Nearly every municipality in the U.S. has some sort of dedicated space for playing sports. Be it a baseball diamond or soccer pitch in a local park, to a high school football field, most towns and cities can host some sort of sporting event.
Some communities aiming to harness the benefits of sports tourism bring a sort of force multiplier to the field in the form of multi-purpose sports complexes. These facilities, as the name implies,
can host multiple sports in one centralized location, often all on the same day. Event planners can appreciate the modular versatility multi-purpose complexes can offer. They often provide space for local leagues, regional meets, or even national-level events, potentially drawing in athletes from all over the country.
We’ve amassed a list of the ultimate multi-purpose sports complexes, including a new facility slated to open next year.
Jack Allen Recreation Complex
Decatur, Ala. is home to the Jack Allen Recreation Complex, 77 acres of manicured turf which include 10 international-size soccer fields. The complex quickly became recognized as one of the best soccer facilities in the Southeast by hosting numerous events including adult and youth international games, Region III Presidents Cup
(2011, 2014, and 2022) Alabama State Cup Championships, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships. It also hosted
the USA Archery Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) Outdoor Nationals in 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2022.
The Jack Allen Recreation Complex has also been the site for Long Drive Golf Competition, Ultimate Frisbee tournaments, flag football, and NFL Punt, Pass, and Kick competitions.
The complex also witnessed history on April 9, 2006, when Duke University’s women’s soccer defeated Mexico’s national women’s soccer team 1-0 in front of a capacity crowd.
At a glance:
Championship Field # 1
- Artificial turf
- Bleacher seating for 2,500
- Fully equipped press box
- Concrete team bench areas
- Team bench covers
- Wireless electronic scoreboard
Championship Field # 2
- Wireless electronic scoreboard
- Concrete team bench areas
- Handicap-accessible restrooms
- Full-service concession stand
- Covered pavilion seating 50
- Meeting space for up to 20 people
- Paved parking for 485 cars
- Gravel overflow parking for 150 cars
- Controlled entry point to collect admission
- Playground area
- Disc golf facilities
- Gravel/pavement walking trail
Fort Missoula Regional Park
Fort Missoula Regional Park is a 156-acre park and sports complex owned and operated by the City of Missoula and Missoula County, Mont. The park is located in the southwest corner of the city and offers incredible mountain views from every angle. The park features event pavilions and picnic shelters, 10 multi-sport grass fields, a synthetic turf sports field, seven softball diamonds, full-service concessions, eight tennis courts, and 22 pickleball courts. It also includes an outdoor fitness center with nine workout stations, basketball courts, lawn volleyball, three playgrounds, historical interpretation, trails, restrooms, and parking.
The park consistently hosts softball, soccer, and lacrosse tournaments. Maggotfest, an international rugby tournament, also takes place at the complex each spring.
At a glance:
The Commons
- Two half-court basketball courts
- A 1,000-square-foot plaza with Edison lights with Edison lights
- Lawn volleyball area
- Concession hookups
- Hammocks
- Bike racks
Bella Vista Field
- Suitable for multiple sports
- Synthetic turf sports field
- LED lights
Fort Bowl & Green Guidon Bowl
- Nine natural turf sport fields
- Restrooms
- Bus parking
The Greens
- Two bocce ball courts
- Two horseshoe pits
- Lawn bowling/croquet area
- Concession hookups
- Seven-hundred-square-foot
picnic shelter
Pickleball & tennis courts
- Eight resurfaced tennis courts
- Twenty-two pickleball courts
- Bike racks
The Pitch
- Regulation-size rugby/multi-sport natural turf field
- Playground
- Restroom
- Concession hookups
- Bike racks
Softball 2-Plex
- Two regulation-size softball diamonds
- Plaza with concession hookups
- Bike racks
Softball 5-Plex
- Five regulation-size diamonds
- LED lights on all diamonds
- Home plate grill, full-service concessions
- Home plate playground
- Restrooms
- Bike racks
Al & Jan Barker Sports Complex
The Al & Jan Barker Sports Complex, located in Plainfield, Ind., opened in 2011 through a partnership between the Town of Plainfield’s Parks & Recreation Department, the Plainfield Optimist Club, and the State of Indiana. This 58-acre site is geared for hosting large tournaments and includes two regulation-sized football fields, 13 soccer fields, four regulation-sized Little League baseball fields, and Miracle Field, a synthetic handicap-accessible baseball field. One of the premier sports facilities in Hendricks County, this complex has already hosted major youth sports tournaments in baseball and soccer.
At a glance:
Football fields
- Two regulation-sized fields
- One regulation-sized practice field
Soccer fields
- Two 195- x 300-ft soccer fields
- Three 165- x 225-ft soccer fields
- Four 120- x 150-ft soccer fields
- Four 100- x 150-ft soccer fields
Baseball diamonds
- Four Little League regulation fields (200-ft down line)
- One baseball batting cage
The Miracle Field
- Handicap-accessible baseball diamond
- 150-ft down line
- Synthetic turf
Other features
- Two concession stands with restrooms
- One press box with a restroom
- Nearly 800 parking spaces n
Mishawaka Fieldhouse
The Mishawaka Fieldhouse, located in Mishawaka, Ind., will center around a 230,000-square-foot building sitting on a 49-acre property. The fieldhouse will add sports the municipality does not currently host, such as basketball, volleyball, and youth football, among others.
Construction will take place over the course of 12 to 14 months with the following phases:
- Phase one: 10 indoor courts and two indoor turf fields
- Phase two: four baseball/softball diamonds
- Phase three: possible addition of ice rinks.
Construction began on the Mishawaka Fieldhouse on June 22 of this year, and the complex will be built and operated in partnership with Card & Associates from Noblesville, Ind. It is estimated the complex will open in the third quarter of 2024.
