SportsEvents is edited for those who plan tournaments or other sports events.
Issue link: https://sportsevents.epubxp.com/i/634578
www.sportseventsmagazine.com January 2016 55 Outdoor adventure and Minnesota go hand- in-hand. The "Land of 10,000 Lakes" boasts practically any backdrop needed for sports like skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking and waterskiing, but what makes Minnesota an even better sporting event destination is its people. "We have a real interest in so many sports, especially outdoor sports," said Barclay Kruse, chief communications offcer for the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. "Our residents are knowledgeable about sports and enjoy watching or partaking in them. In Minnesota, there's an authentic inter- est and appreciation for sports." n Search for CVBs, sports commissions & sports facilities at www.sportseventsmagazine.com Minnesota's Sports Events Scene… S I T E S E L E C T I O N G U I D E : M I N N E S O T A t Snowboarding in Bloomington Minnesota Bloomington With many beautiful parks and several top- notch venues, Bloomington is known for hosting high quality sports events. Located in the southeastern portion of the state, Bloomington also boasts pre- or post-event attractions like Mall of America and the Water Park of America, the tallest indoor water park in the country. Hotel rooms: 9,269 Hotel tax rate: 14.275 percent Major facilities: The Bloomington Ice Garden features three rinks, including an Olympic-size rink. The Hyland Hills Ski Area, nestled within the 1,000-acre Hyland Park Reserve, hosts regional competitions. Jefferson High School Activity Center and Kennedy High School Activity Center each feature fve basketball/volleyball courts and serve as ideal sites for athletic tournaments. Contact: Bloomington CVB, www.BloomingtonMN.org. Duluth Duluth has the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Superior, and plenty of blue sky. Situated in the northeast corner of the state, the city is also home to a number of venues for sports like hockey, softball, soccer and disc golf. Hotel rooms: 4,600+ Hotel tax rate: 13.88 percent Fields and facilities: The city has approximately nine sheets of ice, six indoor hockey arenas, one designated curl- ing rink, 29 softball/baseball felds, nine soccer felds, 41 tennis courts, seven disc golf courts, more than 40 miles of biking trails, 60 miles of hiking trails, two 27-hole golf courses, 70 kilometers of groomed cross county ski trails, 45 miles of snow- mobile trails, 129 municipal parks and a 26,000-square-foot multi-purpose facility. Convention center: The 250,000-square- foot Duluth Entertainment Convention Center offers a waterfront view of Lake Superior and features an arena with a hockey rink and seating for 5,300. Contact: Visit Duluth, www.visit duluth.com. ► No Place Like Here Wizard of Oz fans will enjoy a visit to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids. The museum includes the world's largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia, including Garland's test dress from Wizard of Oz, accompanied by a photo of her wearing the dress. n Judy Garland Museum