SPG Venues, Partnerships Make South Carolina a Sports Tourism Leader
SOUTH CAROLINA GUIDE • 2018
Eat Happily, Heartily in the Palmetto State
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Event-Ready Destinations For Your Next Event
A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com
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f you're searching for a place to hold a professional, amateur or collegiate sporting event, look no further. Play here. South Carolina is just right. 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, 5K walks and runs, and
fishing tournaments. The Palmetto State has played host to national and worldwide organizations including the
PGA Tour, USTA Women's ProCircuit Tennis Events, Bassmasters, International Quidditch 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. 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! 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. When you step into South Carolina, you step onto your HOME TURF. Sincerely, South Carolina Sports Alliance
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Formula for Success – Venues and Partnerships
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Eat Heartily, Happily in South Carolina
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COLUMBIA, SC SUMTER, SC MYRTLE BEACH, SC GREENVILLE, SC AIKEN, SC SPARTANBURG, SC
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South Carolina’s formula for success –
venues and partnerships
South Carolina’s facilities and hospitality help the state maintain its status as a sports tourism leader. Among the state’s many top-notch facilities are the Sheila and Morris Creggar Track at the University of South Carolina.
anked 24th in population among U.S. states, South Carolina has become a leader in sports tourism. Location and accessibility are always important, but it’s facilities and hospitality that maintain the state’s leadership. South Carolina destinations certainly have their share of new venues, however, it’s the continuous upgrades and maintenance of existing venues keeping the Palmetto State in a leadership role. In Greenville, the new Copa Indoor Soccer venue is the only state-of-theart indoor soccer facility in the Upstate. The facility has two professionalgrade playing grounds. Though the main usage of the field is for indoor soccer leagues and training, several other sports are able to use the facility, creating a versatile option for many looking for a safe indoor sports venue. The J.B. Red Owens Sports Complex in Easley has further enhanced the facility with new batting and pitching cages built to protect players from the weather. New wiring has also been installed on the championship field
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to enhance the ESPN broadcast. Nearby Clemson University is adding new campus athletic venues, including rectangular fields and sand volleyball courts. The Southern Wesleyan University Joe R. Gilbert Track and Field facility is already welcoming track and field competitions. On the coast, the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex has taken its outstanding competition fields and enhanced them with great amenities for both competition and recreation. This year, the big addition was Shark Lake Park. Cable wakeboarding is an extreme adventure that uses cables and does not require a boat. Myrtle Beach venues are streaming all games live and providing Gatorade for every bench. In the Midlands, Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission introduced the Palmetto Health Fields at Saluda Shoals Park featuring six natural turf fields perfect for soccer, lacrosse and other sports. In preparation for hosting Division I Men’s Basketball Championship rounds one and two, the @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
Early on, South Carolina saw the projected growth of sports tourism and what it would take to be successful. It’s that awareness that has propelled the state to become a leader in the marketplace
The University of South Carolina’s Colonial Life Arena has upgraded to a new scoreboard and improved lighting in preparation for hosting the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship rounds one and two.
University of South Carolina Colonial Life Arena will have a new scoreboard and lighting. Sumter plans to break ground this fall on the first of three phases at the Palmetto Tennis Center (PTC). First will be a new entranceway and plaza and a 3,000-square- foot, two-story operations building. Additional courts will follow with a stadium court, six standard courts and an official youth court doubling as pickle ball courts. All PTC courts are lighted hard courts with deco turf surface; a surface made for tennis professionals. South Carolina sports tourism destinations boast venues that appeal to virtually every sporting event. However, it’s the partnerships displayed on the state, regional and local level that have contributed to its success. It certainly begins with the South Carolina Sports Alliance (SCSA). A nonprofit organization, its purpose is to promote and develop the continued success of the sports industry in South Carolina. The alliance SportsPlanningGuide.com
provides a forum for education, exchange of information and all things in the hospitality arena related to sports tourism. That same spirit of cooperation flows down to the 25 individual partners of SCSA. Although local government officials may desire to keep events and the accompanying tourism dollars in their own jurisdiction, sports tourism officials know it’s often better to have a piece of the pie, then none of the pie. It’s with that cooperative attitude that often brings Spartanburg, Greenville, Easley or Clemson together for major events. Experience Columbia SC Sports, Irmo-Chapin Recreation, Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission and the Richland County Recreation Commission are in continuous partnership. The Myrtle Beach Regional Sports Alliance consists of 12 cities and two counties, allowing the area to pursue virtually every type of sporting event. Venues and partnerships are what South Carolina is made of. SPG Sports Planning Guide
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Eat Heartily, Happily in
South Carolina South Carolina has an abundance of venues, accommodations and dining options
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rom the upcountry to the midlands to the coast, you’ll find all your favorite hamburger and pizza joints. They may be your usual, but you’ve come so far, why not go local when in South Carolina? When your games are on the edge of the continent, you should probably enjoy the fresh catch of the day before you leave. From North Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head Island, you’ll find no shortage of seafood restaurants from award-winning white tablecloth spots to delicious fish shacks. The all-you-can-eat seafood buffets are also a favorite of visiting families. Every local has a favorite, but visitors cannot go wrong checking their destination’s website and TripAdvisor. One caution is in order: Do not be fooled into believing the 170-item is better than the 140item buffet. After all, how many types of coleslaw can you eat?
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tion of cooking pulled pork slow and low, the slower the better. Many of the barbecue restaurants in South Carolina have always been a family affair with the pit master methods passed from generation to generation. So, how does a visitor identify a good barbecue joint? One restaurant owner states he needs to see smoke, smell smoke and see a wood pile before he stops. To hear what barbecue experts recommend and to download a complete guide to the South Carolina Barbecue Trail visit online (discoversouthcarolina.com/barbecue). Being a mostly rural state with an agricultural heritage and culture, the farm to fork movement of using fresh local ingredients has come naturally to the Palmetto State’s chefs and restaurant owners. It’s the rule rather then the exception to see a restaurant’s menu alive with local ingredients. That’s the foundation of farm freshness and South Carolina’s
South Carolina is known for producing incredible food, from barbecue and blue crabs to its fabled Meat and Three meals.
A true southern classic and a favorite lunch or dinner option with many South Carolinians is the Meat and Three. Either off the menu, or on a small buffet, you’ll have a choice of a meat entrée, most likely, fried chicken, pork chops, fried fish, beef stew, or sausage. Next, you’ll add three vegetables from a wide selection that’s offered for the day, including greens, green beans, butter beans, okra, corn, succotash, fries, mashed potatoes or mac and cheese. Yes, macaroni and cheese counts as a vegetable. The Meat and Three and its big brother, the country buffet, are for many southerners reminiscent of the type of cooking they experienced Sunday at grandmother’s house. When it comes to South Carolina food, barbecue has a special place in many hearts. The birthplace of barbecue is also the home of the official four sauces – mustard, vinegar and pepper, light tomato and heavy tomato. Here, the pit masters still carry on the time-honored tradi-
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finest eateries are onboard. The Fresh on the Menu program includes participating restaurants that agree to prepare menus that dedicate a minimum of 25 percent of their ingredients as certified South Carolinagrown products. A complete list of restaurants is online. (freshonthemenu.com) As you travel through South Carolina, take a few minutes to look for the certified roadside market signs and stop to see what’s fresh. Here are a few of our favorites that travel well. Pecans make wonderful holiday pies and South Carolina is second only to California in peaches grown. Local farmed tomatoes make a great sandwich and if you haven’t eaten boiled peanuts, try a few out of the kettle. Pimento cheese is known as the caviar of the south and locally ground grits, corn meal and flour will only enhance your wonderful South Carolina visit. SPG
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PROJECT PLAY LOOKS TO SAVE YOUTH SPORTS Initiative aims to motivate children to live a healthier, more sporting lifestyle By Jason Paha
ccording to data recently published by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and the Aspen Institute, sports participation by children ages 6 through 12 is down almost 8 percent over the last decade. This sobering fact coincides with statistics showing major participation drops in the big four American youth sports of baseball, football, basketball and soccer. Given youth sports make up a $15 billion industry, and communities across the country are investing considerable funds in sports complexes to capitalize on families’ tourism dollars, a continued decline of children competing in athletics is a major concern for many in the industry. After all, what good are multi-million-dollar sports complexes if no one is using them? These are problems Project Play was formed to address. Project Play is a multi-year, multi-stage initiative that was started in 2013 by the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, whose mission is to assemble leaders, create conversation and inspire solutions that
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Since its implementation, the Project Play summit has established itself as one of the nation’s premier gatherings for leaders at the intersection of youth, sports and health.
enable sports to serve the public. Project Play was designed to motivate children to live an active lifestyle. Studies show adolescents who play sports are eight times more likely to be active as young adults than those who don’t, so if children can be convinced to get off the couch at an early age, that is a habit they will likely continue into adulthood. As far as communities heavily banking on tourism money are concerned, that cannot happen soon enough. According to the National Association of Sports Commission’s 2016 State of the Industry Report, sports travel-related spending was up 10 percent, to $10.47 billion, that year, and sports travel-related sponsorship spending grew as well, up 36 percent from 2015. Those numbers stand in stark contrast to the Aspen Institute’s report stating only 36.9 percent of children ages 6 to 12 played team sports on a regular basis in 2016, down from 38.6 percent in 2015 and 44.5 percent in 2008. If children continue to abandon team sports in droves, their families’ coveted tourism funds are going to dissipate and the seemingly never@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
ending expansion of athletic complexes will grind to a halt. This looming athletic crisis is why Project Play came into existence and why the project convenes sports industry leaders at summits seeking ways to convince children to leave video games behind and instead pick up a bat or ball. In 2015, a Project Play summit in Washington, D.C., hosted 350 leaders, including representatives from the NCAA, Major League Baseball and U.S. Lacrosse, as well as event partners like Nike and the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. The summit came on the heels of the release of Project Play’s publication, “Sport for All, Play for Life: A Playbook to Get Every Kid in the Game,” a 48-page report that offered a new model for youth sports in America. At the summit, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy praised the report, saying “You have built a very powerful road map. The challenge now is to take this road map literally on the road and impact communities in terms of the engagement of kids and (improving health) outcomes.” Since the report’s release, many organizations have taken action. Examples of this include the U.S. Olympic Committee implementing a framework to anchor the country’s sport system in the doctrines of appropriate play; youth organizations in New Orleans and Houston using the report to adjust their programs; major media outlets like NPR and the Washington Post using the report to raise awareness of the challenges facing youth sports; and 42-plus national sport governing bodies, professional leagues and other groups endorsing multi-sport play. The 2017 Project Play summit in Washington, D.C., featured more than 60 speakers, including a keynote conversation with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. The major element to emerge from the summit was the announcement of Project Play 2020, where leaders will seek to renew participants’ interest in youth sports by addressing some of the issues that have hampered children from competing. Project Play 2020 will focus on increasing training for youth sports coaches and encourage children to participate in more than one sport in the hopes multi-sport competition will increase the odds they will stick to a chosen sport. Since its implementation, the Project Play summit has established itself as one of the nation’s premier gatherings for leaders at the intersection of youth, sports and health. The event has helped push forward the movement to build healthy communities through sports and has been beneficial to numerous sports pacesetters. Proof of this can be found in an Aspen Institute survey that shows numerous organizations, including the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Nike, ESPN, the NCAA, NBC Sports, USA Baseball and the LA84 Foundation claim Project Play has helped shape their work in a positive manner. Kevin Martinez, vice president of Corporate Citizenship at ESPN, touted Project Play to the Aspen Institute’s website by saying "ESPN is committed to helping reverse the decline of participation in youth sports, and Project Play's insightful research has been invaluable as we continue to refine and implement our strategy—providing access to sports for all, no matter someone's socioeconomic status or ability. We also appreciate the collaboration with key industry stakeholders because when we work together as one industry, one voice, the impact that we can make is transformative." SPG SportsPlanningGuide.com
Project Play was designed to motivate children to live an active lifestyle. Studies show adolescents who play sports are eight times more likely to be active as young adults than those who don’t, so if children can be convinced to get off the couch at an early age, that is a habit they will likely continue into adulthood.
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COLUMBIA, SC
Columbia, South Carolina is hot on the scene for amateur sports, making it the perfect destination for your next tournament.
Choose From a Diverse Selection of Facilities
and sound systems. The stadium boasts fully equipped press boxes with TV/radio booths and is ADA-accessible. Players have access to a large weight room as well as four indoor batting tunnels.
1. Williams-Brice Stadium 3. Colonial Life Arena
Sports: Football Home of the USC Gamecocks, Williams-Brice is one of the best football stadiums in the country and can host over 80,000 spectators. The stadium has undergone almost $30 million in expansions and renovations and the result is a top-quality venue that’s guaranteed to awe your team. The field at Williams-Brice is natural grass, and the stadium features some of the best premium seating and suites in all of college football.
Sports: Basketball With 18,000 seats and 329,000 square feet of space for your athletes to use, USC’s Colonial Life Arena is the perfect sports entertainment venue. The arena features 41 suites, an Entertainment Club and a hospitality room that can play host to 300. Additional amenities include plenty of concession areas as well as state-of-the-art sound systems and scoreboards.
2. Founders Park
4. Lexington County Tennis Complex
Sports: Baseball The home to the University of South Carolina Gamecock Baseball program, Founders Park is annually voted one of the best venues in college baseball. The 8,242-seat stadium allows visitors to enjoy a picnic terrace along left field, premium seating in the suite and club levels, and state-of-the-art video boards
Sports: Tennis Just eight miles west of downtown Columbia, the Lexington County Tennis Complex has hosted an impressive roster of high-caliber tennis events including the USTA Junior National Championships. Lexington features 21 lighted hard courts and can fit 500 spectators, making it the top tennis venue in the region.
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
5. Lexington Sports Complex Sports: Baseball, softball, tee ball, tennis This multipurpose facility in the western Columbia suburb of Lexington is ideal for baseball and softball teams of all ages. Featuring five youth baseball fields, one intermediate field, one regulation baseball field and two t-ball fields, the complex plays host to groups of various experience levels. It also boasts four softball fields and four tennis courts.
6. The Palmetto Health Fields at Saluda Shoals Park Sports: Soccer, lacrosse, tennis With six soccer, lacrosse and multi-use fields, six clay and four hard surface tennis courts, The Fields is sought-after for both tournaments and run/walk events. This athletic complex is located within Saluda Shoals Park, a 400-acre riverfront park with miles of paved and unpaved trails, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, biking, a splash pad and more. The Fields were the site of US Quidditch Cup 9, the US Quidditch Cup South Regionals and has also hosted various 5Ks and fun runs.
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What Activities Does Columbia Offer? Columbia really does have something for everyone, which is what makes the ideal location for a tournament or competition. Want some fun in the sun? Rent a boat, kayak, or canoe and head out on Lake Murray or one of Columbia’s beautiful rivers. If the team would prefer to keep their feet dry but still wants the river experience, try out one of the river trails for walking, jogging or biking and hang out at one of the nearby parks. If you don’t want the team to work up a sweat, spend the day admiring the 2,000 animals and botanical garden at the Riverbanks Zoo or stroll through the University of South Carolina and take in the beautiful Southern architecture. Want your team to experience the history of the area? Columbia proudly offers two incredible opportunities at the South Carolina State Museum and the African American History Monument.
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How Do I Get My Sports Group to Columbia? I-77, I-20 and I-26 all run past Columbia, making the drive to your tournament easy and efficient. The city is two hours away from Charleston. If your team would prefer to fly, Columbia Metropolitan Airport is only eight miles from the heart of Columbia and is serviced by Delta, American and United airlines.
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Planner Perspective “Let me just say you are the best CVB I have ever worked with in all the cities I handle tournaments in the Southeast!” —Jeff Welch Tournament Housing Director The Tournament Office
EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA SC SPORTS S. Scott Powers, Executive Director 803-545-0004 • spowers@experiencecolumbiasc.com ColumbiaSCSports.com
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MYRTLE BEACH, SC Myrtle Beach Boasts Impressive Facilities 1. Myrtle Beach Sports Center Sports: Basketball, volleyball, badminton This three-year-old facility offers 100,000 square feet of indoor courts, as well as a cafĂŠ, retail area and entertainment zone. The complex contains eight basketball courts and 16 volleyball courts, and can be easily configured to accommodate a variety of indoor sports such as badminton.
Come for the sports and stay for the beach in this vibrant Atlantic Coast city.
3. Grand Park Athletic Complex Sports: Baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, football This multi-use complex features nine lighted, full-size baseball fields that can be easily converted to accommodate soccer, lacrosse and football. The facility also offers two natural grass youth baseball fields that can be converted, plus three full-size natural turf fields for soccer and lacrosse. Additional amenities include multiple concession locations and a batting cage.
4. Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium 2. Myrtle Beach Convention Center Sports: Cheer, dance Adjacent to Myrtle Beach Sports Center, this facility consists of 250,000 square feet of flexible space, plus a 30,000-square-foot outdoor plaza that’s perfect for dance and cheer competitions.
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Sports: Track and field, football, lacrosse, soccer This NCAA-certified track is made of a full pour polyurethane synthetic surface with embedded texture, and is complete with a Daktronics video board and a FieldTurf infield that can accommodate football, soccer and lacrosse. The stadium underwent a $5.4 million renovation in 2017 and now seats 4,500.
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5. Myrtle Beach Recreation Centers (Pepper Geddings, Canal Street and Crabtree Memorial Gymnasium)
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Sports: Basketball, swimming All three centers include one full-size basketball court, but the Pepper Geddings facility also houses a 25-yard, six-lane lap pool complete with a Colorado Timing system.
6. North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex Sports: Baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse This baseball and softball park consists of four fields with dirt infields and a 225-foot fence, along with two adult softball fields with dirt infields and a 330-380-foot fence that can be used for collegiate baseball games. The soccer and lacrosse complex consists of eight natural-grass regulation fields, four of which are lighted, plus an officials room and a full-service concession stand.
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Families Love a Myrtle Beach Vacation The town’s namesake, Myrtle Beach, is a great reprieve after a long game or the perfect place to spend an entire day enjoying the warm waters of the Atlantic. Stroll along the boardwalk and promenade or take a boat tour of the shores. For some indoor water fun, head to Myrtle Waves and ride the rapids and waterslides, perfect for both the thrill-seeker and those seeking a more leisurely time. Family Kingdom Amusement Park is another group favorite and a great way to top off a trip. If your team is interested in checking out a bit of local history, schedule a trip to Hopsewee Plantation, where you can enjoy traditional English tea and tours of the gorgeous plantation home, or take a Segway tour around an old Air Force base. And while Myrtle Beach offers great temps year-round, sometimes you may need to get in out of the rain, so head to Coastal Grand Mall, Medieval Times or the Ripley Museums.
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Myrtle Beach is Easily Accessible If your teams are interested in driving, Myrtle Beach connects to Highway 17. Cities that are less than eight hours away from Myrtle Beach include Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Highways 501 and 17 run through the Myrtle Beach area. Myrtle Beach International Airport is a mere seven minutes from the heart of Myrtle Beach and is serviced by Allegiant, Delta, Spirit and United.
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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 beach, tons of attractions and plenty of hotels that accommodate any 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. The city facilities are top-notch as well.” – John Whitley, National Travel Basketball Association
MYRTLE BEACH SPORTS ALLIANCE Taylor Sellers, Sports Assistant Sales Manager 843-916-7266 • Taylor.sellers@visitmyrtlebeach.com MyrtleBeachSports.com
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GREENVILLE, SC
The charming city of Greenville, South Carolina boasts first-class facilities and the energy of a Southern town.
Top Facilities and Scenery Lure Sports Events to Greenville 1. Bon Secours Wellness Arena
3. Minor Herndon Mickel Tennis Center
Sports: Hockey, basketball, martial arts, wrestling, boxing, cheerleading, dance Greenville is one of the region’s great event destinations. In addition to being a hotspot for summer concerts like the Pearl Jam, Gucci Mane and Meghan Trainor, the Bon Secours Wellness Arena plays host to hockey’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL and the Clemson Tigers men’s basketball team. The Arena seats up to 15,000 and has 30 luxury suites and over 800 club seats. Recently hosted events include the 2017 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament and the 2017 NCAA Div I Men's Basketball Tournament (1st and 2nd rounds). Regulation-size basketball court and hockey rinks are available as well as concessions, drink vendors and ample parking.
Sports: Tennis Furman tennis has long been a powerhouse in the South, and the men’s former head coach Paul Scarpa was the winningest head coach in America when he retired with 853 victories in 2011. The Minor Herndon Mickel Tennis Center boasts a 41,000square-foot building that contains four indoor courts, locker rooms for visiting and home teams, coaches’ offices, a lounge and a viewing area for the courts. The stadium court outside can seat 400 people, and there are an additional 15 outdoor courts.
2. Fluor Field at the West End Sports: Baseball The Field recently completed a $10 million renovation. New fan amenities include seats atop the Green Monster, an all-new club area extension on the suite level, a Ticket Plan Holder Lounge, enhancements to the Fieldhouse rooftop experience, and renovations to the Main Street and Field Street Plazas. 16
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4. Pepsi Softball Stadium Sports: Softball The stadium features enclosed brick dugouts, a Bermudagrass outfield, a padded outfield fence that measures 200 feet down the lines and 220 feet to center and a row of hedge along the outfield fence as a cherry on top. Its Southern charm is consistent with the rest of campus. The newest addition to the stadium is the 2,700-square-foot press box that was added in 2013. The two-story structure features a coaches’ office, press area and concessions stand. Lighting was installed recently to allow for night games.
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
5. Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium Sports: Soccer Furman University’s soccer stadium seats more than its baseball, softball and tennis facilities combined – over 3,000. The stadium, lined by a brick-and-wrought-iron fence, features a fully automated scoreboard, press box and complete lighting. Spinks Field House was completed in 2015 and boasts locker rooms, expanded public restrooms, a permanent concession area, referees room and storage space.
6. Westside Aquatic Complex Sports: Swimming, diving, water polo, kayaking, triathlons Located on the western side of downtown Greenville, the aptly named Westside Aquatic Complex offers everything your swim and dive competition needs. The complex features 20 lanes of a 25-yard, 50-meter swim competition pool and a five-lane, 25-yard heated therapy pool. The complex also offers amenities like fun zones, new locker rooms, concessions and aerobic equipment. The complex offers programs for youth, adults and seniors and features ample parking.
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Leisure Activities: Minor League Ball and Major State Parks In Greenville, take your group to Fluor Field at the West End. Here the Greenville Drive (a Red Sox Class A affiliate) play their games in a replica of Boston’s historic Fenway Park complete with a Green Monster and shallow porch in right field. Or spend a day in the picturesque Falls Park on the Reedy and three major state parks (Paris Mountain, Caesars Head, and Jones Gap).
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Greenville is Easy to Reach Located about halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte, Greenville, South Carolina is one of the most accessible cities in the South. It sits off several major highways and can be reached with ease through an international airport just minutes from downtown. Located less than a day’s drive for a majority of the U.S. population, Greenville is near the intersections of I-85 and I-385, and the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is 15 minutes away from downtown.
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“I knew what I was getting into – a high level of service without being uptight. Honestly, they have it figured out, while asking repeatedly, ‘How do we make it better?’ The food scene is as authentic as the people, plus enormous community pride with smart people knowing there is a whole world out there that needs to get to Greenville.” — Michael Mulone Director of Event & Tourism Partnerships, GEICO Bassmaster Classic Presented by GoPro
VISITGREENVILLESC Robin Wright, Senior Sales Manager – Sports 864-421-0000 • rwright@visitgreenvillesc.com VisitGreenvilleSC.com
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AIKEN, SC
Aiken’s Southern charm continues to make this South Carolina town a top choice for event organizers and fans alike.
Super Facilities, from Equestrian to Tennis 1. Weeks Tennis Center Sports: Tennis Located in Virginia Acres Park, this sprawling, 46-acre complex will make any tennis player feel like a pro and includes 10 lighted clay courts and 10 lighted hard courts. Tournament access can be gained to over 40 courts in the surrounding area. The center also features a covered wrap-around porch with Adirondack chairs, dining tables with chairs and ceiling fans so both players and their audience can stay cool in the shade.
2. Citizens Park Sports: Baseball, softball, soccer, any field sport This 123-acre, multi-purpose sports park is perfect for hosting a multitude of tournaments. There are 15 lighted baseball/ softball fields and access to meeting rooms and umpire rooms. Players can practice to their heart’s content in one of the park’s eight full-size batting cages. Adults and children alike will be entertained at the new Splash Park and can enjoy a meal at one of the picnic tables and the covered eating area. 18
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3. USC Aiken Convocation Center Sports: Basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, wrestling Home to Pacer athletics of the University of South Carolina at Aiken, this 100,000-square-foot building is a sports event planner’s dream. The complex holds three gyms and can also be used as an entertainment venue. The main arena has state-ofthe-art sound and scoreboard systems and is surrounded by a practice court on each side. Athletes and coaches will be happy with its training facilities, and fans will appreciate the spacious seating, which has room for up to 4,000 people.
4. Aiken Horse Park (Bruce’s Field) Sports: Equestrian A premier destination for horses and riders alike, Aiken Horse Park features three all-weather competition arenas with GGT footing, a grass Grand-Prix Field, International Derby Field, permanent stalls and administrative building. Sprawling over 66 acres, the park feels spacious and inviting and offers plenty of space to relax during long events.
5. Weeks Center Sports: Soccer, racquetball, disc-golf Located at Virginia Acres Park, the Weeks Center houses two gyms, one with a stage. The center also has access to 10 @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
local gyms in the area. The Weeks Center is home to an indoor racquetball court, lighted soccer fields, a fitness room and two aerobics rooms. All needs of athletes and patrons are taken care of with restrooms, locker rooms, canteen and kitchen facilities. Meeting rooms are also available.
6. The Hitchcock Woods Sports: Hiking, geocaching, running, equestrian With a stunning ecosystem, this is one of the largest urban forests in the nation at 2,100 acres. Hitchcock Woods is a dream come true for those who enjoy running, hiking, horseback riding and geocaching. It is free of charge to visitors and open 365 days a year; events take place regularly. As a welcome escape from city life, the 70 miles of sandy trails inside Hitchcock Woods are perfect for watching wildlife, taking in the surrounding flora and fauna, and or for getting a good training run, or hosting a trail run race.
What Can Aiken Offer Teams During Downtime? With a rich equestrian heritage, Aiken delights visitors with the annual Aiken Triple Crown, the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, horse statues in the streets, and even a horse district surrounded by polo fields and 20th century estates. Enjoy some of Aiken’s charm at the local farmer’s market or with a trip to the Aiken Visitor’s Center & Train Museum. In the historic downtown district you’ll find boutique shopping, dining and nightlife attractions. Nature lovers get outside and take in the crisp fresh air and beautiful weather any time of year at Boyd Pond and on the Aiken Arboretum Trail.
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A Convenient South Carolina Location Near the western edge of South Carolina, Aiken is a hidden gem surrounded by forests not far from major Southern cities. Aiken is within two-and-a-half hours of Atlanta, Greenville, Charlotte, Charleston, Hilton Head Island and Savannah. It is connected to Atlanta by Interstate 20; Routes 78 and 1 connect other interstates to the city. Aiken is home to Aiken Municipal Airport. Nearby is Augusta Regional Airport, just seven miles from downtown Augusta.
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!” — Mary Goins, USTA Director of Leagues
CITY OF AIKEN PARKS RECREATION & TOURISM DEPARTMENT Pam Royal, Athletics Manager 803-643-4779 • PRoyal@cityofaikensc.gov VisitAikenSC.com
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SPARTANBURG, SC
Bring your team to the sports mecca of the South and mix tournaments with outdoor adventures in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Spartanburg Has the Facilities You Need 1. Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium Sports: Basketball, volleyball With an expected opening date of fall 2017, the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium is a 123,000-square-foot facility that will include a 3,400-seat basketball arena and a 500-seat volleyball competition venue. The facility will replace Benjamin Johnson Arena and will serve as the home for women’s basketball, men’s basketball and volleyball at Wofford College. The facility will have a seating capacity of 4.500 for non-athletic functions, such as commencement and concerts. Hosting a tournament in this gym would give players the opportunity to feel what it’s like playing in a Division 1 basketball arena – something they will never forget.
2. Tyger River Park Sports: Softball, baseball Tyger River Park, one of the South’s premier baseball and softball tournament complexes, features 12 youth baseball/ softball fields arranged in convenient four-field clusters, a championship stadium seating 600 people and unmatched site amenities, clubhouse, concession areas, lounge, a VIP Suite, 20
Sports Planning Guide
wireless internet, covered seating, two playgrounds and flat-screen TVs at each pod. 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.
3. Spartanburg Viking Track Sports: Track and field The Viking Track features the world-class MondoTrack FTX surface, the same track surface that was used in the Beijing Olympic Games and 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, providing a greater spike 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. The complex is illuminated with Musco’s Light-Structure Green Sports Lighting System. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
4. Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park Sports: Soccer, disc golf Beautiful Va-Du-Mar Park has seven multi-purpose fields (6 full-size soccer fields and one youth-size field) in addition to an 18-hole disc golf course. The course runs mostly through the woods and has several elevation changes.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
5. Holston Creek Disc Golf Course Sports: Disc golf One of the biggest and best in the state, Holston Creek Disc Golf Course lets you test your hand on a 27-hole course that winds its way through changes of scenery and elevation. The longest hole stands at 875 feet, a true test. There are sand traps and water hazards throughout the course.
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6. Upward Sports Star Center Sports: Soccer, basketball, volleyball Upward Sports just opened the Upward Star Center, a 120,000square-foot indoor facility equipped with two regulation-size artificial soccer fields and up to four grass multi-purpose fields as well as six basketball courts, 12 full-sized volleyball courts and 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. Only a 10-minute drive from over 3,000 hotel rooms, Upward Star Center could not be more convenient for hosting a tournament in Spartanburg.
7. Roger Milliken Arboretum and 5K Fitness trails Sports: Cross country Nationally recognized 600-acre private corporate campus hosts National Cross–Country events. The all-grass course can accommodate 5K and additional distances.
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Outdoor Adventures Keep Traveling Teams Busy The kids will love exploring the Spartanburg Science Center. Parents will love the relaxing atmosphere of Strawberry Hill USA, where they pick in-season fruits like berries, peaches or pumpkins. All parties will enjoy an afternoon of boating, fishing or hiking at Croft State Park. The BMW Zentrum and Performance Driving Experience is the only BMW factory on the continent. With its interactive museum exhibits, this attraction will hold the attention of everyone.
Spartanburg is Easily Accessible Spartanburg County, at the crossroads of Interstates 85 and 26, is less than a six-hour 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 20- to 30-minute drive east on I-85 to downtown Spartanburg.
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Planner Perspective “Spartanburg has great sports facilities that are well maintained, and they are easily accessible from the airport and highways. We found super support for our events from the City, CVB, hotels and tourism industry.” —Warren Jones, Ohio State Commissioner, USA Softball President
SPARTANBURG CVB Kristyn Hawkins, Sports Tourism Sales Director 864-594-5050 • khawkins@visitspartanburg.com SpartanburgSports.com
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SUMTER, SC
Visit this South Carolina town for a taste of hospitality and sporting fun
Where can I find some quick facts about the facilities? 1. Aquatics Center Sports: Swimming The public Aquatics Center's six-lane, 25-meter pool meets requirements for competition swim meets with its unique design and is fully equipped with swim lanes, diving blocks, and electronic timer and touch pads. Each year, the center hosts more than 11 swim meets for the city league, community invitational and high school. In October, the center is host to the TriSumter Triathlon. The sprint triathlon includes a 300-yard swim in the heated six-lane pool, continues on with a 16-mile bike ride and wraps up with a 5k run at the Aquatics Center. For the recreational swimmer, the center is open six days a week and is swimmer-friendly for all ages. The Aquatics Center also has a twisting tube waterslide, an adjustable spray fountain and a wading pool with beach entrance for easy access. This official American Red Cross facility boasts an experienced training staff for the Sumter community. Training is available for lifeguards and water safety instructors.
2. Palmetto Tennis Center Sports: Tennis Center The Palmetto Tennis Center at Palmetto Park boasts 24 state-ofthe-art, hard-surface tennis courts with lighting for night play. Other amenities include shaded stadium and courtside bleacher seating, cool water misters, a bistro-style seating area, a shelter area with picnic tables, two ball machines, stringing service, pro shop and a locker-showers facility. The tennis facility is conveniently located adjacent to a playground and spray park. Tennis tournament knowledge is paramount to a facility’s continued success. The PTC’s years of successful new and returning events and tournaments come from experience. In April of 2004, the PTC opened the doors to the Conference Carolinas and added a fall individual event soon after. Collegiate play also includes the Southeast Regionals and
CITY OF SUMTER Susan H. Wild, Recreation Programs & Facilities Director 803-774-1651 • swild@sumtersc.gov SumterSC.gov 23
Sports Planning Guide
National Small College Championships in 2014 & 15. They’ve learned from the best by hosting annually a Women’s 25K Pro Circuit Event since 2008, a second Women’s 25K Pro Circuit Event in the fall of 2017 and National Zonal TEAM Championship since 2013, as well as four junior state tournaments and more.
Explore Sumter’s Many Leisure Opportunities There’s plenty to do in Sumter when you need to unwind from your latest game. Enjoy the local artistic community by visiting spots like Sumter Little Theater, Sumter Opera House, or the Sumter County Gallery of Art. In between games, teams can be inspired by the local artists and performers and support the local community at the same time. Sumter offers much natural beauty for its visitors to enjoy, with nature trails through Crosswell, Memorial and Palmetto parks, among others.
Sports Enthusiasts Will Have Fun Sports enthusiasts may have one of the unique opportunities to visit Riley Park while attending a tennis tournament or a swim meet. Riley Park opened in 1934 and has hosted everything from their most loyal baseball programs since 1929, the American Legion Baseball Program, college and high school games to professional minor league baseball in its history. Due to the loyal fan base in Sumter many Sectional and Regional tournaments have been held in the newly renovated 2,000-seat professional stadium with a full service concessions area and press box.
So, How Do I Get the Team There? Several major roads intersect in Sumter. Routes 76 and 521 come in from the west and north-west, respectively, while Route 15 bisects the town from north to south, with Route 521 accompanying the southern portion of 15. Coming in from the east and northeast are Routes 378, 401 and the other tail of Route 76. Sumter’s two nearest commercial airports are Florence Regional Airport and Columbia Metropolitan Airport, with Florence roughly 50 miles to the east of Sumter and Columbia roughly 50 miles to the west. Teams can expect to arrive in town from the airports in just over an hour. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
that gooooalll!
Whether it’s a regional youth tournament or a national collegiate competition, you need to put Greenville, SC at the top of your short list. Aside from tremendous facilities – including one of the country’s finest multi-field, all-soccer complexes – you’ll find more than 9,000 hotel rooms, 600 restaurants, an award-winning downtown and a list of amenities and entertainment venues that’ll have you and your guests shouting “Gooooalll!” So use your head and learn more about that Greenville by calling 800-351-7180.
2016 & 2017 NAIA MEN’S AND WOMEN’S LACROSSE NATIONAL INVITATIONALS · 2015 USA CYCLING PROFESSIONAL CRITERIUM & TEAM TIME TRIAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ·
FIRST & SECOND ROUNDS · 2018 GEICO BASSMASTER CLASSIC · 2017 USA KARATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP & TEAM TRIALS · 2017 SEC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ·
2018 & 2019 USA TRIATHLON DUATHLON NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS · 2017 & 2018 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS ·
2015 US YOUTH SOCCER ASSN SOUTHERN REGIONALS PREMIER LEAGUE · 2017 & 2022 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP