State Spotlight:
Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the U.S., but when it comes to hosting sporting events, it delivers in a big way. Perfectly positioned between major cities like New York and Boston, it offers unbeatable accessibility paired with first-class facilities ideal for everything from youth tournaments to national championships. “Rhode Island’s size and service level set our destination apart,” says Jonathan Walker, senior director of sports sales for the Rhode Island Sports Commission/Providence Warwick CVB. “When you bring your event to the Ocean State, you can see and feel the impact it has across our communities. There is a championship-caliber sense of embrace and enthusiasm from the moment you arrive at the airport or hotel until the final whistle. Our small destination makes a big deal out of hosting your event, and that sense of welcome and level of embrace is hard to find in larger markets.”

State Spotlight:
Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the U.S., but when it comes to hosting sporting events, it delivers in a big way. Perfectly positioned between major cities like New York and Boston, it offers unbeatable accessibility paired with first-class facilities ideal for everything from youth tournaments to national championships. “Rhode Island’s size and service level set our destination apart,” says Jonathan Walker, senior director of sports sales for the Rhode Island Sports Commission/Providence Warwick CVB. “When you bring your event to the Ocean State, you can see and feel the impact it has across our communities. There is a championship-caliber sense of embrace and enthusiasm from the moment you arrive at the airport or hotel until the final whistle. Our small destination makes a big deal out of hosting your event, and that sense of welcome and level of embrace is hard to find in larger markets.”

Blackstone Valley

Blackstone Valley, situated approximately one hour from Boston, three hours from New York City, and just 15 to 20 minutes from T.F. Green International Airport in Rhode Island, is an attractive destination for sporting events. It offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports venues that are easily accessible, along with convenient hotels and dining options for attendees

Hotel Rooms: 1,215
Hotel tax rate: 13 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Centreville Bank Stadium has a capacity of 10,500 and is adaptable to any rectangular field sporting event
  • With two locations in Rhode Island, Wide World of Indoor Sports has facilities for soccer, lacrosse, flag football, baseball, softball, field hockey, and more
  • Levy Rink houses an indoor ice rink for hockey and skating
Convention Center:

Bally’s Twin River Event Center offers 29,000 square feet of space and hosts sports like boxing and mixed martial arts.

Contact:

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, tourblackstone.com.

 

Newport

As a seaside destination ideally situated between Boston and New York City, Newport was brought to prominence by America’s wealthiest families building “Summer Cottages” in the late 1800s. Newport offers an array of sporting activities introduced to it by the Vanderbilts and Astors during this period, which is referred to as the Gilded Age. The city is known as the Sailing Capital of the World.

Hotel Rooms: 2,600
Hotel tax rate: 13 percent
Major Facilities:
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame features six indoor courts, 13 outdoor grass courts, one clay court, and one rare “real tennis” court
  • Fort Adams State Park has playing fields for rugby and soccer, as well as Sail Newport, New England’s largest public sailing center
  • Longplex Family & Sports Center is a 187,000-square-foot venue with indoor and outdoor space for volleyball, lacrosse, soccer, flag football, hockey, and basketball
  • Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor are ideal for sailing regattas
Contact:

Discover Newport, DiscoverNewport.org.

Providence

Providence is known as an epicenter of higher education, with eight colleges and universities located in and around the city. This concentration of faculty and students adds energy to the city and makes an enduring impact on the community’s creative and intellectual landscape.

Hotel Rooms: 5,500
Hotel tax rate: 13 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Amica Mutual Pavilion features a 31,000-square-foot arena floor and a 25,000-square-foot concourse and can house 14,000 spectators
  • Brown University’s facilities range from a boathouse along the Seekonk River to a 20,000-seat outdoor stadium
  • Providence College offers state-of-the-art venues like its hockey home, Schneider Arena, and the Friar Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex
Convention Center:

With four exhibit halls that can be used separately or combined into one large hall, the Rhode Island Convention Center provides more than 100,000 square feet of flexible exhibit space. The building offers a 20,000 square-foot grand ballroom, 30,000 square feet of pre-function space, and two covered parking garages.

 

Contact:

Providence Warwick CVB, GoSportsRI.com.