New Homes for Away Teams

In gymnastics, it’s all about the landing. In baseball and softball, it’s all about making it to home plate. And in running, it’s all about the finish line.

The continued evolution of sports venues – updates to surfaces, construction methods, lighting, security and amenities – all plays into creating the best possible experience for athletes, making it possible for them to break records and bring home trophies. A supportive and efficient staff makes it easier for event owners and rights holders to do their job and put on the best competition possible. And on all sides, memories are made.

What follows is a compilation of some of the best sports facilities in the nation. Sit back, read on and prepare to be inspired. Your athletes certainly will be.

California: Bakersfield
Kaiser Permanente Sports Village
Located along Taft Highway between Ashe Road and Gosford Road, the Kaiser Permanente Sports Village is a 170-acre regional sports complex. The project is designed to meet local recreational demands and to attract and accommodate regional, state and national athletic competitions. When completed, the venue will include active and passive recreational activities, indoor sports and meeting facilities, multi-purpose trails, ample parking, concession areas, picnic areas, restrooms, a lake, a city maintenance service yard and commercial areas to support and complement the Sports Village.

The entire Sports Village will be enhanced with native plantings and surrounded by a 100-foot-wide landscaped berm to buffer sports field activities from adjacent homes. Areas for active recreational opportunities include football fields, baseball/softball fields, soccer fields, community center with basketball courts and fitness center. A 15-foot-wide multi-purpose path located along the perimeter and throughout the Sports Village will attract walkers, bicyclists and inline skaters. Landscaped and lighted parking lots that can accommodate nearly 3,000 vehicles will provide convenient access to multiple venues.

Idaho: Bannock
Bannock County Event Center
The Bannock County Event Center is situated on approximately 80 acres overlooking the cities of Pocatello and Chubbuck. It is dedicated to promoting health and wellness, in addition to providing multi-purpose facilities for public use. The Event Center provides leisure and recreational amenities while maintaining a family atmosphere. Amenities offered at the Event Center include five arenas with various features. Buildings and barns are available for community use. The Bannock Event Center also offers monthly and nightly stalls for livestock, and a year-round RV park.

As a new addition to the Event Center, a state-of-the-art events facility known as the Portneuf Wellness Complex has doubled the size and quality of the Event Center for the public to enjoy. The complex includes 11 full-size multi-use sports fields, a championship field, two basketball courts and a sand volleyball court. It also includes an 11,000-seat amphitheater a seven-acre lake with a swimming beach and stocked for fishing. The center is looped by a biking/walking path and a mountain bike park. There is truly something for everyone at Bannock Events Center.

Illinois: Champaign
Dodds Park
Whether it’s an afternoon of baseball, softball, soccer or disc golf, Dodds Park in Champaign, Illinois, is an Outside of Ordinary venue for any tournament. Sitting on over 110 acres, Dodds Park, adjacent to Parkland College, features seven exceptional baseball and softball fields with lighting and permanent concessions and restrooms.

Across the park, are 11 tournament- quality soccer fields of various sizes for all levels of play. An 18-hole disc golf course surrounds the scenic park, wrapping around the Tribute to Olympic and Paralympic Athletes, honoring the achievements of over 40 Champaign County residents who have participated in the Games.

Dodds Park, managed by the Champaign Park District, is centrally located in Champaign, with easy access off of I-57, I-74 and I-72. With over 4,200 hotel rooms in the area, an award-winning culinary scene and the University of Illinois — a Big Ten school — right in the backyard, rights holders and athletes clamor to play on the immaculate fields at Dodds Park, and revel in the history of the legends that call Champaign-Urbana home.

Illinois: Chicago Southland
Southland Center
From baseball to soccer, basketball to volleyball, the Southland Center, a Ho-Chunk Nation Enterprise, in Lynwood, Illinois, can host a multitude of sports.

The Southland Center’s recently installed 41,000 square feet of portable wood court flooring is available April-October and is the largest continuous portable wood court floor in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest in the world. When laid out, this flooring can accommodate 10 basketball or 14 volleyball courts. Four basketball courts, four volleyball courts and two state-of-the-art Desso turf fields are available November-March.

Also new is updated LED lighting throughout the facility. When hosting tournaments there, planners have been very pleased with the quality of the wood flooring, scoreboards and nets, in addition to the center’s open atmosphere, attention to detail, customer service and cleanliness.

The center includes its own on-site bar and restaurant, as well as a 17,000-square-foot special events room. The Southland Center is ADA compliant and features over 1,200 parking spaces, with Wi-Fi available throughout the building. Not only is the Southland Center an excellent location for hosting a wide variety of sporting events, it’s also conveniently located near highways. More information is available at PlayChicagoSouthland.com.

Illinois: Peoria
Peoria Civic Center
Located in downtown Peoria, the Peoria Civic Center is the largest event facility in downstate Illinois. The facility has 900,000 square feet of space, ensuring that it can accommodate events of all sizes.

The 11,330-seat Carver Arena is the home to Bradley Men’s Basketball and the Peoria Rivermen professional hockey team. For over 20 years, it has also been home to the Illinois High School Association Boys Basketball State Finals.

The 110,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall can hold a number of sporting events, including basketball, volleyball, wrestling, martial arts, cheerleading and gymnastics. High ceilings and portable bleachers make it easily accommodating. Event owners looking for a reception room will find the Peoria Civic Center ballroom and Lexus Club can hold any size function.

For event owners who need catering, SAVOR…Peoria is ready to serve food and beverage needs for any event. They cater everything from formal dinners to concessions.

An indoor skywalk attaches the Peoria Civic Center to two of downtown’s largest hotels, making it easily accessible all year. Overall, the state-of-the-art facilities, first class catering and concessions, easy-access parking and a friendly staff all assist in making the Peoria Civic Center a premier indoor sporting facility in the Midwest.

Illinois: Rockford
UW Health Sports Factory
Rockford’s latest premier multi-use indoor sports venue is the UW Health Sports Factory (UWHSF), which spans 105,000 flexible square feet of space, complete with maple hardwood floors and a 35-foot ceiling. UWHSF features eight regulation-size basketball courts, each of which is equipped with its own scoreboards and shot clocks. The same courts convert in seconds to 16 volleyball courts with state-of-the-art netting systems that drop from the ceiling. Moreover, the facility offers five meeting rooms, a downtown riverfront boardwalk and patio entertainment spaces, more than 450 onsite parking spaces, an upstairs full-service restaurant, and downstairs concessions.

Historically a soccer, softball and baseball town, the Rockford region also features Mercyhealth Sportscore One and Two (MHSC1, MHSC2), two complexes near hotel campuses that total 43 outdoor regulation soccer fields (six that are lighted and artificial turf at MHSC2), eight baseball/softball diamonds, and 200,000 square feet of turf space at the Indoor Sports Center. All sports can be accommodated in the Rockford area.

Indiana: Hamilton County
Grand Park Sports Campus
Hamilton County is an incredible sporting event destination and home to one of the largest sports complexes in the United States. Located in the heart of Westfield, Indiana, the Grand Park Sports Campus hosts numerous youth and adult recreational sports tournaments from all around the globe.

The 400-acre campus boasts 31 multi-purpose fields for soccer, football, rugby, field hockey and lacrosse, and 26 outdoor diamonds for baseball and softball. The Grand Park Events Center offers a 300,000-square-foot indoor turf space with three full-size indoor soccer fields and a mezzanine concourse for spectator viewing.

Not only does Grand Park host elite youth sports tournaments throughout the year, it also features several professional teams. The campus is the official training facility of Indy Eleven of the United Soccer League, and home of the Indianapolis Colts Training Camp through 2028.

Most recently, Grand Park has garnered the 2018 Reader’s Choice Award for Favorite Outdoor Venue by Sports Destination Management, as well as hosted the Crossroads of America College Showcase, which was named a 2018 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by SDM. The showcase brought in over 9,400 room nights and over $30 million in economic impact to the community.

Maryland: Wicomico County
Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex
Wicomico County, Maryland, is a prime destination for softball tournaments, with a newly expanded athletic complex and a beautiful location on Maryland’s Eastern Shore between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay.

The Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex is the area’s premier outdoor sports facility and has recently undergone a $3 million expansion. The complex now offers eight softball/baseball fields, four of which have synthetic turf infields. Six of the fields are lighted, and two have a press box and scoreboards.

Other amenities include concession stands, meeting space, Wi-Fi, batting cages and more. There is plenty of free parking.
The park is encompassed by shade trees and is ideal for hosting major tournaments. The complex has been the host facility to multiple national championship events.

Recently, LiveBarn was introduced at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex. LiveBarn provides online broadcasts of youth and amateur sports across the U.S. and Canada. Games are broadcast both live and via on-demand replay.
For more information about the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex, visit www.WicoSports.org.

North Carolina: Asheville
Bob Lewis Ballpark
The Bob Lewis Ballpark is a world-class baseball and softball complex located in Asheville, North Carolina. Surrounded by the beautiful mountains, all seven fields are fully lit and have turf infields which enable play under even the most adverse weather conditions.

This facility was designed with the athlete and fan experience in mind. Amenities include covered dugouts, bleachers and shelters. There are two concession stands as well as a batting cage and lighted bullpen, along with a press box and maintenance facility.

Conveniently located near the intersection of Interstates 40 and 26, the facility is easily accessible to most of the Southeastern United States. Bob Lewis Ballpark is already popular with tournament directors; in 2019, the schedule began in March and currently runs through the end of October. And in addition to hosting competitive play, the park is available for camps, clinics and practices as well as corporate events and community gatherings.

Enka Youth Sports Organization at Bob Lewis Ballpark is a baseball and softball facility promoting the mental and physical development of youth in a family environment. The organization fosters growth through competition, sportsmanship and hard work and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

North Carolina: Goldsboro
Bryan Multi-Sports Complex
The Bryan Multi-Sports Complex is a modern, state-of-the-art multi-sports venue, located across 63 acres, in Goldsboro, the heart of Eastern North Carolina.

At the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex, athletes can compete under the contrails of F-15E Strike Eagles. With eight all-weather playing fields, premium restrooms and 400-plus paved parking spots, this venue is an exciting fit for any field sport and cross-country event.

The Bryan Multi-Sports Complex is able to comfortably host tournaments any time of year thanks to its all-weather playing fields and North Carolina’s temperate climate. Added to that, the City of Goldsboro has over 1,000 hotel rooms within five miles of the complex.

However, what makes this venue truly unique is that it provides athletes the opportunity to practice and compete right alongside the country’s heroes, since Goldsboro is proud home to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

Features:
• Eight fields- 75 yards x 120 yards, sized to specification
• Six irrigated Bermuda hybrid on irrigated soil and two artificial turf fields installed on engineered soil
• Walking trails
• State-of-the-art field house equipped with concession facilities and meeting space
• Premium restrooms
• Over 400 paved parking spots
• F-4E Phantom on static display welcoming visitors to the site

Ohio: Butler County
Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center
The Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center is a world-class swimming and diving facility in Oxford, Ohio. It’s home to Miami University’s water sports teams and other aquatic activities. Featuring an eight-lane, 50-meter pool and separate 25-meter diving well, this facility is large and flexible for a variety of aquatic events. The diving well includes one-, three-, five-, seven-, and 10-meter platforms in addition to one- and three-meter springboards. The Center also offers practice equipment and space for divers including those doing spotting belt work and dry-land training without water immersion.

Highlighting the quality of the venue, the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center has hosted many prestigious events including USA Synchronized Swimming Collegiate National Championships, Diving Junior National Championships, Ohio Senior USS Championships, MAC Swimming & Diving Championships and many other premier events.

For more information on booking an event at the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center, contact Dana McConnaughey at Dana@TravelButlerCounty.com or 513-860-4194.

Ohio: Sandusky
Cedar Point Sports Center
Opening in Winter 2020, Cedar Point Sports Center will be the Midwest’s ultimate sports, events and entertainment destination located in Sandusky, Ohio, along the scenic North Coast and beautiful Lake Erie.

This facility will offer over 145,000 square feet of space with 10 basketball hardwood courts or 20 volleyball courts, a championship arena with retractable seating, on-site café and concessions, meeting and event spaces, on-site sports medicine center, and a 9,500-square-foot entertainment center with climbing walls, a ninja course and arcade.

From sports tournaments to birthday parties, this state-of-the-art facility will provide big-league service and amenities coupled with the thrill of celebrating at Cedar Point, one of the world’s best amusement park destinations. For more information or to book an event, event owners and rights holders can visit cpsports.com.

Oklahoma: Broken Arrow
Nienhuis Park Sports Complex
Nienhuis Park Sports Complex is located on a 109-acre site, home to Nienhuis Park Community Center, Youth Football/Lacrosse Complex, Nienhuis Aquatic Facility, Skate Park, Memorial Rose Garden, nine-hole disc golf course, two tennis courts, outdoor basketball court, stocked ponds, walking trails and Fire Station No. 6. Nienhuis Park football/lacrosse fields are available for team, tournament and game rentals.

The Football/Lacrosse Complex includes:
• Two full-size synthetic turf stadium fields, which include scoreboards, press boxes and P.A. system, as well as stadium seating for both home and away teams with handicap accessibility
• Two full-size grass stadium fields, which include scoreboards, press boxes, P.A. system as well as stadium seating for both home and away teams with handicap accessibility
• Four 80 x 30-yard grass fields (each roughly convertible to full-size football). These fields are typically used for practices, overflow tournament and game fields, family outings/parties and smaller field events
• The four full-size field stadium complex includes private fencing for closed (ticketed) events, concessions and restrooms
• Large event parking with overflow accessibility.

Information about Nienhuis Park Sports Complex is available by calling 918-251-1015. Information on fun family activities is available from the Broken Arrow Convention and Visitors’ Bureau at 866-503-7081 or VisitBrokenArrowOK.com.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Boathouse District
The Oklahoma City Boathouse District is the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site for Canoe, Kayak and Rowing, hosting both whitewater and flatwater events. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials, U.S. National Team Trials and Canada National Team Trials have all been held at the venue. The training site covers 75 acres along the Oklahoma River and is located 10 minutes from Downtown Oklahoma City’s entertainment hub.

The 4,000-meter dammed section of the river is capable of hosting both head and sprint style flatwater races for multiple water sports within rowing and paddling. The last 500 meters of the sprint course is lined with stadium lights, creating a unique opportunity for competitors to race at night. The Oklahoma City Boathouse District is the only venue with permanent lighting and night racing.

The boathouse district is also home to RIVERSPORT Rapids, a $45 million, 11-acre, man-made whitewater rafting and kayaking center. The class II-IV whitewater rapids are powered by six pumps weighing six tons each.

The district includes two boathouses, a whitewater center and a finish line tower that can be rented out for indoor or outdoor events, with space capacity ranging from 68 to 450. Each event space offers floor-to-ceiling windows that provide an extraordinary view of the Oklahoma River.

For more information, visit https://www.riversportokc.org/contact-us/
For detailed event space information, visit www.riversportokc.org/private-events/event-centers/.

Oregon: Redmond
Deschutes Fair & Expo Center
Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center (whose motto is, “We really can do it all”) is the perfect location for virtually any type of sports event. The 320-acre complex includes the First Interstate Bank Center, with its NBA-regulation basketball court and scoreboard, as well as 200,000 square feet of flexible indoor space, perfect for everything from wrestling to cheerleading and more.

The Expo Complex also includes four livestock arenas – one indoor, one outdoor and two covered outdoor spaces – perfect for equestrian and rodeo events, as well as other animal shows. There is an off-road racetrack for motor sports and a full-service RV park with 200 acres of parking. All that comes with an unparalleled panoramic view of seven snow-capped mountain peaks, including Mount Bachelor, the Three Sisters: North, Middle and South, Brokentop and Mount Jefferson.

First Interstate Bank Center can host a variety of sporting events including BMX racing and motorsports as well as rodeo, boxing, gymnastics and other indoor sports. Redmond is also home to the Bend/Redmond Regional Airport and an outstanding array of lodging accommodations. Known as the playground of the Pacific Northwest, Redmond enjoys over 300 days annually of high desert sunshine, perfect for abundant four-season recreation, championship golf and world-class skiing.

Pennsylvania: Delaware County
Talen Energy Stadium
Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Talen Energy Stadium is a multi-purpose facility featuring an 18,500-seat stadium used for sporting events and live entertainment. The stadium contains a natural grass surface that covers the 120-yard x 75-yard field, making it suitable for sports like soccer, football, lacrosse and rugby. The stadium includes 30 luxury suites, a full-service club restaurant and state-of-the-art amenities, such as their cantilevered roofs running above the Main and Bridge Stands, protecting the crowd without obstructing the spectacular view of the Delaware River.

In addition to being the home of the Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, some other signature events hosted at this venue include the “Battle of the Blue” featuring Villanova University and University of Delaware football, USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship, multiple installments of the Army-Navy Cup, NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Quarterfinals and the Big East Soccer Championship.

Conveniently located outside of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia International Airport, and accessible by all major highways, Delaware County delivers something for every sports fan. For more information on this venue, visit the website, https://visitdelcopa.com/attraction/philadelphia-union/, or call 610-565-3679.

Pennsylvania: Lancaster
Spooky Nook Sports
Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Spooky Nook Sports is the largest indoor sports complex in North America. With 14 acres under a single roof, The Nook will be the best choice to create an experience unlike any other by providing regulation courts and playing fields for more than a dozen sports under one roof. The staff’s mission is to create incredible places for people to gather, develop, play and compete.

On-site athletic training is just one of the benefits of hosting a sports event with The Nook, but that’s just the beginning. The Nook also features extensive recreational facilities, including a climbing center, fitness center, food court and arcade, as well as event and meeting spaces. It’s a place where athletes, fans, families and businesses can get together in groups large and small to enjoy unique, world-class facilities. Spooky Nook’s goal is to help planners host an event as unique as they are.

From individual fitness training to birthday parties to national sporting events, The Nook is a one-stop-shop. At any one time, it can accommodate 30 basketball games, 46 volleyball games or 10 field hockey games. This 700,000-square-foot indoor facility also includes a full-sized baseball infield. Every consideration has been taken to create an unparalleled experience for guests.

For more information on Spooky Nook, visit: www.spookynooksports.com

Pennsylvania: Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County
Mohegan Sun Arena
Mohegan Sun Arena is a world-class venue located in the heart of Northeast Pennsylvania. Conveniently located off Interstate 81 and just minutes from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Arena is the perfect setting for tournaments, camps and exhibitions, with 7,000-plus seats, in-house security, high-speed Internet, catering and concessions.

The Arena has hosted events including the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling Tournament twice in the last 10 years. Other events that can be hosted are volleyball, hockey, tennis, lacrosse, basketball, cheer and gymnastics. In addition to the 17,000-square-foot performance space on the Event Level, there are 11 meeting rooms/locker rooms and an additional 5,000 square feet of meeting space. On the Concourse Level, there is an additional 7,000 square feet of space, plenty of restrooms and concession stands.

Lodging is plentiful around the Arena, with over 4,000 hotel rooms within 20 minutes. More than 30 restaurants surround the Arena area as well as major shopping areas. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is 15 minutes from the Arena and offers service by several major airlines. Attendees at events held at the Arena have consistently remarked about the hospitality of the staff and the staff of Visit Luzerne County. More information is available from MoheganSunArenapa.com and visitluzernecounty.com.

South Carolina: Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach Sports Center
The Myrtle Beach Sports Center, a 100,000-square-foot state-of-the-art indoor sports facility and an outstanding addition to Myrtle Beach’s impressive sports venue roster, opened in March 2015.

The indoor facility features eight basketball courts and 16 volleyball courts spread over 72,000 square feet of column-free hardwood space. The venue has been designed to host court sports, wrestling, gymnastics, table tennis, pickleball, and other sports events as well as trade shows.

To service the event space, there are seven team rooms, telescopic bleachers, a private mezzanine for elevated viewing and a café with indoor/outdoor seating.

Tennessee: Columbia
Ridley Park Sports Complex
After the recent completion of an impressive $7 million expansion, Ridley Park Sports Complex is a modern, multi-purpose sports facility featuring 10 softball fields and nine rectangular fields perfect for tournament play. Soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, Ultimate, softball and baseball can all find a home at Ridley Park.

Among the notable events happening at Ridley is the annual Midstate Classic Softball Tournament that takes place each spring. Some 3,000 spectators make their way to Ridley for an opportunity to see this collegiate girls’ softball doubleheader hosted each year by the City of Columbia and the host softball team University of Tennessee Lady Vols.

Specs for Ridley Park Sports Complex include:
• 10 Softball fields - includes one championship field
• Nine rectangular fields for soccer, football, lacrosse, Ultimate and rugby (60 yards x 120 yards). Includes one championship field with built-in bleachers, a press box, combination goal/goalpost and an underdrain irrigation system to reduce the effects of inclement weather
• Four concession stands
• Parking for over 1,000 vehicles
• All-LED lit complex
• Tifway 419 Bermuda grass on softball fields
• Latitude 36 Bermuda grass on soccer fields
• Restroom facilities
• Meeting room (can be divided to create two separate rooms)

Texas: Arlington
Esports Stadium Arlington + EXPO Center
At 100,000 square feet, Esports Stadium Arlington + EXPO Center is the No. 1 esports destination in North America and has the most extensive and technologically advanced LED/audio setup available. This venue is designed for effortless set-up and tear-down for any size tournament and is capable of handling even the most complex electrical, utility and communications needs.

The competition arena itself boasts a 90-foot-long LED board and features an immersive, 5.1 surround sound system built on a Dante IP audio network and a dynamic theatrical lighting system. The main stage can accommodate events ranging from 1 v 1 to 7 v 7 and up to 100 game stations for battle royale competitions. The venue also hosts conferences and corporate events outside of esports and seating can be scaled for up to 2,500 spectators.

In addition to daily pay-to-play gaming, Esports Stadium Arlington + EXPO Center hosts weekly and monthly meetups, tournaments and other events inside a mini area Gaming Center to further enhance the community experience. The stadium’s Team Area focuses on training and provides players with a communal space comprising eight team rooms for gamers to strategize in as well as the Player Lounge where they can relax and socialize.

Tournament directors also have access to a 48,000-square-foot attached exhibit hall, modular breakout space for press, catering options and much more.

Texas: Beaumont
Ford Park Entertainment Complex
The Ford Park Entertainment Complex located in Beaumont, Texas, off IH-10, houses the Ford Park Arena, Exhibit Hall, Fields, Pavilion, Midway and Ag Barns.

The Arena seats 8,500 in stadium seating and the 34,000-square-foot Arena floor holds 250 - 1,000 in banquet seating, making it perfect for a variety of events including national touring concerts, family shows, conventions and sports events.

The Exhibit Hall offers 48,000 square feet of exhibit space, 11,000 square feet of pre-function lobby space and eight meeting rooms that can be utilized for banquets, consumer shows, conventions and more.

There are 12 youth softball/baseball championship-caliber, all-weather turf infields at Ford Park Fields with a centralized gate and concessions.

The Ford Pavilion seats over 14,000 in total with 6,200 seats under a cover, ideal for concerts.

The nine-acre paved Midway and Ag Barns include a 44,660-square-foot covered and enclosed practice arena and 25,375-square-foot covered and enclosed ag barn to make up the rest of the outdoor accommodations at the complex.

Ford Park Entertainment Complex offers a variety of space and ample parking that can fit any meeting or event.

Texas: Bryan College Station
E.B. Cushing Stadium
E.B. Cushing Stadium is the exact definition of an outstanding venue. Opened in April 2019, this “Cushy” $39.8 million track & field facility boasts a North American first atop a lengthy list of impressive amenities. Unique to North America, E.B. Cushing Stadium encompasses two full-sized running ovals, with one track entirely dedicated to warm-up activities. Quoted as being a game changer, E.B. Cushing Stadium’s warm-up track alongside its primary nine-lane running oval and sprint straightaway is already catching the attention of some of the more respected names in the track & field sector.

To further the venue’s dedication to excellence, E.B. Cushing Stadium’s primary track surface is constructed by Beynon and offers a specialized, high performance synthetic athletic surface designed for speed, competition and daily training. The surface is resilient by formulation and the physical properties of the IAAF certified system suppress change as they are exposed to the elements.

Cushing Stadium’s dedicated warm-up running oval, its innovative track surface and its amenities, including officials’ quarters, an athletes’ lounge and a cutting-edge press box, make E.B. Cushing Stadium arguably the most outstanding track & field venue in the nation.

Texas: Portland Sports Complex and Municipal Park
In Portland, Texas, located in Texas’ Coastal Bend region on Corpus Christi Bay, two exceptional sports facilities opened in 2017 with all-synthetic turf fields. Youth and adult 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.

The 38-acre Sports Complex features four softball fields that are also suitable for baseball and soccer, a youth football field that doubles as a UIL soccer field, and a multi-purpose artificial turf field. The 21-acre Municipal Park offers five state-of-the-art baseball fields that can be used for softball and soccer, a covered basketball court and a walking/jogging track. Both facilities are equipped with sports lighting, covered spectator seating, dugouts, scoreboards, batting cages, concession areas and playgrounds with splash pads.

Within 10 minutes of Portland, groups can explore the Texas State Aquarium and the U.S.S. Lexington, a World War II aircraft carrier and museum. Padre Island National Seashore, just south of Corpus Christi, features some of the best beaches in Texas. Activities abound, from kayaking and kite boarding to fishing and bird watching.

More information is available at PlayPortlandTexas.com.

Texas: Round Rock Round Rock Multipurpose Complex
Round Rock carries the title of Sports Capital of Texas, and the new Multipurpose Complex has boosted the city’s athletic reputation even more. The Round Rock Multipurpose Complex offers 10 versatile outdoor fields on 60 acres of open space to accommodate all varieties of sports lover.

Players love the new landmark facility that provides configurations for every outdoor sport, including rugby, football, soccer, Ultimate and more. Located in Old Settlers Park, the complex offers 10 fields: four natural grass multi-purpose fields, one natural grass championship field, four synthetic turf multi-purpose fields and one synthetic turf championship field.

Spectators appreciate official Musco sports lighting on all 10 fields at night, permanent seating with shade structures during the day, and over 900 parking spaces for convenient access. The Round Rock Multipurpose Complex also provides an all-star view from the clubhouse, with meeting rooms overlooking the fields.

Every player, fan and family will find something to love at the new Round Rock Multipurpose Complex. Additional amenities include playgrounds, plazas, pavilions and more.

More information is available at the website, SportsCapitalofTexas.com or by contacting Nancy Yawn at nyawn@roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-7094.

Virginia: Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Sports Center
With the new Virginia Beach Sports Center coming in 2020, a 150,000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall across the street, over 35 multi-purpose fields, 11,000 hotel rooms, and miles of beautiful public beaches for event owners to access, Virginia Beach is ready to give its best so that athletes can bring theirs.

Event owners and rights holders will enjoy not only the full support of the Virginia Beach team of sports marketing professionals, devoted to the details that make every event a success, but an entire network of hotels, restaurants, venues, attractions and services ready to pitch in.

The new Virginia Beach Sports Center will set the stage for athletes to test their will at the highest level. This state-of-the-art facility will host a diverse roster of sporting events and tournaments when it opens in November 2020. The venue is located across the street from the Virginia Beach Convention Center and just steps away from local shops, restaurants and attractions, including the beautiful boardwalk and beaches of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

With 285,000 square feet of space, including 12 basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts, a 200-meter, hydraulically banked track, seating for 5,000 spectators and more, the sky’s the limit when it comes to uses for this new facility. More information is available at VBSportsCenter.com. SDM