Visit Sarasota County

Why Athletes Optimize Performances in Sarasota

From professionals to Olympians, amateurs to teams, athletes of all stripes take their training to the next level in Sarasota County. It’s where incredible facilities, unrivaled weather and an inspiring sports culture all come together to make peak performances possible.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Whether swimming or soccer, baseball or golf, rowing or three-event equestrian and every sport in between – you’ll find preeminent venues and accessible facilities under Sarasota County’s bright skies. Home to the spring training complexes for both MLB’s Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves, athletes and fans from across the globe travel here for unsurpassed training and competitions.
For instance, Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy is one of the world’s most popular rowing venues. Located just steps from the UTC Mall, this scenic multi-sports complex hosts international rowing, SUP and dragon boat championships all year round.
Additionally, you’ll find incomparable swim training opportunities in Sarasota. The Selby Aquatic Center is the training facility for the Sharks – a Gold Medal USA Swimming team – the Center features both an outdoor 50-meter Olympic pool and a 25-meter warm-up pool. Plus, Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex offers a 50-meter training pool and a 25-yard instructional pool.
And naturally, if your sport is played on a field or court Sarasota provides boundless opportunities for you to train and compete. With countless Parks, Fields and Sports Complex facilities, you’ll discover the perfect venue for you. For example, Wellfield Park provides three football fields, three soccer fields and two softball fields. Englewood Sports Complex includes eight little league fields, two senior softball fields and four soccer fields. Spanning 96 acres, 17th St. Park is currently undergoing a major expansion set to debut in late 2026. While the park currently offers four softball fields and two soccer fields, the renovation will significantly upgrade the complex to include eight collegiate-sized softball fields, three adult softball fields, and four multipurpose turf fields.
And the list of exceptional amateur and professional-level facilities goes on and on. To explore all the venue options, go to sports.visitsarasota.com.