State Spotlight:
South Dakota

South Dakota offers something increasingly hard to find: championship-caliber facilities paired with an authentic atmosphere and unforgettable scenery. Whether hosting indoor competitions, field sports, or outdoor endurance events, the state blends modern venues with wide-open landscapes to create an experience that extends well beyond the competition. Backed by welcoming communities, dedicated event partners and a commitment to delivering memorable experiences, South Dakota is a destination that always plays to win.

State Spotlight:
South Dakota

The Monument in Rapid City hosts wrestling and more. Courtesy Visit Rapid City

South Dakota offers something increasingly hard to find: championship-caliber facilities paired with an authentic atmosphere and unforgettable scenery. Whether hosting indoor competitions, field sports, or outdoor endurance events, the state blends modern venues with wide-open landscapes to create an experience that extends well beyond the competition. Backed by welcoming communities, dedicated event partners and a commitment to delivering memorable experiences, South Dakota is a destination that always plays to win.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is the holder of unique sports history, including the Aberdeen Pheasants minor league baseball team, NCAA’s one-time winningest basketball coach Don Meyer and the 2019 NAHL Robertson Cup Champion Aberdeen Wings Hockey team.

Hotel Rooms: 889
Hotel tax rate: 12 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Aberdeen Aquatic Center hosts swimming meets
  • Aberdeen Civic Arena offers space for basketball and volleyball
  • Clark Swisher Field accommodates football, soccer, and track and field
  • Dacotah Bank Stadium is a 4,000-seat football stadium
  • Fossum Field is a 2,500-seat baseball field
Contact:

Aberdeen Area CVB, VisitAberdeenSD.com.

Huron

Between the hospitality, community involvement, and support, Huron is a great place for various sporting events. With the various facilities, it has the ability to host a variety of events.

Hotel Rooms: 350
Hotel tax rate: 8.7 percent plus $2 per room, per night
Major Facilities:
  • Huron Arena is a 7,000-seat facility with 15,000 square feet of athletic space
  • Tiger Stadium hosts football, soccer, and track and field
  • Huron Tennis Courts include 12 courts
  • Bergman Arena features an NHL-sized sheet of ice
  • Mtn. Dew Softball Complex has four fields
  • Kunhart Softball Complex has six fields
Convention Center:

Huron Event Center provides more than 34,000 square feet of space and hosts sports such as basketball and volleyball.

Contact:

Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau, huronsd.com.

Rapid City

A four-season destination, Rapid City is a robust community with a mix of hotels, attractions, national icons, restaurants, and things to do, as well as a bevy of locations to host sporting events.

Hotel Rooms: 5,000
Hotel tax rate: 7.7 percent plus $4 per room, per night
Major Facilities:
  • The Monument boasts 500,000 square feet of flexible space with three separate arenas: the 10,000-seat Summit Arena, 1,000-seat Barnett Field House, and 5,000-seat Ice Arena
  • Star of the West Complex offers eight softball fields and seven lacrosse fields
  • Black Hills Surgical Sports Complex houses fields that can be configured as large as 12 full-size soccer fields
  • Parkview Sports Complex has six fastpitch softball fields
Contact:

Visit Rapid City, visitrapidcity.com.

Sioux Falls

As South Dakota’s largest city and a premier Midwest hub, Sioux Falls offers top-tier indoor and outdoor venues ideal for everything from youth tournaments to collegiate championships and professional matchups. Convenient lodging, dining, shopping, and memorable fan experiences keep teams and spectators engaged beyond the game.

Hotel Rooms: 6,000
Major Facilities:
  • Denny Sanford Premier Center offers 132,000 square feet of combined multipurpose space with the attached convention center and 8,000-seat arena
  • Sanford Sports Complex has nearly 500 acres and accommodates basketball, football, baseball, softball, hockey, tennis, volleyball, soccer, wrestling, and more
Contact:

Experience Sioux Falls, ExperienceSiouxFalls.com.

Watertown

Watertown offers an impressive mix of modern facilities, historic venues, and strong community support. The city recently opened the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena with two NHL-sized rinks, a major draw for hockey and figure skating.

Hotel Rooms: 829
Hotel tax rate: 8.7 percent plus $2 per room, per night
Major Facilities:
  • Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex opens this fall and will feature a rebuilt track and a new AstroTurf field for football and soccer
  • Prairie Lakes Ice Arena contains two NHL-sized ice rinks
  • Anza Soccer Complex is an 18-acre facility with two lighted soccer fields
  • Premier Softball Complex is a five-field facility
  • Koch Complex offers seven softball fields
Contact:

Watertown CVB, visitwatertownsd.com.