2022
SOUTH CAROLINA GUIDE
South Carolina’s Indoor Venues Something New and Proven Favorites
Bring Your Golf Clubs
Wherever Your Event Plays, There’s Great Golf Nearby
A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com
Welcome to
SOUTH CAROLINA South Carolina is OPEN and has the perfect fit for your professional, amateur or collegiate sporting event. South Carolina is Just Right for Champions. We’re just right for soccer games, baseball tournaments, golf championships and tennis playoffs. And let’s not forget about football, basketball and the awesome mud run challenges, cycling events and fishing tournaments. Courts, fields, fisheries and courses…we have it all! The Palmetto State has played host to national and worldwide organizations including the PGA Tour, NCAA, Women’s Tennis Association, Bassmaster, American Softball Association, USA Cycling and so many more. Whether your event is small or large, professional or amateur, the members of the South Carolina Sports Alliance (SCSA) are committed to helping you create an atmosphere where your sporting event can achieve the utmost success.
Start planning your event in South Carolina today. Our team is ready to assist you in planning a winning event that your participants won’t forget. Become a champion in South Carolina! Sincerely,
Phil Shirley President discoversouthcarolina.com/sports-alliance
Photo courtesy of Columbia SC Sports
From the deep forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the beautiful beaches of the Grand Strand, South Carolina’s diverse landscapes promise a memorable escape to the great outdoors. Our charming small towns, coastal cities and inland areas offer a unique setting for indoor and outdoor sports. With award-winning restaurants, affordable accommodations and plenty of exciting attractions to keep athletes, families and spectators entertained, we can deliver an unforgettable experience. Did we mention the unrivaled southern hospitality our visitors are certain to receive? You just might want to come back for your vacation!
March Madness at Colonial Life Arena on the campus of the University of South Carolina
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Sports Planning Guide
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SOUTH CAROLINA 6 Golfing the Great State of South Carolina 8 South Carolina Has the Venue for You 22 Sports Industry Trends for 2022
©iStock.com/bgblue
SI
10 13 14 16
Columbia Oconee County Myrtle Beach Spartanburg
Site InSpections
18 Aiken 20 Beaufort-Port Royal ON THE COVER: Action during the Myrtle Beach Invitational at HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina University Photo courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach
Greenville Convention Center has hosted top-notch events. Photo courtesy of visitgreenvillesc.com
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@SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
Tyger River Park, Duncan
GOLFING
THE GREAT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA You don’t need to be a PGA Tour professional to have memorable experiences on South Carolina’s award-winning public courses By Dave Bodle
I
f you’re a golfer, you likely enjoy watching PGA Tour professionals compete on outstanding golf courses. It’s particularly enjoyable when they’re competing in my home state of South Carolina. Stewart Cink put on a great performance to capture his third RBC Heritage Championship on Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island. From first-hand experience, I can tell you the course is tight with small greens, but a must play for most amateur golfers. Phil Mickelson wowed us at this year’s PGA Championship on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort. Ranked the
#4 Public Golf Course in the United States, prevailing winds off the Atlantic Ocean dictate play. At my age it’s not a course I’m ready to challenge, but if you get a chance, tee it up. At the Palmetto Championship at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South African Garrick Higgo captured his first PGA Tour victory. The Tom Fazio-designed course is certainly spectacular, but the club’s charitable arm Congaree Foundation is the story. Through the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, a college preparatory program for underserved high school players wanting to play college golf is delivering the promise.
Dunes Golf & Beach Club/Myrtle Beach Photo courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach
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UPCOUNTRY
On the campus of Clemson University, The Walker Course is certainly atop of my list for favorite South Carolina golf courses. Recently, Golfers Choice voted the Walker Course #1 in the “Best of 25 College Golf Courses” for 2021. The course is fit for every level of golfer evident by a recent multi-generational family outing. The beauty of the course is nothing short of spectacular with Hartwell Lake providing plenty of photo opportunities. clemson.edu/madren/golf/. Another favorite is The Preserve at Verdae in mid-town Greenville, a course committed to the environment. The course uses native grasses and plants to reduce the need for water and fertilizers. The environment has attracted local wildlife and you can expect to see wild turkeys. The course offers different looks on every hole and it’s necessary to choose your clubs wisely. I’ve only played this one a few times, but I always walk away having enjoyed the challenge. thepreserveatverdae.com.
SANTEE COOPER COUNTRY AND PEE DEE REGION
If your stay is in this area of the state, you’ll find an abundance of fun and affordable options. High on my list is The Country Club of South Carolina in Florence. Back in the day, the course was a regular stop on the Nike Tour and I can share from first-hand experience it is a challenge for anyone’s game. Off I-95, or I-26 in the Santee Region with Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie are a number of courses. Having played Santee National, I can share it has its own character with a different take on “Amen Corner” and a finishing hole you’ll remember. Check out all the area courses at santeecoopergolf.com.
MYRTLE BEACH AREA
Call me a homeboy, but there’s a lot of golf to be played on the area’s almost 100 courses. I’d probably be better at picking my top 10 than just a few favorites, but here we go. On the south end, there are a dozen great courses, but a favorite of mine is the Jack Nicklaus-designed Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club. I’ve played the course numerous times and find it stunning with its live oaks and moss drippings all within the setting of a coastal marsh. The National Golf Course Owners Association in 2009 named Grand Dunes Resort Golf Club, “National Golf Course of the Year” and it still deserves that accolade. Moving a little further north, there’s plenty of great courses, but you cannot go wrong on Tidewater Golf Club. The legendary course sits on a peninsula flanked by the Intracoastal Waterway, ocean inlet and marshes forming a challenging layout in a beautiful natural setting. Browse these and other courses at golfholiday.com.
CHARLESTON AREA
When your South Carolina visit brings you to Charleston, the best place to view courses, rates and ratings is the Charleston Golf Guide. We’ve shared a little about The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, but there’s another championship course, Turtle Point at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. A renovation led by Jack Nicklaus was competed in 2016 and exemplifies Nicklaus’ philosophy of SportsPlanningGuide.com
having a player think through his options, before selecting a club. Check the courses and book a tee time for the Charleston courses at charlestongolfguide.com/courses/ Just as the Game of Golf in America started in Charleston with Harleston Greens in 1786, The City of Charleston Golf Course is where many area golfers get their start. Affectionately referred to as “The Muni,” The City Course opened in 1929 on James Island with land donated with the stipulation it would only be used for golf. It has known a great deal of Charleston golf history. You can book a tee time online at charleston-sc.gov/644/Golf.
GREATER BEAUFORT-PORT ROYAL
Located on Saint Helena, Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort is perfect for a golfing family vacation or a group of friends that just want to get away and play some golf. Ocean Point Golf Links opened in 1964. George Cobb’s design features small greens where iron play can be the key to a good round. Since the player on 10 of the 18 holes will see the Atlantic Ocean, wind will be a factor. In true links fashion, players will be able to run their ball onto the green. Ocean Creek Gold Club, a Davis Love III design, is a Par 71 private course with Member cards, or Amenity cards required. Do make the inquiry as the course is well worth playing. Wide fairways and larger greens are very playable, but stray shots can be damaging to your score. frippislandresort.com/golf/ Just 6 miles from Beaufort is the gated community of Dataw Island and its two award winning golf courses, Tom Fazio’s Cotton Dike and Arthur Hills’ Morgan River. Cotton Dike design utilizes a series of dikes from an 18th century cotton fields. Nearly half of the holes are bordered by Jenkins Creek. Morgan River requires a strategic game and along with the courses natural beauty provides a delightful experience for both the novice and professional. Dataw Island has hosted Carolinas PGA “South Carolina Open,” the SCGA ‘Senior Amateur,” “Junior Championship” and the “Amateur Championship” and the ‘TaylorMade/Adidas Intercollegiate.” Learn more at dataw.com
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
Golf has been played on Hilton Head Island since the early 1960s. Today, there’s plenty of golf to be played. We’ve already recognized Harbour Town Golf Links at The Sea Pines Resort, but it’s here you’ll also find Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love and Heron Pointe by Pete Dye. The former won the prestigious NGCOA’s “National Course of the Year” and the latter has been recognized as “South Carolina’s Golf Course of the Year.” At the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, you cannot go wrong with the George Fazio Course, or Robert Trent Jones Course. If I have to make a choice, I’ll choose Arthur Hills. The architect has utilized much of the existing typography to develop a course that favors shot making over distance. Since I no longer have the latter, it fits my game. There are plenty of additional public courses to get a tee time. Check out the courses at hiltonheadisland.org/golf/golf-courses. When visiting South Carolina for sports competition, plan to stay a few days and enjoy some golf. Sports Planning Guide
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Basketball action at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center
WHEN THE GAMES MOVE INSIDE,
Photo courtesy of of the City of Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department
SOUTH CAROLINA HAS THE VENUE FOR YOU South Carolina has a well-deserved reputation for its outstanding facilities that cater to virtually every indoor competition By Dave Bodle
T
he North Charleston Aquatic Center made a big splash in swimming competitions when it opened in July 2020. The 53,000-square-foot center had a construction cost of $23.5 million and the results are outstanding. There is a 10-lane, 50-meter competition pool and an eight-lane, 25-meter therapy pool for the athletes. The timing system is state-of-the-art, while the 10-foot-by-20-foot full-color scoreboard delivers results to the audience. Locker rooms are complete with showers. Spectator bleacher seating is approximately 1,000 with athlete bleacher seating at about 300.
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The North Charleston Aquatic Center was built for swimming competition. No time was wasted as in October 2020 it began hosting several meets. In the beginning, the center hosted mostly state meets, including public and private school championships. An invitational meet attracted 600 swimmers and one swimmer made the Olympic Trials cut in the 100 Freestyle. Bids are in place now for regionals and masters events and more. Rock Hill Sports and Event Center opened December 2019 and is owned, operated, maintained and programmed by the City of Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department.
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Built in 2004, the downtown convention center is a modern and architecturally significant complex. From magnificent receptions and cultural galas to corporate functions and international trade shows, the center is adaptable to the needs of most any event planner. The center is a 142,500-square-foot facility that includes a 16,700-square-foot ballroom, 18,560 square feet of meeting space that can be broken into as many as 19 different spaces, and a 23,700-square-foot column
Photo courtesy of of South Carolina Swim Club
Already they’ve been no stranger to hosting big time events such as USA Volleyball Regional Championships, National Travel Basketball Winter National Championships, Big Shots National Basketball Championships and more. The 170,000-square-foot facility is part of a mixed-use site connecting Winthrop University to Old Town Rock Hill, restaurants, outdoor venues, office space, apartments and more. The venue features a Championship Court of 12,500 square feet for basketball and volleyball with 1,200 stadium seats. The Championship Court can serve as one court or two side courts. The Main Court features either eight basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts on 72,000 square feet with 700 courtside permanent seats. The recently renamed John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center is a 100,000-square-foot indoor sports facility that helped continue the growth in sports tourism in Myrtle Beach. The facility, celebrating its sixth anniversary in 2021, is centrally located in the City of Myrtle Beach adjacent to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. It is also near the Broadway at the Beach entertainment district, 2,500 hotel rooms and is several blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. The complex includes eight basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts, a café and retail area, several breakout meeting rooms and large multiscreen video wall. The center has 2,000 bleacher seats that can be utilized and configured for numerous indoor sports. Annual events at the center include the Grand Strand Junior Winter Bump, NTBA Boys and Girls Nationals, Big Shots Myrtle Beach Championships, Coastal Classic Gymnastics and numerous other volleyball, basketball, cheer, dance and gymnastics competitions. Showing its versatility, the center has also hosted the ACL College Cornhole Championships, the NASP National Archery Open Championships, USA Handball Club Championships and the Myrtle Beach International Combine. The Myrtle Beach Convention Center offers 100,000 square feet of column-free exhibit hall space. The convention center is home to cheer, dance, volleyball, wrestling events and the annual Beach Ball Classic high school basketball event. The 41st Annual Beach Ball Classic (BBC) and the 23rd United Bank Holiday Invitational (UBHI) will be held in December 2021. The Colonial Life Arena in Columbia is the largest arena in the state of South Carolina with 18,000 seats, and the 10th largest on-campus basketball facility in the nation. Located on the beautiful University of South Carolina campus, this one-of-a-kind facility features 41 suites, four Entertainment Suites, and the Frank McGuire Club, a full-service hospitality room that will have a capacity of 300. The state-of-theart venue also features plush seating, a technologically advanced sound system, a four-sided video scoreboard, and a one-of-a-kind selection of unique foods at 10 concession stands are sure to delight fans of all ages. Centrally located in South Carolina’s historic capital city, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center is in the middle of a vibrant urban scene with dynamite eats, world-class attractions, breweries and a neverending roster of festivals and live music. Not to mention the affordable accommodations, exciting sporting venues, manageable traffic, and warmer weather year-round. And with three interstates that intersect the city and a regional airport, getting here is straightforward.
IMX swim meet at North Charleston’s new Aquatic Center less exhibit hall. The center hosts most indoor sports events including cheer and dance, cornhole, flat-track roller derby, bodybuilding, grappling, weightlifting and others. Located in the heart of downtown Greenville, the 285,000 square feet Bon Secours Wellness Arena is an ultramodern, 15,000-seat sports arena. Recognized as one of the top 50 venues in the world, the $63 million facility is one of the region’s top destinations, offering the ultimate atmosphere for sporting events. The facility is column-free with 25,877 square feet as the largest adjoining space. Team meeting rooms are on-site. In addition to being the home ice for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team (an affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and Charlotte Checkers), the Bon Secours Wellness Arena has also hosted mat sports events like martial arts, wrestling, boxing, plus hockey, cheerleading and dance groups. Notable recent and upcoming events include the 2021 USA Taekwondo Regional Tournament, 2021 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, 2021 AAU Karate National Championships, 2022 Bassmaster Classic, and a 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Preliminary Round. Just minutes from downtown, the Greenville Convention Center (GCC) is one of the Southeast’s largest and more accommodating facilities. GCC offers 280,000 square feet of flexible event space, providing the perfect backdrop for tradeshows, conventions, conferences and special events. The largest connecting space is 25,877 square feet with team meeting rooms on site. Notable recent and upcoming events include, 2022 Bassmaster Classic and 2021 NC AAU and SC AAU Gymnastics Championships. Take a look at all South Carolina facilities, indoor and outdoor on the following pages of the South Carolina Sports Guide. Learn more about the South Carolina Sports Alliance at discoversouthcarolina.com/sports-alliance.
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Columbia, SC
Scan to discover more of what Experience Columbia SC Sports offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
A STORIED COLLEGE SPORTS TOWN, COLUMBIA IS HOME TO ENJOYABLE ATTRACTIONS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES
Williams-Brice Stadium
Columbia Metropolitan Airport is located about seven miles south of the city and offers over 36 non-stop flights to 9 major airports in 11 cities each day. By car, Columbia is surrounded by major thoroughfares in I-77 to the north and south, I-26 to the west and I-20 to the east.
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Williams-Brice Stadium Football
Opened in 1934 and renovated most recently in 2020, Williams-Brice Stadium is the home of the University of South Carolina football team. The storied stadium, nicknamed “The Cock Pit,” holds more than 77,500 people and has hosted some of the most thrilling (and loudest) games in college football history. Williams-Brice may be a football fan’s dream venue, of course, but it is also popular with concert-goers. Past performers have included Metallica, Guns N’
Roses, U2, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and, most recently, Beyonce and Jay-Z. Want even more variety? The stadium hosted Pope John Paul II during a 1987 Papal visit to Columbia.
Colonial Life Arena Basketball
One of South Carolina’s most impressive multi-use arenas, Colonial Life is an 18,000seat venue that plays host to both sports and music events. It is best known as the home court of the South Carolina Gamecocks’ men’s and women’s basketball teams, both of which @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
have been highly successful in recent NCAA tournaments. It hosted first- and second-round NCAA men’s basketball tournament games in March of 2019. Beyond basketball, Colonial Life Arena has held concerts by the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen. Overall, this is a top-notch, multi-surface facility that regularly hosts some of the most exciting events the state has to offer.
Segra Park Baseball
Segra Park is the home of the Columbia Fireflies, the city’s Minor League Baseball team. The stadium, with the capacity to seat more than 9,000, opened in 2016 for the Fireflies’ first game in April of that year. Baseball fans can catch exciting minor league games here, though Segra Park is much more than just a ballpark. It is also a great choice for weddings and business meetings. Inside the stadium, the Club Lounge has space for 500 guests, while the Broad River Balcony looks out onto the field and can hold as many as 120 people. There are also batting cages that accommodate 20 guests per hour and a large conference room located just off the concourse.
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
Cobblestone Park Golf
Cobblestone Park is a wonderful 27 hole golf course. Voted one of the best golf courses in the Midlands, Cobblestone Park features the best design in Columbia. Panoramic views, rolling hills, beautiful oaks and pines take it over the top. As longtime area golfers know, this is the best golf experience in Columbia. Cobblestone Park features a 28,000 square foot clubhouse. The well-appointed masterpiece also offers an on-site restaurant, Alexander’s. Open for lunch and dinner, stop in for a post round beverage, casual lunch or family dinner overlooking the spectacular 18th hole.
▶ Learn about more than 4,200 species of native and exotic plants and check out the 2,000plus animals at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.
▶ The South Carolina State
Museum features a digital dome planetarium, 4D interactive theater and four floo s of fascinating exhibits.
▶ Explore the internationally
renowned gallery at the Columbia Museum of Art.
▶ Originally built in 1855, the
South Carolina State House is a great place to learn about the
EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA SC SPORTS Scott Powers, Executive Director
state’s past.
▶ Hop on a boat to traverse the
803-545-0009
650 miles of shoreline over at
spowers@experiencecolumbiasc.com
Lake Murray.
www.ColumbiaSCsports.com
Colonial Life Arena
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“Experience Columbia SC and Experience Columbia SC Sports were phenomenal partners with us throughout the conception, bid process and ultimately the execution of the Battle at BullStreet. We look forward to continuing our partnership for the Battle at BullStreet 2.0 scheduled for March, 2022.” — John Katz, President, Columbia Fireflie
Segra Park
Cobblestone Park SportsPlanningGuide.com
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#RealColumbiaSC
Oconee County, SC
Scan to discover more of what Visit Oconee offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CALLS THIS COUNTY A DESTINATION OF A LIFETIME. COME SEE WHY
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“Lake Hartwell and Keowee are world-class fis eries, and the team at Visit Oconee SC is incredible to work with. Oconee County is always a favorite stop of our anglers and staff. We know the fishi g will be great and the hospitality will be even better.” -Daniel Fennel, Senior Director of Tournament Operations for Major League Fishing
Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park
Outdoor recreation is Oconee County’s calling card. The county is blessed with pristine protected forests (more than 90,000 acres), beautiful lakes surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and waterfalls that you can boat up to or swim under. The county is a perfect place for water sports and has trails to 29 waterfalls.
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶ Known to local cyclists, Oconee
County is a hidden jewel for road
and mountain biking. There are numerous secondary roads with great mountain and lake scenic
Lake Keowee
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
phases completed with 14 miles of trails. Past rides include Road Titans 300, Issaqueena’s Last Ride, Rally in the Valley and Race to Valhalla.
Fishing
Disc Golf Courses
Various lakes including Lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee
With over 90,000 acres of lakes and over 100 miles of rivers and streams, you can hook up with world class stripers, hybrids, bass, trout, catfish, crappie and pan fish year-round. Lake Hartwell and Lake Keowee are both prime bass tournament venues and have hosted the biggest names in the business. Lake Hartwell hosts a large number of local, regional and national fishing tournaments annually. The lake is also a popular destination for crappie and striped bass tournaments. Sitting just north of Lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee is also a proven tournament favorite for spotted and small mouth bass and plays host to tournament anglers on a regular basis.
Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park
views with little traffi . One can
Cycling
enjoy rides with rolling country
Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park is a stateof-art public mountain biking facility located in Walhalla, SC. It has two of three construction
roads into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. SportsPlanningGuide.com
Disc Golf
Oconee County is home to four tournament quality disc golf venues and provides some of the most beautiful holes in the United States. The Courses in Seneca, Walhalla, Westminster and Clemson hosts local, regional and state tournaments and provide a challenging layout to all levels of players. Past tournaments include Golden Corner Classic, South Carolina Doubles championships, the Seneca Open and the South Carolina Junior Championships.
VISIT OCONEE Charlotte Waters (800) 910-4371 charlotte@visitoconeesc.com www.VisitOconeeSC.com
Sports Planning Guide
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Myrtle Beach, SC
Scan to discover more of what Myrtle Beach Regional Sports Alliance offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
CROWNED AS ONE OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S TOP DESTINATIONS, MYRTLE BEACH WILL BRING YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND MORE WHEN IT COMES TO ORGANIZING AN INDOOR OR OUTDOOR TOURNAMENT
John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center
Visitors can drive to Myrtle Beach along either Highways 51, 73 or 501. The city can be easily accessed from Jacksonville, Atlanta, Savannah, Virginia Beach and Charlotte, which are all situated less than eight hours away from Myrtle Beach. Visitors from farther cities can fly into Myrtle Beach International Airport, which is seven minutes from central Myrtle Beach.
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Sports Planning Guide
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center
Basketball, volleyball, pickleball, archery, cheer, gymnastics, wrestling Indoor sports thrive at the Myrtle Beach Sports Center, a 100,000-square-foot indoor sports facility that helped expand sports tourism. The $12.4 million facility includes eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, a café and retail area and a large multiscreen video wall. The center has 2,000 bleacher seats that can be reconfigured for various sports.
Myrtle Beach Convention Center
Basketball, volleyball, pickleball, archery, cheer, gymnastics, wrestling Covering 250,000-square-feet, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center provides easily convertible space for sports and trade shows. Located in the Myrtle Beach Convention and Entertainment District, the center houses a 30,000-square-foot outdoor dance and cheer complex. If you’re not looking to host a tournament, then utilize the venue for trade shows and national meetings. The venue is within walking distance of Broadway at the @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
Beach, one of the area’s premier shopping and entertainment destinations.
North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex
Baseball, softball, soccer, flag ootball, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse This 163-acre park includes two first class sports complexes. The baseball/softball complex consists of 6 total fields with dirt infields and natural grass outfields. The soccer/lacrosse complex consists of 8 natural grass fields (4 with lights). Both areas include concession stands, restrooms and play structures. The NMB Sports Complex is set to expand and will add additional rectangle fields, 6 more diamonds and a new family entertainment center.
Ned Donkle Complex
Baseball, softball Featuring seven fields with natural grass playing surfaces, the Ned Donkle Complex is widely considered one of the best youth baseball and softball complexes in the country. The facility has two adult and five youth fields, as well as batting cages, restrooms, concessions and press boxes. The Complex is located very close to Pepper Geddings Recreation Center and Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.
TicketReturn.com Field
Baseball, concerts, events TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark is home to the area’s minor league baseball team, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Holding up to 6,599 fans in its stands, or up to 10,000 with playing field seating, the stadium offers a unique, memorable space that is perfect for any crowd. Numerous facility options, a full-service catering team, easy on-site parking and more make TicketReturn.com Field a great venue for a wide variety of events.
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶ Ride the waves at Myrtle Waves
Waterpark, offering more than 30 water slides.
▶ In the heart of Myrtle Beach,
the Funplex has seven thrilling amusement park rides that are suitable for all ages as well as a bar and restaurant.
▶ Pet stingrays, see a mermaid show and learn about marine life
Grand Park Athletic Complex
at Ripley’s Aquarium.
Baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball Located at the beautiful Market Common, this facility includes nine lighted multipurpose Field Turf fields and two natural youth fields, six-lane batting tunnel and complimentary live streaming for those who can’t make the trip.
▶ Find a souvenir at Tanger Outlet malls and specialty shopping at Broadway at the Beach.
▶ Fly through the air at The
Funplex on their seven thrilling
MYRTLE BEACH SPORTS COMMISSION
amusement park rides.
Jonathan Paris, Executive Director 843-916-7264 jonathan.paris@visitmyrtlebeach.com www.myrtlebeachsports.com
Grand Park Athletic Complex
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“Myrtle Beach is such an easy sell to my travel teams that play in our events. The city sells itself! With miles of sandy beaches, tons of attractions and plenty of hotels for every budget, teams simply love coming to play in our tournaments. Parents use our events as a vacation while getting a chance to watch their child play in a national championship.” — John Whitley National Travel Basketball Association
Myrtle Beach Convention Center
SportsPlanningGuide.com
TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark
Sports Planning Guide
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Spartanburg, SC
Scan to discover more of what Spartanburg CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
SOFTBALL AND TRACK AND FIELD FACILITIES HIGHLIGHT A SOUTH CAROLINA CITY THAT HOSTS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tyger River Park
Spartanburg County, at the crossroads of Interstates 85 and 26, is less than a sixhour drive from major cities like Atlanta, Birmingham, Lexington, Jacksonville and Richmond. Major airlines serve the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), and from there it’s just a 2030 minute drive east on I-85 to downtown Spartanburg.
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Sports Planning Guide
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Jerry Richardson Indoor Arena Basketball, volleyball
Opened in 2017, the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium is a 123,000-square-foot facility that includes a 3,400-seat basketball arena and a 500-seat volleyball competition venue. This facility replaced Benjamin Johnson Arena and serves as the home for women’s basketball, men’s basketball and volleyball at Wofford College. The facility has a seating capacity for non-athletics functions, such as commencement and concerts, of 4,500.
Upward Sports Star Center
Soccer, basketball, volleyball Upward Sports recently opened the Upward Star Center, a 120,000-square-foot indoor facility equipped with two regulation-size artificial soccer fields and up to four grass multipurpose fields as well as six basketball courts, 12 full-sized volleyball courts, four lighted sand volleyball courts. This union facility features seven meeting rooms and can host an event of roughly 3,000 people indoors and 8,000 people outdoors. This massive facility is conveniently located 10 minutes from over 3,000 hotel rooms. @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
▶ Explore the Spartanburg
Tyger River Park
Spartanburg Viking Track
Tyger River Park, one of the South’s premier baseball and softball tournament complexes, features 12 youth baseball/ softball fields arranged in convenient fourfield clusters, a championship stadium seating 600 people and with unmatched site amenities, clubhouse, concession areas, umpire changing rooms, lounge, VIP Suite, wireless internet, covered seating, two playgrounds and flat-screen TVs at each pod. Located 15 miles from downtown, Tyger River Park has hosted the 2015 USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series, 2015 ASA/USA Girl’s 18 U Class A National World Series and 2015 NSA Girls Fast-Pitch Class B World Series, among other events. All fields are dirt and irrigated. Eight fields have permanent fences at 275 feet, two fields have permanent fences at 220 feet and two fields have permanent fences at 260 feet. The stadium field has a permanent 300-foot fence. Ample parking and restroom facilities are available.
The Viking Track features world-class MondoTrack FTX surface, the same track surface that was used in the Beijing Olympic Games and the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia. This premium, custom-made track has increased the optimal traction and contact area due to the irregular size and shape of the tessellation pattern and has been designed to provide the best traction between track and spikes and for a greater contact area than other track systems. This improves the athletes’ grip and performance. The track facility contains eight world-class lanes, Lynx MVP fully automatic timing system, two jump pits, pole vault and high jump areas.
Softball, baseball
Track and fiel
Science Center where you’ll learn about everything from robotics to ecology and unleash your inner architect at the LEGO™ Building Zone.
▶ Pick your own in-season fruits, navigate through a corn maze, go on a wagon ride and enjoy other fun seasonal activities at Strawberry Hill USA.
▶ Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy an afternoon of boating, fishi g or hiking at Croft State Park.
▶ Visit the BMW Zentrum
and Performance Driving
SPARTANBURG CVB
Experience, the only BMW
Kristyn Hawkins
factory on the continent. With
Director of Sports Tourism Development
its interactive museum exhibits,
864-594-5000
this attraction will hold the
khawkins@onespartanburginc.com
attention of everyone.
www.visitspartanburg.com/sports
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“Spartanburg has built an exceptional facility that provides fans and teams with everything that they could dream of and more. This is truly one of the premier complexes in the United States.” — Chris Sebren, Director of Championships, USASoftball Upward Sports Star Center
USA Softball National Team
SportsPlanningGuide.com
Spartanburg Viking Track
Sports Planning Guide
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Aiken, SC
Scan to discover more of what City of Aiken PRT offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
THE SPORTING SOUTH WHERE YOU CAN BRING GROUPS FOR A SAFE, FUN EXPERIENCE.
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
We love coming to Aiken, and the reason we do is they are always so on top of everything; they anticipate our needs. Aiken is a nice, quaint town that people love going to and experiencing. At a tournament a couple years back it rained the final d y, but that didn’t stop the City of Aiken staff from helping out. They actually came out and dried the courts for us and we were back playing within 30 minutes!
Citizens Park
— Mary Goins, USTA Director of Leagues
Weeks Tennis Center
Aiken Horse Park
Aiken is located just northeast of Augusta, Georgia. Aiken is accessible via U.S. Route 78, which runs directly through town and has access to Interstate 20 to the north via U.S. Route 1. Augusta Regional Airport is around 24 miles to the west and offers daily flights through Delta, while Columbia Regional Airport is 50 miles east.
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT Citizens Park
Softball, soccer, multipurpose outdoor Aiken’s premier athletic facility features 15 lighted baseball/softball fields and eight AstroTurf batting cages, that are able to host a wide variety of leagues and tournaments throughout the year. The park is a familiar host for USSSA baseball and softball tournaments and also housed the Dixie Boys and Junior Boys World Series in August 2019. A championship soccer field, Banks Mill
soccer field, 14 score towers, concession stands, a playground for kids aged 2-12, sprayground, covered eating areas and more round out this spectacular 123.3-acre complex.
H.O. Weeks Center
Multipurpose indoor, racquetball, basketball, pickleball Located at Virginia Acres Park, the H.O. Weeks Activities Center (HOW) is a versatile, multifaceted indoor facility with two gyms available for rental, including one with a stage. The center additionally features four @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG
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meeting rooms and a multipurpose aerobics room, as well as a fitness room, indoor racquetball court, kitchen, restrooms, locker rooms and a canteen. The venue is the annual home of the Palmetto Indoor Pickleball Invitational in September.
224 permanent stalls, space for additional temporary stabling, five all-weather rings and two schooling areas, all featuring GGT footing.
Weeks Tennis Center
Home to the University of South Carolina Aiken Pacers volleyball and basketball teams, this multipurpose indoor arena can seat between 3,500 to 4,100 spectators. The arena features a first-class VIP room with a capacity for 200 patrons and also features multiple electronic scoreboards with backlighting advertisement opportunities, rentable meeting space for any function and two practice courts.
Tennis
This state-of-the-art tennis center features 13 hard courts and 10 clay courts, as well as a gorgeous clubhouse complete with a wraparound porch with Adirondack chairs, dining tables and ceiling fans. Located at Virginia Acres Park, the center also features access to 12 indoor/outdoor pickleball courts, a tennis pro shop with racket stringing available, and is the home to many USTA tournaments.
Aiken Horse Park
Equestrian Located in the heart of Aiken’s historic district, Bruce’s Field at the Aiken Horse Park provides premier facilities and a rich heritage for both horses and riders. The park has
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USC Aiken Convocation Center
Basketball, volleyball, multipurpose indoor
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶ Discover the secrets of the fi st designed steam-powered commercial railroad at the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum.
▶ Explore the Aiken Arboretum Trail, where visitors can dial a
number on their mobile devices to label and identify each tree they’re viewing.
▶ Celebrate the history of some of the world’s best racehorses with a trip to the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.
CITY OF AIKEN PRT Seth Holley
▶ Shop ‘til you drop with eclectic offerings like women’s clothier
Athletic Manager
Fox and Lady, jewelry store
803-293-7832
Beyond Bijoux, equestrian wear
dholley@cityofaikensc.gov
at Equine Divine.
www.VisitAikenSC.com
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Beaufort, SC
Scan to discover more of what Greater Beaufort Area Sports Council offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
HISTORIC LANDMARKS & HOMES, NATURAL FOLIAGE, MAGNIFICENT GOLF COURSES AND OUR COASTAL CHARM WELCOMES YOU TO SCENIC BEAUFORT ON PORT ROYAL ISLAND
Burton Wells Park
Dataw Island Club
Fripp Island Resort
If you’re driving through the Lowcountry, Beaufort is most accessible via U.S. Route 21, an offshoot running south from Interstate 95. If traveling by air, Hilton Head Airport (HHH) is 38 miles away, while Savannah/ Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is 48 miles away.
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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Burton Wells Park and Recreation Center
baseball and softball tournaments as well as soccer and lacrosse.
Baseball, basketball, fishi g, softball, tennis, soccer, lacrosse
Fripp Island Resort
The Burton Wells Park encompasses a 300-acre recreational complex that features three baseball and softball complexes, a community recreation center with basketball, racquetball and tennis courts. Passive use facilities, picnic areas, walking and nature trails, lakes and an interpretive botanical garden. The park routinely hosts
Fripp Island is home to a pair of glorious golf destinations in the Ocean Point and Ocean Creek courses, both at Fripp Island Resort. Set against the lively backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean on 10 of its 18 holes, Ocean Point offers sweeping vistas designed by George Cobb. Located on the south end of the island, the Ocean Creek course provides
Golf
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panoramic views of the Great Salt Marsh and freshwater lakes, while rolling dunes make for challenging play.
Dataw Island Club
Golf, tennis, croquet Dataw Island epitomizes Lowcountry golf, where two 18-hole courses take full advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings. Traverse grounds covered in live oaks that date back hundreds of years as well as Civil War-era ruins. The Cotton Dike course was renovated in 2011 and features emerald fields and fairways with a winding creek. The Morgan River course underwent a renovation of its own the following year and challenges novices and professionals with a strategically demanding layout.
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶ Take a guided tour through
▶ Reconstruction Era
▶ At Hunting Island State
historic downtown and the
National Historical Park
Point by foot, horse-drawn
offers guided tours as park
for a panoramic view. Enjoy
carriage or van with one of
rangers educate guests on
a beachfront stroll, spot
the local tour services.
Civil War stories and period-
loggerhead turtles, deer,
specific
alligators and a variety of
edicine.
Park, climb the lighthouse
birds and more while visiting.
The Legends at Parris Island Golf
A premier golf course in the Lowcountry and one of the top military courses in the world, the Legends at Parris Island has a unique history that can’t be missed. Each hole is named after a legendary United States Marine who either trained or stationed on Parris Island, including National Baseball Hall of Fame member Roberto Clemente.
Beaufort’s Waterfront Park
Fishing, dragon boat races, swimming, kayak, paddleboard This beautiful park is the crown jewel of Beaufort. The park is set against the backdrop of the Beaufort River and the Woods Memorial Bridge and is flanked by restaurants and shops in historic downtown. The host site of Beaufort heritage festivals, special events, and community events, this iconic park has something special to offer everyone.
BEAUFORT AREA SPORTS COUNCIL Wes Kitashima Director (404) 276-8759 sports@beaufortsc.org beaufortsports.com SportsPlanningGuide.com
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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. For our seventh edition of the SPG trends article, we did a little something different this year. We reached out to our entire Huddle Up Group team as well as a couple of key industry gatekeepers to compile this year’s list. Without further ado, we offer you 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. Most reduced their working teams by 40-60% during the peak of the pandemic. Some have slowly started hiring people back, however many have not. 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 – In times of crisis, communication becomes more important. This was certainly true of the sports tourism industry over the past 20 months. The pandemic forced tourism driven organizations to figh for declining resources, which means they had to be able to effectively message their mission and impact and how that aligns with the community
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“The New World”
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. Most of the resources spent in our industry are discretionary. If nobody travels and bed taxes are not collected, tourism agencies suffer fina cially. If parents get furloughed, there is no money to spend on travel sports, including annual membership dues to NGBs. If events are cancelled, there are no registration fees collected and event owners lose a primary revenue source. It’s a vicious circle that leaves organizations at fina cial risk. The goal is to diversify revenue streams as much as possible so your organization is not vulnerable if one fina cial channel shuts down.
“The key is choosing the right tools to engage with and work through that will drive the highest and most efficient retur on investment.”
4
Accountability – Resources are more limited today than in prior years. Given that we have to try to do more with less, the microscope is now on every transaction that is made. Every dollar has to have a good result and those that are tasked with governing our organizations 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. There are more conferences, events owners, digital tools, certifications, a d (of course) consultants that sports organizations can use in an effort to grow their impact. The key is choosing the right tools to engage with and work through that will drive the highest and most efficient eturn on investment. Going back to the previous item on accountability, industry leaders have to be sure and measure the results of every investment to preserve the integrity of their organizations.
6
Focus – We can all agree the pandemic has changed the way we all do business. This would include adjusting 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, when it takes place on the calendar, and even if we limit capacity to create scarcity in the marketplace.
7
Development Mentality – Destinations have been forced to become more of a creator than a responder. We work with many CVBs and sports commissions to help build a culture of “development.” These
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organizations are now leading efforts to develop physical products (new venues), develop new events, develop human capital (staff and board), and to develop relationships (with local sporting clubs and regional/national event owners). Today, tourism leaders are proving to be more proactive than reactive. They are seeking to create vehicles to push their sports tourism agenda forward. Develop your pathway or leave it to others to potentially choose your fate for you.
8
Remote Control – This one is a carryover from last year’s list. 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. Some organizations we work with have decided to keep the remote work team in place, and a few in the extreme have decided to not renew their offi e leases.
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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.
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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 bigger vision for their destinations. Numerous tourism bureaus are moving towards a destination marketing organization (or DMO) mission. The difference between the two is subtle but its important. DMOs are responsible for branding and marketing their destination beyond working to attract visitors as a primary mission. 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. We believe this trend is a good one in that DMOs typically have a broader stakeholder audience than CVBs might have, as the DMO works on promotional elements that would appeal to markets beyond tourism. These additional audiences could include the area’s business climate, economic development, politics, arts and culture, and the like. 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
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com/Virrage Images
“Today, tourism leaders are proving to be more proactive than reactive. They are seeking to create vehicles to push their sports tourism agenda forward.”
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. Yours in Sport, Jon.
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. The Huddle Up Group has worked with more than 250 sports organizations and destinations on over 150 strategic projects. In 2017 the Huddle Up Group was given the Superior Service Award, the highest honor a consulting fi m can earn from the National Association of Sports Commissions. We can be reached at Jon@HuddleUpGroup.com or 602.369.6955. To receive the weekly “Monday Huddle Up” visit www.HuddleUpGroup.com or sign up at www.tinyletter.com/JonSchmieder. © Huddle Up Group, 2021
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