The Chicago Southland Gives Sports the MVP Treatment

As restrictions continue to ease in Illinois, the sales team at the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to welcome you and your sporting events back to the Chicago Southland! In the Chicago Southland, we value all our sports business, no matter the size. Whether we are hosting a small regional tournament or a large national competition, we provide our MVP treatment to all sports groups.

Located within close proximity to downtown Chicago and made up of 62 south and southwest suburbs, the Chicago Southland region is an ideal sporting event location. The region is accessible via several major interstates and is located minutes away from both Midway and O’Hare International Airports. Interstates 55, 57, 80, 94, 294 and 355 serve the Chicago Southland, so it is easily reachable from all directions. In fact, the Chicago Southland can be reached from eight different states within five hours, making it the ideal choice for regional events and tournaments! 

The Chicago Southland has a multitude of facilities capable of accommodating upwards of 45 sports. SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Southland Center in Lynwood and Ozinga Field in Crestwood are just a few of the incredible venues that can be found in the Chicago Southland. 

SeatGeek Stadium was built for professional soccer and features a full-size field with natural grass that can be covered to allow for additional events. SeatGeek Stadium can hold up to 20,000 sporting event fans and features 34 executive suites and six stage suites. If you’re looking for flexible indoor/outdoor event space, look no further than the Southland Center, which holds the largest continuous portable wood court flooring in the Western Hemisphere (and is the second-largest in the world) from April-October. Ozinga Field is home to the professional Windy City ThunderBolts baseball team and has the capacity for over 3,500 fans. 

There are over 20 sports facilities that sporting event planners can choose from, and over 5,000 hotel rooms. Plus, the Chicago Southland is home to the only EVEN Hotel in Illinois, connected to the Tinley Park Convention Center. The convention center features 58,000 square feet of column-free floor space, making it the perfect venue for sports such as martial arts, gymnastics and wrestling. Other hotel brands you know and trust, such as the DoubleTree and Holiday Inn, can also be found in the Chicago Southland, making it a breeze to find the perfect accommodations for your athletes. 

The Chicago Southland CVB’s attention to detail in hosting sports events has merited many awards and recognitions. We’ve built a reputation of going the distance to guarantee sports planners have all the necessary assistance to ensure a great event. The CSCVB has been honored with three Sports Destination Management Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism Awards, among many others. Past events that the Chicago Southland has hosted include the National Paintball League Chicago Open, the National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s Junior and Women’s Championships and the USHL Combines & Player Evaluation Camp. 

As we begin to welcome sporting events back to the Chicago Southland region, you can rest assured that our Chicago Southland partners are working hard to ensure the safety of all attendees. Face coverings and social distancing guidelines are still in place in Illinois. Local venues and hotels continue to enforce frequent cleanings and other safety measures, such as capacity limitations and CDC-recommended sanitation guidelines. 

The Chicago Southland is known for our variety of sports venues, our convenient location and easy accessibility, making our region a unique destination. Athletes and their families win with our complimentary services, affordable and comfortable hotels as well as an abundance of family-friendly restaurants and attractions. The Chicago Southland provides the perfect space to play. When you’re ready, we’re here to welcome you to the Chicago Southland! 

Want to learn more? Contact us!

Kristy Stevens, Sports Market Manager
Kristy@VisitChicagoSouthland.com
PlayChicagoSouthland.com
888-895-8233 SDM