State Spotlight:
Utah

Utah is a dynamic destination for sports events, where natural beauty and world-class facilities go hand in hand. From the snow-capped peaks perfect for winter sports to red rock deserts ideal for trail running, biking, and climbing, the state’s varied terrain provides a stunning backdrop for athletic competition year-round. Add in a strong outdoor culture, well-developed infrastructure, and a history of hosting major international sporting events, and it’s easy to see why Utah continues to attract athletes and organizers from around the globe.

Utah is a dynamic destination for sports events, where natural beauty and world-class facilities go hand in hand. From the snow-capped peaks perfect for winter sports to red rock deserts ideal for trail running, biking, and climbing, the state’s varied terrain provides a stunning backdrop for athletic competition year-round. Add in a strong outdoor culture, well-developed infrastructure, and a history of hosting major international sporting events, and it’s easy to see why Utah continues to attract athletes and organizers from around the globe.

Brand new and built to impress, Western Sports Park anchors Davis County’s growing reputation as a premier sports destination. The 55-acre athletic campus features six full-size outdoor fields and two arena buildings offering more than 120,000 square feet of flexible indoor space. Designed with tournaments in mind, the complex includes locker rooms, training areas, team lounges, and generous on-site parking to streamline logistics. Located near hotels, dining, and family-friendly attractions, Western Sports Park turns competitions into complete travel experiences for athletes, families, and event planners alike.

Cedar City

Cedar City is surrounded by national parks and natural beauty, making for easy for visiting athletes and fans to explore the area between games. It’s a three-hour drive from Las Vegas and a three-hour drive from Salt Lake City.

Hotel Rooms: 1,349
Hotel tax rate: 17.95 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Field at the Hills offers four softball fields
  • Bicentennial Softball Complex includes three fields
  • Little League Baseball Complex features six fields
  • Bicentennial Soccer Complex offers numerous soccer fields
  • Cross Hollow Event Center is a 30-acre facility with two arenas
  • KJ’s Ice Barn in nearby Enoch has an indoor rink
  • Bicentennial Pickleball Courts have eight lighted outdoor courts
Contact:

Visit Cedar City, visitcedarcity.com.

Greater Zion

Greater Zion annually welcomes thousands of guests for IRONMAN events. Notably, it served as the host for the 2021 IRONMAN World Championship, marking the first time this prestigious event took place outside of Hawaii. The community also hosted the 2021 and 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships. In addition, Greater Zion has been home to the Huntsman World Senior Games since 1987, the St. George Marathon since 1977, and the Red Bull Rampage since 2001.

Hotel Rooms: 6,500
Hotel tax rate: 11 percent in many locations, additional city taxes do apply in certain municipalities
Major Facilities:
  • The Utah Tech University Burns Arena is an indoor multipurpose facility with a capacity of 4,361
  • Greater Zion Stadium is a 10,500-seat stadium that hosts football, soccer, and track and field
  • Little Valley Fields consists of four soccer fields and 24 pickleball courts
  • The award-winning Canyons Softball Complex features seven diamonds
  • Utah Tech University’s Human Performance Center houses a 50-meter Olympic-sized pool
Convention Center:

Dixie Convention Center offers more than 100,000 square feet of space and includes a 46,000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall.

Contact:

Greater Zion CTO, greaterzion.com.

Ogden

Ogden’s unique blend of rugged terrain, scenic views, and gorgeous weather quenches many competitors’ thirst for adventure and competition. In addition to the breathtaking scenery, Ogden offers a vibrant downtown for participants and spectators.

Hotel Rooms: 1,638
Hotel tax rate: 11.82 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Home to the Ogden Raptors, Lindquist Field is a 6,700-seat minor league baseball stadium
  • The Weber County Ice Sheet houses two rinks
  • After renovations in 2023, Weber State University’s Stewart Football Stadium has a capacity of 13,441.
  • Golden Spike Event Center includes indoor rodeo space, an outdoor arena, seven soccer fields, a four-field softball complex, two basketball courts, and three volleyball courts
  • Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex has an indoor gym and two soccer fields
  • 4th Street Ball Park consists of three softball fields and four sand volleyball courts
Convention Center:

With over 70,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, the Ogden Eccles Conference Center has hosted cheer and dance groups.

Contact:

Visit Ogden, visitogden.com.

Salt Lake

In recent years, Salt Lake City has seen explosive growth in sports tourism, from professional teams to youth and amateur events. With a new NHL franchise and an upcoming Olympic Games on the horizon, it’s clear why Salt Lake is called a true sports boom town.

Hotel Rooms: 20,000
Hotel tax rate: 14.35 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Salt Lake City Regional Athletic Complex is comprised of 16 natural grass, sand-based fields (8 with lights) and is a destination for local, regional, and national tournaments.
  • Mountain America Expo Center features 243,000 square feet of contiguous space and 30-foot ceilings and hosts a variety of sports events, including basketball and volleyball.
Convention Center:

Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center sits in the heart of downtown and boasts nearly one million square feet of space.

Contact:

Visit Salt Lake, visitsaltlake.com.

Utah Valley

The Utah Valley is known for its safe and walkable streets, with Provo being consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in America.

Hotel Rooms: 4,200
Hotel tax rate: 13.52 percent
Major Facilities:
  • Epic Sports Park boasts 15 full-size soccer/multipurpose fields (with more on the way) and hosts local and regional tournaments and leagues for soccer, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, football, rugby, and more.
  • Peaks Ice Arena has two Olympic-sized sheets of ice
  • UCCU Center is an 8,000-seat multipurpose venue
  • Lakeside Sports Complex includes five baseball/softball diamonds and eight full-size soccer fields
Convention Center:

The Utah Valley Convention Center offers more than 80,000 square feet of flexible event space.

Contact:

Explore Utah Valley, utahvalley.com.