Facility Types
Travel Sports Destination
Sports assets purpose-built to host large-scale events & drive tourism
Sports tourism drives thousands of annual visitors with tournaments & events
Travel sports destination properties are purpose-built to do more than host games — they are economic engines that bring communities to life. By attracting regional, national, and even international tournaments, these destinations drive consistent visitation, hotel stays, restaurant traffic, and repeat tourism dollars. Designed as true placemaking assets, they blend competition with experience, offering walkable districts, family-friendly amenities, and flexible event spaces that activate a community year-round. Beyond the fields and courts, these destinations elevate a city’s profile, strengthen its brand, and position it as a must-visit hub for sports, recreation, and entertainment.
SFC helps you evaluate the opportunity, build the right strategy, and manage the process end-to-end—so you get the upside, while staying in full control.
More about Sports Tourism
$52.2 billion-dollars in direct sports tourism spending and generates over $114 billion in annual U.S. economic impact
The SF Network represents the largest group of managed tournament venues in the country
Over 60% of sports travelers return to a destination later for leisure travel
3,500+ communities nationwide have partnered with SFC
Not sure where to begin?
Let J.D. and the team guide you through the process
Featured Sports Tourism Properties
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, meeting spaces
- Economic impact: Generated $101.0M in total economic impact in FY 2025 and a record 785,000 visitors.
Paradise Coast Sports Complex
- Naples, FL
Key Statistics
- Size: ~175–180 acres within Collier County’s City Gate development
- Playing surfaces: 8+ multi‑use synthetic turf fields today, master plan to 21 multipurpose fields,11 baseball/softball diamonds, 3,500‑seat stadium
- Ancillary: Lawn amphitheater, The Cove bar, The Factory outdoor fitness, six sand volleyball courts, lakeside event lawn, on‑site concerts, festivals
- Economic impact: $3.9M in revenue in 2023/2024, with subsidy reduced by nearly $1M in year one of SFC management
Publix Sports Park
- Panama City Beach, FL
Key Statistics
- Size: ~160–210 acres – premier configurable outdoor complex
- Playing surfaces: 13 configurable multipurpose/diamond fields (soccer, lacrosse, rugby, football/flag, baseball, softball), 9 synthetic turf / 4 natural‑grass, 5 collegiate baseball fields, 1,500‑seat championship field
- Economic impact: Consistently above $100M annually in recent years, ~$73M in direct visitor spend within the community in 2025
Sports and recreation, built to perform
Sports and recreation comes in many forms, and each facility type brings its own unique opportunities. We’ve helped communities plan, build, and manage a wide range of venues designed to meet local needs and attract regional and national attention.
Why choose the Sports Facilities Companies
Choosing SFC means choosing a partner who understands how to maximize both the performance and the potential of your facility. Here’s what you gain by working with us:
Maximize revenues and minimize the hassles with SFC
We understand that hosting sports competitions, whether local competitions, national championships, or international tournaments, requires meticulous planning and coordination. Our team leverages its experience across the world’s largest sporting events to implement systems that track schedules, manage group sports travel, and optimize venue operations. We work to make sure that venues are equipped to handle media coverage, sponsor requirements, and participant expectations with precision. From tournaments to competitions across a variety of sports, we help organizations create memorable experiences that elevate both the athletes’ and the fans’ experiences.
By partnering with SFC, organizations gain access to the tools, expertise, and creative insights necessary to transform a facility into a preferred destination. Our sports destination management services include detailed site reviews, strategic planning for multipurpose sports complexes, and operational support that enhances every aspect of the event experience. From managing bookings and coordinating trips to providing guidance on accommodations, catering, and transportation, our team orchestrates every detail so that your event runs smoothly, safely, and efficiently.
Whether your venue is hosting group travel programs, elite competitions, or community events, SFC helps you create a seamless experience that inspires athletes, delights visitors, and strengthens local tourism. Our industry-leading practices and commitment to excellence enable venues to outperform competitors, attract high-value events, and deliver measurable results.
See why we’re trusted by communities nationwide
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Virginia Beach Sports Center
Opened in 2020, the 285,000-square-foot Virginia Beach Sports Center is a premier sports tourism venue featuring a 200-meter indoor track and flexible basketball and volleyball courts that attract high-profile events. In 2024, SFC assumed full-time management, and since then the venue has been named SportsEvents Magazine’s “All-Star Indoor Sports Venue” and selected to host the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships in 2028, cementing its status as a world-class facility.
Download the full case study to learn more.
Elevate your facility with travel sports destination management
Your sports facility has the potential to become a destination that draws visitors, events, and economic growth. With SFC, you have the right guide for every stage in the journey.
Join the SFC team
Live the mission of improving communities through sports. Become a part of the Sports Facilities Companies team today.