If there’s one thing event owners need for gymnastics competitions, it’s space. From back handsprings to balance beams, participants need room to spread out to perform at an optimal level. Here’s a look at some of the venues that are perfectly suited for gymnastics looking to perfect their introductory salute to the judges.
Springfield, Illinois
As if the capital of Illinois didn’t have enough going for it, it can add another feather to its cap: home of the largest air-supported dome structure in the world.
Scheduled to be completed this fall, the 196,000-square-foot Springfield Clinic Dome at SCHEELS Sports Park at Legacy Pointe is gearing up to host its first gymnastics competition in March 2026, the USA Gymnastics T&T Winter Elite Winter Classic, says Terry Truman, sales manager for Visit Springfield.
Poised to become an entertainment district that caters to traveling families with children in competitive sports, the area has come alive with a brewery, several restaurants and a Springhill Suites, in addition to SCHEELS Sports Park, which also features eight outdoor turf fields for baseball, softball, soccer, football, lacrosse and rugby.
A short drive away, the Bank of Springfield (BOS) Center is waiting with 40,000 square feet of uninterrupted space and more than 4,000 elevated seats for the perfect vantage point to take in a floor routine or a pommel horse program.
“A lot of the folks really like the elevated seating because you have very good views of the competition,” Truman says.
In between meets, visitors can take in the historic sites of Abraham’s Lincoln’s hometown and the iconic stretch of Route 66 that runs through Springfield.
“They’re sites that you’re not going to see anywhere else in the world,” Truman notes.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
There never seems to be any down time at the John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center, and that is likely attributable to its versatility, says Jonathan Paris, executive director of Sports Tourism for the Myrtle Beach Regional Sports Alliance.
“One of the impressive things is just the wide range of events that they host,” he notes.
Managed by Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the 100-square-foot venue hosts basketball, volleyball, wrestling, table tennis, pickleball, cheer and gymnastics.
Most notably, the Ultimate Gymnastics Academy Ultimate Beach Classic welcomes 900 athletes and 2,500 spectators annually, while the Coastal Classic Gymnastics Invitational by Thomas Gymnastics attracts over 3,000 competitors.
“The Coastal Classic Gymnastics Invitational has shown steady growth year over year,” Paris explains. “They have also seen a significant increase in their boys’ competition.”
In 2022, the facility also hosted the USA Gymnastics Region 8 Championships and 1,200 athletes, Paris notes.
Among the more than 60 miles of beaches, two state parks, entertainment districts, shopping, attractions and dining options, Myrtle Beach stands as a pinnacle for the sports tourism industry, Paris says.
While there are plenty of venues to attract competitive sports, there are equal opportunities to make a family vacation out of this sports destination. And while the kids are busy, Mom or Dad can take advantage of the Golf Capital of the World with more than 90 courses along the Grand Strand, he adds.
Shores & Islands, Ohio
If the 145,000-square-foot facility Cedar Point Sports Complex weren’t impressive enough, putting it near the Roller Coaster Capital of the World creates a winning combination.
Known for hosting basketball, volleyball, cheer, wrestling and dance, the spacious gyms at this complex allow for optimal visibility and operational flow when it comes to gymnastics meets and competitions, says Tiffany Frisch, director of group accounts for Shores & Islands, Ohio.
Also the chosen site for an annual gymnastics event held in conjunction with AAU Gymnastics, she notes, the ability to utilize the facility’s Championship Gym as an overflow competition space or for a separate awards area also makes it ideal for the sport.
Onsite concessions, a café and a 9,500-square-foot entertainment center with a climbing wall and ninja course round out the list of options and things to do between meets. Throw in the fact that it’s located just down the street from Cedar Point amusement park with 18 of the world’s most thrilling roller coasters and more than 70 head-spinning rides and it’s no wonder Shores & Islands Ohio is a chosen destination for families whose athletic competitions have generated more than $2 million in economic impact.
As a bonus, each athlete receives a complimentary ticket to Cedar Point as well as options to visit Kalahari Resort Waterpark, local beaches, the Lake Erie Islands, the African Safari Wildlife Park, Marblehead Lighthouse and several other kid-friendly attractions.
Spokane, Washington
In Washington’s second-largest city, competitions become the main event when they come to town, says Keytra Lewis, director of marketing and communications for Spokane Sports.
“Our city shows up for our sporting events,” Lewis explains. “Sports are huge for our city and people just rally behind them.”
With 75,000 square feet of competition space, The Podium’s high-performance flooring makes it an ideal venue for tumbling, uneven bars and flyaways, Lewis notes.
The four-year-old building sports VIP and media areas, atrium dining, concessions, controlled access to competition areas, a warm-up track on the lower level and livestreaming capabilities viewable anywhere on the concourse.
Across the street, the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena boasts 12,000 seats that provide the perfect view anywhere in the 32,000-square-foot venue known for hosting wrestling, hockey, figure skating, basketball and gymnastics. With seven team locker rooms currently under remodel as well as meeting rooms and full catering, the space is the perfect backdrop for an Olympic-sized event.
“What’s nice about the spaces is that they’re across the street from each other, so if we needed to utilize both, not only are they close together, but they’re a mile from our downtown core, so everything is within walking distance,” Lewis adds.
Nearby, Riverfront Park offers a bird’s-eye view of Spokane Falls from the iconic Numerica SkyRide while playgrounds, a carousel, skate ribbon and giant Radio Flyer wagon delight visitors of all ages.
Greensboro, North Carolina
Being known as “Tournament Town” is a hefty reputation to live up to but Greensboro’s First Horizon Coliseum does not disappoint.
“The Greensboro Complex has a proven track record of hosting major sporting events like NCAA and ACC basketball tournaments, as well as USA Gymnastics Championships and Olympic training sessions,” says Dennis Edwards, national sales manager at Greensboro North Carolina Convention & Visitors Bureau. “That kind of experience means we understand what it takes to execute a world-class gymnastics competition, from specialized equipment to athlete support.”
Formerly known as the Greensboro Coliseum, the 22,000-seat venue caters to the needs of athletes and their sport of choice from amateurs to professionals. And it’s no stranger to gymnastics, having hosted the ACC Women’s Gymnastics in 2024 and 2025 as well as the USA Gymnastics Region 8 Championships Level 6, 7, 8 and Think Pink Invitational, among others.
“With … built-in production services and a full suite of support like ticketing, catering and crowd management, the Greensboro Complex makes it easy for organizers to focus on the athletes and fans, not the logistics,” Edwards notes. “It’s a turnkey venue for high-profile gymnastics events.”
Those looking for entertainment between meets can take the plunge at Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park, immerse themselves in nature’s wonders at the Greensboro Science Center, or create their own adventure with miniature golf, bumper boats, go-karts and laser tag at the Creation Station.
Foley, Alabama
Owned and operated by the city’s Foley Sports Tourism department, the Foley Event Center serves as the perfect backdrop for large-scale gymnastics events. In fact, the 90,000-square-foot venue saw nearly 2,500 gymnasts and more than 12,700 attendees from events hosted by the Bama Bounders team and sanctioned by USA Gymnastics in 2024, notes Shellie Kichler, chief marketing & sales officer for Foley Sports Tourism.
In addition to locker rooms, a warming kitchen, ground-level loading area, media room and athletic training room, the Robbins Strata-Sport Flooring helps these acrobatic events spring to life while assistance from the venue’s team helps to iron out everything from hospitality to event set-up.
“There’s not a lot that we won’t offer our services for,” Kichler explains. “We’re kind of a one-stop shop, and we try to help as much as we can to make it as easy as possible.”
Just next door, Tropic Falls at OWA, a theme park and indoor/outdoor water park, will tempt amusement junkies while the Tanger Outlets speak to dedicated shoppers with the promise of more than 100 different stores just a stone’s throw away. And with more than 120 restaurants sprinkled throughout the city, there’s something to appeal to every family member.
“It works out really well for families because they can come in, they can compete, they can stay here and then they can shop and see those attractions,” Kichler says.
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
With 20-foot-plus ceilings throughout most of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks, concrete flooring and top-tier internet, there is not another venue like this in the Northeast, says Rachel Dailey, associate director of sports for Valley Forge Sports.
Featuring up to 240,000 square feet of space on one level with five distinct halls, the expo center is no stranger to hosting award-winning gymnastics meets, such as the 2024 YMCA National Gymnastics Championship & Invitational, as well as several annual regional and local meets.
Hosted in June, the YMCA invitational was the largest indoor event ever held in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, with over 1,900 gymnasts and more than 200 coaches traveling to the area from 81 YMCAs across the country, Dailey notes. The new-to-the-area event brought in an estimated 6,000 room nights and an estimated $7 million in economic impact, she adds.
Nearby in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, Ursinus College’s Floy Lewis Bakes Center Field House is poised to take on tumbling, vaulting and floor routines with column-free space that encompasses three basketball courts and a 200-meter indoor track that has been used to host regional gymnastics meets as well as past USA Gymnastics events, Dailey says.
“We have world-class shopping, the Elmwood Park Zoo, go-karts, history, indoor skydiving and over 1,800 restaurants to choose from,” she notes. “It’s the perfect place to play after you play, with something for the whole family to enjoy.”
Hickory, North Carolina
At Hickory Metro Convention Center, events get the team’s full attention from start to finish, says Sarah Davis, vice president of sales, marketing and tourism development for Visit Hickory and the Hickory Metro Convention Center.
Unlike some venues, the convention center and visitor’s bureau are in such close proximity that there’s no being passed around from team to team to plan and execute an event successfully.
“We’re just one streamlined, friendly, knows-everything-about-your-event team that’s got your back from start to finish,” she explains.
With 132,000 square feet on one level with a 35,000-square-foot expanse of unobstructed space, the facility is capable of hosting state and regional gymnastics events and up to 2,500 competitors at once, depending on the configuration.
Known for being budget-friendly and customer-service driven, The venue’s ample parking, top-notch catering and audio-visual offerings aren’t just add-ons; they’re proof that no detail goes unattended when it comes to delivering a complete competition package.
A mile away, the city’s downtown central business district is filled with local retail shops and restaurants in a walkable space that encourages all to stay and mingle. From the scenic Hickory Riverwalk trail along the Catawba River to the Hickory Aviation Museum to the Hickory Crawdads minor league baseball team, the area screams family-friendly with a focus on spending quality time together.
“It’s just a really great area with lots of walkable space and vibrant food from all over the world,” Davis says. SDM
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