State Spotlight:
Louisiana

Louisiana brings a one-of-a-kind energy to the world of sports tourism, blending passionate fan culture with a backdrop of unmatched Southern hospitality. From the lively rhythms of jazz to the bold flavors of Creole and Cajun cuisine, every event held here is infused with local flair. Whether in bustling cities or scenic small towns, Louisiana delivers memorable experiences that go far beyond the game. “Louisiana is completely dynamic in every sense of the word, with top-tier sports facilities, stadiums, convention centers, and arenas to host nationally and internationally scaled events,” says Will Bloom, director of sports and tour travel, USA and Canada, with the Louisiana Office of Tourism. “Outside of the competition, our communities encompass that Lagniappe, which is our special word for ‘A Little Something Extra’ that adds value to your event, providing athletes, teams, spectators, and families with memorable experiences that will encourage them to come back.”

State Spotlight:
Louisiana

Brandon Arvie in the Blue Corner at Golden Gloves National Tournament of Champions at the Cajundome Convention Center. Tuesday, May 2, 2017.

Louisiana brings a one-of-a-kind energy to the world of sports tourism, blending passionate fan culture with a backdrop of unmatched Southern hospitality. From the lively rhythms of jazz to the bold flavors of Creole and Cajun cuisine, every event held here is infused with local flair. Whether in bustling cities or scenic small towns, Louisiana delivers memorable experiences that go far beyond the game. “Louisiana is completely dynamic in every sense of the word, with top-tier sports facilities, stadiums, convention centers, and arenas to host nationally and internationally scaled events,” says Will Bloom, director of sports and tour travel, USA and Canada, with the Louisiana Office of Tourism. “Outside of the competition, our communities encompass that Lagniappe, which is our special word for ‘A Little Something Extra’ that adds value to your event, providing athletes, teams, spectators, and families with memorable experiences that will encourage them to come back.”

Score big in Louisiana’s capital, where sports are more than a game—they’re a way of life! Home to the LSU Tigers and Southern Jaguars, Baton Rouge delivers championship-caliber facilities for everything from baseball to waterskiing. With 180+ sporting events hosted since 2020 and over 8,500 hotel rooms citywide, we’re in a league of our own.

After the final whistle, everyone wins with festivals, parades, family-friendly museums and award-winning Cajun cuisine. From riverfront adventures to vibrant nightlife, there’s a victory lap for every visitor.

Ready to make your next sporting event legendary? Visit VisitBatonRouge.com/sports to get in the game!

Acadia Parish

Acadia Parish is situated in the heart of Cajun Country in southern Louisiana. The parish includes the cities of Church Point, Crowley, Rayne, Estherwood, Mermentau, Morse, and Iota.

Hotel Rooms: 6+ properties
Major Facilities:
  • Bayou Bend Golf and Health Club houses an 18-hole semi-private course and a full practice facility
  • Miller Stadium is a baseball park
Contact:

Acadia Parish Tourism Commission, acadiatourism.org.

Alexandria/Pineville

Conveniently located in the heart of Louisiana, Alexandria and neighboring Pineville offer fields, fairways, diamonds, lakes, and an array of other venues for sporting events.

Hotel Rooms: 2.472
Hotel tax rate: 16.95 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Johnny Downs Sports Complex includes eight baseball/softball fields, five large soccer fields, five small soccer fields, and two full-size soccer fields
  • Links on the Bayou Golf Course is an 18-hole course
  • Ward 9 Sportsplex has six turf baseball/softball fields and eight soccer fields
Convention Center:

Rapides Parish Coliseum offers 55,000 square feet of space and can accommodate sports such as basketball, volleyball, archery, wrestling, and boxing.

Contact:

Alexandria/Pineville Area CVB, AlexandriaPinevilleLA.com.

Ascension Parish

Ascension Parish is conveniently located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Hotel Rooms: 1,893
Major Facilities:
  • Lamar Dixon Expo Center has indoor space for sports like wrestling and cheerleading
  • Cajun Industries Soccer Complex has eight soccer fields
Contact:

Ascension Parish Tourism Commission, TourAscension.com.

Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge is driven by a unique and welcoming culture. From food to festivals to sports, everybody is welcoming to visitors and genuinely wants them to have a great time while they are in town.

Hotel Rooms: 8,500
Hotel tax rate: 14.95 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Oak Villa Complex includes eight baseball and softball fields
  • Alex Box Stadium is a 10,326-seat venue
  • Burbank Soccer Complex boasts 25 fields
  • Traction Sports has 11 baseball/softball fields
Contact:

Visit Baton Rouge, visitbatonrouge.com.

Breaux Bridge

Breaux Bridge is a small city in southern Louisiana. The city is known as the “Crawfish Capital of the World” and holds one of the largest festivals in the state, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival.

Hotel Rooms: 1000
Major Facilities:

The city offers six T-ball fields and eight baseball fields

Contact:

City of Breaux Bridge, breauxbridgela.net.

Cajun Coast

The Cajun Coast, known as St. Mary Parish, is about 90 minutes from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette. The area features lots of waterways for fishing, powerboat racing, and more.

Hotel Rooms: 1200
Major Facilities:
  • Russo’s Landing hosts dragon boat racing
  • Atchafalaya Golf Course has an 18-hole course
  • Kemper Williams Park includes six lighted baseball/softball fields
Contact:

Cajun Coast CVB, cajuncoast.com.

Houma

Just 55 miles outside of New Orleans is Houma. It’s home to more than 2,500 square miles of swamps and wetlands.

Hotel Rooms: 1709
Hotel tax rate: 13.5 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Bayou Country Sportsplex has five softball fields and three soccer fields that can also be configured for flag football and other sports
  • Barry Bonvillain Civic Center is a multipurpose space that hosts volleyball and basketball
Convention Center:

Barry P. Bonvillain Civic Center hosts volleyball, wrestling, basketball, and more.

Contact:

Houma Area CVB, houmatravel.com.

Jefferson

Jefferson offers a diversity of sporting venues, both indoors and out, making it a frequent host of a wide range of sports.

Hotel Rooms: 8000
Hotel tax rate: ranges from 11.75 percent to 12.75 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Pontchartrain Center boasts 75,000 square feet of space
  • Alario Center has 75,000 total square feet of space and seating for 2200
Contact:

Jefferson CVB, visitjeffersonparish.com.

Kenner

Kenner is conveniently located 4.5 miles from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and within 15 minutes of New Orleans.

Hotel Rooms: 2420
Hotel tax rate: 9.5 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center is a 73,243-square-foot space with a 34,560-square-foot arena
  • Muss Bertolino offers a football stadium, softball stadium, and baseball field
Contact:

Visit Kenner, visitkenner.us.

Lafayette

With a central location, world-class facilities, first-class accommodations, a family-oriented atmosphere, and one of the most unique cultural experiences in the country, Lafayette is a popular choice for sporting events.

Hotel Rooms: 4,830
Hotel tax rate: 12.45 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Youngsville Sports Recreation Complex has six soccer fields, four softball fields, and five baseball fields
  • Broussard Sports Recreation Complex includes four youth baseball fields, one full-size baseball field, and six softball/T-ball fields
  • Pelican Park includes four lighted fields
  • Cajundome is an arena with 40,000 square feet of floor space
  • Carencro Sports Complex is a multipurpose indoor facility with 20,000 square feet of turfed area
Convention Center:

Cajundome Convention Center offers 70,000 square feet of total space and can host sports such as dance, gymnastics, boxing, and volleyball.

Contact:

Lafayette CVB, LafayetteTravel.com.

Lake Charles

Lake Charles is easily accessible on I-10 and offers a climate that allows for year-round play for outdoor sporting events.

Hotel Rooms: 6,938
Hotel tax rate: 15.2 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Frasch Park boasts eight youth baseball and softball fields
  • McMurry Park has three baseball fields
  • Lake Charles Multi Sport Complex features five high school baseball fields, 12 soccer fields, and two basketball courts
  • OD Johnson Softball/Baseball Complex includes four youth baseball and softball fields
  • South Beach Volleyball is a five-acre sports complex with nine sand courts and four pickleball courts
Convention Center:

Lake Charles Civic Center hosts basketball, boxing, cheer and dance, and more.

Contact:

Visit Lake Charles, visitlakecharles.org.

Livingston Parish

Just east of Baton Rouge is Livingston Parish. The area is a frequent host of state and regional baseball and softball tournaments, as well as fishing and pickleball tournaments.

Hotel Rooms: 600
Major Facilities:
  • Livingston Parks and Rec offers seven baseball/softball fields
  • Life Oak Sports Complex includes 11 baseball/softball fields
  • North Park Denham Springs features 11 baseball/softball fields, two gyms, and six tennis courts
  • Walker Parks and Recreation offers six baseball/softball fields and four soccer fields
Contact:

Livingston Parish Tourism, livingstontourism.com.

Louisiana Northshore

The Louisiana Northshore is located at the convergence of three major interstates (I-10, I-12 and I-59), less than an hour away from downtown New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Hotel Rooms: 3000
Hotel tax rate: 12.75 percent in unincorporated areas plus $2 per room, per night in Wards 8 and 9
Major Facilities:
  • Pelican Park offers 32 athletic fields for baseball, softball, flag football, soccer, and lacrosse
  • Castine Center at Pelican Park is a 46,000-square-foot multipurpose facility that can host volleyball, basketball, pickleball, wrestling, baton twirling, cheer, and more
  • Coquille Sports Complex includes four gyms, six baseball fields, five softball fields, eight adult and youth tennis courts and five fields for flag football, soccer, or lacrosse
Convention Center:

Harbor Center is a 45,000-square-foot space that can be divided into a variety of floor plans as needed.

Contact:

St. Tammany Parish Tourist & Convention Commission, LouisianaNorthshore.com.

Monroe/West Monroe

Monroe and West Monroe is a sought-after sports destination with more than 2,500 hotel rooms, 100 locally owned restaurants, and facilities for almost any sport. This fall the city will open West Monroe Sports & Events, a 112,000-square-foot indoor venue.

Hotel Rooms: 2,500
Hotel tax rate: 18.89 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Sterlington Sports Complex features 10 baseball and softball fields of various sizes
  • West Monroe Sports and Events boasts 112,000 square feet of space with eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, and 77,000 square feet of flat floor space
  • Ouachita Sportsplex has eight baseball/softball fields
  • Ike Hamilton Expo Center houses a dirt arena and seating for 2,900
Convention Center:

Monroe Civic Center hosts sports such as boxing, MMA, and cheerleading.

Contact:

Monroe/West Monroe CVB, Monroe-WestMonroe.org.

Natchitoches Parish

From the history and culture to the recreation and outdoor offerings, Natchitoches is a great sporting destination for all ages. Its 33-mile oxbow lake is the perfect setting for rowing, boating, kayaking, and other water sports and events.

Hotel Rooms: 750
Major Facilities:
  • Williams Maggio Recreation Complex consists of eight baseball/softball fields, five soccer fields, and six tennis courts
  • Highland Park has two baseball/softball fields
  • Ben Johnson Foundation Basketball Courts includes two full courts and six half courts
  • Parc Natchitoches features five baseball/softball fields and four soccer fields
Convention Center:

The Natchitoches Events Center consists of nearly 40,000 square feet of space.

Contact:

Natchitoches Area CVB, natchitoches.com.

New Orleans

With 26,000 hotel rooms within two miles of the Superdome and Convention Center, a compact geographic footprint, a unique culture, and world-class venues, New Orleans is always a favorite of attendees.

Hotel Rooms: 26,000 downtown; 40,000 in the metro area
Hotel tax rate: 14.45 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Caesars Superdome has a max capacity of 80,000
  • Smoothie King Arena is a multipurpose venue next to the Caesars Superdome
  • City Park Fields offer multiple multipurpose fields, plus baseball, softball, track, and soccer fields
  • Alario Center houses 2,000 seats and is connected to the Bayou Segnette Sports Complex, a 650-seat baseball field
Convention Center:

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is one of the largest and most technologically advanced convention centers in the country with more than 1.1 million square feet of contiguous space.

Contact:

New Orleans & Company, neworleans.com.

Ruston

Located in the heart of northern Louisiana, Ruston is known as a vibrant college town with a charming 25-block historic downtown area.

Hotel Rooms: 750
Hotel tax rate: 14.5 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Ruston Sports Complex offers facilities for baseball, softball, tennis, football, and soccer
  • Lincoln Parish Park houses a 10-mile mountain bike trail
  • Joe Aillet Stadium is a football facility with a capacity of 28,019
Contact:

Experience Ruston, experienceruston.com.

Shreveport

With enough flavor, style, and soul for two cities Shreveport-Bossier offers a vibrant entertainment scene, world-class casinos, live music venues, delicious cuisine, and cultural attractions. Visitors and sports enthusiasts can enjoy a well-rounded experience both on and off the field.

Hotel Rooms: 10,000
Hotel tax rate: 14 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Brookshire Grocery Arena offers 270,000 square feet of space
  • Independence Stadium has a synthetic turf field with seating of 50,000
  • Tinsley Athletic Complex is a multi-use complex with five baseball fields, four soccer fields, and four youth/adult football fields
Convention Center:

Shreveport Convention Center boasts 350,000 square feet of space with 95,000 square feet of column-free space.

Contact:

Shreveport-Bossier CTB, shreveport-bossier.org.

St. Landry

So many players travel with their families, and St. Landry Parish is packed full of family fun activities, such as paddling on a National Water Trail.

Hotel Rooms: 849
Hotel tax rate: ranges from 14 percent to 18.2 percent depending on city
Major Facilities:
  • Eunice Rec Complex boasts 10 baseball and softball fields
Contact:

St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission, CajunTravel.com.

Tangipahoa Parish

Tangipahoa is located at the intersection of two interstates and is home to multiple cities, including Kentwood and Hammond. The cities offer numerous fields, gyms, arenas, and multi-purpose buildings, many of which are within a 20-mile radius.

Hotel Rooms: 1.426
Hotel tax rate: 14 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Chappapeela Park has 12 Celebration Bermuda turf fields, 21 soccer fields, two regulation football fields and a gym with two basketball/volleyball courts
  • Hammond America Sportsplex includes three artificial turf baseball/softball fields
  • North Oak Park features four softball fields
  • Pennington Student Activity Center is an 87,000-square-foot venue that houses a four-court gym
Convention Center:

The Southeastern Louisiana University Center is a 15,000-square-foot arena with 7561 seats. The facility hosts numerous events every year, including basketball and cheerleading.

Contact:

Tangipahoa Parish CVB, tangitourism.com.

West Baton Rouge

West Baton Rouge offers a variety of hotels conveniently located off I-10 and in close proximity to the area parks and ball fields.

Hotel Rooms: 1350
Major Facilities:
  • Louis Mouch, Jr. Multi-Purpose Facility has two large, covered areas for equestrian events
  • Tennis Court Complex is a multi-court facility
Contact:

West Baton Rouge CVB, westbatonrouge.net.