2022
FLORIDA GUIDE
Florida is a Sporting Paradise
From Amateur To Professional Events, Florida Has Something For Everyone
The Best Fishing and Boating Can Be Found Here The Sunshine State Is The Perfect Place To Get Active on the Water
A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com
better than Business^as Usual
As North America’s premier location for safe in-person events, the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) has successfully welcomed nearly 100 conventions, trade shows, meetings, consumer and sporting events since July 2020. When you host your event at the Center of Hospitality, our expertise and success enables you to do Business Better Than Usual through enhanced health and safety protocols in Orlando, the world’s most trusted destination.
#BusinessBetterThanUsual | 1-800-345-9845 | sales@occc.net | occc.net
Angela A. Suggs President & CEO, Florida Sports Foundation What a great time to be a sports enthusiast in the State of Florida. The Tampa Bay Lightning have won the last two Stanley Cups. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2021 NFL season as the reigning Super Bowl champions and the Tampa Bay Rays are continuing their 2020 World Series success in 2021. Besides the success of professional sports in the Tampa Bay area, which has been renamed Champa Bay, there are plenty of other thriving sports ventures in the State of Florida. Through the efforts and vision of our local partners throughout the state, sports enthusiasts flock to Florida to compete in a variety of athletic endeavors. These efforts on the local level, in turn, produce a thriving economy as athletes come from around the U.S. and the world to “Play in Florida.”
USA Field Hockey Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation
Whether it’s the World’s Largest Amateur Volleyball event, the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, the National Field Hockey Festival at the SportsPlex of Tampa, or the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships at the Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, these events showcase the best Florida has to offer. These events showcase local facilities, local hospitality and local flavor to visitors from all ages. The local amenities and the generosity of the local hosts sends visitors home with thoughts of planning a return trip to the Sunshine State. Through the combined efforts of the Florida Sports Foundation and its 30 industry partners, it adds up to a $57.4 billion economic impact of sports, that produces 580.000 jobs statewide. The 2021-22 edition of Sports Planning Guide is an excellent tool to use to plan your next event in the Sunshine State as well as future visits to everything the State of Florida offers. Come Play in Florida! Sincerely,
Angela Suggs President & CEO, Florida Sports Foundation
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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
FLORIDA
6 T he Best Fishing and Boating can be Found in Florida 8 The Sunshine State is a Sporting Paradise 23 Sports Industry Trends for 2022 ©iStock.com/bgblue
AAU Volleyball
SI
Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation
Site InSpections 10 Palm Beach County 12 Orange County Convention Center 14 Bradenton 16 World Equestrian Center, Ocala 18 Gainesville 20 Lake County 22 St. PetersburgClearwater ON THE COVER: AAU Volleyball Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation
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Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation
Bonefish are plentiful in beautiful Islamorada.
THE BEST FISHING AND BOATING CAN BE FOUND IN FLORIDA An abundance of lakes, rivers and, of course, the ocean makes the Sunshine State a perfect place to get active on the water By Jill Pillow
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ith more than 7,700 lakes, 10,550 miles of rivers and 2,276 miles of shoreline, Florida’s fishing options are second-to-none. Thus, it’s no surprise the Sunshine State is often called the Fishing Capital of the World. Florida’s 1,350 miles of saltwater coastline features diverse fish habitats enabling anglers to catch hundreds of beautiful species in picturesque locals. In fact, more world-record fish are caught in Florida waters than anywhere else in the world. Not to be outdone, Florida is also known as the Boating Capital of the World as it possesses more registered boats than
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any U.S. state. With so many excellent aquatic destinations across the state, Florida is the perfect place to grab your fishing gear, hop in a boat and enjoy a day on the water.
DESTIN
Destin has earned the nickname The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village because it is home to some of the best saltwater fishing in the United States. Destin’s close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico allows quick access to the gulf’s incredible fishing opportunities. Anglers reap the benefits of generous amounts of fish that reside in the area @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
including snapper, grouper, amberjack, triggerfish, sharks, Mahi Mahi, tarpon, billfish and tuna. Destin is also home to the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo, which began in 1948 and is the ultimate fishing tournament for saltwater anglers of all ages. More than 30,000 people compete for prizes in the annual rodeo.
known for being home to more than 1,000 freshwater lakes with serene hiking trails and nature reserves. Anglers love Lake County because there are a variety of fish to target, but most fishermen (and women) love its excellent array of Largemouth Bass.
FLORIDA KEYS
Sometimes referred to as Florida’s inland sea, Lake Okeechobee, in southern Florida, is the second-largest freshwater lake entirely within U.S. boundaries. Waterways on either side run into the lake, making it part of a 152-mile boating passageway through the middle of the state known as the Okeechobee Waterway. This picturesque lake is perfect for boat charters and offers some of the state’s best shoreline fishing. And with 730 square miles of trophy-winning saltwater Bass fishing, Lake Okeechobee is a perfect destination to reel in some of the biggest Bass in Florida.
The Florida Keys, and in particular, Key West, are some of the most popular boating destinations in Florida. Stretching from Biscayne National Park in the north more than 125 miles to Key West in the southwest, the Keys attract boaters of all ages. Some famed boating locations in the Keys include John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo (which encompasses approximately 70 nautical square miles), the Seven Mile Bridge near Lower Duck Key (the longest bridge in the Keys) and Key West Bight Marina, a historic seaport which has plenty of slip-space and easy accessibility to world-class amenities.
FORT LAUDERDALE
Greater Fort Lauderdale has been labeled the Venice of America because it is home to more than 300 miles of inland waterways. It has also been dubbed the Yachting Capital of the World thanks to its more than 40,000 yachts that dock in the area. This ideal boating combination makes it the perfect place to host the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the world’s largest in-water event showcasing many of the most spectacular boats on the market.
FORT MYERS AND SANIBEL
JACKSONVILLE
The gateway to the St. Johns River, Jacksonville features excellent marinas, hotels and five-star restaurants. This Atlantic Coast city is popular with the boating community thanks to its ample dockage downtown which includes the Metropolitan Park Marina. Jacksonville is also a world-class fishing town as it hosts one of the largest kingfish tournaments in Florida.
LAKE COUNTY
As its name suggests, Lake County, just 35 minutes outside of Orlando, is SportsPlanningGuide.com
Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation
Located on the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida, the Fort Myers/Sanibel area offers a variety of inshore and offshore fishing opportunities. From shorelines to deep sea casting, Lee County is considered one of the best areas in the state for saltwater fly fishing and light tackle fishing. With many world-record fish having been caught in these waters, the area has been called a fisherman’s paradise. Inshore fishing supplies excellent yearround chances to catch snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, mangrove snapper and a myriad of other species.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
MIAMI
Considered Florida’s Sailing Capital, Miami plays host to three major boat shows: the Miami Yacht Show, Superyacht Miami and the Miami International Boat Show. In February 2022, these three events have joined forces for an unmatched outing of incredible and luxurious seacrafts. Scheduled for Presidents Day weekend, this massive show will take place at the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center as well as Miami Beach’s Pride Park, which will host experiences for show visitors. Miami is also home to the annual Columbus Day Regatta, which is held in Biscayne Bay. Coconut Grove, which hugs the bay, features the largest marina in Miami with more than 1,000 boats.
ST. AUGUSTINE
The nation’s oldest city is also the nation’s first seaport and is a fishing paradise. Located directly on the intracoastal waterway, this historic town offers a wide range of angling opportunities. Anglers report catching large amounts of redfish in these waters, along with trout, flounder, snapper and even tarpon.
Destin is known as the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.
TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG
Tampa contains the state’s largest estuary and is renowned for having some of the best boating in Florida. Its fishing is also top-notch as anglers are usually assured of a sheltered place to catch a line. St. Petersburg’s inland fishing is renowned as its mangrove shorelines, oyster bars and rich sea grass beds are home to snook, redfish and spotted sea trout. Those seeking excellent offshore fishing can take a boat that will lead them to beautiful clear water and an abundance of grouper and snapper. Party boats and private boats are all available to hire, giving anglers more flexibility to target the fish they are seeking. Sports Planning Guide
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Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation
Cross-country meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.
THE SUNSHINE STATE IS A SPORTING PARADISE From amateur competitions to professional events, Florida has something for everyone By Jamie Fischer
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ith pristine weather and excellent facilities, Florida is a national hub for sports tourism. Sports enthusiasts travel from across the country, and even globally, to experience the excitement of these events firsthand. Florida sports have grown into an estimated $57.4 billion per year industry, supporting more than 588,000 jobs for Floridians while attracting more than 16 million international and out-of-state visitors annually. In addition to countless opportunities to watch professionals, Florida also hosts many popular events for amateur athletes. Here are some destinations to consider when planning a sporting event.
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AAU JUNIOR NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS (ORLANDO)
Billed as the World’s Largest Volleyball Event, the 48th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships took place in June 2021 in Orlando and hosted a whopping 56,000 participants from around the world. This annual competition draws thousands of teams (the 2021 event held at the Orange County Convention Center hosted more than 3,400 squads) and accommodates players of all skill levels. The 2021 event brought in an estimated $173.2 million in economic impact to Central Florida during the 12-day competition and hosted nine teams that were ranked in the Top 10 nationally. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
NATIONAL HOCKEY FESTIVAL (TAMPA)
Marking its 40th anniversary, USA Field Hockey will return to the beautiful Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa this fall, taking place November 25-27. The festival will offer play in a variety of ages and always attracts big crowds. “We are delighted to be returning to Tampa,” said Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s executive director. “The venue is purposely built for elite tournament play and the area is so well served by major airports in Tampa as well as nearby Orlando. We look forward to an awesome National Hockey Festival in the Florida sun.” The multi-sport Sportsplex is a sizable venue with all fields designed with a professionally maintained Bermudagrass playing surface. Since its last time hosting the festival in 2019, the venue has undergone massive renovations, from the expansion of parking facilities to improved food vending options. The complex is located just 10 minutes from the downtown Tampa area, a spot filled with great dining and entertainment options. Just 20 minutes away there are even more attractions, including Busch Gardens, Adventure Island and the Florida Aquarium. Tampa is a top-notch destination for amateur competitions, but it is also considered the City of Champions as the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently world champions, while the NHL’s Lightning are back-to-back winners of the Stanley Cup. Even MLB’s Rays reached the World Series in 2020.
NCAA CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (TALLAHASSEE)
Tallahassee, home to Florida State University, is a crosscountry haven as it holds some of the biggest and best crosscountry events in the country. In Fall of 2021, Tallahassee hosts the 2021 NCAA Cross-Country Championships at Apalachee Regional Park. This celebrated meet will feature 255 runners in each of the men’s and women’s races, comprised of 31 teams and 38 individual student-athletes. It is just the second DI NCAA National Championship hosted by Florida State and the first since the 1996 women’s tennis national championships. “Championship sports are synonymous with Tallahassee. From youth events through collegiate and professional championships, Visit Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Sports Council and a dedicated community of partners work handin-hand to build winning experiences for sports events,” said Joe Piotrowski, director of Sports for Leon County Tourism SportsPlanningGuide.com
Photo courtesy of the Florida Sports Foundation
This unmatched volleyball competition has been recognized over the years as a four-time winner of Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism Award and was named Best Single Amateur Sporting Event by Sports Travel Awards. When athletes are finished competing, they can enjoy the offerings of Orlando, one of Florida’s most popular destinations that attracts tens of millions of visitors each year. Players can spend time off the court viewing breathtaking fireworks at Walt Disney World or enjoying attractions at Universal Studios Florida. Families can also get an up-close look at dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando or the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium.
USA Field Hockey will return to Tampa this fall. and Visit Tallahassee. “Despite the challenges the industry has faced over the past year, 2021 is shaping up to be Tallahassee’s biggest sports year ever. In addition to crosscountry, Tallahassee will host a multitude of other youth sports including the FHSAA Class 1A, 2A and 3A Football State Championship, Professional Disc Golf’s Open, USSSA Youth Baseball’s Capital Showdown and several elite youth soccer events including the ASG Capital Cup and Florida State Invitational.”
SNOWBIRD BASEBALL NCAA CLASSIC (PORT CHARLOTTE)
This baseball staple is held annually in February in the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Islands area in Port Charlotte. The Classic welcomes teams from across college baseball that hail from the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Eastern United States. Ninety percent of teams return for the Classic each year because it is such a popular event, which makes sense since these Northern teams are thrilled to visit sunny Florida in the middle of winter. Games are run professionally and feature a P.A. announcer, pitch clock and scoreboard operator. All of the fields are ideal for play, dragged, lined and maintained by professional ground crews. In addition to the Classic, Port Charlotte offers a variety of enticing beachfront attractions and recreational activities. Located along Florida’s welcoming Gulf Coast, Port Charlotte features more than 165 miles of waterways, and is also home to seven golf courses and Tippecanoe Environmental Park, featuring hiking trails and wildlife viewing through 380 acres of scrub and pine flat woods. From yacht clubs, tennis courts, boating facilities and pools and beaches, there are countless ways to soak up the sun.
FLORIDA SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL
Baseball fans can enjoy a Major League Baseball-centered getaway at Florida’s Spring Training facilities located in various areas. Florida’s Grapefruit League consists of 15 teams playing in 13 cities spanning the state, including the Atlanta Braves in North Port, the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, and of course, the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte. The St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins both train at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, virtually ensuring you’ll see a game at this beautiful stadium during the spring. Since 2000, more than 31 million fans have enjoyed Florida Spring Training baseball during the month of March. Next year, you can count yourself among that ever-growing number as you watch the boys of summer hone their skills in a picturesque locale. Sports Planning Guide
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Palm Beach County, Fl
Scan to discover more of what Palm Beach County Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
ELITE FACILITIES, WORLD-CLASS ATTRACTIONS AND KNOWLEDGEABLE EXPERTS MAKE PALM BEACH COUNTY A TOP SPORTS DESTINATION
International Polo Club
Stretching from Florida’s Atlantic coast into the state’s rural center, Palm Beach County is easily accessible via Interstate 95. The Palm Beaches are serviced directly via Palm Beach International Airport, with Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport as alternative options to the south.
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches Baseball, Multipurpose
The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is the Spring Training home to the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals and 2017 World Series champion Houston Astros. Designed with an elegant wrap-around concourse and inviting sightlines, the 160-acre complex features a fan-friendly 7,700-capacity stadium as its centerpiece, along with six practice fields per eam. A total of 13 MLB field and fi e 120-by-80-yard multipurpose athletic fields a e covered in beautiful Bermuda grass and cater to soccer, lacrosse, football, rugby, and more.
Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium Baseball, Multipurpose
One of the region’s preeminent baseball stadiums for more than 20 years, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is the current Spring Training home of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, and is also the only complex in the country that is home to four Minor League Baseball teams. The stadium seats 8,030, including box suites, and a press box, professional scoreboard and JumboTron enhance the experience for fans of all ages. In addition to the main lighted stadium field, t e complex features 12 full-size baseball fields with MLB di ensions—six which are lit for night play—on nearly 120 acres in the cozy Abacoa neighborhood of Jupiter, Florida.
@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
International Polo Club Palm Beach Polo, Multipurpose
The International Polo Club Palm Beach is a premier polo destination hosting the most prestigious tournaments in the United States with some of the world’s highestranked players. The centerpiece of the winter polo season, and spanning nearly 250 acres, IPC is the largest spectator-f riendly polo facility in the U.S. Its seven polo field can be converted into 47 multipurpose fields, id al for rugby, field ockey, lacrosse, football, soccer and more. In 2017, the Florida Sports Foundation named IPC the “Large Market Sports Venue of the Year.” Created with players and fans in mind, the stadium welcomes up to 794 spectators, with an additional 1,028 box seats, and features 7,000 square feet of indoor usable floor s ace.
Palm Beach County Convention Center Multipurpose
Walking distance from the bustling nightlife and dining scene of downtown West Palm Beach, the Palm Beach County Convention Center presents a spectacular setting for conventions, tradeshows, meetings and social events. An architectural masterpiece with state-of-the-art amenities, the 350,000-square- foot center features a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall which can
be divided into two 50,000-square-foot areas that can be used for a variety of sporting events, a 22,000-square-foot ballroom and 21,000 square feet of fl xible breakout space divisible into 19 rooms. Parking is located onsite at the convention center’s parking garage which features over 2,600 spaces. The Hilton West Palm Beach has 400 luxurious rooms and suites, an additional 24,000 square feet of meeting space, a modern restaurant with outdoor dining and an infini y pool with full-service poolside bar.
Gardens North County District Park Multipurpose
POPULAR ACTIVITIES The Palm Beaches are home to 47 miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches from Jupiter to Boca Raton. Home to more than 160 golf courses, many of them public, it’s easy to see why The Palm Beaches are Florida’s Golf Capital. With an average winter temperature of 76 degrees, The Palm Beaches has great weather
Gardens North County District Park opened in summer 2019 on 82 acres of land in the immaculate and inviting City of Palm Beach Gardens. Soccer players can get their kicks on the 10 lighted multipurpose fields. T e on-site Joseph R. Russo Athletic Complex is notable for its awardwinning Palm Beach Gardens Tennis & Pickleball Center, which contains 18 Har-Tru courts for tennis and 12 pickleball courts, four of which are lit for evening play.
to enjoy golfing, fishing, and other outdoor pursuits.
Palm Beach County Sports Commission offers unparalleled customer service consistently while offering a multitude of event management services including pre-event planning, operational support, permitting,
PALM BEACH COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION
public relations, and on-site staff assistance. Our sports
Glen Allen, Director of Sports
commission has the tools and
Development
resources to make any event a
561-233-3174
success. Just bring your game –
gallen@palmbeachsports.com
we’ll handle all the rest.
www.palmbeachsports.com
Palm Beach County Convention Center
The Gardens North County District Park
Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium
Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
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Orange County Convention Center
Scan to discover more of what Orange County Convention Center offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
THE AWARD-WINNING ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER IN ORLANDO, FLA. IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXTENSIVE SPACE, STATE-OF-THE-ART AMENITIES, COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE
Located in the heart of Orlando’s tourist corridor, The Center of Hospitality is accessible for both domestic and transatlantic travelers. Offering convenience and connectivity, the Center is just 15 minutes from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) and 45 minutes from Sanford Orlando International Airport (SFB) making it easy and affordable for teams in the Southeastern portion of the U.S. to reach the center. 12
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
North-South Building
Volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, gymnastics, taekwondo, wrestling, indoor sports With more than 950,000 square feet of exhibition space, the North-South Building offers exceptional fl xibility for diverse sporting events. Home to the world’s largest volleyball competition, the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championship, the 2021 event broke records, welcoming more than 135,000 guests and more than 3,445 teams from around the world.
West Building
Volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, gymnastics, taekwondo, indoor sports Boasting more than 1 million square feet in exhibit space, the OCCC’s West Building has welcomed a wide variety of high-profile spo ting events, including WrestleMania Axxess, USA Volleyball Florida Region and American Open Cheer and Mr. Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend. Designed with fl xibility and functionality in mind, the modern West Building offers state-ofthe-art amenities for attendees, including newly renovated food courts and refreshment areas. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
Competing Safely at the OCCC As a Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accredited venue, the OCCC has taken every precaution to ensure a safe and seamless experience for sporting events at The Center of Hospitality. This includes enhanced cleaning in line with GBAC STAR standards, collaborating with Orlando Health to offer the fi st-of-itskind medical concierge service for attendees, and working closely with groups to identify safe solutions that tailor to their event and adhere to current guidelines. With ample space for physical distancing, the OCCC can help devise solutions to create a controlled and organized space, so that you can host your next sporting event with confide ce.
Notable Recent and Upcoming Events In 2020, The Center of Hospitality hosted 11 sporting events, welcoming more than 72,000 participants, coaches, chaperones and attendees. In the following year, the OCCC welcomed twice as many – hosting 27 sporting events with more than 393,000 attendees.
• All Star Challenge Cheer & Dance (March 2021) • AAU Spring, Easter and Memorial Day Basketball Classic (March – May 2021) • AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships (June 2021) Offering the best-in-class service, location and venue, many sporting events return to The Center of Hospitality year-after-year, solidifying the Center’s ability to satisfy and exceed expectations.
POPULAR ACTIVITIES See your favorite characters, fantasy landscapes and thrilling rides at Universal Orlando Resort, which is home to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay. Immerse yourself into the wonders of marine life and hop on a variety of rides and enjoy a wealth of attractions at SeaWorld Orlando.
Returning Sporting Events • All Out Grand Nationals (January 2022) • Florida Volleyball Challenge (April 2022) • USA Volleyball Sunshine Volleyball Classic (April 2022) • AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships (June 2022)
ICON Park is an entertainment complex for the whole family featuring more than 40 restaurants, funky bars, boutique shops and amusement park rides.
Pointe Orlando, a beautiful outdoor shopping center, offers more than 40 unique stores, delicious
ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER Eric Blanc, CMP
restaurants and exciting nightlife near Orlando’s entertainment center, International Drive.
(407) 685-9833
2021 Highlights • USA Volleyball Sunshine Volleyball Classic (March 2021)
Eric.Blanc@occc.net www.occc.net
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “We are pleased to have been able to yet again offer the opportunity to let athletes do what they really want to do, and that’s to play. The 2021 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center welcomed our biggest numbers to date, positively impacting not only the AAU organization but also the Central Florida area as well. Hosting such a large event successfully would not be possible without the dedication, commitment and tireless efforts of the Orange County Convention Center team.” The OCCC’s West Building has hosted a variety of high-profile spo ting events through the years, including WestleMania Axxess, USA Volleyball Florida Region
— Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan, President/CEO of the AAU
and American Open Cheer.
The OCCC West and North-South buildings offer 2.1 million square feet of exhibit space. SportsPlanningGuide.com
West Building newly renovated food courts and refreshment areas. Sports Planning Guide
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BRADENTON, FL
Scan to discover more of what Bradenton Area Sports offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
WELCOME TO THE EMERGING ALL-STAR OF SPORTS IN FLORIDA. DOZENS OF FIRST-RATE SPORTS FACILITIES ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUTTHE BRADENTON AREA—ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CHOOSE WHERE TO COMPETE
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
IMG Academy
“We want to thank Bradenton Area Sports for their continued support and assisting at our tournaments. We have built a great working relationship and look forward to future opportunities.” — Cristian Cubillas, CONCACAF
Premier Sports Campus
Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex
The Bradenton Area has been a perennial favorite for athletes, teams and their coaches for years. The superb weather, welcoming attitude and tremendous value all combine to make it a top sports destination. And for many sports, the area offers the finest acilities for training and sporting events in the nation. Let us help y ou get your game on!
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT IMG Academy
Premier Sports Campus
IMG Academy is the most prestigious sports performance complex in the world. This megacomplex features over 50 tennis courts, over 20 multi-sport fields and an 18-hole golf ourse. The Academy also has four convertible basketball courts, weight rooms totaling more than 10,000 square feet of space and a 5,000-seat stadium. IMG Academy annually attracts nearly 200,000 athletes, coaches and spectators from 100 countries.
The Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch hosts regional and national tournaments throughout the year. The campus holds 23 contiguous FIFA-approved Bermuda grass fields, eight f which are lighted. A 4,000-seat stadium completes the facility’s offerings. All the fields are equippe with 65,000 square-feet of underground irrigation systems.
Baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track and fiel
Ultimate f risbee, football, lacrosse, rugby, soccer
@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
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LECOM Park Baseball
For more than 90 years, LECOM Park has been a source of fun and excitement in Bradenton. This 8,500+ person, stateof-the-art stadium is perfect for baseball training and tournaments. A 19,000 squarefoot boardwalk spanning the outfiel provides an exceptional experience for both athletes and fans.
Pirate City Baseball
Pirate City provides tournament space and amenities for sports planners everywhere. This massive venue includes four full-sized baseball fields; each named a ter Hall of Fame or Pirates luminaries and equipped with bleacher and grandstand seats.
State College of Florida (SCF)
Baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, volleyball
of Florida campus in Bradenton offers a number of facilities and accommodations.
Manatee County Sports Complexes Baseball, rowing, t-ball, softball, soccer, football, basketball
The Bradenton Area offers a number of pristine, landscaped parks to host your next sporting event. With six top-notch facilities designed to accommodate large crowds and multiple events, they include seven big league fields, 19 little league fields, e t-ball fields, 13 softball fields, 23 so cer fields, e football fields, eight ou door courts and the Manatee County-owned Fort Hamer Rowing Facility.
POPULAR ACTIVITIES Just minutes from the world-class, white-sand beaches Bradenton is known for, visitors will find unbeatable opportunities to enjoy the region’s rich history. At the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, visitors can study fossils and prehistoric archeological artifacts, explore space at the Bishop Planetarium, and learn about wild manatees and witness their rehabilitation at the Parker Manatee Aquarium. Thrill-seekers can climb, zip
BRADENTON AREA SPORTS
and swing their way through TreeUmph! Adventure Course.
Elliott Falcione 941-729-9177 sports@bacvb.com bradentonareasports.com
Home of the Manatees, the State College
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World Equestrian Center, Ocala, FL OCALA’S WORLD EQUESTRIAN CENTER OFFERS STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES, UNBEATABLE LODGING AND A VARIETY OF DINING, MAKING IT THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT
Scan to discover more of what World Equestrian Center Ocala offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
World Equestrian Center
The World Equestrian Center is home to two exposition centers and fi e climate-controlled arenas with more than 700,000 square feet of fl xible indoor space. The center is an allin-one sports and recreation facility featuring full-service dining, shopping, a luxury hotel, RV park and Home Away from Home units. It includes outdoor venues and expansive fields o accommodate many events. 16
Sports Planning Guide
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Exposition Centers
Tournaments, Trade Shows, Conventions, Conferences, Events Two state-of-the-art exposition centers provide 132,300 square feet of contiguous column-f ree space, making this the perfect venue for local, regional and national events. Aside from hosting sporting events, the centers can host sports meetings, conventions and trade shows.World Equestrian Center – Ocala has fl xible indoor space along with multiple outdoor venues designed to
accommodate a variety of athletic, recreation and sporting events. The centers’ dimensions are 540’ by 245’ and have ceiling heights of 50’ (highest) to 18’ (lowest point). This multipurpose venue is located near major thoroughfares and is easily accessible to surrounding airports including Ocala, Gainesville, Orlando and Tampa.
World Equestrian Center Stadium
Shows, Tournaments, Special Events The 152,000-sqaure-foot World Equestrian Center Stadium is the jewel of the facility. It @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
Grand Outdoor Arena
Shows, Tournaments, Special Events The 128,000-square-foot Grand Outdoor Arena is the centerpiece of the facility. The Grand Outdoor Arena design accommodates international scale competitions in the grand style of the most well-respected equestrian sports complexes in the world. Its amenities include: A covered grandstand on two sides, Alfresco VIP dining, two 30’ by 60’ LED Walls, a state-of-the-art sound system and allweather footing.
Arenas 1-4
Shows, Tournaments Enjoy the comfort of climate-controlled arenas while being up close to the action. The four multipurpose, indoor arenas accommodate nearly 1,400 spectators in stadium-style seating. World Equestrian
Center – Ocala features LED lighting, three LED screens and high-speed Wifi. It mezzanine suites are perfect for meetings and hospitality. Arenas one and two feature three mezzanine suites with the largest covering 2,000 square feet. Arenas three and four feature two suites with the largest covering 3,000 square feet and the second measuring 2,000 square feet.
Arena 5
Shows, Tournaments This new arena complements Arenas 1 through 4 and features 3,400 seats, two LED walls and one four-sided LED wall, which is similar to Expo Centers 1 and 2. It also contains sand/clay footing that can be covered to host various indoor sports. There are also built-in concession stands.
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
Since the 1870s, Silver Springs State Park has been famous for its crystal-clear, five-mile Silver River and surrounding forest. Visitors can take a glass-bottom boat tour of the river, walk the park’s gardens, hike, visit the museum or eat at one of the two restaurants.
Home to a collection of over 18,000 permanent pieces, a walkable outdoor sculpture garden and a variety of interchanging exhibits, the Appleton Museum of Art is an art lover’s dream.
Ocala’s Historic Downtown Square is at the center of the historic district and within walking distance to shopping, dining, and nightlife. The Square is a gathering
WORLD EQUESTRIAN CENTER OCALA
place for concerts and community events like First Friday Art Walks.
Rodney Gutierrez, CMP
The Downtown Square is also the
352-414-7849
perfect place to meet with friends.
rodney.gutierrez@wec.net worldequestriancenter.com/ocala-fl
iStock.com/FatCamera
features all-weather footing with dedicated warmup areas and covered pavilions. Covered grandstand seating surrounds the field o provide excellent viewing opportunities for spectators. Amenities include: multiple concession stands, a 30’x60’ LED Wall, stateof-the art sound system and enclosed areas for meetings or merchandise.
World Equestrian Center
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Gainesville, FL
HOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND ELITE SPORTS VENUES WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF MUSEUMS AND STATE PARKS, THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO IN ALACHUA COUNTY
Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center
Scan to discover more of what Gainesville Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “It is our mission to continue to build leaders through teamwork, sportsmanship and citizenship, and there is no doubt in our mind that our partnership with the GSC gives us the ability to follow through with that objective. One of our biggest goals is to find quality venues for our state championship events. We believe that when our student-athletes enter the venues the GSC has to offer, including the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, they immediately think they are on the world’s biggest stage.” — Kellie Doucette, Director of Athletics, Florida High School Athletic Association
Legacy Park
Champions Park
Gainesville is accessible via a number of local roads, though Interstate 75 at its western edge connects motorists on the road from Atlanta to Tampa. If you’re flying, Gaine ville is serviced through Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), which offers flight through American Eagle, Delta and Delta Connection.
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Legacy Park
Baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, karate, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, volleyball Legacy Park is a major hub for sports tournaments, including the USA Gymnastics Men’s Florida State Championship, USA Gymnastics Men’s Southeast Regionals and the Sunshine State Basketball Championship. The 100-acre facility was awarded the Florida Sports Foundation Mid-Market Venue of the Year Award in 2019. The outdoor part of
the complex is joined with the Hal Brady Recreational Sports Complex. Teams will have access to fi e baseball and softball field equipped with lighting and six other multisport fields plus a b and new amphitheater. The Championship softball field ffers an air-conditioned press box and seating for up to 2,500 spectators. Planners can also host competitions indoors, where they will fin 40,000 square feet of space, 30,000 of which is open wooden floor spa e.
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Stephen C. O’Connell Center Multipurpose
Host sports competitions of all levels at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. This popular venue is home to University of Florida sports as well as the USA Synchronized Swimming Collegiate Championship, the USA Weightlifting National University & Under 25 Championships, and the Florida High School Athletic Association Competitive Cheerleading State Championship. This 292,000-square-foot facility houses a variety of sports arenas, including a main court that seats a maximum of 12,000 guests. Athletes will also find 20,000 square eet of open space and an eight-lane indoor pool.
Alachua County Event Center at Celebration Pointe Basketball, volleyball, pickleball, baseball, cheerleading, track
This 210,000-square-foot indoor facility will consist of an indoor banked track, 13
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basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts, 21 pickleball courts, six basketball cross courts, six MLB batting cages, competition cheer studio, PT and recover room, speed, weight and a conditioning room. Its estimated date of completion is December 2022.
Easton-Newberry Sports Complex Multipurpose, archery
The Easton-Newberry Sports Complex is comprised of 100 acres of multi-recreation use and archery-specific propert . The archery program focuses on training archers and coaches and provides a world-class venue to host archery events of all sizes and styles.
GAINESVILLE SPORTS COMMISSION Joleen Cacciatore Miller
POPULAR ACTIVITIES Explore more than 30 miles of single-track mountain bike trails through Florida hammock woodland at San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. Hang loose with more than 200 bats on the premises of the Lubee Bat Conservancy. The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention is an immersive and interactive museum named after Dr. Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade. Tubing down one of Gainesville’s freshwater springs and rivers is a popular activity that all can enjoy.
Executive Director 352-338-9300
Tour the University of Florida
jcacciatore@gainesvillesportscommission.com
and the Gateway of Champions
www.gainesvillesportscommission.com
at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
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Lake County, FL
Scan to discover more of what Visit Lake County, FL offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ORLANDO, LAKE COUNTY HAS PLENTY TO OFFER ON ITS OWN MERITS AS IT STAKES ITS CLAIM AS A PREMIER ATHLETIC DESTINATION
The National Training Center
The Big House
Mission Inn Resort & Club
Whether you are hosting a championship event or a team training session, Lake County’s natural resources and top-notch facilities welcomes a variety of sports including golf, fishing, watersports, triathlons, beach volleyball, softball and more. All located 30 minutes from Orlando, Florida.
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
complex (six fields) and a boating omplex used for fishing ournaments.
Sand volleyball, soccer, fishi g
The Big House
Hickory Point Park/Hickory Point Beach Located in Tavares, the Hickory Point Beach sand volleyball complex is Florida’s largest beach volleyball complex with 21 sand volleyball courts ready for action. Hickory Point Beach is a national training site for the USA Volleyball Beach ParaVolley program. Hickory Point Beach has hosted the AVCA Small College Beach Championships, professional events, and many more. Hickory Point Park is home to the Mike Stone Soccer
Basketball, volleyball The Big House, located in Tavares, Florida, is a state-of-the-art 162,000-square-foot recreational facility with nine basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts and more. The fl xibility of the venue allows it to host a variety of events and its proximity to accommodations lends itself to a great visitor experience.
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Mission Inn Resort & Club Golf
Spectacular vistas, sparkling water hazards and a stunning—yet challenging—course layout separate tournament play at the Mission Inn Resort & Club, which has a particular expertise when it comes to hosting golf tournaments. Just 35 minutes from Orlando, the club boasts two championship-caliber golf courses in the El Campeón and Las Colinas courses, which blend right in with the surrounding Florida landscape. Mission Inn offers you an escape to a spectacular Central Florida golf vacation, a dream wedding or a romantic couples getaway.
sports performance through great coaching. The NTC campus includes a Track & Field Complex, Aquatic Center, fi e multipuropse athletic fields and the Legends ay Ballfields softball complex. The Track & Field Complex features a 400-meter Eurotan Premier Sandwich (an impermeable synthetic surface) track and grass infield that supports multiple vents. The National Training Center is a training site for many Olympic athletes that competed in Tokyo 2020 and also hosted a Union Americana de Natacion (UANA) Swimming Qualifier prior o the Olympic games.
This state-of-the-art training center located in Clermont is nationally recognized as a USA Triathlon Certified Per ormance Center thanks to the available services in running, swimming, cycling, wellness and nutrition that maximizes
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Revolution Adventures lets guests cruise around a 230-acre property on ATVs, go land-to-sea with the Mucky Duck amphibious vehicle or try their hand at target archery or clay-shooting. The Jones Brothers Seaplane Adventures give guests a birdseye view of Orlando’s attractions, the Harris Chain of Lakes, Mount Dora and much more. Tour a working citrus and cattle
The National Training Center Swimming, soccer, softball, track and fiel
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
ranch in the World’s Largest 4x4
VISIT LAKE COUNTY, FL
Monster Truck Adventure at the Showcase of Citrus.
Steven Clenney 352-742-3919
Experience award-winning
sclenney@lakecountyfl.gov
festivals, fine dining, shopping
visitlakefl.com/sports
and more in historic downtown Mount Dora.
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Scan to discover more of what Visit St. Pete Clearwater offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL LOCATED IN FLORIDA’S SUNNY TAMPA BAY AREA, ST. PETERSBURGCLEARWATER SPOT-LIGHTS SEVERAL SPACIOUS SPORTS FACILITIES AND ENTERTAINING ATTRACTIONS FOR YOUR UPCOMING ATHLETIC EVENT
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE “Visit St. Pete Clearwater’s support and level of commitment to USA Softball year after year is beyond exceptional. Every event we have in Clearwater has been a smooth process from beginning to end. VSPC has one of the best staff to work with, and we will continue to have our events there.” -Craig Cress, USA Softball
Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort
Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex
Situated off the coast of the breathtaking Old Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg-Clearwater can be easily traversed by Interstate 75 and Interstate 275 that join to the surrounding neighborhoods. St. PeteClearwater International Airport is conveniently located just 15 minutes away.
POPULAR ACTIVITIES St. Pete Beach offers a variety of watersports, shopping, restaurants, galleries and more. It has plenty of options that please families or solo travelers. Touted as the Southeast’s largest waterfront playground, the new St. Pete Pier offers something for everyone. 22
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex Softball, baseball
Serving as Clearwater’s go-to softball facility, the expansive Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex is the city’s state and national award-winning softball complex. Across three locations you will fi d nine natural-grass fields, all of whi h are linked by the East-West Trail. Available for tour-naments are fi e 300-foot fields, wo 250-foot fields a d two 200-foot fields. T e highly-acclaimed facility includes soft toss areas with batting cages for pre-game warm-ups and practices, and two fields eature the latest technology with covered batting tunnels. The complex has hosted the prestigious St. Pete/ Clearwater Elite Invitational.
North Shore Aquatics Complex Swimming, diving, water polo, water sports
Situated on the St. Petersburg waterfront, St. Petersburg’s premier pool spotlights a
number of facilities that will enhance your swimmers’ taxing days of practices and meets. The complex features a 50-meter main pool, 25-meter warm-up pool, a play pool equipped with flu e slides and zero depth entry.
Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort Golf
This beautiful resort has hosted the nationally televised PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship and is a bucket-list golf destination. Home to four outstanding courses, including the top-rated Copperhead Course, this course is a favorite among some of the world’s fi est golf professionals.
VISIT ST. PETE CLEARWATER Craig Campbell 727-464-7254 craig@visitspc.com www.SportsSPC.com
@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
JON SCHMIEDER
SPORTS TOURISM TRENDS FOR 2022
W
e have a secret … sports saved the tourism industry’s bacon in 2020 and 2021. Yes, COVID-19 knocked us all for a loop, but one great thing came from it. Most tourism leaders across the country finally ealized the value sports brings to the collective table. We say most because, ironically, there are still some destinations that are talking about when leisure travel and the meetings industry will bounce back. The answer may be “never” but some are still holding out hope that the tourism industry will be back to normal in the near future. We think that is very unlikely. Sports tourism will continue to drive the bus for our industry in 2022 and likely the years that follow. Here are the top 10 trends we are closely following as we move into 2022.
1
Downsizing – Nearly every CVB, sports commission, or event organization we work with cut their staff in 2020 and 2021. A good number of folks figu ed out they could run with a leaner ship and are going to see if that is sustainable as things ramp back up.
2
Alignment – The pandemic forced tourism driven organizations to fight or declining resources, which means they had to be able to effectively message their mission and impact and how that aligns with the community they represent. This forced alignment should bear fruit in the future as communication lines are more open now than in years past.
3
Vulnerability – Many of the CEOs we have spoken to recently talked about the limited control they had over their funding sources. The goal is to diversify revenue streams as much as possible so your organization is not vulnerable if one fina cial channel shuts down.
4
Accountability – Given that resources are more limited
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“The New World”
today, the microscope is now on every transaction that is made. Every dollar has to have a good result and people are paying a lot more attention to how money is spent. Transparent organizations have a process for why decisions are made and document every move.
5
Choices – Today, our industry has an unprecedented number of resources available to leverage in an effort to drive our organizations forward. The key is choosing the right tools and people to engage with that will drive the highest and most efficient eturn on investment.
6
Focus – The pandemic has changed the way we all do business, including the approach on what events we look to partner on, whether you are an event owner or a destination. It’s more important today to “right size” the events you seek to host or produce to generate maximum impact. This can include how we market the event and even if we limit capacity to create scarcity in the marketplace.
7
Development Mentality – Destinations have been forced to become more proactive than reactive. We work with many CVBs and sports commissions to help build a culture of “development.” These organizations are now leading efforts to develop new venues, develop new events, develop staff and board, and to develop relationships. Build your pathway or leave it to others to potentially choose your fate for you.
8
Remote Control – Working remotely is not just a trend that industry was forced to adopt due to the pandemic. It is here to stay. If anything is the “new normal,” this is it. Given that the generations entering the workforce today largely prefer fl xibility, remote work teams were likely going to take
over the business world anyway. COVID-19 just sped up the process.
9
Silent Sports – Several outdoor sports have seen massive spikes in participation the past two years. Golf, canoe/kayak, and fishi g (among others) all offer opportunities for those destinations that seek them. These “silent sports” have become a cornerstone for business development with many CVBs across the country.
10
DMO vs. CVB – We have seen more CVBs transition to a destination marketing organization (or DMO) mission. The difference is that DMOs are responsible for branding and marketing their destination beyond tourism. DMOs have a lot of verticals to contemplate and manage. Yes, tourism is one, but just one of many things a DMO blends into a community-wide strategy to put their destinations in the best light. By transitioning to a DMO, tourism suddenly has a more important and integrated seat at the larger table in these destinations. While the past two years have been a rollercoaster, a lot of good has and will come from what we have all been through. Those that accept the challenges of the past and build from them rather than focus on them have a bright future ahead. Good luck to all in 2022.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jon Schmieder is
the Founder of the Huddle Up Group LLC, a sports industry consulting company led by award winning executives. Schmieder has 25 years of experience in leading sports tourism and events organizations through strategic growth and increased community collaboration. We can be reached at Jon@HuddleUpGroup.com or www.HuddleUpGroup.com. © Huddle Up Group, 2021
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