Alabama
Pairing a deep-rooted athletic culture with the venues, infrastructure, and community support organizers need to deliver successful competitions, Alabama knows how to host sports. The state’s reputation is anchored by powerhouse college athletics, but it extends far beyond football. Alabama hosts marquee events at Talladega Superspeedway, welcomes major tournaments across baseball, softball, soccer, and golf, and continues to expand its portfolio of modern facilities built for both spectator and participant-driven events. Add in a proven ability to draw crowds, strong local partnerships, and a statewide enthusiasm that turns games into experiences, and Alabama offers event owners what they need to keep athletes and visitors coming back.
Alabama

In 2024, Auburn hosted the USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships. Courtesy Visit Auburn-Opelika
Pairing a deep-rooted athletic culture with the venues, infrastructure, and community support organizers need to deliver successful competitions, Alabama knows how to host sports. The state’s reputation is anchored by powerhouse college athletics, but it extends far beyond football. Alabama hosts marquee events at Talladega Superspeedway, welcomes major tournaments across baseball, softball, soccer, and golf, and continues to expand its portfolio of modern facilities built for both spectator and participant-driven events. Add in a proven ability to draw crowds, strong local partnerships, and a statewide enthusiasm that turns games into experiences, and Alabama offers event owners what they need to keep athletes and visitors coming back.
From the first whistle to the final sunset, Alabama’s Beaches deliver a winning playbook for sports and events. Coastal Code Rule #85 says it best: Celebrate every win. With outstanding sports facilities, dependable year-round weather, and easy access to lodging, dining, and attractions, planners can host with confidence. Off the field, teams enjoy white-sand beaches, fresh seafood, and outdoor adventures that turn downtime into highlights. Whether it’s a weekend tournament or a weeklong event, Alabama’s Beaches delivers more than a venue. It’s a destination that athletes, families, and fans are excited to visit. Plan now.
Auburn and neighboring Opelika are a proven sports destination where high performance facilities, experienced event support, and deep-rooted sports culture work together to deliver successful events. Anchored by Auburn University, the area brings collegiate energy and expertise to every competition while maintaining a compact, easy to navigate footprint for athletes, families, and spectators.
Hotel Rooms: 3,500Hotel tax rate: 13 percent
Major Facilities:
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James E. Martin Aquatics Center houses an Olympic-sized pool and 16.5-foot diving well
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Opelika SportsPlex & Aquatics Center boasts a 50-meter outdoor pool
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West Ridge Park has nine lighted baseball fields, two softball fields and a Miracle League field
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Opelika Pickleball Facility boasts 24 courts
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Yarbrough Tennis Center features six indoor courts, 16 outdoor lighted clay courts, 12 hard courts, and a stadium court
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.
Hotel Rooms: 17,000Hotel tax rate: 17.5 percent
Major Facilities:
- 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: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.
Hotel Rooms: 2,000Major Facilities:
- 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.
Hotel Rooms: 2,720Hotel tax rate: 14 percent
Major Facilities:
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Westgate Baseball Complex has five lighted baseball fields
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Westgate Soccer Complex includes three full-sized soccer fields, two which can be broken down into smaller fields
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Westgate Tennis Center features 20 lighted courts
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Westgate BMX Track houses a USA BMX sanctioned track
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James Oates Park has five youth baseball/softball fields
The Dothan Civic Center is a multiuse arena space configurable for basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheer, and gymnastics.
Contact:Visit Dothan, VisitDothan.com.
Florence and the surrounding area known as “The Shoals” is located in the northwest corner of Alabama. It’s home to miles of some of the finest Tennessee River fisheries, a growing number of venues and facilities, an accessible location, and a strong/supportive community.
Hotel Rooms: 1,200Hotel tax rate: 11 percent
Major Facilities:
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Florence Sports Complex features nine baseball fields, eight softball fields, five soccer fields, and one turf football/soccer field
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Veterans Memorial Park Pickleball/Tennis Facility includes 20 pickleball courts, 12 tennis courts, and six clay tennis courts
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Bank Independent Stadium will host a new turf baseball and football field and is set to open in September 2026
Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, visitflorenceal.com.
Foley seamlessly combines high-quality sports facilities with the warmth of southern hospitality. Within just a few miles, guests have access to over 1,200 hotel rooms, more than 100 restaurants offering diverse cuisines, exceptional outlet shopping, and even an amusement park and waterpark to enhance their experience.
Hotel Rooms: 1,200Hotel tax rate: 11 percent
Major Facilities:
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The Foley Event Center features premier, sport-specific flooring across a 90,000-square-foot facility, accommodating up to six basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, and 12 pickleball courts
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Located within the Foley Sports Tourism Complex are 16 multiuse outdoor grass fields ideal for soccer, lacrosse, football, and more, plus a dedicated championship stadium with seating for up to 1,000
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Graham Creek Nature Preserve stretches across 600-plus scenic acres, offering a unique natural setting for sporting events, including 3D archery tournaments, disc golf competitions, and collegiate and youth cross-country meets.
Foley Sports Tourism, FoleySportsTourism.com.
Gadsden is situated in Etowah County and is located less than one hour from both Birmingham and Huntsville. It’s an affordable and family-friendly destination.
Hotel Rooms: 1,132Major Facilities:
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Attalla Sports Complex offers fields for soccer, baseball, and softball
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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
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Kia Mega SportsPlex RBC offers fields for soccer, football, and more
Greater Gadsden Area Tourism, greatergadsden.com.
Alabama’s Beaches combine big athletic events and family vacations, offering top tier facilities, a supportive sports community, and a coastal setting that makes competition and downtime equally unforgettable.
This winning blend creates a seamless sportcation experience that families, teams and participants return for year after year.
Hotel tax rate: 16 percent
Major Facilities:
- 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 Coast Sports Center is a new multisport facility that opened in 2025
The 118,000-square-foot Orange Beach Events Center at The Wharf hosts a variety of sports events, including, cheer, dance, taekwondo, weightlifting, and karate.
Contact:Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, gulfshores.com.
Huntsville and Madison County are a unique blend of history, technology, art, and nature, geographically positioned in the center of the Southeast. It’s an easy drive from most of the nation east of the Mississippi River, and a direct flight away from 18 airports across the country.
Hotel Rooms: 9,700 countywideHotel tax rate: 15 percent plus $2 per room, per night
Major Facilities:
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Merrimack Soccer Complex has 18 lighted fields
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Home to the Huntsville Football Club, Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium is a multisport venue with seating for 8,000
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John Hunt Park boasts 44 tennis courts
Von Braun Center sits in downtown Huntsville and offers more than 170,000 square feet of flexible space.
Contact:Huntsville/Madison County CVB, huntsville.org.
Located between Huntsville and Birmingham in North Alabama, Marshall County is home to four unique cities. With the state-of-the-art Sand Mountain Park in Albertville and Lake Guntersville—Alabama’s largest lake spanning 69,000 acres—it’s a great destination for any event.
Hotel Rooms: 1,000Major Facilities:
- Lake Guntersville is an ideal spot for fishing or watersports
- 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 - Guntersville Recreation Center offers updated ball fields
Marshall County Tourism & Sports, MarshallCountyTourismandSports.com.
Mobile is a one-of-a-kind destination located in historic Mobile County in southwest Alabama. Positioned on Mobile Bay along the northern Gulf of Mexico, the Port City enjoys a mild, semi-tropical climate nearly year-round. Easily accessible at the crossroads of Interstates I-65 and I-10, with the Mobile International Airport scheduled to open in September 2026, Mobile offers unmatched convenience for traveling teams and fans.
Hotel Rooms: 7,500Hotel tax rate: ranges from six to 17 percent, depending on location
Major Facilities:
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Mobile Arena will open in spring 2027 and feature a 10,000-seat capacity
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Hancock Whitney Stadium is a 25,000-seat football stadium
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Mitchell Center is a 10,041-seat multipurpose indoor arena
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Mobile County Sportsplex is a 60-acre soccer facility with three lighted soccer fields and plans to expand to seven by spring.
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Ladd-Peebles Stadium is a 40,000-seat football stadium
Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center features 317,000 total square feet of space, including a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall. The venue hosts sports such as volleyball and basketball each year.
Contact: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.
Hotel Rooms: 7,500Hotel tax rate: 15 percent plus $3.75 per room, per night
Major Facilities:
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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
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Newly remodeled Lagoon Park features six fast-pitch-only softball fields
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Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex has eight lighted regulation fields and two championship stadiums
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Buddy Watson Park offers seven multiuse fields, including baseball and softball
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Edward Thompson Park has seven baseball and softball fields, including a Miracle League field
The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center offers 75,000 square feet of space with 35-foot ceilings, configurable for gymnastics, cheerleading, basketball, boxing, volleyball, wrestling, and more.
Contact: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.
Hotel Rooms: 1,300Major Facilities:
- 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.
Hotel Rooms: 4,069Hotel tax rate: 15 percent
Major Facilities:
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River Run Park features nine turf baseball/softball fields
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Tuscaloosa Tennis Center enhancements will be completed by summer and include three indoor courts, 18 hard outdoor courts and 12 clay outdoor courts
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A 19-court pickleball complex is nearing completion at Bowers Park, which also features eight baseball/softball fields, disc golf course, and indoor multiuse facility
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UA Student Recreation Center has seven basketball courts and eight multipurpose fields
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Sokol Park features 12 baseball/softball fields, multipurpose fields, trails, and eight lighted pickleball courts
Bryant Conference Center has space to accommodate sports like dance, cheer, and taekwondo.
Contact:Visit Tuscaloosa, visittuscaloosa.com.

