41 minute read
NORTH CAROLINA
NC
SportsNC and its winning team of partners invite you to choose North Carolina for your future sporting event. Anchored by Visit North Carolina, North Carolina Amateur Sports, and the North Carolina Sports Association, SportsNC channels the expertise of local sports commissions and authorities, chambers of commerce, and convention and visitors bureaus into helping you create tailored experiences and ensuring that every tournament, game and trip is a success.
With world-class indoor and outdoor venues, top professional and collegiate teams, and exciting vacation destinations, North Carolina builds the action from your arrival to beyond the final whistle. As your dedicated partner, we will work with you to create unforgettable events and experiences that drive attendance, interest and success for athletes, families and fans.
From amateur events to international championships, North Carolina can provide the perfect location for any sports activity. Situated in the center of the Eastern seaboard, North Carolina is an easy drive for the nearly 39 million potential event participants who live within 300 miles of our mountains, Atlantic coastline and Piedmont landscapes. With international and regional airports, extensive rail service and well-maintained highways, travel to, from and around North Carolina is fast and convenient.
For more information on the wide variety of sports-friendly communities and award-winning venues in North Carolina, please contact info@sportsnc.com.
We look forward to seeing you here soon.
Yours in Sports,
The SportsNC Team https://www.sportsnc.com
2018 Deep South Classic
Photo courtesy of Keenan Hairston
ON THE COVER: Charlotte FC vs. Chelsea F.C. at Bank of America Stadium
Photo courtesy of VisitNC.com
NCAA Division II Baseball
Photo courtesy of Alyson Boyer Rode/Greater Raleigh Sports Authority
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Major Facility Development is Happening Throughout North Carolina
SITE INSPECTIONS
132 Wilmingon
134 Hickory
136 Haywood County
138 Winston-Salem
140 Greensboro
142 Greenville
144 Mooresville
145 Cabarrus
County
146 Alamance County
148 Nash-Rocky Mount
NORTH CAROLINA
March Madness comes to Raleigh’s PNC Arena.
10 Reasons
By Dave Bodle
ne of the true beauties of the Tar Heel State is the diverse tourism offerings of each community. No matter O where your games are played, there’s plenty to do for athletes and families outside the lines.
1. CABARRUS COUNTY
If you’re a race fan, you’ve found your dream destination. Experience an event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMax Dragway and The Dirt Track, or visit a top NACAR Race Shop, including Hendrick Motorsports and RFK Racing. Visit Kannapolis and take the selfguided tour of racing legend Dale Earnhardt. There’s still plenty to do after you’ve had your fill of horsepower. Check out the site of America’s first discovery of gold, the Reed Gold Mine.
2. HICKORY METRO
Whether you have a few days or just a few hours, there is plenty to see and do. You might want to begin with a visit to the Hickory Furniture Mart featuring more than 1,000 manufacturers. There’s history to be found in historic homes like Harper House/Lyerly House and Fort Defiance. Catch a Crawdads baseball game, or an evening at Hickory Motor Speedway. Checkout a real covered bridge and a water-powered mill. There are a dozen parks and trails and countless activities along the Catawba River Greenway.
3. NASH CO./ROCKY MOUNT
Nash County has made it easy to plan with their “Family Day Out.” Actually, it’s two days and they even put you in touch with THE breakfast, a gourmet burger spot, a massive mason jar milkshake and an artisan, wood-fired pizza restaurant. You’ll need the energy at Game Day Adventure and Arcade. At Sunset Park you can rattle the disc golf chains, ride the carousel and miniature train, or cool off in the spray ground. Check in at the River and Twine-Tiny House Hotel. Tar River Life Kayaking shuttles you upriver for a two-three-hour journey.
4. GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY
Home to East Carolina University, Greenville is a vibrant city rich in the arts, live music, culinary and outdoors. There’s plenty to do with the kids between competitions from an indoor trampoline park and laser dome to escape rooms, movie theaters, miniature golf and a splash pad. Uptown Greenville is home to the NC Museum of Natural Science at Greenville with plenty of interactive exhibits. The Walter L. Stasavich Science & Nature Center is located at 320-acre River Park.
5. ALAMANCE COUNTY
There’s a wide variety of fun waiting for athletes and families in Alamance County’s small towns and villages. This is North Carolina so you can anticipate racin’ and Ace Speedway doesn’t disappoint. History buffs will enjoy the Alamance Battleground State Historic Site, along with the Alamance County Historical Museum and Alamance County Civil War Trail. Delve into the county’s African-American history at the African-American Cultural Arts & History Center. There are plenty of outdoor activities at Cedarock Park and Guilford Mackintosh Park & Marina.
6. MOORESVILLE
“Race City USA” is home to numerous race teams, activities and auto museums. Memory Lane Museum and the GoPro Motorplex are favorites. More than a dozen racing attractions, many featuring racing’s household names, have their racing shops in Mooresville.
Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington
7. VISIT NC SMOKIES
Explore 46 scenic miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway and just as many photo opportunities. Then there’s Great Smoky National Park with more to do than can be accomplished in one visit. Experience elk watching in the Cataloochee Valley. There ae plenty of outdoor options to peak your interest in the NC Smokies. Hiking, waterfalls, horseback riding, rafting and did we mention bringing your fishing rod and casting a line in the Mountain Heritage Trout Waters? There’s still more to experience in the charming towns of Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Canton and Clyde.
8. WINSTON-SALEM
Although deeply rooted in history, Winston-Salem provides a wonderful blend of art, outdoors, science and the strange. Old Salem Museum & Gardens is a historic district of Winston-Salem. Settled as a Moravian community in 1766, today this living history museum interprets that community. Make sure you sample the cookies and take some home. Reynolda House Museum of American Art features colonial to contemporary exhibits. Tanglewood Park has something for families every season of the year, but the Tanglewood Festival of Lights during the holidays are well worth a return visit.
9. GREENSBORO
With world-class attractions and plenty of kid-friendly activities, Greensboro has a mix of things to do that appeal to all ages. Greensboro Science Center is a oneof-a-kind facility and the only one in North Carolina that features an accredited aquarium, museum and zoo in one destination. Downtown Greensboro in a building that formerly housed the Woolworth’s is the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. February 1, 1960, four students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University started the sit-in at the “whites only” lunch counter.
10. WILMINGTON
There are a wide variety of attractions in the Wilmington area that appeal to all ages and interests. The Carolina Beach Boardwalk offers amusement rides, carnival games and the Carolina Beach Arcade with the beach as your background. Voted North Carolina’s favorite beach destination there are plenty of watersports activities, including SUP, kayak, SCUBA and scenic cruises at Wrightsville Beach. Fishing off the Johnnie Mercers Pier is a favorite.
Major Facility Development is Happening Throughout North Carolina
Newly opened, renovated and planned fields and facilities keep North Carolina in the forefront of sports competitions
By Dave Bodle
ACC tennis action can be found in Raleigh.
rom soccer, disc golf and swimming/diving to cricket, tennis and paddleball, there F are new indoor and outdoor facilities popping up across the Old North State.
GREATER RALEIGH AREA
There are more sports venue developments in the Raleigh Area than at any time in the past 20 years.
Wake Stone Athletic Park, Knightdale: The Town of Knightdale, in partnership with Wake Stone Corporation, NCFC Youth and Wake County, opened this new facility in fall of 2021. The park includes five soccer fields, with more fields planned in future phases.
Triangle Aquatic Center, Cary: The addition of a new 50-meter outdoor pool in July of 2022 has expanded the programming and hosting capabilities for the center.
PNC Arena, Raleigh: The arena, which opened in 1999, is moving forward with a major design,
enhancement and renovation project that will feature a variety of upgrades.
The Center (Cary Indoor Multisport Complex): The new proposed venue will feature a small arena (approximately 4,000 seats), 12 basketball courts convertible to 20 volleyball courts and full Esports capabilities. A site has been selected (South Hills Mall) and a design team has been brought on board. A soft timeline will have construction beginning in 2024 and opening in 2026.
USA Baseball National Training Complex, Cary: Enhancement will include a covered, open-air, full infield and batting cages for workouts and practice as well as umpire locker rooms, additional meeting and function space and USA Baseball offices. Expected completion date is summer or fall of 2023.
Pleasant Park, Apex: This new venue is under construction with six multipurpose synthetic turf fields, all with lights, along with four tennis courts and six pickleball courts. It is expected to open in fall of 2022 or spring of 2023.
Church Street Park, Morrisville: Enhancement to this cricket venue includes artificial turf practice pitches and nets, an addition of 2,000 permanent seats, broadcast infrastructure and additional parking. Estimated completion date is summer 2023.
SWING, Raleigh: The new proposed venue will include 35 tennis courts, 25 pickleball courts, 16 paddleball courts, 20 table tennis tables and four beach tennis courts. It is expected to break ground fall 2022.
North Cove Leisure Club hosts an annual Collegiate Disc Golf Championships.
Photo courtesy of McDowell Cnty TDA
Calvert Ice Sports, Holly Springs: The proposed venue is expected to include four National Hockey League-sized ice rinks. The expected completion date is 2024/25.
BURLINGTON/ ALAMANCE COUNTY
The home of the Burlington Sock Puppets, the 2022 Appalachian League Organization of the Year, will have renovations. Burlington Athletic Stadium is adding an entertainment venue to the center, upgrading the fan experience and increasing the opportunity to hoist events.
ASHEBORO/ RANDOLPH COUNTY
Zoo City is frequently used to define Asheboro due to its proximity to the North Carolina Zoo, the world’s largest natural habitat zoo. Zoo City SportsPlex, Asheboro: The new 100-acre facility is scheduled to open March 2023 with eight athletic fields for soccer, lacrosse and football, six beach volleyball courts and four pickleball courts.
MCDOWELL COUNTY
With popular attractions including the Blue Ridge Parkway, waterfalls hiking and mountain biking trails, it’s understandable there would be new developments in McDowell County.
The Old Fort Gateway Trails, Old Fort: The 42-mile trail project opened the first six-mile section of the trail in June 2022. These are multi-use trails including a one-mile handicap-accessible trail. Primarily, the mountain biking trails are by far the most used.
Venues, Fans and Esports Incentives Assure Success
North Carolina is demonstrating a long-term commitment to the Esports community and industry. The North Carolina Esports incentive is up to a 25% rebate on direct spending within the state of North Carolina via funds from the NC Esports Industry Grant.
The NC Esports Industry Grant current designated an amount of $5 million available per fiscal year (July 1- June 30). A minimum in-state spend of $150,000 per event is required to qualify. Qualifying expenses are goods, services, rentals, compensation and wages, fringes, per diems, living expenses and stipends.
Applications should be submitted at least 30 days prior to the start of the event.
FOR APPLICATION AND DETAILS, reach out to Amanda Baker at 919-447-7765, or via email, amanda.baker@visitnc.com.
WILMINGTON, NC
WILMINGTON AND ITS ISLAND BEACHES HAVE BECOME A SOUGHT-AFTER DESTINATION FOR SPORTS PLANNERS THANKS TO A VARIETY OF VENUES AND PLENTY TO SEE AND DO BEFORE AND AFTER THE EVENT
Scan to discover more of what Wilmington and Beaches CVB offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
The major east/west interstate artery, I-40, leads to Wilmington and Beaches, which is located halfway between New York and Florida. The destination is also served by Highways 17, 74/76, 117 and 421. Interstate I-95 is 73 miles away.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Althea Gibson Tennis Complex at Empie Park
Tennis
The Althea Gibson Tennis Complex has 24 lighted hard courts, a clubhouse and restrooms. Courts are open for public play, while the City of Wilmington offers recreational programs throughout the year, and the Greater Wilmington Tennis Association uses the courts for tournaments and league play.
Althea Gibson Tennis Complex
Cape Fear Regional Soccer Complex
Soccer, lacrosse, running
With construction slated to begin in 2022 and being completed in 2023, Cape Fear Soccer Park is undergoing renovations. When finished, the park will have 11 full-sized fields, one of which will be synthetic turf, and include outdoor lighting. The Wilmington Hammerheads Youth Soccer Club will manage the new park, which will become known as nCino Sports Park when it opens.
Legion Sports Complex
Football, soccer, baseball, tennis
With more than four acres of paved parking, this great complex includes Legion Stadium/Jurgenson-Gabriel Field (which hosts football and soccer matches on artificial turf), the Legion Back Field, Buck Hardee Field (baseball), four lit tennis court and the Robert Shipp Pool.
Wilmington Convention Center
Cheerleading, dance, gymnastics, martial arts, badminton, volleyball
The Wilmington Convention Center is the only convention center on the North Carolina coast. The convention center has a 30,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 12,000-square-foot ballroom, 5,784-squarefeet of meeting space, 15,000-squarefeet of pre-function space, ticket office, concessions and an attached parking deck.
Olsen Park
Baseball, softball
This city park has five lighted baseball/ softball fields along with concession stands and a picnic shelter, and the handicap accessible Miracle Field and Miracle Playground. It is used to host regional and state athletic tournaments.
Ogden Park
Baseball, football, soccer, tennis, skateboarding
Three lighted baseball fields, one youth football stadium with lights, one lighted softball field, three soccer/football fields with lights, nine lighted tennis courts, 10,000-square-foot concrete skatepark, shelters, a paved trail around the pond and an off-road trail through the woods.
WILMINGTON AND BEACHES CVB
Joel Smith, MPRTSM Senior Sales Manager 800-650-9064 JSmith@wilmingtonandbeaches.com SportsWilmington.com
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶Step back in time when you get onboard the Battleship NORTH
CAROLINA, a WWII-era vessel that faced fierce combat in the
Pacific Theater.
▶Climb along the Adventure
Reef, witness an albino alligator, wonder at sea turtles and a family of otters or feel the smooth skin of a gliding stingray at the North Carolina
Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
▶The Jungle Rapids Family Fun
Park features water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, rock climbing, go-karts and more awesome family fun.
▶Get outdoors at Greenfield
Park, where biking and walking trails, tennis courts, an outdoor amphitheater and boat and kayak rentals all await your next workout.
Olsen Park
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“Wilmington, N.C., and Island Beaches is growing, and so is the attraction to attend events on the Atlantic Ocean, in Historic Downtown Wilmington on the Cape Fear River and at the nearby beaches. The CVB has grown along with [our events], creating ideas, supporting new venues, and assisting with marketing efforts encouraging out of town visitors to come here for the event and enjoy their entire experience.”
— Tom Clifford, Without Limits CEO (Wilmington NC Marathon; Battleship Half Marathon, 10K & 5K)
Wilmington Convention Center
Hickory, NC
WITH A WORLD-FAMOUS RACING SHORT TRACK, PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGIATE FACILITIES AND A GREAT HISTORY AND HERITAGE, HICKORY’S ROOTS RUN DEEP IN NORTH CAROLINA SPORTING LORE
Hickory Metro Convention Center
Scan to discover more of what Visit Hickory Metro offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“Everybody loves it here, it’s beautiful. It (Lake Hickory) is the perfect size for a competition such as this one. It offers a variety of fishing experiences depending on how the anglers prefer to fish.”
— Secret York, Co-founder of LBAA
Rock Barn Country Club & Spa
Hickory, NC is conveniently located off Interstate 40, which connects Knoxville to the west with Raleigh to the east. If you’re flying in, Charlotte Douglas International Airport is around 42 miles away in Charlotte. Immerse yourself in the interactive opportunities presented at the SALT Block, which encompasses an entire city block filled with Science, Arts & Literature Together.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Hickory Metro Convention Center
Multipurpose indoor
As one of the premier trade show and meeting locations in the Southeast, the Hickory Metro Convention Center features more than 76,000 square feet of meeting space, making it ideal for tournament planners looking to host fantastic indoor events. This facility has been the home to a variety of indoor sports including: Bull riding, soccer clinics, martial arts, wrestling, gymnastics, dance and more. The center hosted the XCEL Regional Gymnastics
Henry Fork Regional Recreation Park
Competition in May 2019, which drew in more than 1,500 gymnasts and also hosted the Camp for a Cause in November 2021.
Henry Fork Regional Recreation Park
Canoeing, running, soccer
With eight soccer fields, an 8,000-squarefoot picnic shelter, picnic tables and grills, an alpine tower ropes course, two playgrounds, a concession stand, walking trail, canoe launch and horseshoe pits, this multiuse park is ideal for soccer, lacrosse, rugby and other sports.
Lake Hickory (Catawba River)
Boating, fishing, swimming
Take in the magisterial beauty of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains when you plan an outdoor tournament on Lake Hickory. Fishing tournaments are popular here during the summer months, when the lake has an abundance of largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and channel catfish. Lake Hickory hosted two Lady Bass Anglers Association Pro Tour events in the Spring of 2019 and 2021. Also, episodes of “Fishing University” were filmed in 2018, with another in 2022.
Rock Barn Country Club & Spa
Golf, tennis
With a foundation tracing back to the early 19th century, this gorgeous country club has a storied history, one which grew to include golf in 1966 when it added The Rock Barn Club of Golf to its grounds. Today the club features two championship golf courses which have yielded praise from Golf Digest.
Catawba Meadows Park
Baseball, disc golf, multipurpose indoor, softball
With the Catawba River Greenway serving as a border, this multipurpose park is an ideally located hotspot for tournament planners. The park features five lighted Little League baseball fields, four lighted youth and adult softball and baseball fields, a field house with concessions, a disc golf course with 18 holes, an umpires and coaches meeting room and much more.
VISIT HICKORY METRO
Sarah Davis Jones, CMP, TMP Director of Sales & Marketing 828-322-1335 sarah@hickorymetro.com www.visithickorymetro.com
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶Downtown Hickory yields a fantastic community feel as you explore a bevy of local retail shops, locally owned restaurants and breweries, entertainment options, theatrical pursuits and a newly renovated downtown and a new city walk.
▶Explore outdoors adventures by taking to the trails (bike, hike and more) and Lake Hickory with over 100 miles of shoreline.
▶The SALT Block is a cultural art complex with four main buildings, including the historic Arts and
Science Center, which also houses the Western Piedmont Symphony with auditorium seating for 400, the Aquarium and Planetarium building, the West Wing and the
Patrick Beaver Memorial Library.
WE DON’T PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO COMPETITION!
SCAN ME!
Photos By: Ernie Masche
Haywood County, NC
THIS LOVELY PORTION OF THE COUNTRY OFFERS A TRUE AUTHENTIC OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE FILLED WITH ADVENTURE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES AND UNIQUE EVENT LOCATIONS
Blue Ridge Parkway
Scan to discover more of what Visit NC Smokies offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“The NC Smokies is a great place for hosting our annual event. All of our participants enjoy staying in the mountains, exploring the national park and parkway. They especially love the fresh mountain air and open space.”
— Matthew Bounds, SOWO Partners
Lake Junaluska
Maggie Valley
Best known for its 46 miles of scenic drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County is also home to a variety of hiking trails and valleys in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering affordable accomodations with creekside access and spectacular views. Haywood County is comprised of five mountain towns— Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Lake Junaluska, Canton, and Clyde.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Lake Junaluska
Golfing, fishing, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, tennis
Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, Lake Junaluska is a tranquil body of water that covers 200 acres amid a peaceful mountain setting. With 60,000 sq ft of meeting and event space in total and room for 2,000 overnight visitors the lake is ready to host your next event.
Maggie Valley Festival Grounds
Festivals, concerts, car shows, archery, grass volleyball, 3v3 soccer
The festival grounds, which reside in the heart of Maggie Valley is within walking distance of shopping, dining and lodging. This 8-acre fenced in facility includes a permanent stage, lights, restrooms and plenty of parking.
Smoky Mountain Event Center
Equestrian, dog competitions, cornhole, timber-sports, CrossFit, archery
exhibit halls, a covered regulation size arena, a livestock barn, 30 stalls and beautiful grounds with Smoky Mountain views, these versatile facilities will satisfy a range of needs. This facility is located next to Lake Junaluska and just minutes from both Waynesville and Maggie Valley.
Lake Logan
Swimming, kayaking, cycling, fishing, running, festivals
Located in a pristine valley near the Blue Ridge Parkway, Lake Logan is a 300-acre sanctuary that houses lakeside cabins featuring decks with incredible views, fireplaces and kitchenettes. There is a permanent stage in the lower meadow and a large dining hall with meeting space.
Chestnut Mountain Nature Park
Mountain Biking, cycling, trail running, hiking
This newly created 450-acre nature park is located in Canton. Berm Park is a Mountain Bike complex with-in Chestnut Mountain and will feature 6,835 linear feet of trails! Additionally there will be over 15 miles of multi-use, hiking and biking trails when all phases of the plan are complete, spanning both the front country and backcountry.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Cycling, hiking, trail running
The first national rural parkway to be designed for a leisure-type driving experience, the Blue Ridge Parkway’s varied topography and numerous vista points offer easy public access to spectacular views of Appalachian rural landscapes and forested mountains.
VISIT NC SMOKIES
Ben Wilder 828-944-0762 ben@visitncsmokies.com visitncsmokies.com
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶The most visited park in the country, Great Smoky Mountains
National Park encompasses 522,419 acres and is internationally recognized for its mountains, waterfalls, biodiversity and forests.
▶Considered by many to be
America’s Favorite Drive, the
Blue Ridge Parkway passes beautiful topography and picturesque vista points.
▶Dale’s Wheel Through Time
Museum, in Maggie Valley, is home to the world’s premier collection of rare American motorcycles, memorabilia and a distinct array of unique American automobiles.
▶Scenic Lake Junaluska is home to the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, which hosts a variety of events.
Haywood You Like To Hit The Trail?
Explore the outdoors in Haywood County’s five adventure-filled mountain towns of Canton, Clyde, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, and Waynesville. From scenic mountain hikes to cascading waterfalls, swimming holes to trout fishing, there are outdoor adventures here for everyone.
Plan your adventure at VisitNCSmokies.com.
Winston-Salem, NC
WITH AN INCREDIBLE ARRAY OF SPORTS FACILITIES, WINSTON-SALEM IS A MUST-SEE DESTINATION OF THE SOUTH
Scan to discover more of what Visit Winston-Salem offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
JDL Fast Track
A modern destination with a unique past, Winston-Salem combines history and culture in fun ways. Whether you’re strolling through heirloom gardens, sampling Moravian cookies or relaxing with a glass of North Carolina wine, Winston-Salem will have you looking forward to your next trip back. WinstonSalem was designated a “Runner Friendly Community” by the Road Runners Club of America.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
RISE Indoor Sports
Basketball, volleyball, training, soccer, cheer, gymnastics
Newly opened in 2021, RISE Indoor Sports is home to more than 123,000 square feet of flexible, programmable space including eight high school regulation basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, 28,000-square-feet of sports indoor turf, 8,300-square-feet of Torque Performance and Fitness training, 6,000-square-feet of fitness and cardio space, concessions with indoor and outdoor dining, and onsite meeting rooms.
JDL Fast Track
Indoor track & field
This premium 105,000-square-foot facility is no stranger to prestige. Sporting a 200-meter oval track made of Mondotrack FTX surfaces, this complex has held multiple national championships since opening in 2012. Teams also have access to a 100-meter training track and an athletic trainer room. Hospitality suites await game day officials and coaches.
Truist Sports Park
Lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, ultimate
Truist Sports Park boasts 13 full-sized fields, including four artificial turf (450,000 total square feet) and 11 of which are lighted. The field house provides concessions, office facilities and a multi-purpose meeting room with multi-media, audiovisual and seating for 120. Spectators enjoy elevated viewing areas, including the 1,400-seat stadium field.
Hockey, wrestling, martial arts, gymnastics, archery
The Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex and Education Buildings encompass a roughly 70acre property minutes from downtown. This multi-purpose complex features over 55,000 square feet of programmable event space, including a 4,000-seat arena at the WinstonSalem Fairgrounds Annex, home to the Carolina Thunderbirds, a minor league hockey team.
Wake Forest University Tennis Complex
Tennis, pickleball
Built as the home to the Wake Forest men’s and women’s tennis teams along with the ATP’s Winston-Salem Open, the Wake Forest Tennis Center opened in the summer of 2011 as one of the finest facilities in all of college tennis. The state-of-the-art complex features 13 Deco-Turf II courts, the same court surface that is used at the US Open. The 64,000-square-foot indoor tennis center houses eight climate-controlled indirect-lighted Mondo-Ten tennis courts.
Truist Stadium
Baseball
Truist Stadium is host to the Winston-Salem Dash, a Class-A advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. This downtown ballpark features 5,500 stadium-style seats, 16 luxurious suites on the Club Level, three concession stations, and a 200-foot LED outfield wall scoreboard with video and animation capabilities.
VISIT WINSTON-SALEM
Paul Sheehan, STS Sports Development Manager 336-728-4215 Paul@VisitWinstonSalem.com visitwinstonsalem.com
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶Enjoy a stroll through the Old
Salem Museums & Gardens to tour dozens of 18th and 19th-century restored buildings.
▶Winston-Salem’s award-winning, walkable downtown boasts more than 100 restaurants, shops, art galleries, and nightlife options.
Find family-friendly fun at Roar, a 42,000-square-foot dining, entertainment, and event complex that recently opened in the
Downtown Arts District.
▶Tanglewood Park offers 1,100 acres of recreation space, complete with a BMX track, aquatic center, equine facilities, soft golf course, signature golf courses, gardens, and more than eight miles of mountain bike and multi-use trails.
▶Tour the Reynolda Mile, a historic stretch of homes, gardens, shops, galleries and restaurants that comprise what was once the country estate of tobacco magnate R.J.
Reynolds and his wife Katharine.
RISE Indoor Sports
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“Visit Winston-Salem not only met our expectations but exceeded them. From the bid process, hotel and venue negotiations, pre-event planning to event execution, they were with us from beginning to end, assisting us with whatever we needed. A truly great experience.”
— Corinne Shigemoto, Director of Membership and Events, USA Judo
Wake Forest University Tennis Complex
Greensboro, NC
WITH ITS FAMOUS GREENSBORO COLISEUM COMPLEX AND OTHER FACILITIES, GREENSBORO IS WILLING AND ABLE TO HOST ANY SPORTS TOURNAMENT THAT COMES ITS WAY
Scan to discover more of what Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
Greensboro Aquatic Center
The city of Greensboro started out as the most important Quaker settlement in North Carolina and has continued to be steeped in history ever since. The city is also home to a variety of excellent sports facilities including the multifaceted Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the Greensboro Aquatic Center and Truist Stadium at NC A&T State University.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Basketball, gymnastics, figure skating, wrestling volleyball, roller derby, football
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is a multibuilding facility with eight different venues that offer the unique opportunity to host nearly any sporting event one could imagine. The main staple, the Greensboro Coliseum, can seat anywhere from 4,500 – 22,000 people depending on the need and has hosted NCAA and ACC Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments. Other venues within the complex include the Fieldhouse — a state-of-the-art structure that features a 30,000-square-foot, column-free area and currently houses the Greensboro Swarm NBA G League team—and the Special Events Center, a 167,000-square-foot space that include three exhibit halls.
The complex has hosted several ACC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments. Additionally, it was the host of the AAU Junior Olympic Games and the USA Gymnastics American Cup.
Greensboro Aquatic Center
Swimming, synchronized swimming, diving and water polo
The Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) is a 105,323-square-foot facility with a long history of hosting national swimming meets. Located in the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and only one minute from the Greensboro Visitor Center, it offers plenty of lodging and eating options in the surrounding area. The Aquatic Center has five, seven and 10-meter diving boards and a 25-yard pool that can be transformed into 10 different configurations based on event needs. A new pool was constructed and opened in August 2019 that provides 19 additional lanes making the GAC the largest indoor aquatic facility in the country. In the past, the GAC has hosted the U.S. Synchronized Swimming 2012 Olympic Team trials, the 2012 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships and the 2019 USA FINA Synchronized American Open.
Truist Stadium at NC A&T State University
Track and field, javelin, shot put, hammer/discus throwing areas
An IAAF-certified track, Truist Stadium at NC A&T State University previously played host to the track and field component to the AAU Junior Olympic Games. Home of the NC A&T Aggies and capable of seating 23,000 spectators, it is a Mondo Super X Performance track with eight lanes as well as javelin and discus throwing areas. A newly constructed stadium press box offers state-of-the-art amenities.
GREENSBORO AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Brian Ambuehl, Sports Sales Manager 1-800-344-2282 bambuehl@visitgreensboronc.com www.VisitGreensboroNC.com
Kayla Adams, Sports Sales Manager 1-800-344-2282 kadams@visitgreensboronc.com www.VisitGreensboroNC.com
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶Experience a zoo, aquarium and museum all in one day at
Greensboro Science Center.
▶SKYWILD offers 60 different challenges aimed at giving you an inside look into animal movement and behavior among the trees.
Waddle, leap, brachiate and crawl through a variety of zip lines, bridges and climbs.
▶Check out the 84-feet wide tsunami waves at Wet n’ Wild
Emerald Pointe, one of North
Carolina’s largest water parks.
▶Get a glimpse of the world’s largest china shop at
Replacements Ltd.
▶Step back in time to the forefront of the civil rights movement with a visit to the International Civil
Rights Center and Museum.
Truist Stadium at NC A&T State University
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“A heartfelt thank you to Henri Fourrier and our primary contact Brian Ambuehl at the Greensboro CVB office for seeing the incredible value in youth sports. From the very beginning, their insight and service have been a guiding force in NC AAU consistently growing our event base in the Gate City.”
— Sean Kilmartin, Governor, NC Amateur Athletic Union
Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Greenville, NC
SOUTHERN CHARM, A PASSION FOR SPORTS, AND A GROWING METROPOLITAN REGION MAKE THE EAST COAST’S EMERALD CITY A SPORTS PLANNER’S DELIGHT
Scan to discover more of what Greenville-Pitt County Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
Tar River View of Uptown Greenville
Greenville is mainly accessible from the east and west via Interstate 587 and easily accessible via I-95 from the north and south. About an hour and a half to the west of downtown Greenville is Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which offers domestic and international flights. For connections to and from Charlotte, local PittGreenville Airport offers flights via American Eagle.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
ECU’s North Recreational Complex
Cross-country, disc golf, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, Ultimate Frisbee
Just 10 minutes from the East Carolina University campus, you’ll find a selection of versatile playing fields, all surrounding a quaint lake that makes for the perfect backdrop to any event. The North Recreational Complex features eight multipurpose fields including one championship field, along with walking and jogging trails. This is the perfect setting for cross-country, where runners can follow any of the six trails or the 5k running route. The 18-hole disc golf course offers a unique layout, and the fields are a popular spot for Ultimate Frisbee, with invitational tournaments taking place throughout the year.
ECU Sports
Baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball
East Carolina University’s facilities are stateof-the-art and home to some exceptional collegiate talent. These same venues are also
available for tournaments, meets, competitions, and other events that sports planners are putting together throughout the year. Be sure to check out the 50,000-seat, fully lit Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, home to the Pirates’ football program; the 8,000-seat ECU Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum for both basketball and volleyball games; Clark LeClair Baseball Stadium with a capacity of 5,000; and the 1,000-seat Stewart Johnson Soccer Stadium.
Greenville Convention Center
Martial arts, gymnastics, dance, cheer, cornhole
Situated on 32 sprawling acres, the Greenville Convention Center Campus features over 91,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event space, including a 57,000-square-foot convention center with 28-foot-high ceilings. Three on-site premiere hotels offer over 400 rooms, two restaurants and bars, indoor and outdoor pools, ample parking, shuttle service, on-site catering, and much more with an additional 1,700 rooms within five minutes of the campus. The Convention District is also convenient to lots of restaurants and retail shopping, and a just short drive to the Uptown and Dickinson Avenue Districts, as well as the Greenville Town Common on the beautiful Tar River.
Stallings Stadium
Baseball, softball
Greenville has a strong connection to baseball, and in particular, Little League. Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park is a premier choice when planning an event in the region, and is the current home of the Little League Softball® World Series. The stadium is also the permanent home to the Greenville Little League’s City Championship Series, and could be the site of your next big event! While players have been stepping up to the plate here since the 1950s, the stadium itself was completely renovated in 2012, making for a state-of-the-art experience. There are 234 stadium seats, 400 right field bleacher seats, and additional space for lawn seating – in all the stadium can seat around 1,000 spectators.
GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION
Ce’Nedra Dillard, Sports Sales Assistant 252-329-4200 cdillard@greenvillenc.gov www.visitgreenvillenc.com/sports
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶The new NC Museum of Natural
Sciences-Greenville campus on Dickinson Avenue offers
STEM exhibits and activities for children and adults to explore nature, learn history and do science. The onsite The Art Lab incubator also offers visitors a chance to visit and shop with local artists while they work.
▶Knee Deep Adventures and
Riverside Recreation are watercraft outfitters who rent out kayaks and standup paddleboards so you can navigate the Tar River and explore the forests at a leisurely pace.
▶For another peaceful getaway, check out River Park North, a 324 acre park with outdoor fun for everyone.
▶Treat your sweet tooth at Simply
Natural Creamery & Jersey Farm in Ayden where there are ice cream sundaes and cones galore.
ECU’s North Recreational Complex
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“Hosting the 2022 Little League Softball World Series at its new home in Greenville for the second year was truly an amazing experience both on and off the field, not only for all the participants and volunteers, but also for all the communities that made the trip to support their teams. We look forward to returning in 2023 as we continue to find new ways to provide life-long memories to girls.”
— Demiko Ervin, Director of Urban Initiative, Little League Baseball & Softball®
Mooresville, NC
LOCATED 25 MILES NORTH OF CHARLOTTE ON BEAUTIFUL LAKE NORMAN WITH EXCEPTIONAL SPORTS VENUES AND ATTRACTIONS OFF THE FIELD TO MAKE ANY EVENT ONE THEY WILL LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR
Scan to discover more of what Visit Mooresville offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“It has genuinely been such a pleasure to work with Leah Mitcham and the rest of the Mooresville CVB. From the beginning stages of planning the tournament to the final stages of the execution, they have been so helpful, organized, and knowledgeable which made our job as the event provider easy and enjoyable.”
— Lorraine Childs, Vice President of Event Operations, NXTsports Inc.
Talbert Recreation Center
Mazeppa Park
If you are looking for the ideal tournament host, Mooresville should be at the top of your list. With exceptional sports venues, picture perfect climate and skilled, seasoned staff your event will be in the elite category among coaches, players, and parents.
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶Rent jet skis, paddle boards or kayaks or test your balance wake surfing to enjoy the state’s largest manmade lake. Hike or bike the 30 miles of trails at Lake Norman State Park.
▶Find your need for speed at the GoPro
Motorplex, a kart racetrack modeled after a famous track in Italy or visit the Lazy 5 Ranch, a drive-thru safari where you can feed the animals from your car.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Talbert Recreation Center
Basketball, wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics, martial arts
This 26,000-square-foot facility offers two regulation basketball courts and has hosted basketball, gymnastics, martial arts and wrestling events.
Edgemoor Park
Tennis
This state-of-the-art tennis facility offers seven lighted courts, including a championship court with bleachers and a hitting wall. Edgemoor also has free Wi-Fi, a state-of-the-art playground and two shelter areas. Edgemoor Park has hosted numerous USTA events.
Mazeppa Park
Baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse
This sports complex features a regulationsized baseball field, three softball fields with portable pitching mounds and 300 foot fences and lights. Six full size soccer fields, four are artificial turf and two are grass and all six have lights. Mazeppa Park also features a 5-mile mountain bike trail.
Cornelius Road Park
Softball, baseball, tennis, lacrosse, soccer
Cornelius Road Park features four baseball and softball fields with dirt infields, portable pitching mounds and 250 foot fences. The park also contains three multipurpose fields for lacrosse and soccer. Six lighted tennis courts, a disc golf course and a walking trail round out this facility.
VISIT MOORESVILLE
Leah Mitcham Executive Director 704-799-2400 leah@visitmooresville.com visitmooresville.com
Cabarrus County, NC
ONE OF THE TOP MOTORSPORT DESTINATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, CABARRUS COUNTY ALSO FEATURES PLENTY OF GREAT RESTAURANTS, VENUES AND ATTRACTIONS
Scan to discover more of what Visit Cabarrus offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
PLANNER PERSPECTIVE
“The Team at Cabarrus County CVB have been amazing to work with. With each of our events in Cabarrus County, they have been more than helpful and accommodating from start to finish. Cabarrus County CVB is among the best support team we deal with in the country.”
— Kevin Williams, President
Cabarrus Arena
West Cabarrus Turf Complex
Cabarrus County is famous for its high-energy racing scene, but you don’t have to be a motorsports enthusiast to take advantage of all that this scenic region has to offer. Why not choose a destination for your next sports event or tournament in a place where you can make memories on and off the field?
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶Cabarrus is home to the Charlotte
Motor Speedway and several NASCAR racing teams.
▶Concord Mills Mall is where visitors can get plenty of shopping done with a number of popular brands and stores to choose from including Adidas,
Aeropostale, Coach and Forever 21.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
West Cabarrus Turf Complex
Brand new and game-day ready
West Cabarrus High School Turf Complex is home to three new turf fields including one stadium and two practice fields. Ready for competition, all fields feature T°Cool® evaporative cooling technology and are equipped with lights. These versatile fields are lined for soccer, football, and tic-marked for lacrosse. With three additional stadium fields, Cabarrus County offers a total of six turf fields. All include the same features and are located near each other as well as top attractions and hotels.
Carolina Courts
Basketball, volleyball, pickleball
Carolina Courts is Charlotte’s premier basketball, volleyball and pickleball facility. This massive indoor facility features 48,000 square feet of available space for various sporting tournaments and event needs. The facility can host large basketball and pickleball tournaments as it features seven full-size basketball courts and 17 possible pickleball courts.
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center
Consumer shows, sporting events
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center in Concord is one of the best places to host events in the county. This huge arena can host wrestling events, badminton tournaments, taekwondo matches and even indoor volleyball tournaments. The facility has more than 140,000 square feet and hosts more than 150 events on nearly 300 event days each year.
VISIT CABARRUS
John Poole 704-456-7968 johnpoole@explorecabarrus.com www.explorecabarrus.com
Alamance County, NC
ALAMANCE COUNTY WELCOMES SPORTS LOVERS WITH OUTSTANDING FACILITIES IN A DISTRICT THAT BOASTS A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Springwood Park
Scan to discover more of what Alamance County Visitors Bureau offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
City Park
Mebane Baseball Complex
Burlington/Alamance County offers sports enthusiasts many opportunities for indoor and outdoor fun and excitement. This charming part of North Carolina, with its beautiful parks and natural areas nestled between Greensboro and Durham, features outstanding sports and recreation facilities perfect for hosting baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, BMX events and more.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Springwood Park
The 78-acre gem sits nestled in the suburbs of Burlington in Guilford County. The park features regulation fields for baseball, softball and soccer, two concession/restroom buildings, two picnic shelters available to rent, a playground, a walking track and disc golf. The Springwood Players’ Course is an 18-hole, championship level disc golf course. It includes a six hole Rookie Run for beginners and for family fun.
Mebane Soccer Complex
Soccer
This lovely complex is a fabulous place to host a soccer tournament. Mebane consists of two full-size 11 v 11 soccer fields and two smaller fields used for small-sided games. All fields have Musco field lighting for night use. Concessions and restrooms are also available.
Mebane Baseball Complex
Baseball, softball, football, track
includes four baseball/softball fields, one football field, a grass walking track, playground, two shelters, concessions and restrooms.
City Park
Baseball, softball
The flagship of the Burlington Parks system, City Park is home to five athletic fields, an amusement area featuring an extensive playground and courtyard and the Historical Dentzel Carousel, a walking track, 12 lighted tennis courts, a year-round aquatics facility, Thataways Youth Center, a state-of-the-art youth center, three enclosed shelters with grills, two open air shelters with grills, picnic tables throughout the park, a peaceful stream which winds its way through the park, and a greenway. Throughout the spring and summer, the park comes alive with baseball and softball tournaments, and many special events. The park is located one mile from Downtown Burlington.
Cedarock Park
Disc golf
This picturesque locale is a 500-acre park in the foothills of the Cane Creek Mountain Range. It is one of the largest county operated parks in the state and is a great place for disc golf tournaments. Improvements over the last few years included new signage at both courses as well as new scorecards for each course. In addition, concrete tee pads have been installed on the Cedarock Course and the Wellspring Course.
ALAMANCE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU
Grace VandeVisser Executive Director Burlington/Alamance County CVB 800-637-3804 / 336-570-1444 grace@visitalamance.com
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
Cedarock Park is a 500-acre nature preserve that has six miles of equestrian trails and a historical farm restored to the late 1800s. The beautiful scenery that is the park makes for a great place to spend time outdoors enjoying the two fishing ponds, a waterfall, gazebos, and picnic shelters.
Tanger Outlets in Mebane is an excellent place to do some shopping, featuring a variety of brand-name and designer outlet stores.
Alamance Arts is all about portraying the cultural identity of Alamance County through art. They offer exhibits, community classes, special events, programs, and trips to surrounding museums and more.
SMALL SURPRISES
FOR HOMERUN EVENTS
From baseball, softball and soccer to tennis, swimming and golf, you don’t have to go far to find the most exceptional sports fields, complexes, courses and facilities that can turn your next event into your most successful yet.
burlington Mebane Elon Graham Saxapahaw
Discover everything our area offers at VISITALAMANCE.COM | 800-637-3804
Nash-Rocky Mount, NC
NASH–ROCKY MOUNT IS YOUR PREMIER DESTINATION FOR FIRST-CLASS SPORTS EVENTS AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE IN THE TAR HEEL STATE.
Scan to discover more of what Rocky Mount Sports Complex, Rocky Mount Event Center, and Nash County Recreation & Senior Services offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com
Rocky Mount Event Center
Rocky Mount Sports Complex
Nash-Rocky Mount is easily accessible by both land and air. If you’re flying in, Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located 60 miles to the west and primarily serves the Raleigh, Durham and the Research Triangle region of North Carolina. If you’re driving, Interstate-95 runs through the heart of the county to the west of Rocky Mount, while U.S. Route 64 runs east and west on the way to or from Raleigh.
FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Rocky Mount Sports Complex
Soccer, baseball, softball, disc golf, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, football
Nash-Rocky Mount’s leading sports facility, Rocky Mount Sports Complex is dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service by offering first-class facilities, outstanding staff and a professional level of maintenance. This 143-acre facility is home to an assortment of recreational programming. The complex includes six
Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium
youth baseball fields, four interchangeable baseball and softball fields, one championship baseball field, eight soccer/lacrosse fields, a football field, a professional disc golf course, two outdoor basketball courts, outdoor volleyball courts and a walking trail.
Rocky Mount Event Center
Located on Main Street in Downtown Rocky Mount, this 165,000 square feet state-ofthe-art facility is host to headlining sporting
events all year long. It features 8 basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, 4 locker rooms, an option of a 50’ x 94’ master event space, and spectator seating for 4,000+. The Event Center also houses the Gameday Adventure & Arcade, which includes climbing walls, an aerial ropes course, configurable banquet rooms, and in-house catering. In total, the Rocky Mount Event Center welcomes over 100,000 visitors and athletes per year.
Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium
Football
Part of Rocky Mount Sports Complex, Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium seats more than 5,000 spectators and features a natural grass playing field, team field house, large press box and elevated coaching areas. It also has a private locker room.
Nash County Miracle Park at Coopers
Baseball, softball
Opened in 2021! It has two 225’ baseball fields and two 300’ softball fields spread across 46.5 acres. This park also has a state of the art All Inclusive playground, two soccer fields, two basketball courts and a walking trail.
ROCKY MOUNT SPORTS COMPLEX
Lynn Driver Sports Complex Supervisor 252-467-6483 lynn.driver@rockymountnc.gov rockymountsportscomplex.com
ROCKY MOUNT EVENT CENTER
Keorra Taylor Event Coordinator 252-366-8521 rmeceventsales@sportsfacilities.com www.rockymountevents.com www.sportadvisory.com
NASH COUNTY RECREATION & SENIOR SERVICES
Thomas Gillespie, Parks & Recreation Director, CPRP, CYSA 252-462-2685 Thomas.Gillespie@nashcountync.gov
POPULAR ACTIVITIES
▶The Imperial Center for Arts and
Sciences gives you a close-up look at alligator and crocodile skulls, while its galleries feature more than 400 works or art from around North Carolina.
▶Explore the region’s only beer incubator and tour seven oncampus breweries at Rocky
Mount Mills.
▶Catch a live show at The Rocky
Mount Event Center or hike the walking trails at City Lake on your quest to find an exotic waterfowl.
▶All of your boating and fishing needs can be met with a trip to
Tar River Reservoir.
