau.

RHODE ISLAND

Scan to discover more of what Rhode Island Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

IMPRESSIVE FACILITIES AND NUMEROUS BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTIONS CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THIS NEW ENGLAND SPORTS HUB

Dunkin’ Donuts Center

I-95 is the major thoroughfare that bisects the state, connecting visitors to the Greater Boston area (about an hour away) and New York City (3 hours).

Providence and other cities within Rhode Island are served

by Amtrak and regional train services like Boston’s MBTA. This provides visitors with plenty of extra travel options.

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Dunkin’ Donuts Center

Basketball, cheerleading, hockey, multipurpose, volleyball While Providence has no shortage of impressive sporting venues, the Dunkin’ Donuts Center stands out as “the” destination for sports in Rhode Island. The center features a 31,000-square-foot arena floor and a 25,000-square-foot concourse and can house a whopping 13,000 spectators. Though it was built in 1972, the center underwent an $80 million renovation in recent years. It has

played host to major tournaments such as the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, and is open to sports planners looking to think big. As an added bonus, the center is perfect for event planning, as it connects directly to the Rhode Island Convention Center and the adjacent Omni Providence hotel.

Rhode Island Convention Center Cheerleading, dance, gymnastics, roller derby, multipurpose

If you’re looking for space, and lots of it, look no further than the Rhode Island Convention @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG

Center. Inside you’ll find a 100,000-square-foot exhibition hall, a 20,000-square-foot grand ballroom and 23 multipurpose meeting rooms.

For added convenience, visitors can connect directly from the RICC to the Omni Providence hotel and Providence Place mall. Over the years, the RICC has hosted major events in cheerleading, dance, roller derby and much more, so the sky’s the limit when planning your next event.

Brown University

Basketball, crew, football, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, water polo and much more Providence is home to Brown University, one of the nation’s eight prestigious Ivy League schools. While it is renowned for its academics, the university also boasts a variety of outstanding venues that host regional and national events and allow sports planners plenty of options to meet their needs. Whether it’s the four newly renovated multipurpose outdoor fields (three turf and one natural grass), a pool rental in the new state-of-the-art aquatics center, use of the 20,000-seat stadium

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Pay a visit to over 160 animals at

or access to the boathouse situated along the Seekonk River, Brown University’s athletic facilities are top notch and a favorite among sports planners.

the Roger Williams Park Zoo, one of the nation’s oldest zoos.

▶ Check out the Providence

Providence Career and Technical Academy

Children’s Museum, where children can build bridges and

Basketball, cheerleading, soccer, track and field, wrestling

plan a city in the Iway exhibit, scale a two-story high climbing

This school is home to some of Providence’s most state-of-the-art athletic facilities, and offers seating for around 1,800 people in a 65,000-squarefoot fieldhouse. Inside the gorgeous steel and glass building you will find space and amenities for sporting events such as track and field meets, basketball games/tournaments, cheerleading competitions and much more – all just steps from the center of downtown.

maze in The Climber, delight in the joys of water play at the Water Ways exhibit and more.

▶ The Rhode Island School of Design is one of the world’s

leading institutions for art and design and offers visitors a chance to explore its unique museum collections from around the world.

▶ Hop aboard an 18-passenger

RHODE ISLAND SPORTS COMMISSION John Gibbons

vessel at the Providence River

Executive Director

Boat Company and learn about

401-456-0240

the sites from a knowledgeable

jgibbons@gosportsri.com

tour guide.

www.gosportsri.com

Rhode Island Convention Center

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“John Gibbons and his team at the Providence Warwick CVB have been great to work with and have been a tremendous partner of ours. We have grown from six teams in 2008 to 225 teams in 2021 due to their help. We’ve even expanded our operations into softball here in Rhode Island and now have one of the biggest tournaments on the East Coast at 225 teams!”

— Mark Cooke, Firecracker Sports

Providence Career and Technical Academy

SportsPlanningGuide.com

Brown University Field

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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.

Here are 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. 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 – 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 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. The goal is to diversify revenue streams as much as possible so your organization is not vulnerable if one financial channel shuts down.

4 322

Accountability – Given that resources are more limited

Sports Planning Guide

“The New World”

today, the microscope is now on every transaction that is made. Every dollar has to have a good result and people 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. The key is choosing the right tools and people to engage with that will drive the highest and most efficient return on investment.

6

Focus – The pandemic has changed the way we all do business, including 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 and even if we limit capacity to create scarcity in the marketplace.

7

Development Mentality – Destinations have been forced to become more proactive than reactive.

We work with many CVBs and sports commissions to help build a culture of “development.” These organizations are now leading efforts to develop new venues, develop new events, develop staff and board, and to develop relationships. Build your pathway or leave it to others to potentially choose your fate for you.

8

Remote Control – 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.

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.

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 destination marketing organization (or DMO) mission. The difference is that DMOs are responsible for branding and marketing their destination beyond tourism. 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. 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 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.

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. We can be reached at Jon@HuddleUpGroup.com or www.HuddleUpGroup.com. © Huddle Up Group, 2021

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