A Guidebook for Greatness

For more than 85 years, Myrtle Beach has been riding the wave of being the backdrop for family-friendly, affordable vacations. More than 10 years ago, it added another feather to its cap: serving as a sports destination.
 

With more than 150,000 hotel rooms or equivalent accommodations in beach houses, condos and resorts along 60 miles of the Grand Strand, the beach beckons tournament travelers who are looking for things to do in between their time on the court or the ball field.
 

“What makes us a great leisure destination also makes us a great sports tourism destination. And it doesn’t hurt being a beach destination,” says Jonathan Paris, Executive Director of Sports Tourism for Visit Myrtle Beach. “The basis that we start with is we’re a great destination to visit. And then the next step is that we’ve got great facilities. And these facilities were really built with sports tourism in mind.”
 

Paris credits the forward-thinking mind of former Mayor John T. Rhodes for leading the charge in kick-starting the sports-tourism boom in Myrtle Beach and really — everywhere.
 

“There are countless numbers of these indoor facilities that have popped up in the last 10 years,” he notes. “And our Myrtle Beach Sports Center really was one of the first ones.”
 

John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center

Renamed the John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center to pay homage to the man who dedicated his life to the city, the facility opened in 2015 and boasts 70,000 square feet of column-free space that can accommodate up to 16 volleyball courts or eight basketball courts.
 

With a regular schedule of hosting volleyball, gymnastics, cheer, dance and youth basketball, one might expect the venue to be tapped out on seeking additional events to fill the space. However, staff members are always on the lookout for additional opportunities to fill gaps in the calendar and stretch the number of ways to use the flexible arena, Paris explains.
 

For instance, in addition to USA Team Handball hosting their club championships at the center, the venue has also hosted the American Cornhole League’s Collegiate Championships for six years running. The event brings in nearly 1,000 participants around New Year’s Day and is broadcast live on ESPN networks, Paris says. Other organizations, such as USA Table Tennis, also take advantage of the center, which is located just two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean.
 

After nearly 10 years, the building has much to celebrate, as it can be credited with generating a staggering $250 million in economic impact, according to the venue’s website. And although the building has stood tall for more than a decade, it doesn’t look a day over its inaugural introduction, as crews are constantly updating, renovating and re-invigorating, from sanding the floors under foot all the way up to new LED lights overhead.
 

“Even though the building is 10 years old, you would never know it,” Paris points out. “They’ve done a nice job keeping it updated. They’re constantly making those capital improvements to keep it on the forefront and keep it as nice as they can.”
 

Colonel Thomas ‘Buddy’ Styers Athletic Complex @ Grand Park

Like the Sports Center, the Colonel Thomas ‘Buddy’ Styers Athletic Complex @ Grand Park is not shy about the work it has had done. In fact, the complex is emerging from a facelift that re-turfed its seven large multi-purpose fields and two youth fields that are designed to accommodate a variety of sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and football.
 

“This was the first specifically built sports tourism venue in the area,” Paris says of the complex that opened in 2008.
 

The facility, which is also equipped with a six-tunnel batting cage, new scoreboards, lights, a generous-sized parking lot and well-appointed restrooms and concessions, is most known for hosting baseball and softball tournaments. From youth tournaments to adult amateur softball, the complex is situated in the heart of The Market Common and less than a mile from the ocean, Paris points out.
 

“It’s an easy walk over to Market Common if you’ve got a break in play or if somebody’s not interested in watching baseball all day,” Paris says. “There’s lots of opportunities to do that.”
 

The 114-acre Market Common combines shopping with streetscapes that invite visitors to pull up a chair and take in the sights while sipping a cocktail, dining curbside or simply killing time. Playgrounds, a movie theater, an escape room and a bowling alley are tucked among the multi-story buildings which also serve as residential spaces above the countless boutiques and stores that line the decommissioned Air Force base.   
 

The athletic complex, formerly known as Grand Park, was recently renamed to pay tribute to Styers as one of the founding fathers of The Market Common complex and delivering the year-round sports-tourism attraction.
 

North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex

In North Myrtle Beach, the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex is adding 11 playing fields and 96 acres to the 162-acre site off Highway 31 and Robert Edge Parkway in a $36-million expansion. In addition to soccer, baseball and flag football, the fields at the park have been known to host lacrosse and Ultimate events, among others, Paris says.
 

In addition to the natural grass fields at the sprawling compound, Paris notes the dog park, amphitheater, 10-acre meadow, 25-acre lake, walking and bike trails and playgrounds provide endless options for users to take advantage of their surroundings and utilize the amenities that make the park a comfortable place to lounge for an afternoon.
 

“It’s really utilized not only as a sports tourism destination but it’s also a great city park,” he notes.
 

As work wraps on the expansion, Paris adds the facility will be available to begin booking additional events in 2026.
 

For those looking for entertainment, dining and shopping opportunities near North Myrtle Beach, Paris recommends taking in the sounds, sights and libations at Barefoot Landing. Live music, arcade games and a ropes course are sure to captivate an audience while endless treats and treasures are waiting to be discovered in the oasis of stores, boutiques, bars, restaurants and treat counters in this seaside marketplace.
 

What Else is There to do?

If you’ve ever taken your kids on vacation and cringed at hearing them say, “We’re bored,” that won’t be the case in Myrtle Beach, Paris notes.
 

The Myrtle Beach Regional Sports Alliance, which encompasses 12 cities and two counties, is a collaborative organization that focuses on bringing sports tourism to the area. In 2024, the alliance was named Sports Tourism Organization of the year in the population under 500,000 category by the Sports Event and Tourism Association (Sports ETA). While members are focused on accentuating the facilities available for sports, they are also consistently marketing Myrtle Beach as a hub for family entertainment. It’s a job the team, including Paris, takes seriously yet practically.
 

“No one is playing baseball and softball eight hours a day,” Paris notes. “So, there’s tons of time for people to do things. I think the number one thing most people do is go to the beach.”
 

In addition to emphasizing kicking back on the coast, Paris points to the SkyWheel on the ocean, Broadway at the Beach, 2,000-plus restaurants, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, helicopter rides and more than 90 golf courses as ways to pass the time.
 

But quite honestly, if you just show up and look around, you will find so many miles of opportunities to make memories that you’ll have to make time to fit in sports tournaments.
 

“Whether you’re here for sports or along for the ride, we’re going to make sure your trip to Myrtle Beach leaves a lasting impression.”  SDM