2023 North Carolina Sports Planning Guide

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

Photo courtesy of Greater Raleigh Sports Authority

to Add Vacation Days to Your North Carolina Competition

By Dave Bodle

10 Reasons O

ne of the true beauties of the Tar Heel State is the diverse tourism offerings of each community. No matter 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.

Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro

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.

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.

Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington

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.

From soccer, disc golf and swimming/diving to cricket, tennis and paddleball, there 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,

Photo courtesy Garrett Poulos/ Greater Raleigh Sports Authority

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.

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.

North Cove Leisure Club hosts an annual Collegiate Disc Golf Championships.

Photo courtesy of McDowell Cnty TDA

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.

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.

Althea Gibson Tennis Complex

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

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

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.

“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)

Olsen Park

Ogden Park

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

Scan to discover more of what Visit Hickory Metro offers sports planners

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

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

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.

—

Hickory Metro Convention Center

Henry Fork Regional Recreation Park

Rock Barn Country Club & Spa

at SportsPlanningGuide.com

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.

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.

VISIT HICKORY METRO

Sarah Davis Jones, CMP, TMP Director of Sales & Marketing 828-322-1335 sarah@hickorymetro.com www.visithickorymetro.com

▶ 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.

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

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

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

The fairgrounds is comprised of two large

Blue Ridge Parkway

Maggie Valley

Lake Junaluska

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

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.

JDL Fast Track

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.

Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex and Education Buildings 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.

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.

VISIT WINSTON-SALEM

Paul Sheehan, STS Sports Development Manager 336-728-4215

Paul@VisitWinstonSalem.com visitwinstonsalem.com

▶ 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.

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.”

Shigemoto, Director of Membership and Events, USA Judo

— Corinne

RISE Indoor Sports

Wake Forest University Tennis Complex

Truist Stadium

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

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

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.

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.

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.

GREENSBORO AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Brian Ambuehl, Sports Sales Manager 1-800-344-2282 bambuehl@visitgreensboronc.com www.VisitGreensboroNC.com

▶ 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.

Stadium at NC A&T State University Track and field, javelin, shot put, hammer/discus throwing areas

Truist

An IAAF-certified track, Truist Stadium at NC

Kayla Adams, Sports Sales Manager 1-800-344-2282 kadams@visitgreensboronc.com www.VisitGreensboroNC.com

▶ Step back in time to the forefront of the civil rights movement with a visit to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

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.”

Greensboro Coliseum Complex

Truist Stadium at NC A&T State University

— Sean Kilmartin, Governor, NC Amateur Athletic Union

Greenville, NC

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

Tar River View of Uptown Greenville

SOUTHERN CHARM, A PASSION FOR SPORTS, AND A GROWING METROPOLITAN REGION MAKE THE EAST COAST’S EMERALD CITY A SPORTS PLANNER’S DELIGHT

Aaron Hines/City of Greenville, NC

Scan to discover more of what Greenville-Pitt County Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

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.

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.

GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

Ce’Nedra Dillard, Sports Sales Assistant 252-329-4200 cdillard@greenvillenc.gov www.visitgreenvillenc.com/sports

▶ 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.

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®

ECU’s North Recreational Complex

Tae Kwon Do at Greenville Convention Center

ECU Sports

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

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

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

Cheerleading, dance, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, pickleball

Located on Main Street in Downtown Rocky Mount, this 165,000 square feet state-ofthe-art facility is host to headlining sporting

Rocky Mount Event Center

Rocky Mount Sports Complex

Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium

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

Alamance County, NC

ALAMANCE COUNTY WELCOMES SPORTS LOVERS WITH OUTSTANDING FACILITIES IN A DISTRICT THAT BOASTS A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Scan to discover more of what Alamance County

Visitors Bureau offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

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 Baseball, softball, soccer, walking, golf, disc golf

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

A perfect place to host a baseball or softball tournament, the Mebane Baseball Complex

City Park

Mebane Baseball Complex

Springwood Park

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.

burlington Mebane

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.

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

Talbert Recreation Center

Mazeppa Park

Cabarrus County, NC

Scan to discover more of what Visit Cabarrus offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

ONE

OF THE TOP MOTORSPORT DESTINATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, CABARRUS COUNTY ALSO FEATURES PLENTY OF GREAT RESTAURANTS, VENUES AND ATTRACTIONS

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 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

Cabarrus Arena

West Cabarrus Turf Complex

PLAYING 3D CHESS

As we noted last year in this column, sports tourism now has a better seat at the collective tourism table than ever before. Destinations are dedicating more time and resources to the sports market than at any time in my 26 years serving this industry. For our eighth edition of the Sports Planning Guide trends article, our team at Huddle Up Group looked back at the past year to craft and share the eight trends to look for in 2023 and beyond.

1Emphasis – Destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs) across the country are investing more resources in sports tourism today than ever before. This comes in the form of an increased sports marketing effort and often times in facility development. The pandemic proved to us what we have been saying all along – sports tourism is immune from economic downturns, international conflicts and yes, pandemics.

route to take today. Nearly every community we work with is pushing forward some form of state and locally enabling legislation to put a TID in place to fund sports tourism marketing and facility development.

create your own events, as you will want to focus on clubs and teams from within a day’s drive versus trying to recruit teams from greater distances.

4

DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (or DEI) has become a front line topic for CVBs and event rights holders alike. Several event owners have rebranded to give notice that they are intentionally addressing DEI issues. Destination International has also provided some excellent best practices in this area for CVBs through their DEI Committee’s work.

5

Bricks and Mortar – Nearly every project our team touched this past year had a facility element to it. What venues is that destination missing? Which of their existing facilities can be enhanced to become tournament friendly? Ten years ago, very few tourism agencies were investing in bricks and mortar. Today, nearly every one we work with is getting in the weeds with their community leaders to help develop new facilities and/or enhance existing venues.

2

3

Funding – How do we fund facility development and enhancement?

Tourism Improvement Districts (or TIDs) are definitely the most popular

Pickleball – The fastest growing sport in America is taking over. Pickleball has become an “overnight success” starting in a driveway in Washington State in 1967, with the first official organization for the sport being formed in 1972. One thing our team talks about when looking at the rise of pickleball over the past decade is this – what new sport will emerge next? Slamball? Maybe teqball? More sport options mean more potential participants which mean more tournaments to host.

6

Regionality – Even prior to the pandemic, there was a growing trend of “national championship” events becoming more drive market than cross country flights. That is, the teams were more and more coming from a day’s drive to a tournament than getting on a plane to travel long distances. The pandemic only accelerated that trend. This is important to consider when you are working to

7

Special Events – More tourism organizations are adding the marketing and management of special events to the sports department’s plate. The ability to execute a sporting event isn’t that much different than producing a music festival. Putting on the “backpacks” (as we like to call it) for special events is becoming quite common for those with an experienced sports staff on the team.

8

Bigger, Better, Stronger, Faster – One of the most common calls we got this past year from destinations was this, “We had to furlough all our people during the pandemic, but sports kept rolling. So, we need to build our sports program back up to a place where it is even bigger and better than it was before.” This is another form of doubling down on the great performance sports tourism offered the industry over the past two-plus years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jon Schmieder is the Founder of the Huddle Up Group LLC, a sports industry consulting company led by award winning executives.  Schmieder has 25 years of experience in leading sports tourism and events organizations through strategic growth and increased community collaboration.  We can be reached at Jon@HuddleUpGroup.com or 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

The best organizations will be raising the bar and following a smart plan in the upcoming year

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