Play in Portland, Texas

Many youth sports tournaments are choosing the Texas coast to take advantage of fabulous ocean scenery and outstanding sports amenities, combined with year-round warm weather and numerous recreational activities. In Portland, Texas – located in the Coastal Bend region on Corpus Christi Bay – two exceptional sports facilities have opened with all-synthetic turf fields.

The 38-acre Sports Complex has four softball fields that are also suitable for baseball and soccer; a youth football field, that is suitable for a UIL (University Interscholastic League) soccer field; a multi-purpose turf field; concession areas; and a playground with splash pad. The artificial turf fields also feature sports lighting, covered spectator seating, scoreboards, dual-lane batting cages, and dugouts. 

The 21-acre Municipal Park includes five baseball fields, which are also suitable for softball and soccer, a covered playground with splash pad, a covered basketball court, a walking/jogging track and covered fitness station, concession areas, and shade structure The fields have dugouts, covered spectator seating, dual-lane batting cages and scoreboards.         

Every inch of these facilities has been planned to make playing and watching games more pleasurable, comfortable, and efficient. For instance, the drainage structure under the turf fields allows water to drain quickly, so games can resume almost immediately after a rain or lightning stop. That means less waiting and fewer cancellations for players and fans alike.        

When you add the Portland climate to the mix, you begin to understand why this is becoming a major destination for youth sports. The year-round temperate weather makes the Texas coast an ideal place to play, especially during the winter months when other destinations may be too chilly.

Portland keeps visitors in the middle of everything, while still letting them get away from it all. A favorite of watersport enthusiasts, the skies above Portland’s shoreline are usually dotted with colorful kite boards—a sport the town is well known for, and one of many sea-and-sky adventures it offers.

Scenic Sunset Lake Park, a favorite for locals and visitors alike, is located on the edge of Portland, adjacent to the Nueces Bay Causeway (US 181). It features a series of boardwalks through protected wetlands and is one of the best ways to get close to migrating birds and wildlife on the Texas coast. Fishing, swimming, and kayaking are also popular activities on Sunset Lake.

A short distance from Sunset Lake Park’s southern end lies Indian Point Pier, one of the most iconic structures on the Texas coast. The pier, which extends deep into the gulf, is a favorite among fisherman on a year-round basis. It also offers a prime spot for viewing the Corpus Christi skyline and night views of the lights on the Harbor Bridge.

Portland’s proximity to everything in the bay area makes it a perfect choice as the base for coastal getaway.  Located just eight miles from Corpus Christi, Portland offers quick, easy access to some of the most famous tourist spots in Texas—including the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum. A trip to the ferry at Aransas Pass, and a free ride to North Padre Island, is only 15 minutes away; while Rockport is less than half an hour away.

Getting your group to Portland is easy: the city is only seven miles from downtown Corpus Christi and accessible from two major highways, US Highway 181 and State Highway 35. Corpus Christi International Airport is 20 miles away.

The city provides lodging choices for all budgets, with nine hotels located within five minutes of the sports venues.  Group-friendly amenities are plentiful, including free breakfasts, pools, free Wi-Fi and laundry rooms. Shops and restaurants are within easy walking distance of the hotels, making it easy to feed and entertain the team and parents.

Find out more at playportlandtexas.com.