SportsEvents is edited for those who plan tournaments or other sports events.
Issue link: https://sportsevents.epubxp.com/i/634578
January 2016 42 www.sportseventsmagazine.com Essentially anything and everything needed to host a successful sporting event can be found in Florida: sunshine, entertainment opportunities, lodging and dining oppor- tunities and, of course, facilities—both indoors and out. "You name it, we've got it in Florida," said John Webb, president of the Florida Sports Foundation. "Besides the climate, sports commissions and top-notch facilities, many people come to Florida for sports events and stay for a few days before or after the competition to enjoy all the ame- nities the state has to offer. There's plenty of cultural events, theme parks and natural beauty that people from all over the country come to experience in Florida." n Search for CVBs, sports commissions & sports facilities at www.sportseventsmagazine.com Florida's Sports Events Scene… S I T E S E L E C T I O N G U I D E : F L O R I D A t Equestrian events in Ocala Florida Bradenton Southwest Florida's Bradenton has no shortage of state-of-the-art facilities. The city is home to the IMG Academy, Pirate City and the Premier Sports Campus. Hotel rooms: 6,500 Hotel tax rate: 11.5 percent Major facilities: IMG Academy boasts more than 20 multi-sport felds, more than 50 tennis courts, a 5,000-seat sta- dium, an 18-hole golf course and two basketball gyms with multiple courts. Premier Sports Campus features 22 FIFA-regulated felds and hosts soccer, feld hockey, lacrosse, rugby and foot- ball. Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex houses two NHL-sized hockey rinks for hockey and fgure skating and a 13,500-square-foot indoor soccer/football feld. Pirate City features fve baseball felds. Contact: Bradenton Area CVB, www.bradentongulfslands.com. Central Florida Central Florida is the location of the city of Orlando and has an abundance of attractions and dining options. The region also boasts numerous sports ven- ues, including the new state-of-the-art Orlando City Soccer Stadium. Hotel rooms: 116,000+ Major facilities: Amway Center has a seating capacity of 20,000 and can accommodate indoor sports like basket- ball, hockey, arena football, wrestling, extreme sports, ice events and soccer. The Orlando Citrus Bowl has a seating capacity of 65,000. Orlando City Soccer Stadium is an 18,000-seat multi-purpose stadium with grass feld. Bright House Networks Stadium is a 45,323-seat football stadium. CFE Arena at UCF is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena. Champions Sports Complex offers 92,000 square feet of fexible space, four basketball courts and eight volleyball courts. Northwest Recreation Complex houses 14 multi-purpose felds, six base- ball felds, six softball felds, four tennis courts, three basketball courts and four sand volleyball courts. Convention center: The Orange County Convention Center offers 2.1 million square feet of continuous space. More than 5,100 hotel rooms are ► See The Light Daytona is home to Florida's tallest lighthouse and the second tallest lighthouse in the United States, Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse. Guests can climb the 203 steps to the top of the 175-foot tower and enjoy views of the beach and surrounding waterways. n