Features

Small-Town Sports Destinations

Coast to coast, small and mid-sized cities are establishing themselves as stellar destinations for sports tournaments and events. These communities invest in top-notch sports facilities, plus plenty of dynamic indoor and outdoor attractions for families and visitors to enjoy while they’re in town for events.

From the turnbuckle to beyond the big leagues

When most people think of professional wrestling, their minds immediately jump to global powerhouses like WWE or All Elite Wrestling (AEW). However, the world of professional wrestling is much larger and more vibrant than those big names. Across the country, independent wrestling companies—or “indies”—are cultivating the stars of tomorrow, and their grassroots approach offers venues and cities unique opportunities to host electrifying events with devoted followings.

The thrill of the slope—How snowboarding continues to soar

Snowboarding is experiencing the most significant growth rate of any snow sport. After all, what’s not to love about a sport that propels athletes to new heights and down steep slopes, and runs the gamut in physical feats?

Hockey Stars—How communities are winning at attracting hockey tournaments

Hockey thrives in the Midwest, where the cold weather is naturally conducive to the sport. Communities invest in state-of-the-art facilities and warm hospitality to attract hockey tournaments. Exceptional rinks and citywide hospitality keep cities competitive while vying to bring tournaments to their region.

Planner Dos and Don’ts

We reached out to venue and destination managers to learn what they wish event planners could do more—and what they could improve on. Two experienced pros gave us their perspective on planning a sports event, and we’re here to pass the information on to you—keep these tips in mind the next time you plan your event to make the process as smooth and straightforward as possible.

The Iditarod: 1,000-mile race tests endurance and honors Alaskan history

When the 30-plus sled drivers, or mushers, as they are commonly called, and several hundred sled dogs set off at the start of the 53rd Iditarod on March 1, 2025, they face a trail of approximately 1,000 miles of rugged wilderness with the possibility of bone-chilling temperatures, raging blizzards, and serious threats from moose and other wildlife.

Golf swings into a high-tech future

Golf is already a $102 billion powerhouse of an industry, but high-tech simulators and new entertainment options are driving even more participation in the sport.

E-Sports enjoy tremendous ground-up growth

With an ancestry dating back to the original video games of the 1970s, team electronic game playing, known as e-sports, has taken the world by storm—and may even show up at the Olympic games in the future.