What You Need for Your Next Event: New Places, New Faces | Sports Destination Management

What You Need for Your Next Event: New Places, New Faces

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A Roundup of the Most Outstanding Venues in the U.S.
Aug 26, 2015 | By: Mary Helen Sprecher

What’s at the top of most people’s bucket lists? Traveling somewhere new and trying something different. And it’s savvy sports planners who know they should be incorporating these things into their own bucket lists (although in the trade, they’re more likely to be known as ‘to-do’ lists.)

Problem is, however, a lot of people don’t know where to start when it comes to finding a new location. It’s easy to cling to the familiar and successful. But just consider all the great things that can come out of a change of venue: a great new backdrop for the championship photos, new professional contacts, new experiences and – most important of all – great memories for the athletes.

Sports Destination Management wants to make it easy for you, turning the bucket list into a shortlist. On the following pages, you’ll find outstanding venues in an array of cities. Whether your event plays out in the pool, on the roads, on the trail, on the court, on the fields or anywhere else, you’ll find some great options here.

Start reading – and start the adventure now.

Bentonville, Arkansas
Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Park

Bentonville, Arkansas, is home to the award-winning Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Park. Boasting over 20 miles of the finest singletrack, Slaughter Pen was designed by two of the premier trail builders in the country, the International Mountain Biking Association and Progressive Trail Design.

Slaughter Pen Trails challenge riders while providing opportunities for skills improvement. Features include rock squeezes, stairs and 16 skinny Northshore log rides. With over 20 miles of trail just minutes from downtown Bentonville, Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Park is a great venue for hosting races including downhill competitions, free ride time trials, speed, short track and relays. The Annual Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Jam is the largest single mountain bike race in the state of Arkansas.

In 2014, the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) named Bentonville as a silver-level ride center, one of only ten in the entire world. The designation recognizes large-scale mountain bike facilities that offer something for every rider, including expert-only to family-friendly skill level trails and elements.

Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Park is a public park, owned and operated by the city of Bentonville. Those interested in hosting a cycling event in Bentonville can contact Jennifer Snow, sports manager, with Visit Bentonville at jennifer@visitbentonville.com.

Fayetteville, Arkansas
Stellar Sports Venues

Fayetteville has a winning strategy for hosting sporting events: combine world-class facilities, budget-friendly hotels, and small-town charm with big city attractions. This strategy won Fayetteville the title of No. 1 Sports City in Arkansas from Sports Illustrated.

For larger tournaments, the University of Arkansas’s SEC-caliber facilities have state-of-the-art fields and locker rooms and can accommodate track and field, soccer, softball, field hockey, lacrosse, racquetball, squash, swimming, volleyball and more.

For planners looking for a more standard tournament size venue, the Fayetteville High School football field seats 4,000 people. Walker Park offers eight baseball fields and the P. Whitaker Sports Center has five basketball and six volleyball courts. The city has more than 300 restaurants to refuel athletes; many of these offer banquet rooms and accept group reservations.

Fayetteville’s 2,300 hotel rooms provide options for almost any budget, and getting around town is easy and hassle-free. In between games, attendees can exercise their creativity at the nearby interactive Scott Family Amazeum or the world-renowned Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. They can also schedule some time to check out the newly completed Razorback Regional Greenway – 36 miles of walking, running and biking trails.

For a full list of sports facilities, visit experiencefayetteville.com.

Pomona, California
Fairplex

With its nearly 500-acre campus, Fairplex is the premier sports complex in Southern California. From racing to runs to cheerleading camps, Fairplex offers the facilities to hold an array of sporting events.

Versatility reigns at Fairplex. With more than 300,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space, the facility is perfect for indoor, temperature-controlled activities.

Outdoors, the Fairplex grandstand seats nearly 10,000 and the infield is perfect for a variety of sports. The northwestern end of our campus features a dragstrip, home to two NHRA races annually.

Centrally located in Southern California and close to Ontario International Airport, Fairplex offers onsite accommodations with the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel as well as restaurants and an urban farm.

For more than 90 years, Fairplex has provided the highest customer service and professional expertise to its business partners. At Fairplex, anything can happen.

Morgan Hill, California
Morgan Hill Aquatics Center

The Morgan Hill Aquatic Center is the perfect location for a swimming event. Host of the Far Westerns Swim Meet for seven consecutive years, the Aquatics Center offers a 50-meter all-deep competition lap pool with lap lanes and diving boards, perfect for swim meets and high-performance practices.

The Aquatics Center is an Olympic caliber venue with competition, instruction and recreational pools. There’s also a warm water instructional pool for aqua fitness and swim lessons and a variety of fun recreation features, such as two large waterslides, a recreation pool with water playground and a spray ground with misting sprays, cascading fountains and shooting geysers.

Morgan Hill, located in Northern California, has so much to offer, from a variety of gourmet restaurants and award-winning wineries to picturesque hiking and outdoor recreation activities and events. Morgan Hill is a top recreation destination, just miles from Silicon Valley.

Come and enjoy all that Morgan Hill has to offer and make a splash at the Morgan Hill Aquatics Center. For more information, or to book an event, visit www.mhaquaticscenter.com or call 408-782-2134.

Santa Rosa, California
Redwood Empire Ice Arena

Where will planners find an ice arena that resembles an Alpine Village in a Redwood Forest that was at the center of Charles M. Schulz’s life for almost 30 years, located in heart of Sonoma Wine Country?

The Redwood Empire Ice Arena located in Santa Rosa, California, offers more than just ice sports for all ages. Visitors can enjoy a Peppermint Patty Hot Chocolate at the Warm Puppy Café or a hot dog and chips served in Snoopy’s own dog dish. Whether looking for a new hockey stick, or a Peanuts collectible, Snoopy’s Gallery & Gift Shop has it all. And everyone will want to tour the Charles M. Schulz Museum, home to the largest collection of original Peanuts artwork in the world.

Snoopy’s Home Ice hosts events such as Snoopy’s Senior World Hockey Tournament, celebrating its 40th anniversary, bringing more than 1000 players age 40+ from throughout North America, the Charlie Brown Spring Classic, Woodstock Tournament, Wine Country Face Off – a junior hockey event and figure skating with the Crystalline Classic. Visit Santa Rosa can assist with any Sonoma Wine Country sporting event, and a visit to Schulz Campus. sports@visitsantarosa.com.

Visalia, California
Riverway Sports Park

A standout among Visalia amenities, Riverway Sports Park features over 80 acres of sports fields, picnic areas and playgrounds, as well as an interactive water feature and special events promenade.

Opened in 2007 and located in northern Visalia, at 3611 North Dinuba Boulevard, Riverway Sports Park is easily accessible to patrons. Located off of Highway 63, the Park is only 10 miles away from California State Route 99 and Highway 198.

Host to the 2011 Cal Ripken World Series and various annual soccer tournaments, the park features the CR Shannon Youth Baseball Complex, 10 full-size soccer fields and the Saputo Sports Field.

Riverway Sports Park hosts annual regional and community special events, ranging from egg hunts to fun runs, as the park is equipped with ample parking, restrooms and concession stands to accommodate thousands.

Covered arbors dot the park, with capacity ranging from 50 to 200 guests. Situated near state-of-the-art playgrounds, all of the arbors are reservable for private parties or corporate functions.

The popular and interactive water feature known as the Splash Pad provides a free fun zone, while the nearby Special Events Promenade hosts outdoor concerts, film screenings, fairs and festivals year-round.

Columbus, Georgia
Whitewater Columbus, Georgia

The Chattahoochee River runs through Uptown Columbus, Georgia, offering a whitewater experience like no other. From mild to wild – from looking for family fun or seeking thrills – Whitewater Columbus, Georgia, is an adventure for everyone. These exhilarating waters are known as the Longest Urban Whitewater Course in the world, and USA Today picked Whitewater Columbus, Georgia, as one of its “Top 12 Man-Made Adventures in the World.”

Whitewater Columbus, Georgia, doesn't just include a 2.5-mile long rafting extravaganza. They have established a variety of experiences. The Blue Heron Adventure Zipline takes visitors on a 1,200-foot dual zipline that glides from the Georgia vantage point across to the Alabama riverbank. Other attractions include flat water activities likes paddle board yoga, kayak trips on eight different rapids or a relaxing ride in an innertube.

It’s possible to add a Whitewater Columbus, Georgia, adventure to any sporting event; softball, soccer, tennis or even disc golf. Coming to Columbus, Georgia, just 75 miles south of Atlanta, planners will find a great place for their next event. The award-winning Columbus Sports Council along with the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau and Columbus Parks and Recreation promise to assure a top-notch experience.

Peoria, Illinois
State-of-the-Art Facilities

Peoria carries a rich tradition of sports, with a number of state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facilities. These venues bring in a number of sporting events, from local to national.

Located in the city’s downtown, the Peoria Civic Center is the largest exhibition facility in Central Illinois. The 11,300-seat Carver Arena is home to Bradley basketball, as well as the Peoria Rivermen professional hockey team. It has also been the home of the Illinois High School Association Boys Basketball State Finals, the original “March Madness.” The Civic Center also has a 110,000 square-foot exhibit hall space, as well as a 2,200 seat theater.

The Mossville Soccer Complex is an amazing riverfront soccer facility, complete with 27 fields, including two indoor fields. Home of the FC Peoria Soccer Club, the complex is one of the biggest soccer facilities in Central Illinois and is capable of hosting tournaments of any size.

The city’s newest prized jewel being developed is the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex. The complex will feature 13 synthetic turf fields for baseball, softball, and soccer, as well as a 125,000 square-foot dome for indoor sports.

These are just a few facilities that Peoria has to offer. The city can cater to any event, making Peoria one of the top sports destinations in the state.

Evansville, Indiana
Deaconess Sports Park

The “dream project” for the Evansville CVB took years to bring to life. But when the Deaconess Sports Park opened in May of 2015, there were few dates available for the remainder of the softball/baseball season. Thirty-six teams from Game Day competed at the inaugural tournament over Memorial Day weekend. Tournament Director Don Flynn endorsed Deaconess Sports Park as one of the best complexes in the region. IASA and NSA/BPA officials echoed this praise following their own tournaments. ASA, USFA, and USSSA organizations are also booked in 2015 and 2016.

Deaconess Sports Park has eight Bermuda sod fields, Musco lighting and shaded bleacher seating. The park has state-of-the-art digital components, including free wi-fi. There is an amphitheater for award ceremonies or other events, over 1,000 parking spaces, two playgrounds, two concession stands, two splash pads and a one-mile paved path with six installed fitness units surrounding the complex.

This first-class sports complex combined with affordable hotels and restaurants, a convenient location to major Midwest cities, and a friendly destination that fosters youth sports make Evansville, Indiana, the ideal location for a tournament in 2016. For more information about Deaconess Sports Park, e-mail Facility Manager Tim Fulton at tfulton@evansvillecvb.org.

Photo courtesy of IM Design
Emporia, Kansas
World-Class Disc Golf Courses

What began around 20 years ago as a new form of recreation in Emporia’s city parks has evolved into four 18-hole public disc golf courses, all less than 10 minutes from each other, and with the promise of several more in a town of just under 27,000.

Along with this evolution comes a reputation know around the country as the home of Dynamic Discs, the company responsible for creating Emporia, Kansas, as a disc golf destination. Home to the annual Glass Blown Open (GBO) tournament, now a National PDGA event, Emporia hosted the PDGA 2013 World Amateur and Junior Championship and was awarded the PDGA 2016 World Pro Championship.

Emporia’s disc golf courses, designed by 2010 World Pro and native Emporian Eric McCabe, aka “emac”, include two courses that share space with ball golfers, contributing to excellent disc golf challenges and terrain. Factor in a community-wide block party on Saturday night of the GBO, product vendors, food and beverages, the “Ring of Fire,” over 700 hotel rooms and every business in town rolling out the welcome mat, and players never tire of saying that “no other town treats them as well as Emporia, Kansas!” dynamicdiscs.com.

Bowling Green, Kentucky
Michael O. Buchanon Park

In the city known for producing Corvettes, the epitome of American speed and performance, athletes are inspired to match that excellence while competing at Buchanon Park. Located among the rolling hills and farmland of southern Kentucky, just 10 minutes from the city, the facility features two athletic complexes including eight lighted softball fields with live-streaming capabilities from four of them.

Additional features include two multi-purpose fields, a playground, 2.1-mile walking trail, concessions and picnic shelter. Special event trailers are available for use as hospitality, umpire and media headquarters. Tournaments hosted include dozens of Kentucky ASA softball and baseball events each year, multiple ASA National Tournaments, the Mid-South Conference 2015 Softball Championships and the Special Olympics State Softball Tournament in 2014 and 2015.

Restaurants, hotels, attractions and interstate access are just minutes away, plus Chaney’s Dairy Barn, home of the best ice cream parlor in Kentucky according to USA TODAY, is directly across the street. Lost River Cave, National Corvette Museum, Beech Bend Amusement Park and nearby Mammoth Cave National Park are popular site-seeing stops in addition to the quaint Fountain Square Park downtown.

Information is available at 1-800-326-7465 or go to VisitBGKY.com to learn why the area is Geared for Sports.

Hickory Metro, North Carolina
Sports Venues Nestled in the Foothills

It’s the swoosh of the net, the ping of the club, the crack of the bat and the sound of a crowd cheering as a perfect landing is thrown during a floor routine. Nestled in the foothills of western North Carolina, the Hickory Metro area is located directly on Interstate 40, making it the perfect location for all sporting events.

When organizers plan their event in Hickory Metro, they can see why people get lost in the area’s hospitality and southern charm. The metro is immersed in natural beauty that complements the quality of life citizens as well as visitors enjoy.

With over 200 courts, fields and complexes and over 76,000 square feet of convention center space, it’s a host city prepared to take events or tournaments to the next level. The convention center provides free wi-fi, free parking and a friendly staff second to none. It’s not just furniture that is well crafted in this area; the staff pays attention to the details visitors embrace, plus there’s s dining, shopping and music to enjoy after a day of championship competition. Over 1,200 hotel rooms are waiting to host athletes with plush accommodations and pools for year-round enjoyment – a reason to make Hickory the next sports destination.

High Point, North Carolina
High Point Athletic Complex

High Point, North Carolina, is conveniently located, not only in the state, but the Southeast region. There are seven soccer facilities that cater to tournaments and events, for a total of 27 full-size fields, many that are lighted. The largest facility, the multisport High Point Athletic Complex, has eight lighted regulation fields with restrooms and locker rooms for each team.

The High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau works closely with the High Point Parks and Recreation Department to bring tournaments to the area. High Point has accommodated soccer events with as many as 128 teams. For example, the city hosted the U.S. Club Soccer National Finals last year. That tournament brought in 10,000 attendees to the city.

Also, every year in August, High Point hosts the Piedmont Soccer Alliance Furniture City Classic, which brings in 8,000 attendees. The High Point CVB takes pride in the services it offers, especially for youth sports groups. Call them at 800-720-5255 to find out learn more or to book a tournament in High Point.

Raleigh, North Carolina
The Raleigh Convention Center

The Raleigh Convention Center campus has been a remarkable resource for groups from 50 to 5000, having hosted acclaimed events like the NHL All-Star Weekend, Deep South Classic Basketball, MAPL Raleigh Volleyball Tournament and Big Rock Sports.

The region has an intense pedigree and proven commitment to world-class athletics. It’s also home to PNC Arena, WakeMed Soccer Park and the USA Baseball Training Complex, among countless other sporting venues.

The LEED Silver-Certified Center features a 150,000 square-foot exhibit hall. Flexible and expansive, it fits 24 volleyball or 20 basketball courts. The Hall is complemented by a soaring, street-level lobby, 20 meeting rooms and an elegant ballroom (perfect for awards events or dinners). The Center also features cutting-edge amenities, an expert staff and culinary delights.

The Raleigh Convention Center, the Red Hat Amphitheater and the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts are within steps of one another. Two luxury hotels–the Raleigh Marriott City Center and the Sheraton–are either connected or just steps away, too. This interlinking campus is a cultural centerpiece of downtown Raleigh, irresistibly blending competition and convenience for planners, athletes and fans alike.

For more information, visit RaleighConvention.com.

Akron, Ohio
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (Cuyahoga Valley National Park)

All aboard! Yes, planners can actually climb aboard one of Greater Akron, Ohio’s most outstanding (albeit, unconventional) venues. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad travels right through the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio’s only national park and the U.S.’s 11th most visited in 2014).

Last year, the CVSR transported marathon runners participating in the 2014 Gay Games to their starting line, deep in the heart of the 33,000 acre park. Similarly, the train is regularly used to whisk cyclists and their gear to points located all along its 51 miles of track.

In 1880, the first steam engine chugged its way down the new Valley Railway, signaling an era of progress and prosperity. Today, the historic rails are owned by the National Park Service as part of its goal to preserve significant cultural resources.

From river floodplain and steep-cut valley walls to ancient stands of evergreen, visitors will journey through a world of historic sites and timeless natural processes. They can amble through small towns, a working 19th Century farm, with miles of smooth Towpath Trail to bike and hike, big city shopping and more. There's a wealth of natural and human history in the Valley and CVSR is the ticket in. Contact the Akron/Summit CVB at 800-245-4254.

Wilmington, Ohio
Roberts Arena

Roberts Arena, a premier, full-service horse show facility located in southwest Ohio, has expanded and completely remodeled its facilities this year. A new 615’ x 120’ indoor arena has been added and an existing indoor arena has been expanded to 260 ’x 108’. These additions combined, with existing arenas, now provide a total of over 130,000 sq. ft. of heated riding space. These improvements make Roberts Arena the largest heated facility for shows in the United States.

The expansion of the arenas has been accompanied by many additional improvements. All arenas have new premium footing, LED lighting and are climate-controlled. Over 700 stalls are available, 400 of which are connected by climate-controlled walkways to all arenas. Additional RV hook-ups have been added, bringing the total to 96. Twenty cabins are available for rental this fall to accommodate the extra horses and their owners.

The general manager, Leonard Barnett, and his trained, professional staff are looking forward to seeing horse show enthusiasts from all over the country for upcoming events. For more information, visit www.clintoncountyohio.com.

Redmond, Oregon
Deschutes County Fairgrounds Expo Center

Deschutes Expo is the perfect location for virtually any kind of sporting event. The 320-acre event site is located in beautiful, sunny Redmond, Oregon. The Expo complex includes the Bank of the Cascades Center with 4,000 stadium - 10,000-seat capacity . The center has an NBA Regulation basketball court and scoreboard, 200,000-square-foot flexible indoor event space, one indoor, two covered and one outdoor livestock arenas, off road race track for motorsports, 75+ acres of beautifully landscaped lawns and a-full service Expo RV park with 200 acres of parking.

On-site catering and concessions are provided to ensure exceptional quality and a dedication to excellence for all events.

Redmond is located at the heart of Oregon and is home to the regional airport, as well as an outstanding variety of lodging accommodations. Redmond enjoys over 300 days annually of high desert sunshine. It is known as the playground of the Pacific Northwest with abundant four-season recreation, championship golf, world class skiing and limitless diversity to offer.

Deschutes is fond of saying “We Really Can Do It All”, and are eager to share what they know will exceed clients’ expectations.

Erie, Pennsylvania
Bayfront Convention Center

Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center offers more than 100,000 square feet of space and a ceiling height of 25 feet, making it the perfect venue for many types of events. The fact that the waterfront location of the venue and floor-to-ceiling windows offer guests a spectacular view of Presque Isle Bay is a bonus.

The facility offers more than 470 free parking spaces, and its adjoining 200-room Sheraton Bayfront Hotel, easily accessible by a skybridge, has a 300-space parking garage. A second adjoining hotel, the Courtyard Erie Bayfront Hotel, will open in spring 2016, and will feature another adjoining parking facility. The location of the complex along Erie’s Bayfront makes it readily accessible from Interstate 79 and Interstate 90.

The site is host to several large-scale sports events annually, including the Stars and Stripes Gymnastics Invitational, the largest co-ed gymnastics invitational in Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania State 8-Ball Championships. It will host the VNEA World Junior Pool Championships in June 2016.

The Erie County Convention Center Authority, which operates the Bayfront Convention Center, also operates the newly-renovated Erie Insurance Arena and Jerry Uht Ballpark, providing rights-holders a breadth of options in the Erie, Pennsylvania, market.

For more information, visit eriesportscommission.com.

Beaumont, Texas
Ford Park

Conveniently located on IH 10 in Beaumont, Texas , the 221-acre, multi-venue Ford Park offers maximum flexibility for any size sporting event.

Indoor:

Ford Exhibit Hall has over 48,000 square feet with an 11,000 square foot lobby.

Ford Arena has 34,000-39,000 square feet (with or without dashers), locker rooms, dressing rooms and production offices.

These venues combined can provide more than adequate space for competitions with additional practice space.

Examples of events hosted in these venues include taekwondo tournaments, the United States Twirling Association’s 2015 National Championships, cheerleading championships, indoor football and soccer, basketball and more.

Outdoor:

Ford Park Midway/Ag Barns: Nine acres of paved midway provides plenty of room for vendors, festivals and fairs. Covered structures in Ford Midway include two covered barns with combined 70,000 square feet, with restrooms, office space and dedicated parking. Examples of events hosted in this space include trail rides, 5K races, dog shows and Crossfit challenges.

Ranked in the top 10, Ford Fields is comprised of 12 championship-caliber youth softball/baseball fields. With all-weather turf infields, a centralized gate, concession stand, restrooms and 1,000-space parking lot, Ford Fields host about 30 tournaments and 2,000 teams a year.

Duncanville, Texas
Duncanville Fieldhouse

The Duncanville Fieldhouse is a premier sports facility for both players and spectators. Duncanville Fieldhouse offers everything to make any next event a success. The fieldhouse features 10 regulation sized volleyball courts or six basketball courts (three NBA/collegiate and three high school), all under one roof. Each court is equipped with a state-of-the-art netting technology, enabling court setup to take place at the push of a button. Both gymnasiums can convert into a single championship court, complete with stadium seating for approximately 1,500 people.

The Duncanville Fieldhouse is the ideal event and championship competition venue – a 111,000 square-foot multi=sport facility with 75,000 square feet of column-free event space. There is a private upstairs mezzanine for elevated viewing, numerous onsite showers and restroom, a full-service café and concessions and onsite parking with shuttle service if needed for overflow.

The facility is located 15 minutes south of downtown Dallas and 20 minutes from both major airports (DFW and Love Field.) The Duncanville Fieldhouse is designed to provide a complete sports tourism experience, close to hotels, shopping, dining and entertainment.

Lewisville, Texas
Westside Aquatic Center

The new Westside Aquatic Center is a 75,000 square-foot facility with a 75-meter Myrtha competition pool holding 1.3 million gallons of water. The pool features 36 lanes and four diving boards (two 1-meter and two 3-meter). The bleacher seating holds approximately 1,200 spectators. The center accommodates high school, club and major collegiate meets, including district championships and Pro-Ams. This facility houses a team from all five of the aquatic sports. Major competitions hosted thus far in 2015 are Dick Wilson Memorial Diving Invitational, Regional Water Polo Tournaments, PTX Synchronized Swimming Region C Championship, and Bill Nixon Swimming Invitational.

The venue is located just minutes from Lewisville hotels, restaurants and shopping. Many family-friendly options during free time are available, ranging from cultural arts to water sports. Much of the activity centers on the 29,000 acres of Lewisville Lake which offers fishing, water sports, boating and camping. For the avid golfer, Lewisville is surrounded by some of the finest golf courses in Texas. Visitors can enjoy one of the local water parks, miniature golf courses, bowling alleys, movie theaters, and shows at the MCL Grand performing arts center.

Information is available at VisitLewisville.com or by calling sports specialist, Carlos Hernandez, at 972-219-3713, chernandez@cityoflewisville.com.

Wenatchee Valley, Washington
Town Toyota Center

Located in the middle of Washington State, the Town Toyota Center arena hosts high-impact sporting events year-round. The Town Toyota Center complex is comprised of two facilities, a 4,100 seat multi-purpose arena with 26 luxury suites and a permanent community ice rink with 500 bleacher seats. The arena is home to the Wenatchee Wild, a junior-level hockey team that is a new member of the British Columbia Hockey League for the 2015-2016 season. The team averages about 3,000 fans per night and is the beacon of excitement for the region.

In addition to the 28 junior-level hockey games, the Town Toyota Center hosts a 12-team high school basketball showcase, the Northwest Pacific Regional Figure Skating Championships with over 300 skaters in attendance, the Special Olympics, legendary Globetrotters, and approximately 10 recreational youth and adult hockey tournaments each year.

The Town Toyota Center offers daily public ice skating, stick and puck sessions, power skating, figure skating and summer roller skating in the main arena (on concrete after the ice melts.) Since its opening in 2008, the Town Toyota Center has generated approximately $7 million dollars in economic impact annually to North Central Washington.

Gillette, Wyoming
CAM-PLEX Multi-Events Facilities

The CAM-PLEX Multi-Events Facilities in Gillette, Wyoming, provide more than 1,100 acres of possibilities. The biggest multi-event space west of the Mississippi, CAM-PLEX features state-of-the-art venues, staff and versatility to make this the choice location for any planner’s next sporting event.

With so many configurations and possibilities available, the CAM-PLEX has whatever visitors need to make events so successful that they will be making plans to book the CAM-PLEX annually. The list of events the CAM-PLEX is equipped to accommodate is vast, so chances are if planners can dream it, the staff can host it, whether it’s wrestling, basketball, hockey, equestrian, motocross, indoor and outdoor rodeo or anything else.

Staff and support teams are available to answer questions and proactive setup, construction and teardown make coordinating events a breeze. Ample experience enables the staff to anticipate clients’ needs before they ask.

When the teams are not on the field, mat, court or arena, Gillette is just one hour from Devils Tower, the nation’s first national monument. Step-on guides are available.

Access is easy. Gillette is located on Interstate 90 in northeast Wyoming. Gillette -Campbell County Airport provides daily jet service to and from Denver and Salt Lake City. 

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