Atlantic City Shines for Sports of All Types
At TEAMS ’25, we spoke with Christina Mancuso of Visit Atlantic City and the Atlantic City Sports Commission about why this is an ideal destination for sporting events. She discussed the city’s continuously evolving infrastructure, including venues like the Atlantic City Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall. She details the million-dollar sport courts used for basketball, volleyball and football, as well as other unique options, like beaches and boardwalks that can be utilized for running and sand sports.
Mancuso also points out the numerous leisure activities available, such as a new waterpark at the Showboat Hotel, mini golf and Dave & Buster’s. She emphasizes the importance of support and community impact for event organizers, highlighting the resources and incentives Atlantic City offers to ensure successful events.
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Bentonville Shines as a Sports Event Destination
Bentonville, Arkansas, offers ideal sports facilities alongside a vibrant cultural scene. At this year’s TEAMS Conference & Expo, Amy Springer, sports sales manager at Visit Bentonville, shared why now is the perfect time to bring competitions to the city.
Proudly claiming the title of mountain-bike capital of the world, Bentonville pairs elite outdoor recreation with enriching art and a booming culinary scene. Its venues stand out, including 16 turfed and lighted softball and baseball fields, 12 lighted courts, extensive pickleball facilities and the renowned Coler Mountain Bike Preserve.
Phillips Park recently reopened with seven newly turfed fields, earning glowing reviews from athletes. With top-notch infrastructure and memorable off-the-field experiences, Bentonville offers event organizers and athletes an exceptional setting year-round.
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Bloomington Proves It’s Ready for the Big Leagues
Bloomington, Minnesota, consistently supports sports at every level, backed by strong infrastructure and community partnerships.
In this Sideline Chat, filmed at this year’s TEAMS Conference & Expo, Karl Heiberg, destination sales associate for Bloomington, Minn. Travel & Tourism, shares how the city is gearing up for major events in 2026, including the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships and the Special Olympics USA Games, underscoring its ability to host both grassroots and international competitions.
He discusses how event organizers also benefit from grant programs, housing solutions and a proactive local team. With major attractions like Mall of America and scenic nature nearby, Bloomington offers both top-tier competition venues and memorable leisure experiences.
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Why Fort Wayne Is a Hub for Sports Events
Fort Wayne, Indiana, is in the midst of a major transformation, with millions invested in its downtown and sports facilities. Centrally located within a few hours of Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis, the destination offers easy access for teams and organizers.
In this Sideline Chat, filmed during this year’s TEAMS Conference & Expo, Jazmin Zavala, sports sales manager for Visit Fort Wayne, discusses how its venue portfolio stands out for its variety and proximity, and discusses how the city recently hosted the WPV Sitting Volleyball World Cup, the first of its kind in the United States, leveraging its accessible facilities and downtown hospitality.
With walkable districts, community engagement programs and a focused event incentive strategy, Fort Wayne is positioning itself as a smart, flexible choice for sports events.
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GOCAL Scores as a Sports Destination
Great venues and great weather are just a couple of the reasons Greater Ontario, Calif., is always an excellent option for hosting sports events. But in this Sideline Chat filmed at the TEAMS Conference & Expo, Justin Balancio, senior manager, national sales for GOCAL – Greater Ontario California, shared a few reasons why this is an even more appealing time than usual for this destination.
Among the upcoming attractions are the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games — both of which will be taking place in Southern California — as well as next year’s opening of Ontario Sports Empire, the 190-acre multisport facility. Add in flexible venues like the Toyota Arena and the Ontario Convention Center, and GOCAL can work for competitions of all variety, and now is a great time to host an event in Greater Ontario.
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How Maryland Is Investing in Its Sports Events
Maryland is home to sports venues as varied as the state itself — and these offerings are only growing. In this Sideline Chat, which was filmed at the TEAMS Conference & Expo, Terry Hasseltine, executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission, explains how event organizers can be confident that they will work with a dedicated team at the state level as well as locally when bringing competitions here.
He points to two significant grants programs for sports events of a range of sizes that were recently launched as well as events such as the Maryland Cycling Classic (the largest professional road-cycling event in the United States) — and plenty others — that set this state apart as a sports destination.
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Ocean City Makes Waves as a Sports Destination
Ocean City is combining top-tier facilities with a beachside atmosphere to deliver powerful experiences for athletes and organizers alike.
With over 11,000 hotel rooms, nine miles of beach and three miles of boardwalk, Ocean City offers a vibrant and family-friendly setting for sports events of all kinds. The destination has elevated its offerings with the addition of brand-new Taraflex floors at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center — meaning it will soon be the largest Taraflex facility in the country.
In this video filmed at the TEAMS Conference & Expo, Chip Woytowitz, sports marketing and events manager for Ocean City Tourism, discusses how the destination’s venues include expansive beaches for sand soccer, ultimate frisbee and music festivals, as well as Northside Park, with softball, baseball and multipurpose fields. This December, USA Field Hockey’s National Indoor Festival will be the first to experience the new floors, blending competition with a true “play-cation” experience.
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Overland Park’s Vibrant Sports Offerings
Overland Park, Kansas, is combining accessibility, state-of-the-art venues and a vibrant community to position itself as a top sports destination.
In this Sideline Chat, filmed at this year’s TEAMS Conference & Expo, Eric Olson, vice president of sports tourism and events for Visit Overland Park, explains why this destination offers the ideal combination of central location and modern infrastructure. Among its attractions are a brand-new airport and more than 4,500 hotel rooms across 35 properties.
From retail and dining near the venues to scenic outdoor attractions like the arboretum and a renovated downtown farmers market, Overland Park delivers both logistical ease and memorable experiences.
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How San Jose Delivers Seamless Sports Events
Event organizers know San Jose, California, is home to world-class venues such as SAP Center at San Jose and Sharks Ice at San Jose (the largest ice center west of the Mississippi River) — not to mention Paypal Park and CEFCU Stadium. But in this Sideline Chat filmed at the TEAMS Conference & Expo, Matthew Martinucci, vice president of sales and destination services of Visit San Jose and John Poch, executive director of San Jose Sports Authority discuss some new developments that should be on the radars of those sourcing locations for their sports events.
In this video, they discuss how their organizations and others are working together before, during and after a competition to deliver a seamless, impactful experience for events-rights holders (which will only be enhanced by the new one-stop visitor center opening next year).
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Tucson Levels Up as a Sports Destination
Tucson, Arizona, has long been a great option for hosting competitions, but now may be a better time than ever. That was a takeaway from the recent Sideline Chat with Bree Lopez, sports sales manager for Visit Tucson, which she took part in during this year’s TEAMS Conference & Expo.
In this video, Lopez discusses some of Tucson’s popular venues for sports, including the Tucson Convention Center, Tucson Arena as well as the three-venues-in-one of the Kino Sports Complex. She also discusses new facilities like Mosaic Quarter, due to open in 2027, which will include the 175,000-square-foot MQ Iceplex, 131,000-square-foot MQ Field House, central utility plant and solar power for the complex.
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Waterloo Region’s Sports Offerings Keep Growing
The southern Ontario destination of Waterloo, Canada is stepping up its game when it comes to hosting sports events.
In this Sideline Chat filmed at the TEAMS Conference & Expo, Allister Scorgie, director of sport hosting for Explore Waterloo Region, shares how the destination’s investment in sports tourism (including grant efforts, facilities and more) has paid off, attracting larger and newer events to the destination. He shares details about the two multisport recreational centers slated to open in 2026, as well as its 8,000-seat arena anchor facility that has kept sports events coming here.
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