Auburn-Opelika is known for its Southern hospitality, rich sports culture, and versatile facilities. The area combines small-town charm with big-city amenities, all while being centrally located and easy to love.

• Chewacla State Park boasts 696 acres and 30-plus miles of mountain biking and multi-use trails
• James E. Martin Aquatic Center houses an Olympic-size pool with two movable bulkheads
• Opelika SportsPlex and Aquatics Center includes an eight-lane, 50-meter outdoor pool, 24 dedicated pickleball courts, and five soccer fields
• Wire Road Soccer Complex features 11 soccer/multipurpose fields and 56,000 square feet of indoor multipurpose space for futsal, basketball, and volleyball
• Yarbrough Tennis Center is a 4,300-square-foot facility with six indoor courts, 12 outdoor hard courts, and 15 outdoor clay courts

Auburn Arena has a seating capacity of 9121 and 12,000 square feet of space. Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum features 369,027 square feet of space and seats 10,500.

Auburn-Opelika Tourism, aotourism.com.

With the 45,000-seat Protective Stadium, the 740-acre Barber Motorsports Park, the 750,000-square-foot Birmingham CrossPlex indoor track and field facility, the multi-sport Hoover Met Complex, and the 15,500-seat Legacy Arena, Birmingham is an incredibly easy—and appealing—place to host sports events of any kind.

• Protective Stadium seats 45,000 and can accommodate football and soccer
• Legacy Arena is a 15,500-seat multipurpose indoor venue
• Birmingham Crossplex is a $55 million aquatic center and indoor track sports complex designed for indoor track and field, competitive swimming and diving, volleyball, and more
• Legion Field is a 72,000-seat open-air stadium
• The Hoover Sports Complex is a 120-acre property with a 150,000-square-foot multi-sport facility, six NCAA regulation-size soccer/lacrosse fields or 12 youth soccer/lacrosse fields, five full-size baseball fields, and a 16-court tennis facility

Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex houses a 45,000-seat stadium, 15,500-seat arena, 220,000 square feet of exhibition space and 4000 seats in two theaters—all under one roof.

Contact: Greater Birmingham CVB, InBirmingham.com.

Decatur has earned a reputation for providing winning facilities and family-friendly activities. The city is a frequent host of a diverse range of sports, from softball and golf to triathlons, lacrosse, and fishing.

• Jack Allen Recreation Complex includes 10 international-sized soccer fields and one championship fields
• Ingalls Harbor Boat Launch offers space to launch 10 boats at one time and is considered one of the best launch sites in the Southeast for fishing tournaments
• Jimmy Johns Tennis Center has 16 hard courts, four clay courts, and two indoor hard courts
• Wilson Morgan Park is known for its top-tier six-field softball complex

Contact: Decatur Morgan County Tourism, VisitDecaturAl.org.

Dothan offers a wide array of first-class facilities, ease of travel, and a mostly mild climate. Its venues regularly host national events for USTA, USA BMX, PGA, LPGA, Perfect Game, and Dixie Youth Baseball and Softball.

• James Oates Park features 12 baseball/softball fields newly turfed
• Westgate Park boasts a five-field softball complex, seven baseball fields, six soccer fields, 1 BMX track, and 20-court tennis complex
• NFL Flag Complex includes nine fields

Visit Dothan, VisitDothan.com.

Florence and the surrounding area known as “The Shoals” is located in the northwest corner of Alabama. The area is on one of the best fisheries in the nation.

• Sports Complex features eight softball fields, five baseball fields, six soccer fields, and a football field
• University of North Alabama offers a baseball facility and a softball facility
• Braly Municipal Stadium is a 14,215-seat football stadium

Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, visitflorenceal.com.

Foley seamlessly combines high-quality sports facilities with the warmth of southern hospitality. Within a convenient five-mile radius, guests have access to more than 1,000 hotel rooms, more than 100 restaurants offering diverse cuisines, exceptional outlet shopping, and even an amusement park and waterpark to enhance their experience. Two new hotels are planned to open in early 2025, adding approximately 300 more hotel rooms to the city.

• The Foley Event Center boasts specialized sportsflooring encompassing six basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, and 12 pickleball courts across its expansive 90,000 square feet
• Within the Foley Sports Tourism Complex, home to theFoley Event Center, there are 15 versatile sports fields suitable for multiple sports such as soccer, lacrosse, and football, as well as a championship stadium with a seating capacity of up to 1,000
• The Graham Creek Nature Preserve spans over 600 acres of land and provides space a host to several sporting events, such as 3D archery, disc golf competitions, and cross-country championships

Foley Sports Tourism, FoleySportsTourism.com.

Gadsden is situated in Etowah County and is located less than one hour from both Birmingham and Huntsville. With more than 15 hotels, it’s an affordable and family-friendly destination.

• Attalla Sports Complex offers fields for soccer, baseball, and softball
• Gadsden Sports Park at Gadsden State features multiple sports fields for baseball, softball, soccer, and football
• Meighan Complex is suited for soccer, football, baseball, tennis, and more

The Venue at Coosa Landing houses 26,000 square feet of flexible space.

Greater Gadsden Area Tourism, greatergadsden.com.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are blessed by location with the beach, waterways, and trails surrounding the coastal community. Event organizers and rights holders can find fantastic facilities anywhere, but the sister communities have an abundance to offer beyond the ballpark.

• Gulf Shores Sportsplex can accommodate youth, high school, collegiate, and adult baseball and softball, high school and collegiate track and field, youth soccer, youth football, and pickleball
• Orange Beach Sportsplex can accommodate youth, high school, collegiate, and adult baseball and softball, youth, high school, and collegiate soccer, youth football, and beach volleyball
• The Gulf of Mexico is ideal for triathlons, open-water swims, shoreline fishing, and offshore fishing tournaments
• Alabama Gulf Coastal Sports Center is a new multi-sport facility scheduled to open early this year

The 18,000-square-foot Orange Beach Events Center at The Wharf hosts a variety of sports events, including cheer, dance, taekwondo, and karate.

Alabama’s Beaches Sports & Events, AlabamasBeaches.com/sports.

As one of the fastest-growing cities in the Southeast, Huntsville offers the amenities of a large city coupled with the hospitality and charm of a small town.  Add in a set of venues that have either recently been built or renovated and are conveniently located to the area’s hospitality sector.

• VBC Propst Arena is a 6,600-seat venue ideal for basketball and hockey
• John Hunt Park Cross Country Course offers 3,5, 6, 8, and 10k courses
• Spencer Sports Complex includes eight fields

Von Braun Center sits in downtown Huntsville and offers more than 170,000 square feet of flexible space.

Huntsville/Madison County CVB, huntsville.org.

Nestled between Huntsville and Birmingham in North Alabama, Marshall County is home to four cities. With a state-of-the-art facility, Sand Mountain Park, and Lake Guntersville, Alabama’s largest lake at 69,000 acres, it’s the perfect destination for any event.

• Sand Mountain Park features nine baseball/softball diamonds with two championship fields, four indoor basketball/volleyball courts, five multipurpose fields with a championship field, 12 tennis courts, four clay courts, a Miracle League field, and indoor eight-lane competition pool
• Lake Guntersville is an ideal spot for fishing or water sports with 69,000 acres

Marshall County Tourism & Sports, MarshallCountyTourismandSports.com.

Mobile is a truly unique city in historic Mobile County in southwest Alabama. Situated on Mobile Bay along the northern Gulf of Mexico, it boasts a semi-tropical climate virtually year-round, along with a variety of indoor and outdoor sports venues, a walkable downtown, and an actual World War II battleship for visitors to explore.

• Mobile Civic Center is currently being demolished and will be replaced with a $300 million arena targeted to open in 2027
• Hancock Whitney Stadium is a 25,000-seat football stadium
• Mitchell Center is a 10,041-seat multipurpose indoor arena
• Mobile County Sportsplex is a 60-acre soccer facility with three lighted soccer fields and plans to expand to seven by spring.
• Ladd-Peebles Stadium is a 40,000-seat football stadium

Arthur R. Outlaw—Mobile Convention Center features 317,000 square feet of space, including a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall. The venue hosts sports such as volleyball and basketball each year.

Mobile Sports Authority, mobilesportsauthority.com.

Montgomery, Alabama’s state capital, has grown into a premier destination for sporting events thanks to its premier facilities, friendly atmosphere, and top-notch attractions.

• Multiplex at Cramton Bowl is a 90,000-square foot indoor multipurpose facility that can accommodate 15 volleyball courts, two basketball courts, and 20 wrestling mats, as well as host sports like gymnastics, cheerleading, and boxing
• Newly remodeled Lagoon Park features six fast pitch only softball fields
• Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex consists of 10 total fields
• Buddy Watson Park offers seven multi-youth fields, including baseball and softball
• Thompson Park includes seven multi-youth fields, including baseball and softball

The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center has 75,000 square feet of space with 35-foot ceilings that can be configured and used for gymnastics, cheerleading, basketball, boxing, volleyball, wrestling, and more.

Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, montgomerychamber.com.

Oxford is conveniently located between Birmingham and Atlanta. The city and its surrounding area offer a variety of sports complexes to accommodate most sports.

• Woodland Park Softball Complex has five softball fields
• Choccolocco Park accommodates baseball, softball, track and field, soccer, and more
• Coldwater Mountain Bike Trail hosts many events throughout the year

Calhoun County Area Chamber of Commerce, visitcalhouncounty.com.

Anchored by the University of Alabama and its storied Crimson Tide, Tuscaloosa boasts a legacy of athletic excellence that has earned national recognition. Iconic venues like Bryant-Denny Stadium and Coleman Coliseum offer visitors a chance to experience the excitement of some of the most celebrated sports programs in the country.

• Student Recreation Center has seven basketball courts
• Rhoads Softball Stadium is a 4,000-seat softball facility
• Coleman Coliseum is a multipurpose indoor venue with a capacity of 15,300
• Sokol Park features 12 fields
• Bower’s Park includes eight softball/baseball fields
• Tuscaloosa Tennis Center has three indoor courts and 10 outdoor courts
• River Run Park is opening in the fall and will feature nine baseball/softball fields, as well as indoor space for basketball, dance, cheer, and volleyball competitions

Bryant Conference Center has space to accommodate sports like dance, cheer, and taekwondo.

Visit Tuscaloosa, visittuscaloosa.com.