2015 EDITION
A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com
WEST REGION
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rom the Pacific to the Plains, towns big and small attract sports planners with tournament-ready fields, gymnasiums, pools, arenas, stadiums and waterways. Besides offering top-notch accommodations and visitor attractions, each Western destination highlighted in this regional section has a wealth of experience in hosting events and a dedicated staff of experts with all the tools to help make your tournament the best it can be.
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DESTINATION
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Reno-Sparks, NV
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Bakersfield, CA
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Stockton, CA
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Ventura, CA
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Vallejo, CA
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Greater Ontario, CA
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Lubbock, TX
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Round Rock, TX
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Fort Worth, TX
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Plano, TX
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Frisco, TX
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Lewisville, TX
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Bryan-College Station, TX
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Campbell County, WY
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Snohomish County, WA
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Eugene, Cascades & Coast, OR
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30 Rabobank Arena, home to CSU Roadrunners men’s basketball, is Bakersfield’s largest sports facility.
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1 RENO-SPARKS, NV Venues Include Two Record-Breaking Facilities 1. Golden Eagle Regional Park Growing grass in the desert isn’t easy, so the Sparks Park District decided to make history. Built in 2008, the sports complex at Golden Eagle Regional Park covers more than 100 acres and features more than 1.4 million square feet of artificial turf, making it the largest facility of its kind in North America. The complex features four full-size baseball fields, four youth baseball fields, six softball fields, three full-size football/soccer fields, four volleyball courts and two bocce courts. With ample parking, seating, lights and pavilions, Golden Eagle Regional Park is a great all-in-one tournament venue.
2. Reno-Sparks Convention Center With a little creativity, the Reno-Sparks Convention Center can host virtually any indoor sports event. The 500,000-square-foot facility has hosted events such as the Summer National Fencing Championships, Junior National Volleyball Championships, USA Team Handball Championships and Jam On It basketball tournaments. Choose from one of five massive exhibit halls to host your event, and take advantage of the facility’s meeting rooms for registration, coaches meetings and trophy ceremonies.
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Droves of tourists flock to Reno-Sparks to experience its nightlife, casinos and beautiful Lake Tahoe, but the area’s quality sports facilities make it a youth events hotbed as well. 3. Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center The world-famous Reno Rodeo takes center stage at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center every June. The rest of the year the RSLEC hosts a variety of sports events, from monster truck rallies to motocross races to wrestling tournaments. For equine or rodeo-type events, the RSLEC features 19 barns, 660 animal stalls, two indoor arenas and one outdoor arena. The main indoor arena holds 6,200, while the livestock pavilion seats 1,000. Despite having “livestock” in its name, the RSLEC functions much like a convention center and regularly lays down the flooring necessary to host a variety of sports events.
4. National Bowling Stadium At 363,000 square feet and with 88 championship-size lanes, Reno’s National Bowling Stadium is the largest bowling stadium in the world. The site features a pro shop, stadium club, 10 Lane Kingpin Club and a 440-footlong video screen (the longest in the world). The stadium can be recognized from miles away due to the 80-foot-tall silver bowling ball perched atop its roof. For all-in-one bowling tournaments, there truly is no other venue like the National Bowling Stadium.
5. University of Nevada Home of the Wolf Pack, the University of Nevada offers Division I facilities to tournament planners looking to host events during the summer months. The university’s premier facilities include Mackay Stadium (30,000-seat, lighted,
@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
artificial turf football stadium), Lawlor Events Center (11,536seat basketball arena), Virginia Street Gym (1,800-seat volleyball arena), Peccole Park (3,000-seat, lighted, artificial turf baseball stadium) and Christina M. Hixson Softball Park (1,500-seat softball stadium).
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Museums, Nature and Recreation Whether your tournament goers choose to stay in the Reno-Sparks metro area or venture to the scenic shores of Lake Tahoe, there is plenty in the area to keep teams occupied during their down time. The National Automobile Museum is a great way to see the evolution of transportation in a fun and historically-appropriate context. Many of the cars, trucks and other vehicles on display are antiques. Kids, teens and grownups alike will enjoy the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which takes a hands-on approach to science, art and history. Activities include climbing clouds, building a “green” house and learning about Nevada’s history. For animal lovers, see mountain lions, bears, wolves and other rescued creatures at the Animal Ark Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary. The Lake Tahoe area also offers everything from water sports and snow skiing to boat cruises, sightseeing gondolas and hot air ballooning.
Easy to Get to, Easier to Stay Tournament goers and tourists routinely get to Reno by air, road and rail. The Reno-Tahoe International Airport is served by all major airlines, and some hotel and destination shuttles are free. US-395 and I-80 converge at Reno, meaning teams and individuals from all four directions can drive in on a major highway. Reno is about 450 miles north of Las Vegas, 500 miles west of Salt Lake City and 220 miles northeast of San Francisco. Another option is Amtrak’s California Zephyr, which makes a roundtrip from San Francisco to Chicago and stops at the Reno station. Finding accommodations to suit your group’s style and budget shouldn’t be a problem in Reno, where you can choose from more than 15,000 hotel rooms, most within easy driving distance of the airport and event venues. Parents will be happy to learn that Reno’s average hotel prices are about 30 percent less than other major destinations in the area.
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Registration and welcome assistance Airport assistance Marketing and PR assistance Social media, Facebook and micro-webpage assistance Free specialized iPhone app (for selected events)
RENO-SPARKS CVA Shelli Fine, Director of Sports Development P.O. Box 837, Reno, NV 89504 775-827-7704 • sfine@renotahoeusa.com VisitRenoTahoe.com
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5 BAKERSFIELD, CA With three professional sports teams, 23 athletic venues and facilities for everything from ice hockey to water polo, Bakersfield has hosted many tournaments and competitions, including NCAA basketball, professional bike racing and CIF high school tournaments.
From the Great Indoors to the Great Outdoors 1. Rabobank Arena This is Bakersfield’s largest sports facility. It can seat up to 10,000, with 26 private suites, a four-sided video board, and all the amenities that you’d expect from a facility that houses both the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors and the CSU Roadrunners men’s basketball team. For participants, this multi-use arena has eight locker rooms and additional practice or staging space available in the connected Rabobank Convention Center.
Bakersfield has a lot going for it – an abundance of facilities, a plethora of hotel rooms and mild weather. But its central location – within four hours of 90% of the population of California – makes it a regional favorite for sports events.
3. State Farm Sports Village Phase One of this 170-acre is complete; it includes landscaped grounds, concessions and 16 soccer fields. Phase Two will add a gymnasium for indoor sports, meeting areas, multi-use trails, four football fields and 10 baseball/softball diamonds.
4. CSU Bakersfield Icardo Center This facility is home of the well-known “blue floor” as well as the CSU Roadrunners volleyball, track and field, and women’s basketball teams. Its roomy 44,000 square feet and 3,800 seating capacity make it a good choice for similar sports.
5. Bakersfield College Gym This venue is fully equipped for indoor sports, thanks to its north and south balconies, skybox, locker rooms and 14,000 square feet of space. For fans, there is seating that can accommodate 2,200, lots of parking and concessions.
6. Bakersfield College Memorial Stadium 2. Kern County Soccer Park San Joaquin Valley’s largest lit-field complex, the park has 34 regulation-sized soccer fields, ample parking and concessions. There are multiple restrooms throughout the complex and separate referee buildings and tournament headquarters. 30
Sports Planning Guide
This massive, 19,000-seat stadium can host multiple events. As home of the Bakersfield College Renegades football team and track and field program, it has the facilities you’d expect for collegiate-level sports: a regulation-sized football and soccer field and track runways. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
Central Location a Big Plus
Unique Eats, Popular Beats and Cultural Sights Bakersfield is sometimes called the Nashville of the West, thanks to its strong ties to country music. Music plays a major part in the local attractions; perhaps nowhere is this more noticeable than at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, a countrymusic themed venue where guests can eat dinner, listen to live music, dance, visit the store, or see guitars and other country music memorabilia. For an educationally-themed break from sports, groups can visit the Kern County Museum (including the Lori Brock Children’s Discovery Center), Bakersfield Museum of Art, California Living Museum (think zoo) and Buena Vista Museum of Natural History. Another Bakersfield specialty is Basque cuisine. While there is a lot of variety in this city’s culinary scene, it is especially known for this style of cooking. The Basque region lies in the Pyrenees Mountains, taking in parts of southern France and northern Spain, and it is noted for its hearty, satisfying food. For larger groups, the Pyrenees Cafe and Wool Growers Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge offer banquet-sized seating areas.
Bakersfield is located at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, almost exactly between Fresno (109 miles) and Los Angeles (112 miles). It is about 15 minutes east of Interstate 5. The closest major airport is LAX, but Bakersfield does have its own regional airport a short distance from the city. Meadows Field Airport, with flights from Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco, is served by United, US Airways and American Airlines. Bakersfield’s combination of convenient location, 5,000plus available rooms and reasonable lodging rates – about 40% cheaper than the California average – makes it popular for in-state events.
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Social media marketing for your event Grant programs (which can include help with transportation needs) ■ PR/media coverage Help building microsites for your event ■ Signage ■ Site visits Housing services ■ Discounts to local attractions
BAKERSFIELD CVB Matt Billingsley, Sales Manager 661-852-7236 • mbillingsley@visitbakersfield.com VisitBakersfield.com
Plan your next spor ts event with
CONFIDENCE No matter the sport - indoor, outdoor, on the ice or in the sun, Bakersfield has a venue to host your next event SPECIALTY VENUES INCLUDING
Water Sports Lakes, Racetracks, BMX Track and more!
Call Sports Sales Manager Matt Billingsley toll-free at
866-425-7353 SportsPlanningGuide.com
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2 STOCKTON, CA Versatile Facilities for a Wide Range of Events 1. Stockton Arena The Stockton Arena is one of the most frequented sports venues in Stockton. It has played host to a wide variety of sports events, including basketball, indoor soccer and hockey. It features an NHL regulation ice sheet, 5,000 square feet of conference space and between 8,600 and 12,000 seats, depending on the configuration for the event.
2. University of the Pacific Venues at the University of the Pacific are popular for tournaments and events, and this year the campus will welcome some brand new athletic facilities. Zuckerman Field is a brand new soccer stadium that features a regulation grass soccer surface that is the home of the Pacific men’s and women’s soccer teams. The university will add seating for 2,500 spectators and an enclosed press box. Field Hockey Turf Field, the new 76,500-square-foot field hockey facility, is a water-based Edel Grass field constructed to FIH standards. It is the new home for the Pacific field hockey team. Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center, slated for completion in spring 2015, will feature 12 courts and a two-story, 4,000-square-foot clubhouse. The clubhouse will include team and public locker rooms on the bottom floor and a 2,000-square-foot lounge on the top floor with patios on either side. 32
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Elite athletic facilities and a sports-loving community make any event in Stockton feel right at home. The Alex G. Spanos Center is a popular arena that seats 6,150 spectators and is the site of men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and many other sports. Chris Kjeldsen Pool Complex has been serving the swimming community for almost 40 years and is one of the busiest facilities in Stockton. Klein Family Field is considered one of the best baseball facilities in the state, and it can be used for local, regional and state tournaments. It has fixed seating for 1,200, but additional seats can bring it up to 2,500. Raney Sand Volleyball Courts, built in 2013, is one of the top sand volleyball complexes on the West Coast. The facility features three courts with seating on the north, west and east sides.
3. Banner Island (Stockton) Ballpark Adjacent to the Stockton Arena is the ballpark, better known as Banner Island Ballpark, home of the Stockton Ports, the Oakland A’s Single-A affiliate. It also serves as a venue for high school, college and travel baseball clubs. It has hosted events like the CCAA Baseball Championships and NCAA West Coast Conference Baseball Championships. The park features 5,200 fixed seats and two picnic areas.
4. Regional Sports Complex The Regional Sports Complex is a multi-purpose facility that caters to baseball and soccer. It features four softball fields and four soccer fields, as well as concessions and a picnic area. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
Waterfront Activities Lie Steps from Land-Based Attractions When it comes to activities off the court or field, Stockton has it covered. From museums and galleries to water sports and cruises, Stockton offers sports teams and their families an overwhelming list of attractions to enjoy during their stay. Cruise along the California Delta with Opportunity Cruises, which offers a variety of sunset dinner and fireworks trips, as well as customized cruises for your group. Experience water-time fun at the Stockton Marina, located along the Stockton Channel. Here your group can rent kayaks and paddleboats, or test their balance during a paddle boarding adventure. Cultural enthusiasts can head over to the Haggin Museum for a taste of art and history all in one, while young athletes can venture over to Pixie Woods Amusement Park and let loose in this fantasy land. Families can enjoy a day at Micke Grove Regional Park and Zoo or World of Wonders Science Museum. For parents, Stockton offers a wide range of wineries where guests can spend an afternoon sipping varietals from over 80 vineyards. Since Stockton is centrally located and only a short distance from San Francisco and Yosemite National Park, it is easy for families to spend a day—or more—in these vacation favorites. San Francisco highlights include bay cruises, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park and Alcatraz Island.
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Accessible By Land, Air and Sea Stockton, located in the San Joaquin Delta, is accessible by air, car, train and even boat. The Sacramento airport is a short 50-minute drive away, while the San Francisco airport is about an hour-and-a-half drive. Yosemite and Lake Tahoe are less than three hours away, while Los Angeles is five hours and 15 minutes. The San Joaquin Regional Transit District provides public transport in the metropolitan area. Stockton features more than 2,000 hotel rooms, so there are plenty of options to fit any team's needs and budget.
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Social media marketing for your event Volunteer staff Grant programs PR/media coverage Signage ■ Site visits Transportation for teams Housing services Discounts to local attractions
VISIT STOCKTON Tim Pasisz, Sports Development Director 209-938-1556 direct • tim@visitstockton.org VisitStockton.org
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3 VENTURA, CA Facilities Cover Both Ends of Spectrum, from Premier Golf Courses to BMX-worthy Dirt Tracks 1. Buenaventura Golf Course Originally opened in 1932, Buenaventura Golf Course is one of the finest municipal courses in the Southland. With tall trees, green fairways and white sand bunkers, the course was designed with a parkland feel. The hazards look like they were not merely manufactured, but rather discovered in the landscape. Buenaventura underwent a $6.5-million renovation in 2004, including complete re-routing of the 18-hole golf course. Buenaventura Golf Course is also home to Wedgewood Wedding & Banquet Center, which has been awarded “Ventura County’s Best Banquet Facility.” Up to 350 seated guests can enjoy this recently renovated banquet room complete with a fireplace, bar and stunning golf course views.
2. Olivas Links Golf Course This is the sister course of Buenaventura Golf Course; the courses are located within three miles of each other. Olivas Links, with its rustic tranquility, is a place where the competition is between player and nature, featuring views of the Ventura Harbor, Ventura hillside and Channel Islands. With four distinct sets of tees, Olivas Links challenges players of all abilities. The 1.5-acre practice facility features grass tees with five bunkered target greens. Adjacent to Olivas Links is Ventura County’s only remaining Monterey-style adobe home from the Rancho era. The Olivas Adobe outdoor courtyard is available for a post-golf banquet. 34
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With a wide array of top-notch facilities, a welcoming community and a beautiful beach, Ventura is the place for sports events in Southern California 3. Ventura Community Park The park features soccer, baseball and softball fields, plus the state-of-the-art Ventura Aquatic Center, which has a 50-meter competition pool with two 1-meter and two 3-meter diving stands. There is open space available for marathons and other events. The BMX park, the venue’s highlight, hosted the 2014 USA BMX Seaside Nationals.
4. Ventura College Ventura College Sportsplex hosts six intercollegiate programs: men and women's track, football, women's soccer, and men and women's cross country. The facility has a state-of the-art polyethylene playing field surrounded by a nine-lane, all-weather track. Bleachers accommodate 3,000 spectators. Ventura College Athletic Event Center hosts basketball and volleyball events. New stadium seats were installed in the lower bleacher area, along with new scoreboards and a marquee message board. Ventura College Baseball Complex is the largest field in California community college baseball. Ventura College Tennis Center offers eight courts that have recently been resurfaced using state-of-the-art Plexipave material. Additionally, the two lower courts have been converted to stadium courts with bleacher seating and awnings.
5. Ventura Bike Trails and Beaches The Ventura scenic bike trail is ideal for cycling, bike racing or even a cross country event. It starts at the mouth of the Ventura River and takes you along the C-Street Promenade and past Surfer’s Point and Ventura Pier, ending at the San Buenaventura State Beach. The promenade area is a perfect viewing point. The beach encompasses two miles of pristine beach and sand dunes, great for swimming, surfing and other water events. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
6. Ventura County Fairgrounds This is the "biggest and the best" meeting center on the Central Coast, with more than 450,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and acres of oceanside parkland. The grounds can be used for equestrian events, dance and surf competitions, and other sports.
Nautical Fun within Minutes of Hotels and Athletic Facilities Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary encompasses five islands and their ocean environments, preserving and protecting natural and cultural resources. Isolation throughout thousands of years has created unique animals, plants and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth. Experience coastal Southern California as it once was; hike, cruise, kayak, camp, paddle board, surf, snorkel, and explore caves and coves. Island Packers provides the boats to the islands along with whale watching excursions from Ventura Harbor, which is lined with shops and restaurants. The palm-lined streets of Ventura’s Historic Downtown Cultural District abound with historic homes, museums, boutiques, antique shops, galleries and restaurants. The downtown district is only a few minutes by foot to the Ventura Pier and Promenade, where fun on the Pacific Ocean awaits.
Just Northwest of Los Angeles Ventura is one hour northwest of Los Angeles and 40 minutes south of Santa Barbara. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is an hour-and-a-half southeast of Ventura; Burbank Bob Hope Airport is a little over an hour east of Ventura; and Santa Barbara Airport is about 40 minutes northwest of Ventura. Ventura offers 2,100 hotel rooms with 1,000 rooms downtown. A free trolley from the historic downtown to the harbor stops by many of the hotels.
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Welcome bags Special discounts at restaurants and retail Welcome from city dignitaries Cross promotion via social media Community outreach to promote events Free promotional materials to attendees Community Support
VENTURA VISITORS & CONVENTION BUREAU Cheryl Bagby, Tourism Sales & Marketing Manager 101 S. California Street, Ventura, CA 93001 805.648.2075 • cheryl@ventura-usa.com Ventura-USA.com
Play In
Paradise With an assortment of quality facilities and beachside entertainment, your sports event in Ventura will double as a vacation. Call us today for special group rates and packages. Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau 101 S. California Street www.ventura-usa.com Ventura, CA 93001
SportsPlanningGuide.com
805.648.2075 Sports Planning Guide
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4 3 VALLEJO, CA
No other city in the Bay Area can better claim a more convenient and accessible location than Vallejo, California. Strategically located midway between San Francisco and Sacramento, Vallejo offers a wide variety of sports facilities, attractions and accommodations.
Whatever the Sport, Vallejo Has You Covered 1. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - Chabot Stadium Six Flags Discovery Kingdom offers a performance venue with an audience capacity of 3,000. The surface-stage size is 54 feet wide and 42 feet deep. A private picnic area is available for groups.
2. Solano County Fairgrounds The 157-acre fairgrounds offer flexible space indoors and out. Ample parking lots hold 5,600 cars and 114 RV hookups. There are a 7/8th-mile dirt racetrack and five acres of paved lot inside the grounds for vehicle shows, motor sports and other large outdoor attractions. Five major buildings contain 61,400 square feet of space. McCormick Hall offers 20,000 square feet and can fit about 3,000 people. Exposition Hall consists of 20,000 square feet and also holds about 3,000. Solano County Fairgrounds is complete with a grandstand with 5,000 seats and an additional 1,000 bleacher seats.
3. Mare Island Sports Complex The 61,000-square-foot complex features two indoor soccer fields, two half-court basketball courts, two full-sized courts used for both basketball and volleyball, an arcade, a cafĂŠ and a pro shop. Mare Island Sports Complex hosts basketball, boxing, soccer, volleyball and wrestling events as well as dog shows, kennel clubs and roller derbies. Also, the Straits of Mare Island are perfect for rowing and regatta events. 36
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4. California Maritime Academy Physical Education and Aquatics Center The California Maritime Academy is equipped to handle soccer, rugby, basketball, volleyball, swimming and more. It has a regulation-size, all-weather field (complete with a press box) used for rugby, lacrosse and softball. The new PE & Aquatics Center, opening in fall 2014, features a main gymnasium with 650 seating capacity; one basketball court; three full-size volleyball courts; an auxiliary gym with one full-size volleyball court and one half-size basketball court; and an outdoor, Olympic-size pool with bleacher seating.
5. Sonoma Raceway Located in Sonoma, Sonoma Raceway is a year-round motorsports complex with events scheduled 340 days and 50 weekends a year. Major events hosted this year include SonomaFest Motorcycle Days, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NHRA Sonoma Nationals and Indy Car Grand Prix.
6. John F. Cunningham Aquatic Complex The year-round complex features a heated Olympic-size pool (50 meters by 25 yards) and hosts water polo and swimming events. On-site dressing rooms and showers are available.
7. North Bay Athletic Association Facility The North Bay Athletic Association (NBAA) is a non-profit gymnastics organization, and the NBAA's fully-equipped gymnastics facility is one of the largest of its kind in the North Bay area. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
8. Dan Foley Park The park features a lighted baseball field, several large picnic areas, open turf play areas, soccer fields, a basketball court, a fishing dock and a nature trail around Lake Chabot. McManus Field at Dan Foley Park offers restrooms, concessions, lighting, bleachers and a scoreboard. The Dan Foley Cultural Center offers six rooms ranging in size from a small meeting room for 15 people to a large banquet room that can accommodate 500.
9. Golf Vallejo boasts five local world-class golf courses, plus more than 35 golf courses within a 20-mile radius.
This Waterfront City Has a Six Flags Theme Park and a Rich Heritage The Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame is in the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum and is supported by the Greater Vallejo Recreation Department. At historic Wilson Park watch a minor league baseball game starring the Vallejo Admirals. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is one of the only combination animal park, oceanarium and theme park in the world featuring more than 35 animal shows and attractions as well as more than 35 rides. Tour the Jelly Belly Candy Company Factory, located in Fairfield about 20 minutes east of Vallejo, and smell the aroma of chocolate, apricot, cinnamon or pineapple— whatever is being cooked up that day. The 1912 Empress Theatre in downtown Vallejo serves as a community focal
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point, presenting live entertainment, films and other cultural events. If you’re looking for a local favorite place to eat, try The Front Room at the Wharf serving nouveau cuisine, Zio Fraedo’s of Vallejo offering continental and Italian, family-oriented The Good Day Cafe, Panama Red’s Coffee Company and Earl’s BBQ.
Just North of San Francisco Vallejo is nine miles from Napa and 32 miles from San Francisco. The San Francisco Bay Ferry operates as a scenic ferry ride transporting up to 300 people between Vallejo and San Francisco. Vallejo offers 34 hotels and more than 2,800 available rooms. Choose from well-known hotel brands, a unique bed and breakfast on its own island and an environmentally sustainable “green” hotel.
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Volunteer staff ■ PR/media assistance Signage ■ Site visits ■ Transportation assistance Mobile app (“Visit Vallejo CA” in App Store) Discounts to local attractions ■ Lodging services Banquet planning assistance
VISIT VALLEJO Carrie Baulwin, Sales Manager Carrie@visitvallejo.com Office: 707-642-3653 • Fax: 707-644-2206 VisitVallejo.com
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after expanding west in 2003), but it hosts a variety of sporting events, including basketball, rodeo, arena football, indoor soccer and motocross.
2. Epicenter Entertainment and Sports Complex This 52-acre complex in Rancho Cucamonga is headlined by LoanMart Field, the 6,588-seat home of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Class A affiliate, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Three adult softball fields complete a clover with LoanMart Field, and the complex also features a Little League field and two regulation soccer fields.
3. Ontario Convention Center The convention center has over 225,000 square feet of useable space, including its main 70,000-square-foot, columnfree exhibit hall. It hosts basketball, volleyball events, wrestling, martial arts, dance, gymnastics, archery and shooting events.
GREATER ONTARIO, CA
4. Ontario Soccer Park
Tournament planners like the impressive facilities, area attractions, convenient location and Southern California weather.
This 20-acre venue features seven playing fields, including three tournament-size fields (215’ x 360’), two with artificial turf and lights.
First-Class Facilities Lure Tournament Planners
Southern California Abounds with Family-Fun Spots
1. Citizens Business Bank Arena
Greater Ontario is just a short drive from all that the Los Angeles area has to offer—from Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm to Hollywood and Universal Studios. LEGOLAND in Carlsbad is an amusement park with LEGO creations and rides. Medieval Times California offers a Middle Ages-style dinner and jousting O N T A R I O C A L I F O R N I A knights. At Fatburger in Rancho Cucamonga, teams can grab a 24-ounce XXXL. The Taco Man Greater Ontario is one of is another local favorite. Southern California’s most versatile
The 9,500-seat arena is home to the Ontario Reign of the East Coast Hockey League (the league chose to keep its name
G R E A T E R
locations for professional and amateur sporting events.
A Quick Drive from Los Angeles
With facilities that accommodate anywhere from 10 to more than 91,000 people, with 6,000 Hotel Rooms nearby. Our experienced team has established our reputation as a premier sports destination!
Eight airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest, United and US Airways, fly into Ontario International Airport, a 15-minute drive from downtown Ontario. Los Angeles International Airport is about an hour’s drive. San Diego is 90 minutes away. The Ontario area offers more than 6,000 rooms in 60-plus hotels.
Located minutes from the Ontario International Airport, we invite you to meet, explore and connect in Greater Ontario, California. For more information on planning your next event, visit us at discoverontariocalifornia.org
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Social media marketing for events Volunteer staff ■ PR/media coverage Signage ■ Site visits ■ Transportation for teams Mobile apps ■ Housing services Discounts to local attractions
ONTARIO CVB
909.937.3000 I 800.455.5755 info@ontariocvb.org meet, explore, connect
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discoverontariocalifornia.org
Sean Keliiholokia, Dir. of Sales & Marketing 2000 E. Convention Center Way Ontario, CA 91764 909-937-3005 • skeliiholokai@ontariocvb.org OntarioCVB.org
@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
1 LUBBOCK, TX
Because it is readily accessible from five highways, Lubbock is known as the "Hub City." But its abundance of top-notch event facilities and non-sporting attractions make it the go-to place for sports travel in West Texas and the surrounding area.
A Stellar Line-up of Collegiate and Community Sports Venues 1. Lubbock Christian University Extensively remodeled in 2005, Hays Field has hosted numerous regional and collegiate tournament events. There is bleacher seating for up to 3,000 and 1,500 permanent stadium seats. Hays Field offers a public address system, electronic scoreboard, an expanded game administration area, two broadcast booths and additional indoor room for related events. The Rip Griffin Center is LCU's home court for volleyball and basketball games. It has 1,950 permanent seats and, with the addition of chairs on the floor, the capability to seat 3,000. The venue has hosted the Sooner Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments and national volleyball matches.
and volleyball – are played at the United Supermarkets Arena. It includes a strength and conditioning center, conference space, team locker rooms, officials’ locker rooms and a practice gym. Rawls Golf Course, home of the Red Raiders and Lady Raiders golf teams, is one of nine golf courses in the Lubbock area. Other university sports facilities include John Walker Soccer Complex, Rocky Johnson Field (softball) and the Fuller Track & Field Complex.
Youth and Community Sport Facilities 3. Lubbock Indoor Courts A newcomer to the local sports scene, Lubbock Indoor Courts is available for tournaments, sports clinics and private events. It has four regulation-size hardwood basketball and volleyball courts. There are also four multipurpose courts, totaling eight courts.
4. Lubbock Youth Sports Complex 2. Texas Tech University Jones AT&T Stadium is home to Texas Tech’s football team. Since 2003, the university has spent more than $100 million to make it one of the top collegiate football facilities in the country. Texas Tech baseball is played at Dan Law Field; its 30,000 square feet of AstroTurf, lighting and top-class facilities make it an ideal home for serious sporting events. Three Texas Tech sports – men’s and women’s basketball 40
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The complex hosts both local leagues and other softball and baseball events. Each of the 16 fields can seat approximately 250 spectators.
5. Lubbock Memorial Civic Center The center has 40,000 square feet of column-free space and seating for almost 3,000 spectators. It can be used for multiple sporting events. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
6. City Bank Coliseum Seating 7,000, the coliseum has hosted indoor football games, circuses, motocross and musical events.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Windmills, Music, Ranching History and Steak Legendary rock ’n’ roller Buddy Holly is Lubbock’s favorite son, and the Buddy Holly Center is the area’s music showplace, hosting free concerts every Thursday throughout the summer. It’s also home to the Texas Musicians Hall of Fame, a fine art gallery and an exhibition of Holly memorabilia. The National Ranching Heritage Center is a 16-acre, open-air museum with 48 authentically restored structures dating from the 1700s to the 1950s. The Silent Wings Museum highlights the role of glider airplanes and their pilots in World War II. The kid-centric Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater provides school-age children with hands-on science exhibits, though science-minded adults will find it interesting as well. The American Wind Power Center covers the history of the American-style windmill and houses the largest collection of windmills in the world. The food scene in Lubbock is diverse, with about 1,000 restaurants representing a wide range of culinary styles for your group to choose from. Local favorites include barbecue, steak and Mexican fare. Cagle’s Steaks offers private dining for groups, accommodating as few as 15 or as many as 380. Options include using a private room in the main restaurant or booking one of the five individual buildings on site.
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A Transportation Hub As befits a place known as the Hub City, getting to Lubbock is easy. Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport handles the commercial flights to and from the area; service to cities in the South and Southwest, including Dallas, is offered daily. Airlines serving Lubbock include American, United and Southwest. Driving into Lubbock is also easy; it's reachable by five major highways: US-87, US-84, I-27, US-62/US-82 and State Road 114. The area counts nearly 5,300 hotel rooms.
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Social media marketing Volunteer staff ■ Grant programs PR/media coverage ■ Signage Site visits ■ Transportation for teams Mobile apps ■ Housing services Discounts to local attractions
VISIT LUBBOCK Cris Rohrer, Sports Sales Manager 806-747-5232 • cris@visitlubbock.org VisitLubbock.org
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1 ROUND ROCK, TX Huge Sports Complexes for Large Tournaments
The combination of first-class facilities, great local entertainment, easy transportation, mild weather and sports-minded residents has earned Round Rock the title of “Sports Capital of Texas.” a cricket field and a disc golf course, sports events are no stranger to Old Settlers Park. Unlike many large complexes, Old Settlers still feels like a community park, complete with pavilions, picnic tables and grills.
1. Round Rock Sports Center The recently opened, $14.9-million Round Rock Sports Center offers 82,800 square feet of indoor space with 47,775 square feet of flexible, open space. Several configurations are available, including six high school basketball courts, 12 high school volleyball courts, three NCAA basketball courts or four badminton/pickleball courts. The indoor sports center also features an HD video wall for displaying tournament brackets, promotional videos or live sporting events; upperlevel, VIP-style spectator seating; a tournament room, players’ lounge, team rooms, referees’ lounge and athletic training room; concessions and patio seating; seating for more than 1,400 spectators with a total capacity of 3,053; and 502 parking spots. In addition to the indoor features, the Round Rock Sports Center has an outdoor pavilion and plaza. The covered pavilion features a multi-sport turf surface, playground, concession area and restrooms. The open-air plaza has a children’s play area.
3. Dell Diamond Right next door to Old Settlers Park, Dell Diamond is home to the Texas Rangers’ AAA affiliate, the Round Rock Express. The park’s proximity to Old Settlers makes it an ideal championship or main field for any large baseball tournament. Dell Diamond has 8,722 fixed seats and can seat another 3,000 in the outfield lawn area. Fans enjoy the pool and hot tub over the right field fence, and kids love the adjacent basketball court and climbing wall for in-game entertainment.
4. Dragon Stadium In a state known for its high school football, Round Rock has one of the best high school stadiums around. On the campus of Round Rock High School, Dragon Stadium features a full-size track and AstroPlay turf field with a drainage system to allow play in any weather. For events that require a lot of administration and may draw media, Dragon Stadium’s two press boxes are sure to impress.
2. Old Settlers Park This 570-acre park is the main outdoor attraction for rights holders that commit to Round Rock. With 20 lit baseball fields, five lit softball fields, two lit football fields, 19 soccer fields, 12 lit tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts,
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5. Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex The Round Rock Independent School District went a step further when putting together its athletic complex, building a stadium that rivals many Division I college foot-
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ball arenas. With parking for 2,750, total seating for 11,000, 950 stadium seats and a beautiful oval-shaped campus, this complex makes a great championship locale for football, soccer or lacrosse events. Televisions are fixed at concession areas so that fans won’t miss any of the action while away from their seats.
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Family Fun, Shopping and Comfort Food Event planners and visitors are pleasantly surprised with the wide range of attractions and restaurants the area has to offer. Seven top-quality golf courses can provide a morning of fun on a tournament off day, and the Rock’n River Family Aquatic Center is a good way to cool off. Shoppers love the Round Rock Premium Outlets and Ikea while dog owners are treated to Dog Depot, which is much more than just a dog park. Also, make sure your tournament goers check out Historic Downtown Round Rock, where they can see the actual rock after which the city is named. Round Rock’s restaurants love seeing dirty jerseys come in their doors and are flexible with meeting each team’s needs. The city contains all the standard fast food and sit-down chains, but there are plenty of local options as well. Cotton Patch Cafe serves up great old-fashioned comfort food while Curly's Texas BBQ is a local favorite for Texas-style barbeque.
Deep in the Heart of Texas More than 90 percent of Texas’ population is within 300 miles of Round Rock, so tournament planners can expect that the Lone Star State’s top talent is within reach of their chosen venue. Dallas and Houston are just a three-hour drive away. I-35 passes right by downtown Round Rock, making it easy to come in from Georgetown to the north and Austin to the south. From downtown, each of Round Rock’s main facilities is within a 20-minute drive. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is just a half hour from Round Rock and is serviced by 13 major airlines. With 25 hotels within city limits, Round Rock is well prepared to handle multiple tournaments at a time. From Red Roof Inn to an RV park to the Marriott, there are plenty of lodging options.
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Social media marketing for events Volunteer staff ■ Grant programs PR/media coverage Signage ■ Site visits Transportation for teams Mobile apps ■ Housing services Discounts to local attractions
ROUND ROCK CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Nancy Yawn, Director 231 East Main Street, Suite 150, Round Rock, TX 78664 Direct: 512-218-7094 • Cell: 512-808-7544 nyawn@roundrocktexas.gov RoundRockTexas.gov
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4 FORT WORTH, TX
As the 17th-largest city in the U.S., Fort Worth offers all the luxuries of a big city with the convenience of a small town.
Parks, Arenas and Complexes Fit Your Needs 1. Fort Worth Convention Center Within walking distance of thousands of downtown Fort Worth hotel rooms, a variety of delicious restaurants and fabulous shopping, and offering 253,226 square feet of event space, the Fort Worth Convention Center is the perfect venue for your next event. State-of-the-art business and communications technologies and a convenient location near all of the amazing entertainment Fort Worth has to offer ensure you'll have everything you need for a successful event. The Fort Worth Convention Center Arena offers 10,500 permanent seats and 25,960 square feet of floor space (110’ x 236’). 44
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2. Rolling Hills Soccer Complex The complex features 25 soccer fields, four of which are lighted fields.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
3. Will Rogers Memorial Center This massive, 105-acre multi-purpose complex of event facilities and exhibit halls is located in the heart of Fort Worth’s Cultural District. The center features an auditorium (2,856 seats), four arenas (seating capacities of 5,652; 1,934; 998; and 640), 2,500 horse stalls and more than 117,000 square feet of exhibit space.
4. TCU Athletic Facilities Amon G. Carter Football Stadium (capacity of 44,000) features natural grass, concession stands, a raised seating bowl on the west and north ends, suites, club seating, lounges and a new press box. Daniel Meyer Coliseum is used for basketball and offers 7,200 seats. Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center & Bartzen Varsity Courts has 24 outdoor and three indoor tennis courts and seats 1,350.
5. Gateway Park The park has six softball fields, 11 soccer fields including four with synthetic turf, and seats 4,000.
Enjoy a True Texas Experience The Fort Worth Cultural District is home to five worldclass museums in a beautiful park-like setting, including Kimbell Art Museum—home to the only Michelangelo in the Americas. Stockyards National Historic District hosts the world’s only year-round rodeo— the Stockyards Championship Rodeo. Also found here is Billy Bob’s Texas, the “World’s Largest Honky-Tonk,” and the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive presented by the Fort Worth Herd. The district is filled with sites from the Old West with Texas-themed shopping and cuisine, rodeos and Western saloons. You'll see legendary structures such as the Livestock Exchange Building and the Stockyards Station shops and restaurants. Downtown/Sundance Square is a 35-block shopping, entertainment and dining district featuring 30-plus restaurants, three live theaters, an AMC movie theater, art galleries and more. The newly added Sundance Square Plaza includes water features, 32-foot-tall Teflon umbrellas and the historic Chisholm Trail Mural. Fort Worth is also home to Texas Motor Speedway and BIG HOSS, the world’s largest HD video board. Texas Motor Speedway is America's second-largest sports and entertainment facility, just 20 miles north of downtown, and is now the only speedway in the country to host every major form of American automobile racing, including NASCAR Sprint Cup racing and Indy-style racing. Less than 15 miles from downtown Fort Worth, you can catch a Dallas Cowboys football game at AT&T Stadium, or take in America’s favorite pastime with the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park.
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Centrally Located and Easy to Access Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), located 17.5 miles from Fort Worth, is one of the most convenient airports in the world with an average of 1,900 daily departures and arrivals, and service to more than 200 destinations worldwide. The Fort Worth Transportation Authority, known locally as The T, provides transportation to the city's rich variety of entertainment and historical attractions including the Stockyards National Historic District, the Fort Worth Cultural District and downtown's Sundance Square. In addition to inter-city transportation, The T offers the TRE, or the Trinity Railway Express, for passengers traveling to and from Dallas. The 35-mile TRE Commuter rail line to Dallas is easily accessible from either Fort Worth's Historic T&P Station or the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC). Sitting at the crossroads of three major interstate highways 46
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(I-35, I-20 and I-30), Fort Worth is easily accessible by car. Fort Worth has over 13,000 hotel rooms with a good offering of double/double rooms (including almost 1,200 in downtown).
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FORT WORTH CVB Josh Dill, CSEE, CTA, National Sales Manager, Sports 111 W. 4th Street, Suite 200, Fort Worth, TX 76102-3951 Phone: 817-698-7827 • Cell: 817-773-2820 JoshDill@FortWorth.com www.FortWorth.com www.MeetInFortWorth.com
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4 5 1 PLANO, TX
Plano’s specialty is matching your sport event to their consistently high-quality venues and providing access to hotels, restaurants and attractions that youth sport participants and their families enjoy.
Not Your Average Parks Plano is ranked among the top five in The Sporting News’ “Best Sport Towns” year in and year out. Park acreage and accessibility are basic, but field flexibility and safe, well-kept turf are a maintenance priority and are evident in the quality of Plano’s tournament parks. Plano routinely hosts 150-team tournaments for softball and lacrosse and more than 900 soccer teams over Labor Day weekend. Plano Parks and Recreation has earned the distinction of being accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). There are 83 public parks spanning more than 4,000 acres, 70 miles of paved trails, 69 athletic fields, eight swimming pools, five recreation centers and four arts and cultural venues.
2. Heritage Yards With nine lit softball fields, concessions and restrooms, Heritage Yards at Plano is the venue for softball leagues, events and tournaments throughout three seasons.
3. Enfield Park Enfield Park offers eight lit baseball and seven lit youth soccer fields.
4. Carpenter Park Carpenter Park features 11 lit turf soccer fields that can also be used for lacrosse, and there are four lit baseball fields. There are also restrooms and a playground.
5. High Point Park The park has 11 lit soccer fields and nine lit softball fields.
1. Russell Creek Park The park features 20 lit turf fields and seven cricket pitches. In fact, Russell Creek Park has more cricket pitches than anywhere else on the North American continent and hosts international cricket tournaments. Russell Creek Park also has a small lake, hike/ bike trails, a pavilion, a playground and restrooms. 48
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6. Plano Sports Authority Better known as PSA, there are now four of these beautiful, 80,000-plus square-foot indoor sport facilities within 15 miles of each other in Collin County. Each facility has at least eight full-size top-of-the line wood courts, meeting space, concessions and plenty of restrooms. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
Taste to Your Satisfaction and Shop ‘til You Drop Plano is big on dining and shopping. From a family breakfast spot to a hip bar for a night out, downtown Plano's urban dining scene will suit any palate. With more than 700 restaurants in Plano, your group’s only problem will be deciding exactly where to eat. Urban Crust, Zanata and Urban Rio offer rooftop dining, and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit stop is just a block away. Speaking of food, on Headquarters Road you can bypass the headquarters of Frito-Lay and Yum Foods. There are more than 70 shopping centers at several locations in town, including the Collin Creek Mall and the Shops at Legacy. Unique boutiques sell a variety of goods from handmade jewelry to antiques. A favorite attraction in Plano is Main Event, an indoor entertainment center with billiards, bowling, laser tag and more. Another hotspot in the area is Hawaiian Falls Waterpark, which is nearby many of the facilities. Visitors receive discounted coupons to the waterpark. See what it’s like to fly at iFly, an indoor flying simulator located in Frisco, Texas. There’s plenty more to see and do in Dallas, which is just 22 miles from Plano, such as the Dallas Arts District, Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas Aquarium.
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20 Minutes from Dallas Plano is just 20 minutes north of Dallas and two major airports, Dallas/Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field, which have a total of 2,000 flights daily. Plano is right on the DART light rail line; you can hop aboard at one of three Plano stations and travel throughout the area. Plano has been consistently named a safe and clean city, and the moderate climate makes it easy to get there and get around no matter the season.
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Social media marketing for your event Volunteer staff (VIP - Volunteerism in Plano) Sport sponsorship program PR/media coverage Signage ■ Site visits Transportation assistance Housing services
PLANO CVB Cissy Aberg, Sport Sales Manager 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas 75074 Phone: 972-941-5849 • Mobile: 972-741-9737 Fax: 972-461-9317 • cissya@plano.gov VisitPlano.com
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4 3 2 FRISCO, TX
Named the "Top Place to Raise an Athlete" by Men's Journal in 2011, Frisco is a short drive from Dallas and offers everything from high-class athletic facilities to high-flying entertainment.
Facilities Worthy of Dallas Cowboys and Other Pro Teams Last year, Frisco hosted 39 groups totaling $21 million in economic impact. These groups were tracked only through CVB booking; there were many more tournaments taking place as well.
1. Toyota Stadium Home to FC Dallas MLS, Toyota Stadium was the first facility of its kind in the world when it was built in 2005. It plays host to national and international soccer games (both major league soccer and youth soccer), high school football games and flag football, among other events. The 117-acre complex includes a world-class stadium adjacent to 17 lighted, regulation-sized, tournament-grade soccer fields with parking surrounding the fields. Toyota Stadium capacity is 21,193.
3. Dr Pepper Ballpark Home to the Texas Rangers Double-A Affiliate, the Frisco RoughRiders, Dr Pepper Ballpark hosts professional baseball, championship high school and college games, as well as MMA events. The ballpark features two locker rooms, a state-of-the-art press box, 27 suites and two party decks. Also featured are a terrace patio for 100 people and the Founders Club restaurant, which seats up to 200 people banquet-style or up to 300 people for receptions or large parties. There are 3,000 parking spaces and seating for 10,000.
4. Fieldhouse USA Fieldhouse USA is a 144,000-square-foot sports facility with 12 full-sized hardwood basketball and volleyball courts, and indoor soccer and football turf. Floor space can also be used for fencing and wrestling. There is approximately 13,200 square feet of retail space as well as a food court, on-site trainer, team store and corporate conference rooms.
2. Dr Pepper Arena Home to Dallas Stars NHL and Texas Legends (an NBA D League team), Dr Pepper Arena hosts basketball, hockey, figure skating, tennis and gymnastics. It features two NHL-sized sheets of ice, a full range of concessions and eight locker rooms, including separate referees’ and women's locker rooms. The arena has full media capabilities, 12 luxury suites and a private club. The capacity is 6,000 with two 1,000-space parking garages on site. 50
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5. Warren Sports Complex The multi-use sports complex is in a park-like setting with pavilions and playground areas. Warren Sports Complex includes seven football/soccer lighted game fields, four baseball/softball lighted game fields, seven football/soccer game fields, two lighted basketball courts and two lighted tennis courts. There are more than 600 parking spaces, two concession facilities and an eight-acre pond with two piers. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
The Frisco Independent School District is also involved in hosting sports events at the schools’ athletic facilities. Currently under construction is the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters & Training Facility, complete with a 12,000-seat indoor multi-use event center, two outdoor practice fields and a cheerleader/dance academy. Also under construction in Frisco is The PIT (Performance Indoor Training), an indoor soccer facility; Volleys Tennis Club, a tennis facility; and First Interval Natatorium, a swimming facility.
Flights and Games, All Within a Few Miles of Venues
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FRISCO CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Chuck Brakes, Sports Sales Manager 972-292-5262 • cbrakes@friscoissports.com FriscoIsSports.com
In the family-friendly community of Frisco, there’s plenty to do to keep visitors entertained before and after games. At iFLY Dallas, your visitors can experience what it’s like to fly. The indoor skydiving attraction is fun and safe for all ages and no experience is necessary. Still feel like being up in the air? Urban Air Trampoline Park offers a variety of trampoline activities, including wall-to-wall arenas, dodgeball courts, slam dunk tracks and a foam pit. Arrive and drive indoor go-karts at Pole Position Raceway. Frisco offers top-quality entertainment centers, too. Main Event features 12 regulation pool tables, 10 meeting/party rooms, Main St. Cafe, two full-service bars, shuffleboard, blackjack and Texas hold'em (for fun), 28 bowling lanes, two-story laser tag, a two-story gravity ropes course, more than 100 video and redemption games and glow-in-the-dark miniature golf. Dave & Busters—located at Stonebriar Centre, which also features a carousel and 24-screen theater—is a restaurant and arcade all in one, complete with billiards and shuffleboard. At Strikz, enjoy 32 bowling lanes, laser tag, 85 redemption and video games, two full-service bars, food service, billiards and large meeting/party rooms.
Minutes from Downtown Dallas Frisco is just 20 minutes from Love Field Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and 25 minutes from downtown Dallas. There are 12 hotels and 1,723 rooms in the area. Sports venues, entertainment and lodging are all within seven miles of each other, creating a cluster ideal for any sports planner.
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1 LEWISVILLE, TX
Lewisville is situated at the edge of Lewisville Lake and between Dallas and Fort Worth, making it an easily accessible sports community.
Lake Shores to Skate Parks, and Everything in Between
Football Complex: two lighted 80-yard fields, two lighted 100-yard fields, bleachers with shade structure and restrooms/concession building Baseball Complex: three lighted regulation fields, one championship field, bleachers with shade structure and restrooms/concession building Scion Skate Park: bowl and street feature, restrooms, vending machines and bleachers Lakes & Trails: three manmade lakes, 1.5-mile walking paths and restrooms
Lewisville offers 14 baseball/softball fields with flexibility to adapt, 16 soccer fields, four football fields, 19 volleyball courts and 10 futsal courts (futsal is similar to soccer but is played on a smaller field typically indoors, usually on a basketball court).
1. Toyota of Lewisville Railroad Park The latest addition to Lewisville, Toyota of Lewisville Railroad Park features four baseball fields, eight soccer fields, four football fields and a skate park. There is also space for triathlons and even a dog park. Railroad Park includes spacious pavilions (one located in each complex) that have concessions and restrooms. There are more than 2,000 parking spaces onsite and more than 2,400 hotel rooms within 2.5 miles. Here are the specs for the different sections within Toyota of Lewisville Railroad Park: Soccer Complex: seven lighted regulation adult fields, one lighted regulation U14 field, bleachers with shade structure and restrooms/concession building 52
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2. Lewisville Lake Park The park spans 662 acres and has eight lighted soccer fields, eight lighted baseball fields and two lighted adult softball fields. It also features the Lake Park Golf Course, regulation-sized cricket, a swimming beach, boat ramps and picnic areas. Lewisville Lake has 30,000 acres of surface area and 233 miles of shoreline. Depth reaches 67 feet with an average of 25 feet during normal operation. The lake hosts bass fishing tournaments and water sports, and will soon be able to host water racing events.
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3. MAC (Multipurpose Activity Center) The MAC is a 38,000-square-foot multi-sports building located in Lewisville. The facility has four NBA-sized hardwood basketball courts, seven USA volleyball regulation courts, a full concession stand with food court area and a meeting/film room. Space is also usable for cheerleading, gymnastics, martial arts, wrestling, futsal and indoor soccer and football training.
4. Integrated Athletic Development (IAD) IAD is a 100,000-square-foot, full-service, multi-sport facility. It features six basketball (also used for futsal) and 12 volleyball hardwood courts. All courts are engineered to meet all specifications of the highest industry standard, known as the DIN certification.
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Welcome bag Discounts for attractions and dining Staff member assigned to ensure event success PR/media coverage ■ Electronic billboard signage for event Site visits ■ Hotel rebates Hotel room block coordination
LEWISVILLE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Carlos Hernandez, Sports/Tourism Sales P.O. Box 299002 972-219-3713 direct • chernandez@cityoflewisville.com VisitLewisville.com
Meet Mother Nature and See Grand Performances All of these local favorites are within minutes of the top athletic facilities and most hotels in Lewisville. Try a cruise in a catamaran on Lewisville Lake or visit LLELA Nature Preserve, where your team can hike, canoe, kayak or just sit back and enjoy nature. Keep the fun rolling at Zone Action Park, an indooroutdoor amusement park with an arcade, go-karts, pizza place, mini-golf and batting cages for different skill levels. Main Event is an indoor attraction with bowling, billiards, arcade games, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, laser tag and a restaurant and bar. Medical Center of Lewisville Grand Theater is known by the locals as MCL Grand. In addition to a 300-seat Performance Hall, you'll find the Black Box theater, Multi-Purpose room, Art Gallery with rotating exhibits and the Courtyard for concerts.
Nearby Dallas and Fort Worth Lewisville is about a 30-minute drive from Dallas and 45 minutes from Fort Worth, situated at the top of the triangle these three cities form. The Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport is approximately 12 minutes from Lewisville. There are more than 2,400 hotel rooms in the city. Many Lewisville hotels are located less than three miles away from Lewisville’s major sports venues, and are within walking distance of Vista Ridge Shopping Mall, a variety of restaurants and a 15-screen movie theater.
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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, TX Combination of Venues and Collegiate Facilities Makes the Dean’s List 1. Veterans Athletic Complex This 150-acre regional park is enhanced with a pavilion (500 capacity), parking for 400 cars, five softball fields and nine soccer fields (four lighted). Two new artificial footballlength turf fields were recently installed, including a new lighting system and parking spots. Open and fairly flat, the site is surrounded by wooded areas on the southeast and west. Twelve of the site’s acres hold the Veterans Memorial, dedicated to all Brazos Valley veterans.
2. Brazos County Expo The 70,000-square-foot covered North Arena is the action-packed heart of the Brazos County Expo complex. The arena is a perfect venue for equestrian and other livestock competitions, including horse shows, rodeos and clinics. The 75,000-square-foot covered South Arena is ideal for cutting, dressage, barrel races, polo events and ropings. The west side of the South Arena boasts high-quality shade cloths to allow fresh air in while keeping out the glare and heat from the sun. 54
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Home to Texas A&M University and affectionately called Aggieland, Bryan College-Station lives and breathes college sports, but has the facilities, infrastructure and environment ideal for youth tournaments.
3. Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park It’s tough to find another college baseball venue as beautiful as Texas A&M’s Blue Bell Park. Built in 1979 as Olsen Field, the park received a $24-million renovation and a new name (thanks to a donation by Blue Bell Creameries) in 2011. The park holds 6,100 and has a two-tier grandstand, state-of-the-art scoreboard, LED video board and an indoor hitting facility. The infield and outfield are Tifway Bermuda Grass. When the college baseball season is over, Blue Bell Park is a dream championship locale for any baseball tournament.
4. Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium Home to the Aggie track and field teams during the winter, this gorgeous indoor track facility is highlighted by its six-lane, 200-meter hydraulically banked track. Different events can adjust the bank of the track to any interval, depending on the age of participants and how fast they want the track to be. Crowds of up to 5,000 can also view events on the eight-line sprinting track, two long and triple jump pits, two throwing rings and four runways for pole vaulting.
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5. Penberthy Rec Sports Complex The newly renovated Penberthy Rec Sports Complex is the Texas A&M athletic department’s outdoor facility. The complex has artificial turf and natural grass playing areas dedicated to drop-in recreation, intramural sports and sports clubs. The complex features four artificial turf fields approximately the size of a soccer/softball field and can be set up for ultimate, rugby, or men’s or women’s lacrosse. There are also nine natural turf fields. The complex has a central building with an outdoor pavilion with seating available for 200, a meeting room with seating for approximately 60, restrooms with shower/changing areas and a control room.
History, Family Fun and Texas BBQ Grand Station Entertainment is a hotspot for families and teams after a long day of competition. The 73,000-square-foot facility includes 40 bowling lanes, a black-light mini golf course, laser tag, an arcade, a sports bar and a food court. Additional family fun can be found at Zoomz Paintball, which is just a 10-minute drive from downtown, or by taking a guided tour of Blue Bell Creameries’ production facility, 45 minutes south of Bryan-College Station. History buffs will enjoy the George Bush Presidential Library, located on the Texas A&M campus, which spotlights the life of America’s 41st president. As for restaurants, Gattitown has become a favorite stop after wins or losses, with a huge arcade to go along with its pizza menu. For good old-fashioned Texas barbeque, try Buppy’s BBQ, C&J Bar-B-Q, Fargo’s Pit BBQ, J Cody’s, Dickey’s BBQ Pit or Junek’s Barbeque Grill.
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The Center of the Texas Triangle Bryan-College Station is located right in the middle of the Dallas-Houston-San Antonio triangle. Houston and Austin are roughly an hour and a half drive away. For local Texas teams, United and American Airlines fly into Bryan-College Station’s Easterwood Airport from Dallas and Houston. Teams from around the country can fly into either the Austin or Houston airport, both of which are about an hour and a half from Bryan-College Station. With over 30 hotels, 4,000 rooms and more being built, Bryan-College Station has no shortage of space for your participants. The area is used to accommodate thousands of people flocking to Aggie football games each fall, so housing tournaments isn’t a problem. In addition to hotels, the area has 19 bed and breakfasts, 16 RV parks and two campgrounds.
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Volunteer staff ■ Grant programs ■ PR/media coverage Signage ■ Site visits ■ Transportation for teams ■ Mobile apps Housing services ■ Assistance in booking officials Discounts to local attractions ■ Hotel tax grant package Reserving blocks of rooms in hotels Event-specific marketing and social media marketing
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION CVB Dominique Powell, Sports Sales Executive 1101 University Drive E, Ste 108 College Station, TX 77840 979-260-9898 • Dominique@bcscvb.org VisitAggieland.com
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see more stars than anywhere else. Golfers will enjoy the 7,024yard, par-72 Bell Nob Golf Course. A trip to Campbell County would not be complete without a trip to Devils Tower National Monument, one of the West’s great natural landmarks.
Easily Accessible by Air and Car Gillette-Campbell County Airport is served by Delta and United. Rapid City Regional Airport is two hours east of Gillette. If driving, Gillette is located along I-90 and Highway 5, with Highway 59 connecting to I-25. The 86-room Arbuckle Lodge is right across the street from CAM-PLEX. All other hotels are within a four-mile radius.
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CAMPBELL COUNTY, WY Campbell County in Northeast Wyoming is not just a place for sports; it’s for exploring, too.
State-of-the-Art Facilities for Any Event 1. CAM-PLEX The Cowboy State's premier multi-use facility encompasses over 1,000 acres and features a fine arts theater, a convention/ exhibit hall, two multi-purpose pavilions, a racetrack, rodeo grounds, 1,730 RV sites and a park. The Central Pavilion offers large spaces and earthen floors, perfect for indoor rodeos and tractor pulls. The East Pavilion has open floor space suitable for many different setups, including equestrian and rodeo events. The outdoor Equestrian Area features a cross country jumping course that spreads over 85 acres of open prairie. Spirit Hall Ice Arena, located in the Wyoming Center, hosts ice hockey games, ice skating and wrestling. Other facilities include an 18-hole disc golf course, Gillette Thunder Speedway and Powder Basin Motocross.
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Ambassador program at Visitor Center Welcome packets Local restaurant/retail discounts GoExploreWyoming App Visit Gillette-Wright Wyoming on Facebook
CAMPBELL COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Mary Silvernell, Executive Director 1810 S. Douglas Highway, Suite A, Gillette, WY 82718 Direct: 307-686-0040 • Cell: 307-299-2838 VisitGillette-WrightWYO.org
2. Recreation Center The center has a weight room, climbing wall, three gymnasiums, three basketball courts, a six-lane lap pool and a diving platform, plus an elevated indoor walking track, five tennis/indoor soccer courts and four courts for racquetball. The fieldhouse has a six-lane, 200-meter college-level indoor track and can also host basketball, volleyball, tennis and wrestling events.
A Slice of the Old West Alpha Coal’s Eagle Butte Coal Mine Tours in the Powder River Basin showcases one of the nation’s largest coal mines. At Durham Buffalo Ranch, take a tour of the world’s largest and oldest working buffalo ranch. At the Sage Valley Planetarium you’ll be able to SportsPlanningGuide.com
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1 3 SNOHOMISH COUNTY, WA Parks, Aquatic Centers and Everything in Between 1. Everett Community College Student Fitness Center The student fitness center features a full-size basketball court with bleacher seating for 2,200, complete with a training room, four locker rooms, two officials’ locker rooms and two team rooms. There are also a three-lane indoor running track, a 2,382-square-foot multi-purpose room and more than 1,600 parking spaces.
2. Skykomish River Park The park has five softball/baseball fields (including one turf field), three mid-size soccer fields, concessions, a play area and picnic area. Bleacher seating capacity is 600, and the park accommodates ultimate Frisbee, dog competitions, soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball.
Snohomish County, Washington, minutes north of Seattle, has a rich tradition in hosting year-round athletic events.
5. Evergreen State Fairgrounds Located in Monroe, the Fairgrounds has a 60,000square-foot indoor equestrian park with seating for 2,700 spectators and hosts equestrian, BMX, rodeos and motocross. The 33,000-square-foot events center hosts basketball, wrestling, martial arts, gymnastics and cheerleading. Evergreen Speedway has 3/8 and 5/8 ovals and a figure-eight track. Inside the ovals are two motocross tracks, one for youth and one for adults.
6. Meadow Wood Equestrian Center The new equestrian center, located outside of Monroe, was built in summer 2014. It hosted the 2014 Evergreen Classic featuring the top hunter jumper horses and riders in the region.
7. Lake Stevens Community Park Located in Lake Stevens, the park has three baseball/ softball fields, plus four grass soccer fields that host soccer, lacrosse, football and ultimate Frisbee.
3. Snohomish Aquatic Center
8. Lake Tye Park
The aquatic center has a 10-lane competition pool with two one-meter diving boards and spectator bleachers for up to 420. There are also a recreation pool, warm-water pool, spray-play area, surf-simulation machine (FlowRider®), lazy river and a waterslide (Splashtacular).
Located in Monroe, this multi-purpose facility hosts baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, wakeboarding, skateboarding and triathlons. It features two baseball/ softball fields, one soccer field, one outdoor basketball court, two tennis courts and a 41-acre lake. Adjacent to Lake Tye Park is Fairfield County Park, which hosts sports such as soccer, lacrosse and ultimate Frisbee.
4. Comcast Arena at Everett With two sheets of NHL-sized ice (85’ x 200’), this facility in Everett is home of the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club of the Western Hockey League and hosts a variety of events, including hockey, figure skating, basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, volleyball, rodeo, endurocross and trade shows. There are 8,300 seats in Comcast Arena, 250 in Comcast Community Ice Rink.
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9. Kasch Park This multi-purpose sports complex in Everett hosts baseball, softball, soccer, ultimate Frisbee and lacrosse. There are four softball fields, two baseball fields and three adult, all-weather turf soccer fields. The venue can accommodate up to 600 spectators in the softball/baseball complex. All fields are lighted. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
10. Lynnwood Convention Center Lynnwood Convention Center has 34,000 square feet to accommodate dance, gymnastics, martial arts, board game competitions, meetings and trade shows.
Outdoor Adventures Await Snohomish County is known for its miles of shoreline, peaceful lakes and streams, scenic beauty, and outdoor activities such as river rafting, whale watching, water skiing, fishing, hiking, biking and hot air ballooning. See the assembly of the Boeing 747, 777 and 787 at the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour. View rare treasurers of 20th century aviation at the Flying Heritage Collection and the Historic Flight Restoration Center. Snohomish County offers shopping galore, from Seattle Premium Outlets to Alderwood Mall and Everett Mall, plus boutique shops in Edmonds and Mill Creek. Jetty Island, a man-made island at Everett Marina, features two miles of sandy beaches and shallow water. Each October, six farms in the Snohomish Valley invite visitors to pick pumpkins and walk through the corn maze. This time of the year is known as the Snohomish Valley Festival of Pumpkins. Scuttlebutt Brewery, located at Everett Marina, serves American cuisine and has been a family brewer since 1996. Lombardi’s Neighborhood Italian, located at Everett Marina and Mill Creek, serves authentic Italian cuisine with a Northwest flair, local products and Washington wines.
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Snohomish Nearby Seattle Snohomish County is located 25 miles north of downtown Seattle, 45 miles north of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and 113 miles south of Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Amtrak stations are located in Edmonds and Everett. Washington State ferry terminals are located in Edmonds and Mukilteo. Interstates 5 and 405 provide easy access to any of the Snohomish County sports facilities. All major airlines fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. There are 5,600 hotel rooms in national chains and locally owned lodging properties.
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Bid preparation assistance Bid proposal presentations Grant programs ■ Volunteer assistance Hotel accommodations Hotel and venue site tours Public relations Event social media marketing Visitor information and welcome packets
SNOHOMISH COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION Tammy Dunn, CSEE, Sports Development Manager 1133 164th Street SW, Suite 204, Lynnwood, WA 98087 888-338-0976 ext. 12 • tammy@snohomish.org Snohomish.org
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EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST, OR Eugene, Oregon is called “TrackTown, USA” because of its longstanding history of hosting track and field competitions. Eugene was awarded the hosting rights for the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships through 2021. The area has hosted the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field, first in 1972, and again in 1976 and 1980. The Trials returned to Eugene in 2008 and 2012 and will return again in 2016. The USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted in Eugene in 2015.
From Hardwood Floors and Synthetic Tracks to Concrete Bowls and Sandy Slopes
While Eugene is best known for its track and field events, the area hosts everything from traditional sports to offbeat competitions like sandboarding and mountain biking.
4. Sand Master Park Located in Florence on the largest coastal dunes in North America, Sand Master Park is the world’s first sandboarding park. It features 40 acres of sculpted sand dunes with beginner and advanced slopes. Don't miss Sand Master Jam, the longest running sandboard competition in the world held every summer.
5. Moshofsky Sports Center This multipurpose indoor facility at the University of Oregon has played host to numerous events, including NCAA Division I and II volleyball and the Oregon MLK Volleyball Team Classic. It includes a full-length artificial football surface and a synthetic four-lane, 120-meter running track.
1. Dexter Lake About 16 miles southeast of Eugene is Dexter Lake, a great natural venue for rowing competitions. It is fully buoyed with seven permanent lanes for rowing and is used often for large regattas. The lake is also known for dragboat races, sailing and fishing, and features an 18-hole disc golf course.
2. WJ Skatepark + Urban Plaza WJ Skatepark in Eugene is the largest covered and lighted public skatepark in the country. It has a half-acre of custom-designed terrain that's ideal for hosting competitions. The Urban Plaza provides seating and space for events, plus Wi-Fi and vendor pads.
3. Autzen Stadium Home to the University of Oregon football team, Autzen is the largest outdoor sports arena in the state, and one of the loudest in the entire country. It seats 54,000.
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6. Willamalane Center for Sports and Recreation This 97,000-square-foot complex in Springfield features four hardwood basketball courts, two 90-foot-long outdoor bocce ball courts, several sport courts that can be used for a variety of matches, four indoor tennis courts, climbing walls and a new fitness center. Outside are two lighted artificial turf soccer fields with two more currently under construction.
7. Matthew Knight Arena The LEED Gold-certified Matthew Knight Arena is the largest indoor venue in Eugene. It is home to the University of Oregon’s men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and gymnastics teams. The 400,000 square-foot multipurpose venue seats up to 12,000 spectators and features over 200 televisions throughout.
@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
8. Hayward Field This legendary field at the University of Oregon is home to many of Eugene’s track and field events. Permanent seating is 12,500 and can be expanded for events requiring additional seating.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Places to Satisfy Your Adrenaline Rush or Relaxation Needs When players aren't competing, there are plenty of activities throughout the area to keep them busy. Many visitors spend part of their time on the coast at the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America—the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area—where they can ride dune buggies or go hiking and horseback riding. Visitors can also enjoy a nice round of golf and relax on the beach. In the valley, adults in the group may want to tour the wine country or local craft beers at new brewpubs. In the eastern part of the region, great rivers offer whitewater rafting and fishing. There are also plenty of hiking and biking trails, including Oakridge, one of the best mountain biking areas in the country, featuring two designated Epic Rides by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Check out downtown Eugene's Hult Center for the Performing Arts with resident companies in ballet, symphony and opera. Visitors can also tour the University of Oregon campus or visit the Oregon Air and Space Museum, Science Factory Children’s Museum & Planetarium, and University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and Museum of Natural and Cultural History.
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Eugene Airport 15 Minutes from Downtown The Eugene Airport is serviced by six major airlines that fly direct from 10 major cities. The airport is only 15 minutes from downtown, and most major hotels offer airport pickup. The Amtrak station is located in downtown Eugene. The drive from Portland is less than two hours. Eugene has been designated a gold-level "Walk Friendly Community" by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, and most attractions, sports venues and hotels are easy to get to by foot.
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Full-time director Volunteers ■ Catering ■ Site visits Coupons/discounts to restaurants, attractions Help securing permits Promotion, PR/media coverage Microsite set-up Signage ■ Housing services Qualified local officials in several sports
EUGENE CASCADES & COAST SPORTS Mike Gaffaney, Dir. of Sports Sales and Development 754 Olive Street, Eugene, OR 97440 800-547-5445 • mike@eugenecascadescoast.org EugeneCascadesCoastSports.org/MVP
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