Facility Types
Event Venues, Convention Centers & Arenas
Turning venues into destinations for unforgettable events and experiences
Usher in the new era of arenas, convention & event centers
Modern event centers, arenas, and convention centers are designed as flexible, high-impact destinations that serve both visiting audiences and the local community. Built to host tournaments, concerts, conventions, trade shows, and large-scale gatherings, these venues drive overnight visitation, economic impact, and destination visibility. At the same time, they function as civic anchors—supporting local events, graduations, expos, community celebrations, and year-round programming.
When thoughtfully planned, these facilities integrate adaptable floor plans, premium technology, and surrounding amenities that enhance placemaking and activate downtowns or entertainment districts. The result is a multipurpose destination that elevates a community’s profile, maximizes utilization, and creates lasting cultural and economic value.
More about Arenas, Event & Convention Centers
1.6 billion participants and 27.5 million jobs are tied to meetings, conventions, and events worldwide
129% rise in group hotel rates for event since 2019
2-4 day events drive strong hotel demand and higher visitor spend
Not sure where to begin?
Let Eric and the team guide you through the process
Featured Event & Arenas Centers
Hoover Met Stadium / Finley Center (Hoover Met Complex)
- Hoover, AL
Key Statistics
- Size: ~120 acres, 155,000‑sq‑ft Finley Center
- Playing surfaces: 11 basketball / 16 volleyball courts, 5 multipurpose fields, full baseball complex plus 10,000+‑seat Hoover Met Stadium
- Ancillary: Tennis center, RV park, indoor climbing, splash pad, food court, trade‑show, and meeting spaces
- Economic impact: Generated $91.3M in total economic impact in FY 2024 and more than 92,000 hotel room nights — SFC has doubled original economic‑impact projections over the life of the project
Rocky Mount Event Center
- Rocky Mount, NC
Key Statistics
- Size: ~165,000 sq ft downtown event center
- Playing surfaces: 8 basketball / 16 volleyball courts, configurable floor for conventions and concerts, meeting rooms, and party rooms
- Ancillary: FEC area, climbing, arcade, mezzanine
- Economic impact: Produced $14.9M in economic impact in 2022, while hosting 77,000+ tourism guests and 50,000+ local attendees — a textbook example of a venue that exceeded skeptics’ projections
Holland Civic Center
- Holland, MI
Holland Civic Center Place has transformed a historic downtown campus into a modern, 50,000+ sq ft event hub hosting sports, concerts, weddings, markets, and festivals year‑round. Its flexible mix of courts, halls, and community spaces now anchors downtown Holland’s economic vitality and community life.
Key Statistics
- Size: ~8,925 sq ft; up to 1,500 standing / 790 seated
- Event Surfaces: Great Hall (~8,925 sq ft; up to 1,500 guests) plus Market Side, Market View, Community Atrium, and an outdoor plaza connected to the downtown farmers market.
- Amenities: Atrium entry, stage, meeting rooms, AV, catering, concessions, ample parking.
- Economic impact:Year‑round downtown anchor hosting Tulip Time, festivals, concerts, vibrant markets.
Woodmans Sports & Convenction Center
- Janesville, WI
Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center is a 140,000‑square‑foot indoor sports and events hub in Janesville, WI, transforming the former Sears site at Uptown Janesville. Opening in 2025, it will host the NAHL Janesville Jets, year‑round tournaments, conventions, and community celebrations for southern Wisconsin.
Key Statistics
- Size: ~140,000 sq ft of indoor space for athletic, entertainment, business, and community events.
- Playing surfaces: Ice arena, multi-purpose arena, and 25,800 sq ft conference center.
- Ancillary: Locker rooms, meeting and training rooms, concessions, Wi‑Fi, 2,000+ parking.
- Economic impact:Regional tournament hub driving tourism, jobs, growth, and year‑round recreation.
Sports and recreation, built to perform
From local recreation facilities to national tournament venues, every facility has its own story and potential. SFC helps communities plan, build, and manage sports and recreation destinations that inspire play, drive results, and deliver real economic impact.
Why choose the Sports Facilities Companies
Partnering with SFC gives your facility access to professional guidance, operational expertise, and strategic planning that ensures your venue performs at its best. Here’s what you gain by working with us:
Data-driven planning
Our real‑time, real‑world data from 100+ managed venues informs decisions on scheduling density, pricing, food and beverage mix, and service levels, so our recommendations reflect what’s performing now, not just theory.
Economic impact
Leverage our economic impact expertise to quantify room nights and visitor spend, building stakeholder buy‑in and strengthening sponsorship and public‑private funding cases.
Building year-round revenue streams
Through diverse programming (e.g., tournaments, concerts, trade shows, festivals, and community events) we ensure your venue stays active 365 days a year. Our operators know how to maximize utilization and drive repeat visits.
Program-driven design
Our program‑driven venue planning optimizes adjacencies, load‑in/out, and sport/event specifications to reduce change orders and improve day‑one functionality for concerts, courts, mats, and trade shows alike.
Network power
Through the SF Network — the largest group of event, sports, and recreation venues in the US — your facility gains access to national event rights holders, sponsorship opportunities, and marketing partnerships that smaller operators can’t match. This has helped our venues produce hundreds of events annually and more than $200 million in hotel/visitor spend.
Event marketing & brand activation
Take advantage of our integrated national and local campaigns and sales pipelines to build demand, convert inquiries, and retain rights‑holders season after season.
See why we’re trusted by communities nationwide
“The information and research that we received from SFC has helped me in my role of educating the community, especially city leadership, on the importance of focusing on sports tourism.”
Ben Snyder
Executive Director
Grand Junction Sports Commission
“It was great to see the different levels of services and the understanding that SFC brought to the table. They provide a diverse range of services, and it really met the goals we were looking to achieve.”
Gumaro Martinez
Executive Director of Parks and Leisure Services
City of Waxahachie, TX
“Searching far and wide, SFC stood out above the crowd and not only for how they run a facility but how they run their business. I think that speaks volumes to their leadership. I think that speaks volumes to their track record, and I’m excited to work hand in hand at Visit Macon with SFC on making this building a success.”
Gary Wheat
President/CEO
Visit Macon
Elevate your arena, event venue, or convention center with SFC
Event venues, arenas, and convention centers are destinations that drive revenue, engagement, and community pride. With SFC’s development and management expertise, your facility can operate efficiently while delivering unforgettable experiences for every guest.
Join the SFC team
Live the mission of improving communities through sports. Become a part of the Sports Facilities Companies team today.
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