State Spotlight:
Kansas

With its prime central location and an impressive range of facilities, Kansas makes travel easy and tournaments unforgettable. From youth leagues to championship games, the Sunflower State has the venues, hospitality, and community support to deliver winning events every time. “Kansas, a powerhouse of heartland hospitality and competitive spirit, boasts a unique blend of premier venues, passionate communities, and robust local support systems,” said Holly Leiker, director of national sales and sports events for Visit Hutch. “This distinctive mix makes hosting sports events in our state both seamless and memorable. Whether it’s in urban hubs like Wichita, Overland Park, and Topeka or smaller communities across the state, Kansas delivers a high-quality experience for athletes, fans, and organizers alike.”

With its prime central location and an impressive range of facilities, Kansas makes travel easy and tournaments unforgettable. From youth leagues to championship games, the Sunflower State has the venues, hospitality, and community support to deliver winning events every time. “Kansas, a powerhouse of heartland hospitality and competitive spirit, boasts a unique blend of premier venues, passionate communities, and robust local support systems,” said Holly Leiker, director of national sales and sports events for Visit Hutch. “This distinctive mix makes hosting sports events in our state both seamless and memorable. Whether it’s in urban hubs like Wichita, Overland Park, and Topeka or smaller communities across the state, Kansas delivers a high-quality experience for athletes, fans, and organizers alike.”

Anchored by Wichita’s welcoming spirit, central location, a passionate fan base and endless off field entertainment plus 71-plus venues, Kansas’ largest city is an ideal host for youth tournaments, college matchups and high profile events. A few of Wichita’s largest and top-notch facilities include INTRUST Bank Arena, Equity Bank Park, Park City Arena and Scheels Stryker Sports Complex.

In Salina, we believe every sporting event should be as exciting as the teams who compete. With top-tier facilities, a welcoming atmosphere, and plenty of off-time activities, your athletes and spectators will enjoy the perfect mix of competition and leisure. Right in the center of the United States and the heart of Kansas, our space is crafted with care and made for you. Take advantage of our complimentary planning services and make us your first call. Plan your unforgettable event at VisitSalinaKS.org or contact us via e-mail at tbenien@salinakansas.org or phone at (785) 827-9301 x 130.

Dodge City

Dodge City has an extraordinary coalition within all facilities across the town, which coordinate with each other to make each event successful and professional. After an event, the excitement and charm of the Old West are close at hand, offering great entertainment options.

Hotel Rooms: 1,200
Major Facilities:
  • United Wireless Arena is a 6,000-seat multipurpose arena
  • Western State Bank Expo houses a 90,000-squarefoot exhibit hall
  • Memorial Stadium is a 5,000-seat facility with a synthetic turf field for football and soccer, as well as an eight-lane track
  • Legends Park is a four-diamond baseball and softball facility
  • St. Mary’s Sports Complex features six full-size soccer gamepads and three junior-size fields
Contact:

Dodge City CVB, VisitDodgeCity.org.

Hays

Hays is located in the Heartland of Kansas with easy access via Interstate 70. Named “The Most Beautiful Main Street in Kansas” by MSN.com, Downtown Hays offers a historical walking tour, boutique shopping, local art, and an award-winning brewpub.

Hotel Rooms: 1,025
Hotel tax rate: ranges from 17.5 to 19.5 percent depending on the hotel area
Major Facilities:
  • Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex features eight baseball/softball fields and eight soccer/football fields
  • Gross Memorial Coliseum is home to Fort Hays State University’s basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams with seating for 6,814
  • Larks Park is a historic limestone baseball facility with a seating capacity of 1,200
  • Lewis Field Stadium is the 6,362-seat home of Fort Hays State University football
  • Hays High School Stadium, completed in 2025, seats 2,500
  • The Flying Bison Disc Golf Course at Frontier Park is the oldest 18-hole course in Kansas and winds along Big Creek through 75 acres of wooded areas
Contact:

Hays CVB, visithays.com.

Hutchinson

Hutchinson is 50 minutes away from a national airport and has a long history of hosting high-profile national sporting events. The city is large enough that it has the amenities to host national-level events, but small enough that the event won’t get “lost in the crowd.”

Hotel Rooms: 804
Hotel tax rate: 15 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Hutchinson Sports Arena features four regulation basketball courts and approximately 44,000 total square feet
  • Fun Valley Sports Complex includes two turfed fields and five natural grass softball and youth baseball fields
  • Gowans Stadium is a 5,500-seat football stadium with an eight-lane track
  • Kansas State Fairgrounds offers multiple buildings with clear-span open space
Contact:

Visit Hutch, visithutch.com.

Kansas City

With a central location, proximity to an international airport, and new state-of-the-art facilities tailored for various sports, Kansas City is an appealing sporting event destination.

Hotel Rooms: 2,000
Hotel tax rate: Eight percent
Major Facilities:
  • Homefield Kansas Showcase Center has 10 basketball courts and 12 volleyball courts
  • Homefield Baseball Complex includes eight collegiate turf fields that can also host softball, soccer, and more
  • Compass Minerals Sporting Fields encompasses eight lighted turf soccer fields and four lighted grass fields
  • Children’s Mercy Park is a major league soccer facility
  • Legends Field is a 4,500-seat ballpark
Contact:

Visit Kansas City Kansas, visitkansascityks.com.

Lawrence

Located in the northeast section of the state, Lawrence is quickly becoming a top destination for collegiate championships and youth tournaments.

Hotel Rooms: 1,300
Major Facilities:
  • Sports Pavilion Lawrence is an 181,000-square-foot indoor facility that houses eight full-sized basketball or 16 full-size volleyball courts, an indoor soccer/sports arena, and a 200-meter indoor track
  • Rock Chalk Park is a state-of-the-art, multisport facility featuring a nine-lane, 400-meter track
  • Youth Sports Complex features 15 soccer fields, five football fields, eight baseball diamonds, and a practice area
  • Clinton Lake Softball Complex has four diamonds
  • Jayhawk Tennis Center boasts six indoor and six outdoor courts
Contact:

Explore Lawrence, explorelawrence.com.

Manhattan

Manhattan blends the excitement of a vibrant college town with the stunning backdrop of the Flint Hills. Visitors are welcomed with unmatched hospitality, a lively community spirit, and a perfect balance of small-town charm and big-time amenities.

Hotel Rooms: 1,300
Hotel tax rate: 17 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Cico Baseball/Softball Complex opens in spring 2026 and will offer two turf baseball fields and two turf softball fields
  • Anthony & Eisenhower Recreation Centers are twin facilities with four basketball and four volleyball courts that convert into eight pickleball courts
  • Colbert Hills Golf Course is an 18-hole facility
Contact:

Visit Manhattan Kansas, visitmanhattanks.org.

Olathe

Olathe is an affluent suburb of Kansas City. The city is 40 miles from Kansas City International Airport and a short drive from multiple states.

Hotel Rooms: 1,586
Major Facilities:
  • Garmin Olathe Soccer Complex features nine synthetic turf fields
  • College Boulevard Activity Complex includes 12 tennis courts, one football field, one soccer field, two baseball fields, two softball fields and one Miracle League T-Ball field
  • Olathe District Activity Center has one football field, one soccer field, two baseball fields, two softball fields, and an eight-lane synthetic surface track
Contact:

Olathe CVB, olathe.org/sports.

Overland Park

Overland Park is home to some of the best youth sports venues in the Midwest, including the 12-field Scheels Soccer Complex and, less than a mile away, Blue Valley Recreation Sports Complex, which boasts 24 baseball and softball diamonds.

Hotel Rooms: 4,731
Hotel tax rate: 18 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Scheels Soccer Complex has 12 lighted turf fields
  • Blue Valley School District Athletic Complex houses baseball and softball stadiums, as well as a turf football stadium
  • Blue Valley Recreation boasts 24 baseball and softball fields
  • Elite Tennis and Wellness features nine outdoor tennis courts, 26 lined pickleball courts, and four dedicated pickleball courts, all of which are domed
  • AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluehawk offers a 1,500-seat ice rink, a 3,200-seat championship arena, eight hardwood basketball/16 volleyball courts, and a 40,000-square-foot multipurpose turf area
Convention Center:

Overland Park Convention Center has hosted sports such as dance, cheer, gymnastics, futsal, body building, and fencing.

Contact:

Visit Overland Park, visitoverlandpark.com.

Salina

Salina blends big-city opportunities with small-town charm, all in a convenient central Kansas location. The city offers a wide array of exceptional restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, and unique attractions.

Hotel Rooms: 2,200
Hotel tax rate: 17 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Salina Fieldhouse is a 68,500-square-foot indoor facility featuring basketball courts, volleyball courts, and an indoor soccer field
  • Dean Evans Stadium is a 650-plus-seat stadium with a turf field, ideal for baseball
  • Bill Burke Park features eight total baseball/softball diamonds with a synthetic turf infield, seven lighted, and one unlighted. It is also home to multi-purpose fields used for soccer and football practices.
  • Magnolia Soccer Complex is a large multi-field soccer complex
  • Berkley Family Recreation Area offers sports fields and outdoor recreational space
  • Kansas Wesleyan University offers venues for basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, track, and more
Convention Center:

Tony’s Pizza Events Center includes a 7,000-seat multipurpose arena and the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall, a newly renovated 18,000+ square-foot convention space.

Contact:

Visit Salina, www.salinakansas.org/visit-salina.html.

Shawnee

Shawnee is situated on the westernmost side of the Kansas City metro area.

Hotel Rooms: 476
Hotel tax rate: 17.65 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Mid-America Sports Complex hosts baseball and softball with 10 fields
  • Stump Park hosts soccer
  • Kansas City Ice Center hosts hockey
Contact:

Shawnee Chamber of Commerce, visitshawneeks.com.

Topeka

Topeka sits at the crossroads of Interstate 70 and Highway 75, making it a prime destination for traveling teams from regional cities such as Omaha, Des Moines, Kansas City, St. Louis, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City.

Hotel Rooms: 2,732
Hotel tax rate: 16 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Washburn University Indoor Athletic Facility houses a 200-meter banked track and field
  • Hummer Sports Park houses the Capital Federal Natatorium, as well as fields for baseball, softball, football and soccer
  • Kossover Tennis Center has 18 courts
  • Sunflower Soccer Association offers 11 natural grass soccer fields and one turf field
Convention Center:

Stormont Vail Events Center features 75,000 square feet of flat floor space and hosts sports such as arena football, basketball, volleyball, and wrestling.

Contact:

Visit Topeka, visittopeka.com.

Wichita

With 71 sports venues, Wichita is a popular destination for athletics. Two of its largest facilities are the INTRUST Bank Arena and the Stryker Soccer Complex.

Hotel Rooms: 8,100
Hotel tax rate: 16 percent
Major Facilities:
  • INTRUST Bank Arena is a 15,000-seat, multipurpose venue
  • Stryker Sports Complex is a multipurpose facility that hosts soccer, football, rugby, and lacrosse
  • Wichita Hoops features 12 basketball courts
  • Wichita Sports Forum is a 148,000-square-foot multipurpose facility with 12 basketball courts and a turf soccer field
  • Riverfront Stadium is a multipurpose venue
Convention Center:

Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center has 200,000-plus-square feet of space.

Contact:

Visit Wichita, visitwichita.com.