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When planning corporate gatherings, conferences, or retreats, hotels and convention centers are often the first places that come to mind. However, sports complexes offer a unique location for company events and meetings. Sports venues provide flexibility, high-energy team-building opportunities, and memorable experiences that go beyond those of traditional spaces. This article will explore some interesting points to consider when planning your next company event or meeting.
Built-In Flexibility for Any Agenda
Sports complexes are designed to accommodate dynamic activities, making them exceptionally adaptable for meetings.
“Sports complexes are far more flexible than most hotel meeting spaces,” described SFC Senior Events & Marketing Manager Cristina McCollum “Typically, sports facilities have different space sizes that can be modified depending on the group’s needs. It’s not a one-size-fits-all ballroom — meeting planners can really tailor the experience to their agenda,” she added.
For example:
- Multi-court halls can be converted into plenary rooms, breakouts, or expo floors.
- Turf fields can easily become keynote stages.
- Upper concourses and club spaces can transform into workshops, VIP lounges, or media hubs.
Overall, these flexible spaces create the perfect setting for a range of events, from small-scale leadership off-sites to large annual sales meetings, job fairs, and more.
Tech-Ready, Turnkey Infrastructure
Modern sports facilities are built for broadcast-quality moments. Robust power, WiFi density, LED scoreboards, and integrated A/V make it easy to run keynotes, live-stream sessions, and deliver flawless presentations. Many venues also offer production booths, green rooms, and staging zones that simplify load-in and flow — reducing friction for your speakers, vendors, and attendees.
Room to Move, Learn, and Connect
When content and movement are balanced, attendee experience thrives. “Unlike staying in a hotel and meeting in that same hotel, sports venues let guests step into something different … Attendees get out, see things, and enter a venue that has energy and room to move. It’s a whole new atmosphere that naturally lends itself to creativity and connection.” Said Cristina.
Sports complexes naturally support wellness breaks, walking meetings, and interactive activations. A great way to elevate participation may be to pair your sessions with on-site team building. From pickleball and volleyball to obstacle courses and skills clinics, fun hands-on experiences create emotional connections that keep your message top-of-mind.
Convenient Access and On-Site Amenities
From abundant parking to clear wayfinding, sports venues are built to move crowds smoothly. Many are centrally located with nearby dining, lodging, and entertainment — ideal for multi-day programs.
Inside, you’ll often find premium lounges, adaptable hospitality areas, and concessions capable of scaling from coffee service to elevated food experiences.
“Many sports facilities are centrally located near airports and hotels, but the experience feels fresh,” McCollum noted. “It’s not that corporate, heavy atmosphere — attendees still have comfort and convenience, but in a space that feels energizing.”
Budget-Friendly Without Compromise
Because sports complexes are optimized for high utilization, they can deliver substantial value compared to traditional venues — especially when you consolidate activities on one site. Fewer transfers, easier logistics, and built-in infrastructure can lower overall costs while elevating production quality and attendee experience.
“Ninety percent of hotels require you to book their food and drinks,” McCollum said. “Most sports complexes and sports facilities can be much more cost-effective because they often allow outside catering or offer preferred vendors with diverse menus — not just hotel food. That flexibility gives planners more control and better value.”
Community Impact Matters
Sports facilities are community anchors. Hosting at these venues can align your event with local engagement — think youth sports partnerships, nonprofit activations, or wellness initiatives.
McCollum advises sports facility venue managers to plan community events to attract new business and possible sponsors. “Community events don’t just bring local people together — they showcase the venue,” McCollum explained. “One never knows who’s attending — a local HR leader or business owner might walk in with their family and realize, ‘I could host my next meeting here.’ That’s why events like fall festivals or open houses are so important — they drive community connection and future bookings.”
Meeting Planning Examples
- Leadership summits and town halls that need a single, scalable site
- Sales kickoffs with mixed plenary, breakout, and experiential elements
- Association conferences with expo space and education tracks
- Team off-sites that blend strategy with wellness and friendly competition
- Product launches seeking big-stage visuals and broadcast-ready A/V
A perfect example of an off-site is Empower Adventures Tampa Bay. The venue hosts corporate groups for meetings and then leads team-building sessions on-site, including ziplining, trust exercises, and more. It seamlessly blends strategy and fun, keeping people engaged long after the meeting ends.
Sports Facilities Companies Venue Management Vice President Joe DeRing adds, “When you come with a group or a team, it’s a place to learn about your team and yourself— working together and overcoming obstacles together, anything is possible.”
Hosting Summits, Trade Shows & Small Conventions at Sports Complexes
When Community Playmaker, a platform dedicated to providing ideas and solutions for visionary community leaders, hosted its one-day leadership event, the Playmaker Summit, it demonstrated the power of meeting inside a live sports complex at the John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Leaders explored the economic impact of youth sports, workforce solutions, and mixed-use development, then toured the facility, networked, and celebrated the venue’s 10-year milestone—all in a single, walkable setting.
The venue delivered what summits need: configurable courts for plenaries/breakouts, broadcast-ready A/V, smooth circulation, and on-site hospitality that keeps momentum between sessions.
By pairing classroom insights with an operational tour, attendees left with practical playbooks and partnerships they can apply immediately. It’s a replicable model for venues hosting civic learning.
Ready to Rethink Your Next Event?
Reach out to Sports Facilities Companies to explore venue options, craft a right-sized plan, and create an unforgettable meeting experience. Contact our team to get started, and we’ll help you match your program goals with the perfect sports complex — making your offsite meeting or team-building event a win for every stakeholder.
