State Spotlight:
New York

With state-of-the-art infrastructure and amenities too plentiful to count, New York is always a gold medal destination for hosting any type of sport in the Northeast. “New York State is the perfect destination for sports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, from the casual fan to the elite athlete,” said Ross D. Levi, Empire State Development vice president and executive director of tourism. “Our state is home to world-class museums and top tier sports facilities, professional sports teams and amateur tournaments, and newly renovated airports and a variety of lodging to accommodate the diverse needs of guests.”

State Spotlight:
New York

With state-of-the-art infrastructure and amenities too plentiful to count, New York is always a gold medal destination for hosting any type of sport in the Northeast. “New York State is the perfect destination for sports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, from the casual fan to the elite athlete,” said Ross D. Levi, Empire State Development vice president and executive director of tourism. “Our state is home to world-class museums and top tier sports facilities, professional sports teams and amateur tournaments, and newly renovated airports and a variety of lodging to accommodate the diverse needs of guests.”

Adirondack Coast

Stretching across Lake Champlain’s western shores in the shadow of New York’s Adirondack Mountains, the Adirondack Coast offers unprecedented views, endless recreation, and a central location.

Hotel Rooms: 1100
Hotel tax rate: 11 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Cardinal Park has one field for baseball and softball
  • Plattsburgh State Field House has eight tennis courts
  • MacDonough Hall houses eight tennis courts
  • Jack Shae Arena-Olympic Center, Herb Brooks Arena-Olympic Center and Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena each contain one sheet of ice
  • Field House Complex offers one soccer field
Contact:

Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, goadirondack.com.

Albany

Located at the crossroads of the Northeast, Albany is easily accessible by plane, train or automobile and is a short jaunt from major metropolitan areas such as Boston, New York City and Montreal. The city has numerous options for sports venues, including universities, arenas and complexes.

Hotel Rooms: 7000
Hotel tax rate: 14 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Afirm’s Sports Center Bethlehem has an indoor turf field
  • Afirm’s Sports Center Colonie has five indoor soccer/football fields and a sports park with four outdoor turf fields plus a dome featuring one indoor turf field
Convention Center:

Albany Capital Center has hosted everything from basketball and volleyball to table tennis.

Contact:

Discover Albany, Albany.org.

Binghamton

Binghamton has a great location that makes it easy to get to from points all across the northeast. The area also offers plenty of hotels, dining options and world-class venues.

Hotel Rooms: 2,500
Hotel tax rate: 13 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Visions Federal Credit Union Veterans Memorial Arena can host hockey, basketball, gymnastics and wrestling
  • The Greater Binghamton Sports Complex has three Little League fields and two other outdoor fields
Contact:

Visit Binghamton, VisitBinghamton.org.

Buffalo

With a revitalized waterfront, enhanced sports venues, new hotel properties, and nearly $1 billion dollars in recent development, Buffalo is in the midst of an extraordinary transformation. Buffalo offers athletes, coaches, and spectators unique first-class venues, a creative hospitality experience, and all-star entertainment and dining possibilities.

Hotel Rooms: 10,624
Hotel tax rate: 13.75 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Northtown Center at Amherst houses three NHL-size rinks and one Olympic-size rink
  • HarborCenter offers two NHL-size rinks
  • Key Bank Center has one playing area that converts between an NHL-size rink, basketball court, and lacrosse field
  • Hamburg Nike Base hosts soccer, softball, baseball, lacrosse and BMX
  • Amherst Audubon Facility has two baseball fields and multipurpose fields
Convention Center:

Buffalo Niagara Convention Center offers more than 110,000 square feet of flexible space in downtown Buffalo.

Contact:

Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission, buffalosportscommission.com.

Chautauqua County

Chautauqua County is known as western New York’s ‘Snow Country.’ The county is anchored by the cities of Jamestown and Dunkirk and is comprised of numerous diverse communities.

Hotel Rooms: 1300
Major Facilities:
  • Northwest Arena is a twin pad ice skating facility
  • Peek’n Peak Resort boasts 27 groomed slopes and miles of cross-country trails
Contact:

Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, tourchautauqua.com.

Cortland County

Cortland County offers several multipurpose turf fields in close proximity. Events held here include the Empire State Senior Games, NYS Games, NYS Junior Games, and NYSPHSAA Girls Soccer and Girls Lacrosse Championships.

Hotel Rooms: 600
Major Facilities:
  • Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex offers turf baseball fields
  • JM McDonald Sports Complex features an indoor NHL-size rink and indoor soccer fields
  • Testa Park has two Little League fields, one soccer field and one multipurpose field
  • SUNY Cortland offers a 6500-seat stadium field and numerous other outdoor fields, as well as an indoor gym, 50-meter pool, and 40,000-square-foot field house with track and field area
Contact:

Cortland Regional Sports Council, cortlandsports.org.

Lake George

Located in the heart of the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, surrounded by majestic mountains and over 3000 lakes, the Lake George Area combines unsurpassed natural beauty with world class sports facilities, walkable downtowns, affordable lodging, and a family friendly atmosphere.

Hotel Rooms: 6600
Major Facilities:
  • Cool Insuring Arena is a 17,000-square-foot multipurpose complex
  • Golden Goal Sportsplex has four grass fields, four turf fields, and tennis courts
  • Adirondack Sport Park & Dome is an indoor/outdoor facility
  • East Field has four Little League fields, two baseball courts, baseball/football stadium, and four additional baseball fields
  • Gurney Mountain Bike Park offers 13 miles of trails
Contact:

Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB, lakegeorgechamber.com.

Lake Placid

Located within the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, Lake Placid and its surrounding area is full of recreational opportunities year-round. From cross country skiing and skating in the winter to hiking and paddling in the summer, Lake Placid has something to offer for everyone.

Hotel Rooms: 1800
Hotel tax rate: 11 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Van Hoevenberg is the home of the Lake Placid Nordic Center and the Lake Placid Sliding Center and serves as a year-round center for hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and more
  • Olympic Jumping Complex is the only ski jumping facility approved for both summer and winter training and competitions in North America
  • Standing at 4867 feet high, Whiteface Mountain is the state’s fifth tallest mountain, and the resort is home to the greatest vertical drop in the eastern U.S.
  • The Olympic Speed Skating Oval sits in the heart of Lake Placid Village
Contact:

Lake Placid Visitors Bureau, LakePlacid.com.

Long Island

Approximately 90 minutes outside of New York City, sits Long Island—a year-round destination surrounded by beaches and water, rich with watersports, hiking trails, skating rinks, and live entertainment arenas. The area is a frequent host of sporting events, including marathons, golf tournaments, triathlons and swimming, surfing, and diving competitions.

Hotel Rooms: 18,500
Hotel tax rate: 11.625 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a multipurpose venue that seats 13,000
  • Belmont Race Track—home of the Belmont Stakes—has a crowd capacity of 90,000
  • Nassau County Aquatic Center is an 80,000-square-foot natatorium
Contact:

Discover Long Island, DiscoverLongIsland.com.

Rochester

Rochester is located in Monroe County, a metro area situated on the southern shore of Lake Ontario and is part of New York’s Finger Lakes region. Rochester has a rich sports history at both the professional and amateur levels.

Hotel Rooms: 7000 countywide
Hotel tax rate: 14 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Blue Cross Arena is a 14,000-seat multipurpose venue
  • Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex has four ice rinks
  • Golisano Training Center houses a six-lane indoor track and artificial turf field and four tennis/volleyball courts
  • Webster Aquatic Center has an Olympic-size pool
  • Lakefront Park features 14 natural grass multipurpose fields and one turf soccer/baseball field
  • Total Sports Experience features a 127,500-square-foot indoor facility and 40 acres of outdoor field space
  • The Dome Arena is an indoor multipurpose venue
Convention Center:

Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center has more than 100,000 square feet of function space and is attached to major hotels.

Contact:

Visit Rochester, visitrochester.com.

Saratoga

Saratoga is within a five-hour drive of 75 million people, and is just 30 minutes from the Albany International Airport. The city was built on the sport of horseracing.

Hotel Rooms: 2100
Major Facilities:
  • Gavin Park includes nine soccer/multi-use fields, six baseball/softball fields, two multipurpose gyms, and outdoor tennis courts
  • Clifton Common has six soccer fields, two NHL ice rinks, six softball fields, eight baseball fields, four outdoor basketball courts, and cross-country ski trails
  • Saratoga Polo Association Fields includes two full-size polo fields
  • Saratoga Spa State Park offers golf courses, tennis courts, pools, and cross country skiing
  • Saratoga Springs Recreational Center is a 33,500-square-foot facility with 26,000 square feet of court space
  • Saratoga Springs Ice Rink houses a regulation-size rink and an Olympic-size rink
  • Sportsplex of Halfmoon is an indoor multipurpose venue.
Contact:

Discover Saratoga, DiscoverSaratoga.org.

Syracuse

Syracuse sits in central New York. From accommodations to venues, whatever is needed to host a sporting event, the city is sure to offer it.

Hotel Rooms: 7500
Major Facilities:
  • SRC Arena consists of 60,000 square feet of multipurpose space, six-lane track, three flexible courts, and seating for up to 6500
  • Carrier Dome is a 50,000-seat multipurpose domed stadium on the campus of Syracuse University
  • NBT Bank Stadium is an 11,000-square-foot baseball stadium
  • War Memorial Arena is a 7,000-seat multipurpose venue
  • New York State Fair’s Exposition Center is a 136,000-square-foot building with 110,000 square feet of clear-span space and is the largest expo facility north of New York City between Boston and Cleveland
Convention Center:

A three-city-block facility in the heart of Syracuse, the Oncenter boasts 200,000 square feet of space.

Contact:

Syracuse CVB, VisitSyracuse.com.