The Northeast region offers plenty of advantages for all sports event planners, with a wealth of venues and plenty of connectivity, as well as attractions and accommodations galore. A four-season climate means plenty of opportunities for all types of events. Here are a few sites to bookmark.
Maine
The Pine Tree State is home to winning teams, well-varied terrain and a wealth of history. The area’s world-class outdoor resources, with coastline, mountains and forest, beckon event owners, as well as those looking for downtime distractions.
Don’t miss the fact that this small state packs a big economic punch, with heavy-hitting events like the IRONMAN® 70.3 MAINE ($4.2 million) and the 2023 All American Lighthouse Classic Baseball Tournament ($3.8 million) not to mention the 2023 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship ($1.7 million).
Top facilities that should be on event owners’ radar include the 34,500-square-foot Cross Insurance Arena (home to the Maine Mariners, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Boston Bruins, as well as sports events ranging from basketball to motor sports) and Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field (home base of the Portland Sea Dogs, the Boston Red Sox AA affiliate).
The James J. Fitzpatrick Stadium, meanwhile, seats 6,000. Nicknamed “Fitzy,” the venue is now home to the Hearts of Pine, Maine’s USL League One team that just completed its inaugural season.
“The Hearts of Pine continue making headlines as the totals from their merch sales are higher than the 14 USL League One teams combined,” said Sheila Brennan Nee, strategic director at the Maine Sports Commission.
Erie, Pennsylvania
Lake Erie provides the unique backdrop to this destination, which is home to Presque Isle State Park and Presque Isle Bay. In 2024, Presque Isle Bay earned recognition as one of the Northeast’s Top 15 Best Bass Lakes from Bassmaster, reflecting the region’s thriving fishing scene and its ability to host fishing tournaments.
Beyond fishing, Erie features the Erie Sports Center, a multi-purpose complex featuring 10 outdoor grass fields, four hardwood basketball/volleyball courts and a 60,000-square-foot dome. In addition, the LECOM Sports Park features two NHL-size ice rinks.
“Erie’s appeal stems from its versatile indoor and outdoor facilities, convenient lodging options and easy accessibility, all supported by a welcoming community that creates an ideal setting for sporting competitions,” said Sydney Dietz, events and marketing manager for Erie Sports Commission (ESC).
In 2025, notable ESC events included the Northeast Region Classic Firefighter Challenge and the Conference Commissioner’s Association Women’s Division II Tip-Off Classic in November. Lacrosse and gymnastics also play in Erie.
This year, Erie will host the Firefighter Challenge United States National Championship and American Cornhole Erie Major, while also welcoming back the Sarah Backstrom Memorial Tournament (which extends to two weekends in 2026), the Lake Erie National Cheer and Dance Championships hosted by Champion Cheer Central and VNEA PA State Eight-Ball Championships.
Buffalo, New York
Sports, athletes and fans have a haven in Buffalo, according to James Adler, director of sports sales for Buffalo Sports Commission.
“The city and its surrounding Erie County region, known for its love of sport, have fields, ice rinks and event spaces to host any kind of athletic play, from the downtown retro-classic ball park that seats 16,000, to eight softball diamonds for youth league play, an equestrian park located in a state park, soccer fields indoors and out, an NHL hockey arena and 18 more sheets of ice,” said Adler.
The LECOM Harborcenter at Buffalo’s Canalside includes two NHL regulation ice rinks and a full-service, 205-room Marriott with 5,000 square feet of event space. It is also home to IMPACT Sports Performance’s Academy of Hockey: a 5,000-square-foot off-ice training facility, a 40-seat theater, classroom space, locker rooms, restaurants and retail shops.
As the official practice facility of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres hockey team, this venue has hosted the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships, the NHL Scouting Combine and World Para Hockey Championships that generated an estimated $1.85 million in economic impact.
Sahlen Field, in the heart of downtown Buffalo, is home of the Buffalo Bison, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball team. With a capacity of 16,000 people, it is also known for hosting charity events, music festivals and the National Buffalo Wing Festival, a.k.a. Wing Fest.
Across the street from the world renowned Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo State University boasts a 3,500-seat arena for basketball, volleyball, track and wrestling. The 3,000-seat Coyer Field hosts BSU football, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse, as well as men’s and women’s outdoor track & field events. BSU men’s and women’s varsity hockey programs play at the ice arena with seating for 1,800. The campus also has a softball field and a gym with basketball courts.
Sahlen’s Sports Park offers four indoor turf fields and 200,000 square feet indoors for lacrosse, softball, football, baseball, field hockey and soccer in Elma, a 20-minute drive from downtown Buffalo. The park’s amenities include a fitness center, a café and meeting space. Three nearby hotels partner with the park.
For volleyball, head to West Seneca, 15 minutes south of downtown Buffalo.Its expansive athletic center, called the R.O.C.K. (short for Respect, Opportunity, Champions and Knowledge) features six indoor courts and four outdoor courts with lighting. It can host track, rugby, basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse, softball, baseball, tennis, gymnastics and martial arts.
The West Seneca Soccer Complex has 17 fields of varying sizes, basketball courts, an outdoor fitness court, a walking path, concession stands, locker rooms, a training area and a pro shop.
Additional facilities can be found in other areas, including Hamburg and Amherst.
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County is near Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and New York. That means teams, attendees and fans can get there easily and enjoy a place that feels like a true escape once they arrive, said Chris Ackerman, director of sales for Discover Lancaster.
The centerpiece of Lancaster County events is Spooky Nook Sports, billed as the largest indoor sports complex in the U.S. Included in its 700,000 square feet are hardwood courts suitable for basketball and volleyball, a multi-purpose court suitable for a variety of events, climbing walls, five fields, training areas for baseball and softball, a fitness center and plenty of other amenities. The area also has plenty of accommodations, including the Warehouse Hotel at The Nook, a 135-room hotel.
“If your event needs space, energy and wow factor, Spooky Nook Sports delivers,” said Ackerman. “As one of the largest indoor sports complexes in North America, this place is a powerhouse, packed with courts, turf fields, team meeting spaces, an onsite hotel and endless ways to keep athletes and attendees engaged.”
Valley Forge and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
This area has excellent sports venues, 1,800-plus restaurants, family-friendly attractions, world-class shopping, more than 200 arts and culture venues and great value for those needing lodging, as the hotel tax in Montgomery County is one of the lowest in the region, according to Rachel Dailey, associate director of sports for Valley Forge Sports.
“We have 9,000 hotel rooms located throughout the county, so you’re never more than a 15-minute drive from a venue,” Dailey said.
The suburban destination provides convenient access to major roadways, the Philadelphia International Airport, public transportation and regional attractions.
Notable sports facilities include The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken (with nine lighted turf fields lined for men’s and women’s lacrosse, soccer and field hockey), the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks (up to 240,000 square feet of space on one level with five distinct halls able to accommodate 16 full-size basketball courts and 30-plus volleyball courts) and the Valley Forge Casino Resort (offering close to 100,000 square feet of total event space and more than 400 guest rooms). Sporting events there include USA Masters Weightlifting, USA Powerlifting, American Darters Association, MMA, billiards, arm wrestling and shuffleboard competitions.
This location also offers indoor go-karts, laser tag and an onsite arcade at Arnold’s Family Fun Center, located just across the parking lot from the Expo. Recent events at the Expo Center include USA Weightlifting, USA Wrestling, USA Taekwondo, basketball, volleyball and cheer/dance competitions.
The Expo Center is the annual host of the National Dog Show, broadcast nationally on NBC every Thanksgiving Day. In 2024, the Expo hosted the 2024 SDM Champions of Economic Impact Award-winning YMCA Gymnastics Nationals Invitational, which drew 81 YMCA teams and 10,000 spectators.
Wildwoods, New Jersey
According to Ben Rose, director of marketing and public relations for the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority, the Wildwoods Convention Center hosted 31 sporting events in 2025, attracting more than 68,000 players and spectators.
The center’s exhibit hall has 73,000 square feet of space for sports events, including basketball, futsal, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, dance and gymnastics.
“These events generated more than 36,500 overnight room stays and created more than 340,000 dining opportunities, resulting in in excess of $17.5 million in economic impact for the southern tip of New Jersey,” Rose said. “With strong demand and continued growth, we are on pace to exceed our 2025 booking numbers in 2026.”
Set on five miles of beaches offering beach and ocean views from nearly every window, the center can host events for 100 or 10,000 people, from meetings and trade shows to sports, concerts, conventions, banquets and weddings.
Featuring more than 260,000 total square feet (including 86,700 square feet of unobstructed exhibit space, 75,000 square feet of meeting space with 15 breakout rooms, 23,440 square feet of lobby/pre-function space, the 11,700 square foot Starlight Ballroom and the 7,500-seat Oceanfront Arena), the convention center boasts an assortment of flexible meeting settings. Parking for 700 vehicles and 11 loading bays makes it equally accessible.
Just outside the doors is a 38-block boardwalk with shops, arcades, carnival games and eateries. Three amusement piers boast world-class roller coasters, thrill rides, family and kiddie rides. There are also three interactive water parks and bike rentals.
The Wildwoods are also a haven for family entertainment. Guests can enjoy free outdoor concerts four nights each week, more than 160 special events and festivals, jet skiing, kayaking, paragliding, biking, surf or sport fishing, sailing, golf, tennis and more.
The area also offers upwards of 8,000 rooms at a variety of price points and service levels, all close to the convention center.
Revolutionary Valley, Massachusetts
The Merrimack Valley area, encompassing 21 communities, includes a variety of venues. Chief among these is the 6,000-capacity Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. The venue combines the energy of a professional arena with the accessibility and community feel that Lowell is known for, said Christa April Lamb, director of media and communications for the Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council.
The center is the home rink for the UMass Lowell River Hawks hockey team and regularly hosts the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, regional figure skating events, cheer and dance competitions, basketball tournaments, family shows, concerts, expos and large community gatherings. The arena is built to convert easily for ice events, hardwood, staging or exhibition floor setups.
“I always describe the Tsongas Center as a place that brings people together in a way that lifts the entire region,” said Lamb. “When you walk into a River Hawks game or a PWHL matchup or a concert, you can feel the energy in the building. It draws visitors into Lowell, helps local businesses and creates moments that people remember.” SDM
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