Here’s a GREAT opportunity for a city interested in welcoming a multigenerational activity. The National Senior Games Association is seeking a city to host its 2027 event.
What you’ll need: Multiple sports facilities, hotel and lodging options, a can-do attitude, and the ability to communicate with the event owner.
To begin, the RFP can be found here.
The NSGA exists today as a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of competitive sports, physical fitness and active aging to adults ages 50+. NSGA Member Organizations hold annual games with qualifying competitions in the year preceding the National Senior Games. Athletes that meet specific criteria while participating in the State Senior Games qualify to participate.
The National Senior Games (The Games), a 20+ sport, biennial competition for men and women 50 and over, is the largest qualified multi-sport event in the world for seniors. To date, the NSGA has held 19 summer national championships.
The National Senior Games are traditionally staged in a host city during a mutually agreed upon timeframe between late May and early September. Several key factors will assist with determining the Games’ dates including venue availability, hotels, climate and other scheduled events. The Games are typically 12 days in length.
Information on required investment, hotel needs and more can be found in the RFP.
Need-to-Know Numbers:
- 11,500+ athletes
- 15,500+ families and friends
- 1,200+ volunteers
- 50+ member organizations
- 18+ venues
- 10+ days of competition
- 20+ sports
- 800+ medal events
- $32 MILLION economic impact
- 20,000 hotel nights
Sports to be hosted:
Core Sports:
- Archery
- Basketball
- Badminton
- Bowling
- Cornhole
- Golf
- Pickleball
- Power Walk
- Road Race
- Shuffleboard
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
Additional Sport Considerations:
- Beach Volleyball
- Billiards
- Bocce
- Cycling
- Dance
- Disc Golf
- Esports
- Flag Football
- Kickball
- Mountain Biking
- Power Lifting
- Race Walk
- Racquetball
- Rock Climbing
- Shooting
- Tai Chi
- Trail Running
- Triathlon
Sports Venue Specifications:
- Archery 40-54 shooting lanes. Two soccer fields side by side.
- Badminton 8-10 courts (3 badminton courts fit on one basketball court)
- Basketball 12-16 half-courts (6-8 full courts)
- Beach Volleyball 8-12 sand courts
- Billiards 8-16 tables (88” x 44” minimum table dimension)
- Bowling * 32-48 lanes
- Cornhole * 20-25 sets of boards
- Cycling 5K & 10K time trial – straight/flat road course; 20K & 40K road race
- Disc Golf 1-3 (18-hole) courses
- Golf 3-4 (18-hole) courses
- Pickleball * 45-50 indoor or outdoor courts
- Power Lifting 3-5 setups for each (squat, bench, deadlift)
- Power Walk 1,500M track/5,000M flat road course
- Road Race 1 Mile/5K/10K certified courses
- Shuffleboard * 12-16 indoor courts
- Soccer 3-6 full soccer fields (8v8)
- Softball 8-10 softball fields (300-foot outfield)
- Swimming 8-10 short course lanes – Olympic-Size pool - warm up area available
- Table Tennis 28-32 tables
- Tai Chi Open indoor space (approx. 5,000sq ft.)
- Tennis 18-24 similar surface courts
- Track & Field 8-lane 400M track with Javelin, Discus, Shot Put, Long Jump, High Jump and Pole Vault areas
- Triathlon Sprint distance – 400M swim, 20K bike, 5K run
- Volleyball 14-16 courts
* = Non-Ambulatory Divisions also included in this sport
Athlete Village: Host must provide necessary equipment and space to produce “The Village.” The Village shall be contiguous with or adjacent to the main hub of athletic activity utilizing approximately 30,000 to 50,000 square feet.
Economic Impact: This year’s National Senior Games, held in Pittsburgh, was honored in SDM’s awards program, Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism, having made more than $30 million.
Year-Out Celebration (YOC)
Host Community and NSGA will co-produce a public event approximately one year in advance of the event which serves as an awareness piece, focusing on the event and in keeping with the theme of The Games.
Flame Arrival Ceremony (FAC)
Occurs near the beginning of The Games. FAC shall include a torch run or mock run, lighting of event cauldron, speeches by appropriate officials and entertainment for 45–60 minutes, with an approximate 1,500 athletes in attendance.
Celebration of Athletes (COA)
Produce a combination opening/closing ceremony conducted during the middle of competition, known as the “Celebration of Athletes” (COA). It shall feature a parade of athletes/states into a stadium or arena, with approximate space for 5,000+ attendees.
DEADLINE: All bids will be kept confidential and not shared with other communities. Please include any additional enhancements or amenities to support and strengthen your proposal. Letters of Intent must be received electronically by 5:00 PM ET on December 1, 2023. Final proposals must be received by 5:00 PM ET on February 15, 2024.
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