Water Supply

Swimming,  unlike many activities that drive sports tourism, attracts lifelong competitors. Whether 5 or 85, swimmers of all ages are on swim teams, in swim clubs or otherwise seeking to compete. USA Swimming counts more than 380,000 members, many of whom participate in local, regional and national meets. And nearly 70,000 adults are members of U.S. Masters Swimming, which sanctions about 700 pool and open-water events, clinics and camps for swimmers 18 and older every year.
 

At the high school level, almost 255,000 boys and girls participated on swimming and diving teams during the 2023-24 school year, according to the National Federation of State of High School Associations, and the sports remain in the top 10 most popular high school sports for both boys and girls. Then there are the countless recreational swim teams around the country that participate in summer-only leagues, as well as other swimming organizations sponsoring various events.
 

One commonality among all of these groups is the need for aquatic facilities with the capacity to host everything from dual meets to invitationals that feature hundreds of swimmers. Fortunately, many destinations place a priority on swimming — and diving, too. With the cooperation of strong local aquatics communities and facility operators dedicated to promoting water sports, the following eight cities and counties are making waves in the swimming and diving world.

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Auburn, Alabama

Referred to by locals as “the coolest college town in the South and his older sister,” the twin cities of Auburn and Opelika in eastern Alabama combine to create a major competitive swimming and diving environment. The James E. Martin Aquatic Center is a centerpiece of the area’s aquatics culture, renowned for hosting prestigious events like the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships and the U.S. Open Swimming Championships. The facility offers an Olympic-size pool with movable bulkheads, an advanced wave-absorbing gutter system, platforms for diving from as high as 10 meters and seating for more than 1,000 spectators.
 

There’s also the Opelika SportsPlex & Aquatics Center, which completed an expansion in 2024 and now offers a 50-meter outdoor competition pool with diving bulkheads and covered spectator seating for 675. This complements the facility’s eight-lane, 25-yard indoor pool.
 

Auburn’s high school and community swim programs, including the Auburn Aquatics Club and War Eagle Dive Club, foster local talent and ensure the community is invested in the sport, according to Travis Harrison, event and marketing specialist for Auburn-Opelika Tourism.
 

“What truly separates Auburn and Opelika is the seamless collaboration between local organizations like Auburn-Opelika Tourism, city governments and community programs,” Harrison says. “This partnership ensures that events are not only well organized but also tailored to meet the needs of athletes, organizers and spectators. The area’s reputation for excellence in collegiate athletics and its ability to consistently host prestigious national events further enhances its appeal.”
 

Morristown, Tennessee

About six hours north of Auburn-Opelika is Morristown Landing in Morristown, Tennessee. The three-year-old facility, designed for both competitive and recreational use, features a 25-meter-by-25-yard 11-lane competition pool, upper-deck spectator seating, Gen7 timing technology from Colorado Time Systems and 1-meter diving boards.
 

“Its central location and ability to host diverse aquatic events make it a prime choice for organizers,” says Sarah Brackins, the facility’s aquatics director. “It drives economic impact by attracting visitors to stay, dine and shop locally, while fostering community engagement through partnerships with local teams and programs.”
 

Morristown Landing is home to Lakeway Christian Academy’s high school swim team and the Red Piranha Swimming club. The versatile venue has also hosted the Tennessee State High School Water Polo Tournament, and it will host the Walters State Community College Underwater Robotics Competition in April.
 

Sarasota, Florida

Staying in the Southeast, Sarasota’s vibrant and well-supported competitive swimming environment draws teams and organizations to the Florida Gulf Coast year-round to train. The Selby Aquatic Center, with its 50-meter Olympic-size pool, serves as a premier training ground for elite athletes (including multiple Olympic swimmers). It is home to the Sarasota Sharks, one of the most successful and respected swim clubs in the country, according to Nate Sweetman, sports marketing manager for Visit Sarasota County.
 

Additionally, the Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex offers a 50-meter lap pool for training and a 25-yard instructional pool for skills development, while Nathan Benderson Park is renowned for hosting the USA Swimming Open Water National and Junior National Championships.
 

Other high-profile events Sarasota recently hosted include the U.S. Masters Swimming 2023 Summer National Championship (which brought more than 4,000 athletes and spectators to the area) and the 2024 Sarasota Sharks Open (which attracted more than 400 youth swimmers from around the country).
 

“Together, these venues create an attractive destination for aquatics events, combining state-of-the-art facilities, community support and Sarasota’s scenic appeal,” Sweetman says. “The region’s reputation as a training hub for top-tier swimmers and its capacity to host large-scale events make it a standout location in the aquatics world.”
 

Greensboro, North Carolina

Another popular southeastern swimming and diving destination is in north-central North Carolina at the Greensboro Aquatic Center (known locally as the GAC). Part of the expansive Greensboro Complex (formerly known as the Greensboro Coliseum Complex), the facility includes a 50-meter competition pool, a diving well and a separate warm-up pool and training pool, all equipped to meet international standards. This makes it ideal for hosting a wide range of aquatics events, from local meets to national championships, according to David Hoover, the GAC’s director.
 

“Organizers are attracted to the GAC not only for its state-of-the-art infrastructure but also for its capacity and flexibility,” Hoover says. “It can accommodate large crowds and offers configurable space for concurrent events, which is crucial for hosting multiple competitions or sessions simultaneously.”
 

He adds that the GAC has a reputation for professionalism in event management and a long track record of successfully hosting prestigious competitions, proving that aquatics definitely contributes to Greensboro’s status as “Tournament Town.”
 

The facility continues to host significant swimming and diving events, including the Speedo Winter Junior Championships East, the South Atlantic Conference Men’s and Women’s Swimming Championships, the Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming & Diving Championships and the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships. Next year, the GAC will host national championships for the YMCA, USA Swimming, U.S. Masters Swimming and USA Artistic Swimming.
 

In 2019, the GAC built an additional 50-meter training pool to assist with a surge in demand for aquatic space in the Greensboro area. That pool can accommodate 19 short-course yards lanes or eight 50-meter long-course lanes. The GAC also boasts systems that capture exhaust chloramines at water level to minimize odors and enhance indoor air quality. New LED lighting also has recently been installed in the main competition pool area, with future projects still in the planning stages, according to Hoover.
 

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Further north, in southeastern Pennsylvania, is another premier aquatic facility. The 21,000-square-foot Kunkel Aquatic Center and the 50-meter-by-25-yard McGinness Pool at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster holds almost 500 spectators and boasts a state-of-the-art UV purification system that allows for lower chlorine levels and cleaner air quality for both swimmers and spectators.
 

A recently upgraded videoboard system now displays color graphics for better fan and swimmer engagement, according to Joe Acquaviva, head coach of the college’s men’s and women’s swim teams. New platforms for judging relays also are in place, allowing officials to better view relay exchanges. What’s more, a planned tile cleaning this summer should make the deck sparkle like new.
 

“We also are one of the few indoor pools that can switch from 25-yard short course, with two pools that can run simultaneously, to a 50-meter long-course Olympic-size pool,” Acquaviva says.
 

Big meets at the venue have included the Easterns Championship (one of the leading prep school swimming and diving meets in the country), the New Jersey YMCA 13 & Over State Championship, the Centennial Conference Men’s and Women’s Swimming Championships and the Middle Atlantic Swimming Junior Championships.
 

Effingham, Illinois

It’s been nearly a decade since the Richard E. Workman Sports & Wellness Complex opened in Effingham, and it has significantly bolstered swimming- and diving-related sports tourism in the south-central Illinois city. The facility offers a 25-meter, eight lane competition pool with diving platforms and spectator seating, and it hosts several local and state meets. It also is home to two swim teams: a year-round USA Swimming club and a summer recreation program.
 

The city offers an outdoor option, too, with the six-lane Kluthe Memorial Pool. Meanwhile, an 800-acre lake has served as the swimming site for various triathlons.
 

“Effingham stands out from other aquatics destinations in the Midwest due to its combination of high-quality facilities, centralized location, community support and tourism grant program, all of which make it a prime choice for both competitive and recreational aquatics events,” says Jodi Thoele, director of tourism for the City of Effingham.
 

Lubbock, Texas

In northwest Texas, Lubbock “stands out with its rich history of hosting major swim and dive events, backed by experienced organizers and top-tier facilities,” according to Eric Launer, sports sales manager for Lubbock Sports.
 

Those facilities are anchored by the Pete Ragus Aquatic Center, a venue owned and operated by the Lubbock Independent School District and designed to host large-scale events. The indoor facility offers a 50-meter pool with eight lanes or a 25-yard pool with 16 lanes, plus a diving well.
 

The facility regularly hosts the Texas University Interscholastic League’s Region 1 Swimming and Diving Championship and the annual West Texas Champs, hosted by the Lubbock Swim Club.
 

“The city has built a reputation as a reliable host for major swim and dive events, offering a well-established infrastructure and experienced organizers [with a] supportive local community and proven success in handling high-profile competitions,” Launer says.
 

Fresno County, California

Two high school aquatics facilities in Fresno County have helped make this central California location a prime water sports destination.
 

The Clovis North High School Aquatics Complex is considered the region’s premier facility and features two parallel 50-meter pools, each 25 yards wide, and they were built with competitive swimming and water polo in mind, according to Andrew Smith, director of sales for Visit Fresno County. There’s also a diving well and on-deck seating for about 750, plus additional space for portable bleachers and pop-up canopies.
 

Meanwhile, Clovis West High School, which features a 50-meter pool, a diving well with a 10-meter platform and two smaller pools, recently completed a $7.5 million upgrade that included a new deck, timing system and massive shade structure.
 

Both Clovis West and Clovis North have hosted USA Swimming, USA Diving and USA Water Polo events, along with California Interscholastic Federation state championships and some of the largest high school invitationals on the west coast, according to Smith. Last summer, facilities at both schools welcomed the 2024 Arena Western Zone Senior Championships.
 

“These facilities are in high demand by planners due to the condition of the pools, which are state of art, and because of Clovis Unified School District’s dedicated sports staff,” he says. “Also, there are very few dive towers that compare to Clovis West in regard to high school facilities in California.”
 

A pool at another high school, Buchanan High, also hosts high-level water polo and swim meets.
 

“We have great weather, top-notch facilities and big-city amenities without the headache of big-city traffic and prices,” Smith says. “We pride ourselves on what we can offer as a destination.”  SDM