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Courses in Arizona." The city is also home to six of the "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" according to Golf Magazine and named "Top North American Golf Destination" in 2011 by the International
FLORA & FAUNA
Association of Golf Tours.
Desert Botanical Garden
While in the Phoenix area, be sure to check out the Desert Botanical Garden, a 145-acre facility with more than 50,000 plant displays. The garden has been inspiring visi- tors for more than 70 years and is one of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. The garden is open daily. www.dbg.org
Chicago Cubs' spring training at Hohokam Stadium. This summer, construction began on a new spring training facility for the Cubs that is expected to be completed in the winter of 2013. Hotel rooms: 5,000 Hotel tax: 15.02 percent Fields & facilities: 10 aquatic centers, more than 30 golf courses, more than 50 baseball fields, more than 100 softball/youth baseball fields, more than 40 soccer/football/multi-purpose fields, more than 25 full-sized basketball courts, and more than 50 tennis courts. Contact: Mesa CVB,
See
www.visitmesa.com. Scottsdale
ad on p. 55
Hotel rooms: 9,850 Hotel tax: 14.92
percent Difference maker: In 2012, Scottsdale was voted one of the "Top 10 Soccer Cities" by Livability.com, and in 2011 it received a gold designation as one of the
"Top 17 Bicycle Friendly Communities in the Nation" by The League of American Bicyclists. Contact: Scottsdale CVB, www.scottsdalecvb.com.
See
ad on p. 57
Tucson Tucson—Arizona's second-largest city—is located in the southern part of the state and is home to the University of Arizona. In 2009, Triathlete Magazine named Tucson the number one location to live for triathlon training.
"With comfortable temperatures and
abundant sunshine, it's almost impossible to lose a training day—no matter what your sport," said Vince Trinidad, director of Tucson Sports for the Metropolitan Tucson CVB. "In fact, with an agreeable climate like ours, you may overlook the wonderful synergy of features that makes Tucson an athlete's mid-winter dream come true." The city hosts much more than triathlons, however. "Tucson is a sports Mecca for all outdoor sports ranging from baseball, softball, soccer and tennis to endurance training in swimming, cycling and running," said Trinidad. Above & beyond: Tucson Sports works to create lasting partnerships with not only national governing bodies but local groups as well, explained Trinidad. For example, every August, Tucson Sports fills the con- vention center arena with 3,500 cubic yards of dirt for a 1,000-rider USA BMX event. "We do this because one of the local sports organizers came to us with an inno- vative concept," Trinidad said. "This event brings not only the prominence of USA BMX riding to Tucson, but it also delivers 2,000 out-of-town visitors to us in August, a traditional down time." Hotel rooms: 16,731 in metro area; 10,005 in the city Hotel tax: 13.05 percent plus $2 per room/per night surcharge in city of Tucson Contact: Metropolitan Tucson CVB, www.tucsonsports.org. ■ P.T.
Contact
S.P.O.R.T.S. 2012
Scottsdale is located just outside of Phoenix in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. "World-renowned for its resorts, spas, golf courses, nightlife, dining and upscale shopping, Scottsdale offers some- thing for every type of traveler," said Megan Neighbor, communications coordi- nator for the Scottsdale CVB. The sport Scottsdale is most known for is golf. Scottsdale has 51 golf courses within the city limits and boasts 13 of the top 25 golf courses in the state, according to Golf Magazine's 2010 "Top 25 Golf
56 August 2012 www.sportseventsmagazine.com
Adam Rodriguez
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Tucson CVB