Naples, Marco Island and The Everglades is known as the Paradise Coast for its sun, sand, luxury resorts, terrific dining and more. But make no mistake: Our destination is a sports paradise, too.
Whether it’s golf on one of our 91 private and public courses, team sports tournaments in baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, field hockey and more, solo endurance events like the HITS Triathlon series, or niche sports like the Minto U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, Florida’s Paradise Coast is rapidly earning a reputation as one of the nation’s first-string sports destinations. And that’s not even counting the swimming, fishing, kayaking, volleyball and more you’ll find along our 30 miles of Gulf beaches.
It’s a year-round thing. No shutting it down like they do during harsh northern winters. Our average temperature is 77 degrees, and it’s sunny an average of 264 days a year.
Florida’s Paradise Coast offers all-star sports facilities and a wide range of accommodations for groups and events of any size and budget, all just minutes away from spacious, white sand beaches and calm Gulf of Mexico waters.
Play Hard
Team sports take place at venues throughout the Paradise Coast, with the hub being North Collier Regional Park. The facility boasts eight immaculately maintained tournament fields for soccer and lacrosse (four grass and four artificial turf), and five tournament softball fields. The complex also features the Sun-N-Fun Lagoon waterpark, giving athletes of all ages a chance to cool off after leaving it all on the field. Plus, the facility provides separate office buildings, meeting rooms, restrooms and concessions.
Florida’s Paradise Coast also features an extensive network of community parks that can host an array of sports, from racquetball to roller hockey to shuffleboard. In East Naples Community Park, you’ll find softball, soccer and outdoor basketball courts — all lighted — and, most unique of all, over 40 official pickleball courts. This fast-growing, all-ages racquet sport has formed a beachhead on Florida’s Paradise Coast, culminating in the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships. Held in the spring, this marquee tournament attracts more than 1,500 players, along with enthusiastic crowds.
A host of other events make their regular home on the Paradise Coast. They include the Pro Watercross Tour World Championship; the Senior Softball USA Winter Nationals; Dimitri Cup Soccer Tournaments and the FBU National Championship, youth football’s biggest event.
If joining the gallery for a pro golf tournament is your idea of paradise, Naples plays host to the PGA Champions Tour’s Chubb Classic and QBE Shootout, as well as the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship.
Live Easy
Downtime is essential to relax and recover after any sporting event. Florida’s Paradise Coast offers 9,000 hotel rooms, which range from the pinnacle of luxury at several beachfront resorts to mid-range and budget-friendly hotels for larger groups. Our hotels offer pools, hot tubs and, on the higher end, full-service spas (for that much-needed massage) and other indulgent amenities.
When it’s time to refuel, the Paradise Coast restaurant scene offers everything you could ask for: fine dining on 5th Avenue South in downtown Naples, healthy choice options, burgers, sandwiches, pizza and more. If you really want to go big, try a sunset dinner cruise aboard a yacht. All told, our culinary offerings accommodate the full scope of group sizes and budgets.
Best of all, a beach outing is never far off. Our 30 miles of beaches are uncrowded and full of soft white sand — perfect for breaking out Frisbees, volleyballs and skim boards.
For some exotic down time, slip away to The Everglades — an experience your athletes will never forget. In just 45 minutes, you’ll find yourself in one of the world’s most famous wetlands, known for its exhilarating airboat rides, guided eco-tours, hiking, biking, canoeing and kayaking.
Get Here Easy
Florida’s Paradise Coast is just 25 minutes from the Fort Myers International Airport, and less than two hours from international airports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Orlando is a three-hour drive. Of course, you can always arrive by ground. Our sports venues, beaches, lodging and eateries are just minutes from I-75.
Commitment to the Future
As great as the sports on Florida’s Paradise Coast are now, they’re getting even better. A $60 million, 120-acre amateur sports complex east of downtown Naples has been approved, and is slated to include multi-purpose fields, an indoor facility of up to 125,000 square feet, and a multipurpose championship venue with 3,000 to 6,000 seats. This state-of-the-art facility intensifies our commitment to guarantee a sports paradise well into the future.
Give your athletes an experience that offers adventure, refinement, fun and focus. Plan your next sports event in Paradise. For more information, please visit cvb.paradisecoast.com/sports
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