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TEXAS GUIDE • 2018
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It Pays to Play in the Lone Star State
Site InSpections of EventReady Destinations and Their Top Venues
Come to Texas for the Games, Stay for the Thrills Armed Forces Bowl Captivates Fort Worth
A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com
TEXAS
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Come for the Games, Stay for the Thrills It Pays to Play in Texas
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8 FORT WORTH, TX 10 ROUND ROCK, TX 12 SAN MARCOS, TX 14 BRYAN COLLEGE STATION, TX 16 BEAUMONT, TX
18 MIDLAND, TX 25 TEMPLE, TX 20 PLANO, TX 22 LUBBOCK, TX
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CONTACT US TO SEE IF YOUR EVENT QUALIFIES FOR A GRANT.
VisitMidland Sports & Entertainment | www.VisitMidland.com/Midland-Sports (800) 624-6435 | 303 W. Wall Street, Suite 200, Midland, Texas 79701
Come for the Games, Stay for the Thrills From Amarillo to Houston, Texas offers gobs of theme park fun Texas is filled with top-notch waterparks, including the Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resorts in Corpus Christi, Galveston, New Braunfels and South Padre Island and SeaWorld San Antonio (above, right), a 250-acre marine mammal park, oceanarium and the world’s largest marine-life theme park.
exans, you may have heard, are esteemed for possessing a prodigious appetite for life and its delights. Which makes sense, given they live in a state that offers a hearty variety of pleasures, from savory barbecue to an oversized sporting scene. They also live in a state where the average summer high temperature hovers around 94 degrees, which is the perfect weather to frolic in the refreshing waters of aqua parks or ride one of the country’s swiftest roller coasters. Football may be Texas’ first love, but when the games conclude, a wealth of delightful amusement and water parks beckons. Here are some of Texas’ most entertaining hot spots for families to cool off while smiling profusely.
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ARLINGTON/DALLAS/FORT WORTH Six Flags Over Texas is a 212-acre theme park in Arlington, between Fort Worth and Dallas. Opened in 1961, the park features 10 themed areas and 50 rides, including 13 roller coasters. Six Flags Over Texas provides several one-of-a-kind experiences, including the longest-operating, double-looping coaster in the world, featuring back-to-back vertical loops that rise 70 feet. Groups of 10 to 99 that purchase in advance can take advantage of special group discounts. Dallas is also home to Zero 4
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Gravity Thrill Park, an amusement park that offers thrill rides such as the Skycoaster, where patrons glide more than 100 feet off the ground; the Texas Blastoff, a ride resembling a giant slingshot that rockets 150 feet into the air; and Nothin’ But Net Freefall, where thrill seekers drop from a 16-story tower with only a safety net below to catch their fall. BEAUMONT Located in Southeast Texas 90 miles east of Houston, Beaumont is home to Gator Country, the largest alligator adventure park and sanctuary in Southeast Texas. Gator Country houses more than 450 American alligators, crocodiles and other reptiles, including Big Tex, the largest live-captured nuisance alligator in the country, measuring in at 13 feet, 8½ inches. COLLEGE STATION Home to Texas A&M University, College Station resides 90 miles northwest of Houston. It is also the location of Texas World Speedway, one of only seven superspeedways of two miles or greater in the United States. The speedway enables visitors to practice their driving skills or attend open track days as a spectator and watch other drivers in action. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
form 75 feet in the air, where daring riders plummet down a 132-footlong tunnel and are launched into a giant open-ended funnel. Groups of 15 or more receive a special discounted price when tickets are ordered at least three weeks in advance. PLANO While Plano sits 20 miles north of downtown Dallas and a healthy 1,376 miles from San Diego, visitors itching to surf can visit the Aqua Shop, the first Flow House to bring indoor surfing to the public. Through artificial waves created by a FlowRider, groups can experience the joy of riding waves indoors. ROUND ROCK Located 19 miles north of Austin, Round Rock sports the Rock’N River Water Park. The park underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation in 2016, doubling in size and providing new attractions including Splashville, a huge sprayground play area that includes 51 play features, and The Quarry, an adventure area providing a 12-foot jumping platform and rock climbing wall. SAN ANTONIO San Antonio is home to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, an amusement park spanning 200 acres that features 17 roller coasters, 16 water park rides and a host of other activities. Six Flags Fiesta Texas has programs and packages for all groups, from company outings to reunions to birthday parties. SeaWorld San Antonio is a 250-acre marine mammal park, oceanarium and animal theme park and is the world’s largest marine-life theme park. The park offers six thrill rides and numerous animal exhibits and shows. Groups can save $15 per person with group-rate admission.
CORPUS CHRISTI/GALVESTON/ NEW BRAUNFELS/SOUTH PADRE ISLAND Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resorts are located in Corpus Christi, 130 miles southeast of San Antonio; Galveston, 50 miles southeast of Houston; New Braunfels, 32 miles north of San Antonio; and South Padre Island, a barrier island near the state’s southern border. The first of the parks opened in 1979 in New Braunfels and features 51 attractions across 70 acres and miles of rivers. Tube chutes, rides, tube slides and pools use spring-fed river water to carry visitors across the park. Guests can also surge atop a continuous wave on the Boogie Bahn, fly high over the park on the Sky Coaster, tube on the intense Torrent wave river and be rocketed uphill on the Master Blaster Water Coaster. Schlitterbahn, with a variety of admission and meal options to suit groups’ needs, offers a group rate for a minimum order of 15 admissions.
SAN MARCOS Wonder World Park in San Marcos, is 31 miles south of Austin. The park offers a guided tour of the nation’s only true example of an earthquake-formed cave. The park also has an anti-gravity house where water flows uphill, a train ride that takes passengers through the waterfalls of Mystery Mountain and a chance to mingle with animals at the Texas Wildlife Petting Park.
HOUSTON Wet ‘n’ Wild Splashtown is Houston’s largest water park offering more than two million gallons of summer fun. Highlights include the Stingray Racer, a thrill slide featuring six water slide lanes standing 55 feet high; the Big Kahuna, a mega-thrill raft ride that takes a whitewater journey filled with twists and turns; and the Tornado, a slide that begins on a plat-
TEMPLE Temple resides 65 miles north of Austin and is the residence of the Lions Junction Family Water Park. The park offers a pair of three-story waterslides, a deep-water pool with a diving board and a rock climbing wall. The park also features a lazy river, beach-entry pool and a railroadthemed water feature for children. SPG
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It Pays to Play in Texas Event Trust Funds help Lone Star State attract big-time sports ith numerous state-of-the-art stadiums dotting a landscape filled with fervent sports fans, Texas is a natural location to accommodate sporting events of all sizes. No event is too big for the Lone Star State, as evidenced by the fact Texas has recently hosted the Super Bowl (2017 in Houston), the College Football National Championship Game (2015 in Arlington) and the NCAA Basketball Final Four (2014 in Arlington, 2016 in Houston, San Antonio will host in 2018). While the state has a wealth of positive factors prospective event holders find attractive, one less-publicized element has played a considerable role in boosting the state’s sports tourism: Event Trust Funds. Event Trust Funds are programs that provide prospective host cities with money up front, enabling these cities to attract competitions. The state then recoups the money from taxes generated by sales, car rentals and hotel and alcoholic beverage taxes generated over a specified period of time, typically 30 days. These funds can be used to help pay costs related to hosting an event, or to pay principal and interest on money used to build or improve facilities. One hundred percent of allowable expenses can be funded provided sufficient tax receipts are deposited in the fund. These funds were originally created by the Texas state Legislature to help lure various sporting attractions to the state and to keep them returning. Utilized first in 2004 for three games, the Super Bowl in Houston, Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in Houston and the NCAA Final
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Four basketball tournament in San Antonio, Event Trust Funds have grown in popularity in recent years. The reason behind their acclaim is these funds enable cities to host sports events that otherwise would not have the finances to do so. “Without the support (from Event Trust Funds) it would be difficult for us to be competitive with other cities around the country,” said Michael Sawaya, executive director of convention and sports facilities for the city of San Antonio. “For example, for the (2017) Final Four in Arizona, Phoenix was able to raise $15 million from its private community. In San Antonio, we don’t have the corporations that can help us raise money like that. This helps us compete with cities that have more of these corporations. It levels the playing field.” To better help the state support different types of competitions, these programs come in four forms (Event Trust Fund, Special Events Trust Fund, Major Events Trust Fund and Motor Sports Racing Trust Fund). The Event Trust Fund is the largest of these programs and offers the most grants. The Special Events Trust Fund is designed for events that land in Texas after a process that includes the inclusion of other potential destinations vying for the competition. The Major Events Trust Fund is used for major sporting events like the 2011 Super Bowl in Arlington that received more than $26 million from the fund, the most for any event thus far in the fund’s history. The Motor Sports Racing Trust Fund aims to attract racing events, but is limited to those that use temporary venues.
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Supporters of the funds say the incentives are important to help cities attract sporting events and the cost to the state treasury is far outweighed by the financial boost the local economy enjoys from these attractions. Advocates also claim the stimulus provided by these funds are increasingly necessary as more cities compete to host large-scale events. Detractors say the state gives away too much money when it pays for expenses wealthy sports leagues can pay for themselves. Those who work in the state tourism industry tend to view the funds, and the sports events they bring to town, favorably. “The Texas Events Trust Fun has been a tremendous asset for us in recruiting a variety of events to Irving,” said Maura Allen Gast, executive director for the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’ve been able to utilize it for Play Tri Triathlon, USA Wrestling Body Bar, USA Women’s Nationals and the LPGA Volunteers of America Shootout, all of which have brought great weekend activity to our community. Our ability to attract all of these events would have been greatly inhibited without the access to this incredible tool from the State of Texas.” “Anything that has a championship in it, we try to use a trust fund for,” said Cris Rohrer, sports sales manager for Visit Lubbock. “They help us pay for venues and hospitality rooms, stuff we couldn’t normally cover with our budget. They help us go for bigger events.” Lubbock has, in recent years, used these funds to host events like the 2016 and 17 National Junior College Athletic Association Division I
Women’s Basketball Championships; the 2016 and 17 Premier Baseball Sophomore National Championship; the 2016 Pan American Wushu Championships and the Fourth World Congress on Ultrasound in Medical Education. Those, along with numerous other competitions have been a boon to the city’s coffers. “(Lubbock) has a big Ironman (race) that brings in 16,000 used hotel rooms,” Rohrer said. “They have been a great benefit for us and have helped us get a lot of great events.” Given that Texas’ enthusiasm for sports continues to grow, and the money that accompanies live sporting events is also flourishing, the state’s usage of Event Trust Funds seems to be on an upward trajectory that shows no signs of leveling off. Since August 2015, 117 sporting events have applied for money from Event Trust Funds. The total amount paid from the funds is almost $14 million (not including 53 of these events where payment information is not available). The largest payout in that span was for $3,061,727.08 in April 2017 to the Stadium Events Organizing Committee in Arlington for hosting Wrestlemania 32. The committee applied for the funds in November 2015. The smallest dollar amount granted was $5,465.40 to the City of Dallas in May 2017 for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists’ annual meeting. From grapplers to scientists, Event Trust Funds are attracting a wide array of tourism dollars to Texas. SPG
While the Texas Longhorns football team (below) entertains the state on a weekly basis in Autumn, they aren’t the only game in town, thanks in part to Event Trust Funds, which help attract big games like the 2017 Super Bowl in Houston (above).
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FORT WORTH, TX World Class Facilities and First-Class Hospitality
As the 16th-largest city in the U.S., Fort Worth offers all the luxuries of a big city with the convenience of a small town
1. Dickies Arena
3. Game On Sports Complex
Sports: Indoor events, basketball, hockey, cheer, dance The new, $650-million state-of-the-art multi-purpose Dickies Arena will feature 14,000 seats, two premium club spaces, 40 suites, 10 loge boxes and six locker rooms. It will also have more than 100,000 square feet of attached exhibit space along with outdoor green space for fan fests and other enhanced experience opportunities. The arena is set to be completed by November of 2019.
Sports: Indoor events, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, gymnastics This new multi-use facility features six hardwood basketball courts that convert into 12 hardwood volleyball courts as well as eight outdoor beach volleyball courts. The complex also is home to the APEC world class training facility as well several health and wellness partners.
2. Fort Worth Convention Center Sports: Indoor events, basketball, volleyball, cheer, dance, wrestling With more than 250,000-square feet of event space and a 13,000-seat attached multi-purpose arena, the Fort Worth Convention Center is the ideal venue for your event. Located in the heart of Fort Worth’s award-winning downtown, the FWCC is positioned within blocks of more than 2,500 world class hotel rooms and more than 60 restaurants and retail outlets. 8
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4. City of Fort Worth Park & Recreation Sports: Soccer, softball, baseball, lacrosse, flag football Rolling Hills soccer complex is one of the biggest soccer complexes in America. With 24 outdoor soccer fields (eight lighted), a 12,000 seat stadium and more than 14,000 rooms within 20 minutes, Rolling Hills is a complex you have got to check out. Gateway Park features six lighted softball/baseball fields and 11 outdoor soccer fields – four of which are new turf fields.
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5. Will Rogers Memorial Center
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Sports: Indoor events, equestrian, livestock shows This massive 105-acre multipurpose complex of event facilities and exhibit halls is located in the heart of Fort Worth’s Cultural District. The Will Rogers Auditorium features 2,856 permanent seats, a proscenium stage and extensive dressing room capacity. The Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall includes the Texas Room with over 94,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, the 18,000-square-foot Round Up Inn ballroom and four additional meeting rooms.
6. Texas Motor Speedway and Texas Christian University Sports: Racing, football, baseball, tennis Texas Motor Speedway is the second largest sports venue in the US with a capacity of more than 200,000. The 1.5 mile track is home to both the NASCAR and IndyCar series as well as dozens of other races, concerts and sporting events. Just down the road, Texas Christian University boast amazing NCAA Division I sports facilities which includes Amon Carter Football Stadium (45,000+ seats), Schollmaier Arena (7,200 seat basketball arena) and Friedman Tennis Center (22 outdoor lighted courts) to name a few.
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Enjoy a True Texas Experience Enjoy a truly-Texas experience when the final whistle blows. The Fort Worth Cultural District is home to five world-class 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 60+ restaurants and retail outlets, 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’s downtown is conveniently located only 15 minutes from AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Park – home of the Cowboys and Rangers.
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Centrally Located and Easy to Access Sitting at the crossroads of three major interstate highways (I-35, I-20 and I-30), Fort Worth is easily accessible through any mode of transportation. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), located 17 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.
FORT WORTH Jason Sands, CSEE, Director of Sports 817-223-7827 • jasonsands@fortworth.com FortWorth.com
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ROUND ROCK, TX Tournament Planners Find Everything They Need 1. Round Rock Sports Center Sports: Basketball, volleyball, table tennis, wrestling, badminton, pickleball The Round Rock Sports Center opened in January 2014 and has hosted numerous events including basketball, volleyball, wrestling and table tennis tournaments. The $14.9-million facility boasts 82,800 square feet of indoor space with 47,775 square feet of flexible, open, playable 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. In addition to the many 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 restroom facilities.
The Sports Capital of Texas gives sport planners a big Texas welcome and a wide choice of cutting-edge facilities.
covered playgrounds, 39,000 square feet of shaded spectator areas and ample warm-up areas.
3. Round Rock Multipurpose Complex Sports: Ultimate frisbee, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, flag football, quidditch Heads up! The new Round Rock Multipurpose Complex is now open! The new 60-acre complex includes four natural grass multipurpose fields and one natural grass championship field, four synthetic turf multipurpose fields and one synthetic turf championship field, parking, Musco sports lighting, clubhouse with meeting rooms, spectator amenities, playgrounds and more. This state-ofthe-art venue allows Round Rock to host many new sporting events and is the landmark addition to Old Settlers Park. This new $27 million dollar complex is a real showstopper!
2. Old Settlers Park Sports: Outdoor sports This 645-acre park features an 18-hole disc golf course, seven playgrounds, 40 picnic areas with barbecue pits, a regulation remote-control airplane strip, seven soccer fields, two football fields, a 12-court tennis complex, sand volleyball courts, cross country courses, 3.3 miles of paved trails and a three-acre area designated for special events. There’s even a lake, which is frequently stocked by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Fish Hatchery. Champion Fields sits within Old Settlers Park. Here, you’ll find 20 baseball fields, five softball fields, 18 batting cages, five 10
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4. Dell Diamond Sports: Baseball Right next door to Old Settlers Park is Dell Diamond, 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.
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5. Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Sports: Football, soccer, lacrosse 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 football 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 fans won’t miss any of the action while away from their seats.
Finding Fun and Food is an Easy Task Round Rock has no shortage of attractions and entertainment for visitors outside of their venerable sport facilities. Shopping, familyfriendly adventures and food are bountiful in this city. A leisurely tee time at one of Round Rock’s seven golf courses can make for a relaxing morning. The Rock’n River Family Aquatic Center is a family-friendly water park, perfect for cooling off. Another great leisure activity is taking in a game at the Dell Diamond, home to the Texas Rangers AAA baseball team, the Round Rock Express. Those wishing to spend time shopping in Round Rock will enjoy popular stops like Round Rock Premium Outlets, Ikea and Bass Pro Shops. Visiting athletes are urged to try some of Round Rock’s delicious Texas cuisine, such as traditional fare served by Jack Allen’s Kitchen or that famous Texas-style barbecue served at Rudy’s BBQ. Enjoy more of the city’s unique personality by taking a tour of historic downtown Round Rock, including the rounded rock that gave the town its name.
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Deep in the Heart of Texas Round Rock resides in an ideal location, with 90 percent of Texas’ population lying within a three hour drive of the city. Austin is only a half hour away. Dallas and Houston are only three hours away. With I-35 passing right by Round Rock, travelers will find the town quite easy to access, especially from Austin to the south and Georgetown to the north. Route 75 and Texas Toll road 45 provide convenient access from the east. Austin Bergstrom International Airport, only half an hour from Round Rock, is serviced by 13 major airlines.
Planner Perspective “I love the Round Rock Sports Center….The facility is gorgeous and one of the most well thought out facilities in the US, but the main reason I chose Round Rock is because of their amazing staff. They are first-class, accessible, considerate and helpful. The staff goes above and beyond with every detail and is very hands-on. That's the most important part for me.” —TJ Ford, NCAA Texas basketball legend
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ROUND ROCK CVB Nancy Yawn, Director 512-218-7094 • nyawn@roundrocktexas.gov SportsCapitalofTexas.com
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SAN MARCOS, TX Facilities Just Right for Your Event 1. Gary Softball Complex Sports: Softball Gary Softball Complex is an eight-field complex for youth and adult fast- and slow-pitch softball. Four fields feature skinned infields with 300-foot fences and all fields are lighted.
2. Five Mile Dam Soccer Complex Sports: Soccer The Five Mile Dam Soccer Complex is located on the banks of the Blanco River. This 43-acre complex features 10 soccer fields (four of which are lighted), a pavilion, concession stands and a playscape. 12
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Located in the middle of the Lone Star State, San Marcos offers countless opportunities for a successful sporting event. 3. Ramon Lucio Baseball Park Sports: Baseball, softball, biking Ramon Lucio Baseball Park has four lighted fields for youth baseball or softball. The 22-acre park also includes hiking and biking trails and picnic tables.
4. Strahan Coliseum Sports: Volleyball, basketball, weightlifting, cheer, dance The 7,200-seat Strahan Coliseum is an $8.8-million facility that can accommodate volleyball, basketball, weightlifting, cheer and dance competitions. It is home to Texas State University’s men and women’s basketball and volleyball teams. Beginning in 2016, the Strahan Coliseum will undergo a $54-million expansion, adding 2,300 seats by building out the eastern side of the arena. An additional 81,000 square feet will turn the facility into the multiuse Texas State University Event Center by 2019.
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5. Bobcat Baseball Complex Sports: Baseball The Bobcat Baseball Complex can accommodate 2,000 spectators for a baseball event and is home to the Texas State University baseball team. Rent the complex to compete where college-level teams play. The complex has a state-of-the-art video scoreboard to document the game play by play. Bobcat Softball Complex has a fan-friendly atmosphere with newly renovated team dugouts and improved bench-back metal bleachers. Bobcat Softball Complex can seat 1,000 people. The facility includes covered batting cages and updated netting and backstops.
6. Texas State Track & Field Complex Sports: Track & field Texas State Track and Field Complex can host all levels of high jump, pole vault, triple jump and steeplechase and has locations for field events discus, shot put, javelin and hammer throw. It can seat 1,000 people and includes concession stands, metal bleachers and storage for track equipment.
A Central Texas Location San Marcos is located on Interstate 35, 30 miles south of Austin, 47 miles north of San Antonio, 165 miles west of Houston and 202 miles northeast of Laredo. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) is a Class C international airport located in the Texas capital. Other nearby airport options include San Antonio International Airport, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
SAN MARCOS CVB Clancy Hardin, CTE, Destination Events Specialist 512-393-5934 • chardin@sanmarcostx.gov TourSanMarcos.com
What Can My Teams Do in San Marcos? If you’re seeking an adrenaline rush, visit Skydive San Marcos. Choose from a tandem skydive experience or helicopter ride to see the beautiful sights in San Marcos. If you’re interested in the water and its inhabitants, The Meadows Center is the place for you. Check out underwater marine life or see springs bubble from the headwaters of the San Marcos River from a glass-bottom boat or kayak tour. Wonder World Park, the country’s only earthquake-formed cave open to the public, is also a great spot for those looking to go beneath the surface. Wimberley Glassworks displays daily demonstrations of small particles of silica and sand turned into glass art. Take home a new handmade kitchen set or flower vase as a souvenir. San Marcos is filled with different cultures and lifestyles, and its restaurants have a huge range of flavor. From food trailers near the river and international cuisine to upscale dining and Southern comfort food, the team’s bellies won’t be rumbling much longer. The Hitch: A Mobile Eatery is a fun spot to stop downtown for a quick bite to eat. San Marcos has a variety of lodging options to satisfy your group. Bed and breakfasts and pet-friendly hotels are available at a budget-friendly cost.
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BRYAN COLLEGE STATION, TX Collegiate Facilities and Local Venues Make the Grade 1. Veterans Park Athletic Complex (VPAC) Sports: softball, kickball, soccer, football, lacrosse, field hockey, rugby, ultimate, quidditch, archery This 150-acre park features 13 multi-purpose athletic fields (4 synthetic and 9 natural grass) and five softball fields. Other features include a lighting system for day and evening play on all fields, Wi-Fi connection, a pavilion with 550-seat capacity, parking for more than 1,200 vehicles with an additional overflow parking lot, and a 12-acre memorial site and heritage trail honoring military veterans.
2. Texas A&M Penberthy Rec Sports Complex Sports: football, baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, rugby The newly renovated Penberthy Rec Sports Complex on the Texas A&M campus is a great option for outdoor sports. It is a 50 acre complex with 4 artificial turf fields, 6 natural grass fields, 2 softball fields, 18 tennis courts (12 lighted), covered pavilion area/ lightning shelter with outdoor picnic tables that seats 200+, restrooms with showers, changing areas and a central control room.
3. Brazos County Expo Sports: equestrian, rodeos, livestock events The 70,000-square-foot North Arena is located in the heart 14
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Brimming with team spirit, the home of Texas A&M University lives and breathes sports.
of the Brazos County Expo complex. This venue is ideal for equestrian and other livestock competitions, such as horse shows, rodeos, clinics, livestock shows and other events. The South Arena, at 75,000 square feet, is used for cutting, dressage, barrel races, polo events, ropings and more.
4. Reed Arena Sports: basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheer, dance This unique 12,989-seat events center located on the west side of the Texas A&M campus is home to the Texas A&M Men’s and Women’s basketball and volleyball teams. Reed Arena contains 25,000 sq. ft. of column free arena space, two 8,700 sq.ft. practice gymnasiums, 9 concession stands, locker room facilities, training/ medical room and over 5,000 parking spots available on-site or within walking distance.
5. Texas A&M Natatorium Sports: swimming, diving, water polo The newly renovated Texas A&M Natatorium is a world-class swimming facility and home to the Texas A&M swimming and diving teams. The venue showcases a 50-meter pool with graduated depths of 7-9 feet, 2 moveable bulkheads, an electronic timing system with an 8 lane display, an underwater viewing window, @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
a 25 meter long and 58 feet wide dive well, second level seating for 1,100 spectators and poolside meeting rooms. Additional features include a dryland training area, showers with 10-12 person heated jacuzzi spas, and computer and event software for swimming, diving, water polo and syncro. This venue has hosted many national, regional and collegiate championship events.
6. Bryan Regional Athletic Complex (BRAC) Sports: softball, baseball, soccer, tennis, basketball, sand volleyball, running This multi-purpose facility is enhanced by four lighted adult softball fields, a Little League baseball field, one girls softball field, nine soccer fields, two tennis courts, a basketball court, two sand volleyball courts, two pavilions and a half-mile walking/nature trail.
Family Fun, Local Traditions and Down-Home Food Visit the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum for an intimate look at the life of the 41st president, or learn about local history and culture at the Brazos Valley African American Museum. Your team can spend their downtime at Grand Station Entertainment playing laser tag, miniature golf, arcade games, bumper cars and showing off their bowling skills; or spend the day shopping at the unique stores of Downtown Bryan. When your players get hungry—and they inevitably will—grab some good old-fashioned Texas barbecue at Fargo’s Pit BBQ or have a meal while washing your dirty jerseys at the famous Harvey Washbanger. Need to please a crowd? Sample Bryan College Station’s food truck scene for a picnic-style lunch outdoors. Satisfy
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their sweet tooth with a stop at local ice cream shop Farmhouse Creamery, where toppings range from Baja Chocolate and Apple Strudel to Banana Cream Pie and Blueberry Cheesecake.
Right in the Center of the Texas Triangle Bryan College Station is located right in the middle of the Dallas-Houston-San Antonio triangle and is in the center of 80 percent of all of Texas’ population. Both Houston and Austin a re roughly an hour-and-one-half drive away. United and American Airlines fly into Bryan College Station’s Easterwood Airport from Dallas and Houston. If you can't make one of those connections, the Austin or Houston airport are both about an hour-and-one-half drive from Bryan-College Station.
Planner Perspective “The Bryan College Station staff is very professional and has been a pleasure to work with over the last 10 years. The facilities are great for our events, and the hotels and restaurants do an excellent job taking care of our teams. Any sports event planner that has the opportunity to work with them is guaranteed to be just as pleased with the results.” — Brandon Hollmann, COO, PrimeTime Sports, LLC
BRYAN COLLEGE STATION SPORTS + EVENTS Dominique Powell, Director of Sports and Events 979-260-9898 • dominique@bcssportsandevents.com BCSsportsAndEvents.com
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BEAUMONT, TX
Located in Southeast Texas on the Neches River, Beaumont has established itself as a premier sports destination with multiple state-ofthe-art sports complexes and a sports-loving community.
Merging Texas and Louisiana ways of life 1. Ford Park Entertainment Complex Sports: Baseball, softball, gymnastics, martial arts, rodeos One of the premier sports, entertainment and convention destinations of Southeast Texas, Ford Park Entertainment Complex is conveniently located minutes from Beaumont's more than 3,500 hotel rooms, restaurants and attractions. The impressive complex features five venues that stretch across 221 acres, including 34,000-square-foot Ford Arena, a venue that is ideal for concerts, conventions and sporting events; 48,000square-foot (and 11,000-square-foot pre-function space) Ford Exhibit Hall, which includes eight individual meeting rooms and can host consumer shows, conventions, concerts, gymnastics and martial arts competitions; Ford Park Fields, home to 12 baseball and softball fields; 14,000-seat Ford Pavilion, which hosts some of the biggest names in music and features first-class amenities.
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2. Ford Park Fields Sports: Baseball, softball Featuring 12 championship-caliber youth baseball and softball fields along with all-weather turf infields, Ford Park Fields is a tremendous venue. The facility features covered bleacher seating with protective netting over all spectator areas, ensuring fans will enjoy the games in comfort. Ford Park Fields also includes designated team warm-up areas, concession stands, one centralized gates and 1,000 well-lit onsite paved parking spots.
3. Beaumont Athletic Complex Sports: Softball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball This venue plays a major role in hosting regional, state and national softball tournaments. With 12 lighted softball and baseball diamonds, the Beaumont Athletic Complex can easily accommodate tournaments with 10 to more than 120 teams. The lighted softball diamonds feature bleachers on both sides and the complex also claims 24 lighted tennis courts, four of which are covered; four lighted sand volleyball courts; and a soccer field with two goals. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
4. Beaumont Tennis Center Sports: Tennis Beaumont’s newly expanded tennis center offers 24 tennis courts, with 20 lighted two-tone covered hard courts and four uncovered and lighted hard courts. A stunning addition to the Beaumont Athletic Complex, the Beaumont Tennis Center also includes a 4,500-square-foot clubhouse for tennis players with a pro shop, lounge, locker rooms and a large covered porch.
5. Cris Quinn Soccer Complex Sports: Soccer The Cris Quinn Memorial Soccer Complex features 30 wellmaintained and manicured soccer fields that cater to both youth and adult leagues. The facility features one centralized gate and the Cris Quinn Indoor Soccer Field, which features an 85-by185-square-foot artificial playing surface with an illuminated scoreboard.
Past and Present Make Beaumont a Destination Site The McFaddin-Ward House is a historic home in Beaumont and is one of the few house museums in which the home’s original furnishings are intact and on display. It is also one of the few Beaux-Arts Colonial homes still open to the public. The SpindletopGladys City Boomtown Museum, in Beaumont, commemorates the discovery of the Spindletop Hill salt dome in 1901 that sparked an oil boom in Texas. The museum offers historical, period reenactments by area performers and a replica of the wooden oil derricks that once dotted the area’s landscape. The Fire Museum of Texas is located in a former fire station in Beaumont, and houses state-of-the-art interactive fire safety exhibits with a collection of antique fire equipment dating as early as 1856. Gator Country, in Beaumont, is the largest alligator adventure park and sanctuary in Southeast Texas, housing more than 450 American alligators, crocodiles and other reptiles received through rescues and donations. The Beaumont Botanical Gardens are a 23.5-acre garden of ever-changing beauty and is located near the entrance of Tyrrell Park, a 500-acre park.
6. Beaumont Civic Center Sports: Basketball The Beaumont Civic Center provides 41,300-square-feet of versatile indoor space and offers flexible floor plans and room configurations to accommodate a variety of conventions and events. The complex provides 29,300-square-feet of exhibit floor space on the ground level with an additional 12,000-square-feet available on the upper level. The center has four dressing rooms with showers, 850 well-lit onsite paved parking spots (with limited RV hookups) and on-site catering and concession services.
How to get to Beaumont Beaumont is located near numerous major highways, including I-10, US 69, US 90, US 96 and US 287. Jack Brooks Regional Airport is located 9 miles south of Beaumont’s central business district and serves the region with jet flights nonstop to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
BEAUMONT CVB Freddie Willard, Director of Sales 1-800-392-4401 • freddie.willard@beaumonttexas.gov VisitBeaumontTX.com/sports
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MIDLAND, TX
This West Texas city brings a burst of high-octane fun to sports travel planning.
Ideal Venues for Swimming, Tennis and More 1. COM Mabee Aquatics Center
3. Bush Tennis Center
Sports: Swimming, diving There are exciting things going on at COM Mabee Aquatics Center - particularly a new expansion. The FMH Foundation Natatorium, opened spring 2016, is a 43,000-square-foot facility and features an Olympic-sized pool, measuring 50 meters by 25 yards. As you might expect, facilities are top-notch; two 25-yard competitive pools, a springboard and diving platform and a fitness center lead the way.
Sports: Tennis The Bush Tennis Center is entering its fourth year. Recently featured in the New York Times, this is Midland's newest tennis complex. With 18 full-sized courts, there's plenty of room for your group to get their game on, but a stadium and eight quick-start courts provide even more space if you need it. There's also an education building and a pro shop to keep everyone up to speed.
4. Scharbauer Sports Complex 2. Midland County Horseshoe Arena & Pavilion Sports: Rodeo, dance, cheerleading, gymnastics, martial arts, wrestling, table tennis, horseshoes The 100-acre Horseshoe Arena Complex is another Midland venue celebrating something new: the outdoor amphitheater opened in 2016 and can accommodate up to 4,500 patrons. The Horseshoe Pavilion can host a variety of sports and activities, including rodeos, dance and cheer competitions, gymnastics, martial arts, wrestling, table tennis and horseshoes. The Pavilion and its neighboring Amphitheatre come with dressing rooms, production rooms, on-site parking and restrooms and a box office. This space is ideal for hosting larger events: altogether, they can host anywhere from 2,862 to well over 6,000 people. 18
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Sports: Football, soccer, baseball If you can kick it, hit it or catch it, you'll likely find room to do your thing at Scharbauer Sports Complex. Made up of three facilities Grande Communications Stadium, Security Bank Ballpark and Cimarex Energy Pavilion - the Scharbauer Complex contains excellent playing surfaces for football, soccer and baseball. There's one World Cup-sized soccer field and one regulation football field, both with synthetic turf. Under construction are four multi-purpose fields are complete and are all turf. The Grande Communications Stadium has seating for 15,000; the Ballpark seats 5,000, and both sites have additional seating possible on a grass berm. On-site parking, restrooms, designated media areas, press boxes, coaches booths and community rooms round out the amenities. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
5. Freddie Ezell Sports Complex at Ulmer Park
James Durbin
Sports: Softball, volleyball This 26-acre facility is the perfect place for softball and volleyball. From its nine 200-foot lighted softball fields to its five sand volleyball courts, there's plenty of room for players. And, with seating for 300, there's plenty of room for folks to cheer them on. Off the field, two concessions buildings and three restrooms cater to everyone's needs, while eight shade canopies keep the hot Texas sun at bay. Two grills, drinking fountains, two pavilions and a pair of playgrounds round out the amenities.
1 What Can My Team Do in Midland? Enjoy the ropes course, games, food and a first-run movie at Cinergy Cinemas, or if you're up for a little mind bending fun, complete the maze at Old Miners Maze. Your team may want to indulge their sweet tooth with a trip to Susie's South Forty Candy Factory, where you can see the confectioners in action with a factory tour (call for availability) followed by samples and the opportunity to take some home in the on-site gift shop. What if your group is interested in sports, sports and more sports? In that case, check out the professional teams in and around Midland. Groups can take their pick from baseball (Midland RockHounds), soccer (Midland-Odessa Sockers) or football (West Texas Drillers).
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Easy to Access from Any Direction Midland is located directly off Interstate 20 in western Texas. It's within a day's drive of Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and El Paso. Midland is served by the Midland International Air and Space Port. Just a few minutes out of town, the airport provides out-of-towners with extremely convenient access. It accepts flights from American, Southwest, and United.
Planner Perspective “It is pleasure to work with the VisitMidland team when I produce events in West Texas. They are supportive and in every phase of the event. They have provided Prolink Live with the highest level of assistance in promotion & media, staging & facility upgrades as well as assistance with volunteers and staffing. Additionally, VisitMidland has provided financial support for Prolink Live events through [VisitMidland Sports & Entertainment] grants. Their professionalism and passion for developing successful events is evident at all times.”
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— Tim Stallard, President of PROLINK Live, Austin, Texas
VISITMIDLAND Stephanie Martin, Director 432-683-3381 • stephanie@visitmidland.com VisitMidland.com
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PLANO, TX
Plano provides a major league sports support infrastructure to conduct the best competitions possible.
These Aren’t Your Average Parks 1. Russell Creek Park
3. Enfield Park
Sports: Cricket, soccer, baseball Russell Creek Park features 20 lighted turf fields, seven cricket pitches and four baseball diamonds. In fact, the 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, hiking and biking trails, a pavilion, concessions, a playground and restrooms.
Sports: Baseball, softball, soccer Enfield Park offers eight lighted baseball fields of varying sizes and seven lighted youth soccer fields. The park also features restrooms, concessions, a shade shelter and plenty of parking at both ends of the park.
2. Heritage Yards Sports: Softball With nine lighted softball fields, concessions and restrooms, Heritage Yards at Plano is the venue for softball leagues, events and tournaments throughout three seasons. Other amenities include a playground multi-use court, vending, restrooms, an on-site main office and ample parking. 20
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4. Carpenter Park Sports: Soccer, lacrosse, baseball Carpenter Park features 16 soccer fields that can also be used for lacrosse, and there are eight baseball fields—four lighted, two championship baseball fields and two additional baseball fields. There are also restrooms and playgrounds, the Carpenter Park Recreation Center and ample parking.
@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
5. High Point Park Sports: Soccer, softball The park has 14 soccer fields and 11 softball fields. Other amenities include restrooms, offices, concession stands and a playground.
6. Plano Sports Authority Sports: Basketball, soccer, volleyball, football, cheer and dance, baseball, softball, martial arts, track, rugby, wrestling, golf, flag football Better known as PSA, there are three of these 80,000+ squarefoot, 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.
A Cornucopia of Dining, Shopping and Sightseeing Options 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.
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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. Great for recreational use and teambuilding exercises, Go Ape! is a zip-line and ropes course facility at our beautiful Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve.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 Dallas Aquarium.
A Short Drive from Dallas Drive just 20 miles north of Dallas and you’ll run straight into Plano. Major thoroughfares heading north and south include the Dallas North Tollway, State Highway 75 and Preston Road. East and west accesses include State Highway 121, Highway 190 (President George Bush Turnpike) and Interstate 653. Plano is right on the DART light rail and bus line. Plano is 20 minutes north of two major airports—Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Love Field (DAL)—with a total of 2,000 flights daily.
PLANO CVB Cissy Aberg, Sport Sales Manager 972-941-5849 • cissya@plano.gov VisitPlano.com
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LUBBOCK, TX
Lubbock’s 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 Solid Lineup of Collegiate and Community Sports Venues 1. Lubbock Christian University Sports: Baseball, volleyball, basketball 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 and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, national volleyball matches and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women’s Division I Basketball Championship.
2. Texas Tech University Sports: Football, basketball, volleyball, softball, track, golf, soccer Jones AT&T Stadium is home to Texas Tech’s football team. Since 2003, the university has spent more than $100 million to make 22
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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 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 six golf courses in the Lubbock area. Other university sports facilities include John Walker Soccer Complex, Rocky Johnson Field (softball) and the Terry & Linda Fuller Track & Field Complex.
3. Apex Event Center Sports: Basketball, volleyball, cheerleading A newcomer to the local sports scene, Apex Event Center 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. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
4. Lubbock Youth Sports Complex Sports: Softball, baseball The complex hosts both local leagues and other softball and baseball events. Each of the 16 fields can seat approximately 250 spectators.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
5. Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Sports: Multiple indoor sports 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.
6. City Bank Coliseum Sports: Basketball, hockey, wrestling Seating more than 8,000, the coliseum has hosted indoor football games, circuses, motocross, musical events and mixed martial arts competitions.
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Lubbock Will Keep Your Team Entertained Rock ‘n’ roll legend Buddy Holly is Lubbock’s favorite son, and the Buddy Holly Center pays tribute to him. Showcasing live music often, the center features concerts on Thursday night during the summer months. The National Ranching Heritage Center features a 19-acre historical park complete with 49 authentic, restored ranching structures, dating from 1780 to 1950, which tell the story of ranching. The center also offers a 44,000-square-foot museum with seven exhibit galleries. The Silent Wings Museum highlights the role of glider pilots and their planes during World War II. The kid-centric Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater provides school-age children with hands-on science exhibits, though scienceminded adults will find it interesting as well. The American Windmill Museum 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 nearly 1,000 restaurants to choose from ranging in culinary styles. From barbecue and steak to Mexican fare, the “Hub City” offers dining for every taste. Some local favorites like Cagle Steaks offer private dining for groups.
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A Transportation Hub As befits a place known as the “Hub City,” getting to Lubbock is relatively 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 to Lubbock is also simple; it’s reachable by five major highways: US 87, US 84, I-27, US 62/US 82 and State Road 114.
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Planner Perspective “The West Texas All-Star Softball Tournament was a tremendous success! It was awesome hosting teams from the surrounding communities, and Lubbock was a great host! I can't say enough about the Lubbock Sports Team; they went above and beyond. I hope to have the opportunity to work with them again in the near future.” –Jeff Lansdell, President, South Plains Girls FastPitch
VISIT LUBBOCK Cris Rohrer, Sports Sales Manager 806-747-5232 • cris@visitlubbock.org VisitLubbock.org
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TEMPLE, TX Temple boasts flexible complexes
Right in the middle of Texas, Temple has all the top-notch facilities to make it an athletic haven and a happening location
1. Mayborn Convention Center
5. Soccer
Sports: Billiards, boxing, cheerleading, dance, fencing, gymnastics, martial arts, table tennis, weight lifting, wrestling Temple’s premier meeting facility is the Mayborn Convention Center, which boasts 40,000 square feet of space. The floor plan adapts to many sporting events, including billiards, boxing, cheerleading, dance competitions, fencing, gymnastics, martial arts, table tennis, weight lifting and wrestling. The Mayborn staff prides itself on event flexibility.
The crown jewel for soccer players and coaches is Temple Korompai Soccer Fields at Wilson Park. This complex houses six competition fields, plus three others in other areas of town, and is equipped with restrooms, concessions and a playground. Half of the fields have lights for nighttime play. And for soccer lovers, there is even more that Temple has to offer, including West Temple Field, Freedom Field and Kiwanis Field. Along with Miller Field and Optimist Field, these are all multi-use and family-friendly.
2. Baseball Looking to plan a baseball tournament in Temple? You won’t be disappointed, as this Texas town has a variety of fields with all the necessary amenities for hosting a top-notch tourney. The Northam Baseball Complex has four fields, in addition to popular sites like Baker Field, Ferguson Park, Guthrie Park and Yarborough Field. For high school and collegiate events, tournament directors should visit Temple College, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Temple High School.
3. Softball There are 13 softball fields in Temple, from the Wilson Park Softball Complex to the fields at Temple College. In addition, as is the case with baseball, Temple High School offers a well-kept softball field. Finally, Mercer Complex boasts four fields, while Ferguson Park is one of Temple’s most popular softball locations.
4. Basketball Some similar venues can satisfy all of a tourney planner’s needs when it comes to basketball. Temple College and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor offer prime collegiate courts, while Temple High School and Clarence Martin Gym boasts great options for a tournament director.
TEMPLE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Diane Jones, Sales & Marketing Specialist 254-298-5949 • djones@templetx.gov DiscoverTemple.com
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Where Can We Go When the Game Ends? Players, coaches and families will find a variety of fun activities in Temple. Perhaps you will want to take in a little music at The Bloomin Temple Festival, or stop by the Texas Early Day Tractor Show. And if these spots aren’t enough, kids will enjoy a day at Lion's Junction Water Park. And if they’re not tired out after splashing around in the sun, parents can take them for a game of laser tag at Spare Time Fun Center. Long story short: There is a lot to do in Temple—and we haven’t even touched on outdoor recreation. Visitors might want to take a swim at Temple Lake Park or embark on a self-guided tour through the city’s Historic District. Indoors or under the sun, prepare to have an exciting stay in Temple, Texas.
How Do We Get to Temple Interstate 35 runs straight through Temple. In addition, Highway 190 and Routes 53 and 190 are other major arteries. AustinBergstrom International Airport is situated in the state capital, 81 miles away. Though this is the closest airport offering international options, domestic airports include Killeen-Fort Hood Regional and Waco Regional, both of which are within 46 miles from Temple.
Planner Perspective “As the Coordinator of the 2017 Southwest H.O.G. Rally held in Bell County this year, it was a privilege to work alongside the dedicated professionals of the Temple CVB. Their staff played an integral part in the success of the Rally, which registered over 1,100 attendees at the event. The personal attention provided by their organization, along with the competent and friendly staff of so many Temple hotels, made my job as Coordinator so much easier!” Sports Planning Guide
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