Wilmingon

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