State Spotlight:
Louisiana

Louisiana is a sports destination where competition is amplified by culture, hospitality, and a deep-rooted passion for gathering around the game. From the marquee energy of New Orleans to the collegiate pride and tradition surrounding Baton Rouge, the state consistently delivers environments built for high-impact events, creating a setting that supports tournaments, championships, and gatherings from start to finish. “Louisiana has everything event organizers need to deliver a successful championship, from first-class venues and experienced partners to a welcoming hospitality industry,” says Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor, Billy Nungesser.

State Spotlight:
Louisiana

In 2025, Baton Rouge hosted the Masters of Strength Fest. Courtesy Visit Baton Rouge

Louisiana is a sports destination where competition is amplified by culture, hospitality, and a deep-rooted passion for gathering around the game. From the marquee energy of New Orleans to the collegiate pride and tradition surrounding Baton Rouge, the state consistently delivers environments built for high-impact events, creating a setting that supports tournaments, championships, and gatherings from start to finish. “Louisiana has everything event organizers need to deliver a successful championship, from first-class venues and experienced partners to a welcoming hospitality industry,” says Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor, Billy Nungesser.

Lake Charles, Louisiana’s Playground, is the Sports Capital of Louisiana, hosting nearly 100 events annually. Premier venues include the Lake Charles Event Center, home to the USA Boxing National Championships and Olympic Trials, and Townsley Law Arena at McNeese State University, host of the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship. With 61 baseball fields, 59 softball fields, 45 soccer fields, 50 basketball courts, and more, the region supports events of every scale. The Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority streamlines planning with expert support and local partnerships—while lakefront attractions, cuisine, and easy access via I-10 and LCH enhance the overall experience.

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. With easy access from across the state, affordable lodging, family-friendly attractions, and a welcoming community, Alexandria/Pineville gives event planners a central, convenient, and memorable Louisiana sports experience.

Hotel Rooms: 2,000
Hotel tax rate: 16.5 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Johnny Downs Sports Complex has eight 200-foot baseball/softball fields, five large fields, and five small fields
  • Links on the Bayou is an 18-hole golf course
  • Ward 9 Sportsplex has six turf baseball/softball fields and eight soccer fields
  • Ward 10 Recreation Complex has nine baseball/softball fields and four tennis courts
Convention Center:

Laborde Earles 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, explorealexandriapineville.com

Ascension Parish

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

Hotel Rooms: 1,893
Major Facilities:
  • Lamar Dixon Expo Center is a multipurpose facility that sits on 247 acres and has two indoor buildings that can host wrestling, cheerleading, and more
  • Cajun Industries Soccer Complex has 20 grass fields suitable for soccer, lacrosse, football, and other field sports
Contact:

Ascension Parish Tourism Commission, visitlasweetspot.com

Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge is Louisiana’s Capital City, conveniently situated just an hour from New Orleans and well connected to major hubs like Houston, Dallas, Washington D.C., and Atlanta through the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. Known as the Sports Capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge is home to championship-winning programs at both Louisiana State University and Southern University, bringing a built-in culture of passionate sports fandom to every event it hosts.

Hotel Rooms: 8,500
Hotel tax rate: 15.45 percent
Major Facilities:
  • LSU’s Tiger Stadium is a 102,321-seat venue
  • Stacks Pickleball has 12 indoor courts
  • Raising Cane’s River Center’s main exhibition hall spans 70,000 square feet and can be combined with other areas, like the arena, to create over 100,000 square feet of contiguous space
  • LSU’s Alex Box Stadium is a 10,326-seat ballpark
  • Traction Sports Performance Complex has 12 outdoor 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

Conveniently located along U.S. Highway 90 between New Orleans and Lafayette, the Cajun Coast provides easy access for regional and national events. Athletes and spectators enjoy fresh Gulf seafood, award-winning festivals, swamp tours, fishing, paddling trails, and a welcoming small-town atmosphere.

Hotel Rooms: 1,100
Hotel tax rate: 15.7 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Atchafalaya Golf Course is an 18-hole course
  • Kemper Williams Park includes six lighted baseball/softball fields
  • Bayou Bend Health & Fitness Center has eight pickleball courts
  • Morgan City Auditorium offers a number of spaces and can host sports like dance competitions and wrestling matches.
Contact:

Cajun Coast CVB, cajuncoast.com.

Houma

Just 55 miles southwest of New Orleans, Houma offers a welcoming destination where events feel personal, community-driven, and deeply rooted in Cajun culture. From large-scale youth tournaments and fishing rodeos to cheer and dance competitions, Houma provides a unique blend of hospitality, authentic experiences, and quality sports facilities.

Hotel Rooms: 1,500
Hotel tax rate: 10.5 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Bayou Country Sports Park features a softball complex, baseball complex, and multipurpose fields
  • Barry Bonvillain Civic Center is a multipurpose space that hosts volleyball and basketball events
  • Vandebilt Catholic High School Stadium has seating for 3,790 and accommodates track and soccer
  • Gray Pickleball Complex offers dedicated pickleball courts
  • Terrebonne Parish Tennis Complex features 10 courts and dedicated pickleball courts
Contact:

Houma CVB, explorehouma.com.

Jefferson Parish

Jefferson Parish offers a diversity of sporting venues, both indoors and out.

Hotel Rooms: 8,000
Hotel tax rate: 12.75 percent on the Eastbank, 11.75 percent on the Westbank
Major Facilities:
  • Pontchartrain Center can host a variety of sports events, including wrestling, volleyball, cheer, basketball, karate, and taekwondo
  • Alario Center is a multipurpose facility and sports center with a 2,000-seat arena
Contact:

Jefferson CVB, visitjeffersonparish.com.

Kenner

Kenner is conveniently located 15 minutes from New Orleans and five miles from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. In addition to a major convention center, the city features multiple volleyball and basketball courts.

Hotel Rooms: 2,420
Hotel tax rate: 9.5 percent
Major Facilities:
  • The Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center offers 73,243 square feet of space, including a 34,560-plus-square-foot arena
  • Coconut Beach Volleyball has 22 sand courts
  • Muss Bertolino Park has a stadium, running track, and baseball field
  • Galatas and Greenlawn each offer one baseball field
Contact:

Visit Kenner, visitkenner.us.

Lafayette

Lafayette combines top-tier sports facilities with a one-of-a-kind cultural experience, making it an ideal destination for sporting events of all sizes. With more than 5,000 hotel rooms, easy access from major Gulf South markets, and top-notch venues such as the Broussard Sports Complex and Youngsville Sports Complex, Lafayette offers the infrastructure event organizers need.

Hotel Rooms: 5,337
Hotel tax rate: ranges from 13 percent to 16 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Youngsville Sports Complex consists of six soccer fields, four softball fields, five baseball fields, 10 tennis courts, and a number of indoor and outdoor pickleball courts
  • Broussard Sports Complex has 11 baseball/softball fields, six soccer/lacrosse fields, and eight USTA-certified tennis courts
Convention Center:

Cajundome houses a 26,400-square-foot arena floor and has seating for up to 13,500

Contact:

Lafayette CVB, LafayetteTravel.com.

Lake Charles

Situated along I-10, two hours from Houston, Texas and three hours from New Orleans, Lake Charles boasts easy access. Its mild climate with warm winters allows for outdoor and indoor sporting events year-round.

Hotel Rooms: 7,300
Hotel tax rate: 15.2 percent
Major Facilities:
  • McMurry Park has three baseball fields
  • North Frasch Softball Complex has eight softball fields: two grass fields and six turf fields
  • Lake Charles Multi Sports Complex includes five baseball fields, 12 soccer fields, and two basketball courts
  • OD Johnson Softball/Baseball Complex includes four baseball/softball fields
  • Pattison Park includes 10 baseball/softball fields
  • SPAR Aquatic Center features an Olympic-sized pool
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.

Monroe/West Monroe

With more than 2,500 hotel rooms, 100 locally owned restaurants, and facilities for almost any sport, Monroe- West Monroe is a sought-after sports destination.

Hotel Rooms: 2,500
Major Facilities:
  • Sterlington Sports Complex features 10 baseball/softball fields of various sizes
  • West Monroe Sports and Events is a new 112,000-square-foot facility with eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, 16 pickleball 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 for equestrian events and bike races, and has seating
    for 2,900
Convention Center:

With seating for 7,600, Monroe Civic Center hosts sports such as boxing, MMA, and cheerleading.

Contact:

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

Natchitoches

Louisiana’s oldest city, Natchitoches offers a rich history and culture alongside outstanding recreational activities. Its 33-mile oxbow lake is ideal for rowing, boating, kayaking, and various other watersport events.

Hotel Rooms: 750
Major Facilities:
  • Ben Johnson Foundation Basketball Courts has two full-court basketball courts and six half-court basketball courts
  • Northwestern State University has a baseball field, softball field, soccer complex, eight-court tennis complex, football stadium, multipurpose coliseum, and track
  • Parc Natchitoches has eight baseball/softball fields, five soccer fields, and six tennis courts
  • Highland Park includes two baseball/softball fields
  • Parc Natchitoches has five baseball/softball fields and four soccer fields
Convention Center:

The Natchitoches Events Center is a 40,000-square-foot facility that offers a diverse range of spaces to accommodate events of all sizes and styles.

Contact:

Natchitoches Area CVB, natchitoches.com.

New Orleans

New Orleans offers a combination of world-class sports infrastructure, walkability, culture, and hospitality that few destinations can match. Event organizers benefit from major venues located within a compact downtown footprint, allowing attendees to easily access hotels, restaurants, attractions, and event venues without extensive transportation needs.

Hotel Rooms: 26,000
Hotel tax rate: 15 percent plus 2.5 percent tourism support assessment and $1 to $3 per room, per night depending on hotel size
Major Facilities:
  • Caesars Superdome is an indoor multipurpose venue and has a seating capacity of 66,000
  • Smoothie King Center is a multipurpose venue with a seating capacity of 16,800
  • City Park has more than 1,300 acres and is home to cross country, running, golf, and rowing
  • Shrine on Airline is a professional-grade baseball facility
Convention Center:

Ernest N. Morial Convention Center boasts more than 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space and hosts sports like volleyball, cheer and dance, martial arts, wrestling, and more.

Contact:

New Orleans & Company, neworleans.com.

Ruston

Ruston and Lincoln Parish combine small-town charm with big-league hospitality, offering first-class athletic facilities, a central location in North Louisiana, and a community that rallies behind every event. Home to Louisiana Tech University and Grambling State University, the area boasts top-tier venues for everything from football and basketball to track and field, baseball, and beyond.

Hotel Rooms: 750
Major Facilities:
  • The 185-acre Ruston Sports Complex offers facilities for baseball, softball, tennis, football, soccer, basketball, pickleball, cheerleading, volleyball, and more
  • Lincoln Parish Park boasts a highly-rated, 10-mile mountain bike trail
  • Joe Aillet Stadium is a 28,562-seat stadium
Contact:

Experience Ruston, experienceruston.com.

Shreveport

Located in the easily accessible region of northwest Louisiana, Shreveport-Bossier offers a one-of-a-kind blend of spicy Cajun spirit and warm southern hospitality. Here, guests will experience 24-hour resort-style casinos, riverfront entertainment, family-friendly festivals, and mouthwatering food.

Hotel Rooms: 10,500
Hotel tax rate: ranges from 15.6 percent to 16 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Brookshire Grocery Arena is a 14,000-seat multipurpose arena
  • Independence Stadium has a synthetic turf field with seating for 50,000 fans
  • Tinsley Athletic Complex is a multiuse complex with 10 baseball fields, four soccer fields, and four youth/adult football fields
Convention Center:

Shreveport Convention Center has 350,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including 95,000 square feet of column-free space.visitshreveportbossier.org

Contact:

Visit Shreveport-Bossier, www.visitshreveportbossier.org

St. Landry Parish

Many players travel with their families, and St. Landry Parish offers numerous family-friendly activities, such as paddling along 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 houses 10 baseball/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 multipurpose buildings, many of which are within a 20-mile radius.

Hotel Rooms: 1,200
Hotel tax rate: 14 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Chappapeela Park has 12 softball and baseball 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 85,000-square-foot facility with four multipurpose courts and an indoor track
Convention Center:

Southeastern Louisiana University Center is a 15,000-square-foot arena with 7,561 seats. The facility hosts numerous events every year, including basketball and cheerleading.

Contact:

Tangipahoa Parish CVB, tangitourism.com.

The Northshore

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

Hotel Rooms: 3,000
Hotel tax rate: average of 13.5 percent plus $2 per room, per night in certain Wards
Major Facilities:
  • Pelican Park in Mandeville has three gyms, seven courts, 32 athletic fields for baseball, softball, flag football, soccer, and lacrosse, an 18-hole disc golf course, and eight lighted pickleball courts
  • Castine Center at Pelican Park is a 56,000-square-foot multipurpose facility that can host volleyball, basketball, pickleball, wrestling, baton twirling, cheer, and more
  • Coquille Sports Complex has 12 diamond fields for baseball and softball, five rectangular fields for soccer, lacrosse and flag football, four gymnasiums, eight tennis courts, a special event field, and an outdoor area that hosts games including bocce ball, shuffleboard, and horseshoes.
Convention Center:

The Harbor Center in Slidell is a 54,000-square-foot space that can be divided into various floor plans as needed. In 2024, it underwent a $3.55 million expansion, which added 9,000 square feet of meeting space.

Contact:

Visit The Northshore, visitthenorthshore.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.