Sports Planning Guide

Esports Arenas, Youth Sports Deals and Adaptive Sport Sessions - https://mailchi.mp/ptmgroups/esports-arenas-youth-sports-deals-and-adaptive-sport-sessions
KKR, Unrivaled and Fastbreak deals are reshaping youth tournaments. Plus Jacksonville, Ocala, Shores & Islands and the On the Water guide.

Fans spent $51 billion traveling to games in 2025 - https://mailchi.mp/ptmgroups/fans-spent-51-billion-traveling-to-games-in-2025
Airlines are adding routes for marquee games, plus a $100 billion race to build the next sports capital and new facility news.

Upcoming Event Deadlines, Youth Hockey Faces Legal Challenges - https://mailchi.mp/ptmgroups/upcoming-event-deadlines-youth-hockey-faces-legal-challenges
Catch early bird pricing before it's gone, plus new tournament destinations spanning Indiana, Virginia, and Florida.

Lincoln, NE Sets an Archery Record While St. Louis Suburbs Expand - https://mailchi.mp/ptmgroups/lincoln-ne-sets-an-archery-record-while-st-louis-suburbs-expand
New facility investments across St. Louis, Lincoln's rodeo and archery records, and five destination venue spotlights inside.

$6.27B in Sports Tourism, a $70M Hub and New Tournament Venues https://mailchi.mp/ptmgroups/627b-in-sports-tourism-a-70m-hub-and-new-tournament-venues See what’s driving sports tourism in Las Vegas, Henderson, Loudoun County and beyond, plus new facilities planners should know.

Youth tournament sports have come a long way from folding tables, hand-drawn brackets, and park district fields. What started as a passion project run by former coaches has grown into a $128 billion economic engine, and increasingly, an industry attracting institutional capital.

Our latest feature examines how premium tournament experiences, purpose-built sports complexes, generational shifts among tournament operators and the rise of private equity have reshaped the youth sports landscape.

For destinations, rights holders and event operators, understanding that evolution is becoming essential to navigating what comes next.

👇 Read the full feature and follow our new series on the forces reshaping youth sports. 👇

From Park Districts to Private Equity Youth tournament sports grew from a passion project run by former coaches on borrowed fields into a $128 billion economic engine. Understanding how we got here is the only way to understand where we’re going.

Lake Tahoe is an ideal spot to host a sports tournament or event, with views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and plentiful nature to explore for families.

Visitors can soar high above the treetops on the Heavenly Gondola, where panoramic views stretch across two states, or glide over sapphire waters with Lake Tahoe Boat Tours, discovering hidden coves and postcard-perfect shorelines along the way.

Sports of all types can be hosted at Lake Tahoe, including ice hockey at Tahoe Blue Event Center, basketball and volleyball at South Lake Tahoe Community Playfields, golf at numerous courses and clubs, and much more.

Find your best fit with Lake Tahoe at SPG and learn all about amenities and activities.

If you're ready to schedule, the team at Visit Lake Tahoe have you covered.

Lake Tahoe Nevada With incredible natural beauty and a strong sports scene, Lake Tahoe, California is a perfect tournament destination.

From Park Districts to Private Equity: Behind Sports Tourism’s Boom - https://mailchi.mp/ptmgroups/from-park-districts-to-private-equity-behind-sports-tourisms-boom
Champaign-Urbana, Hampton and Greenwood facility spotlights, plus how private equity is reshaping youth tournament sports.

Southwest Florida is adding even more capacity for meetings, tournaments and special events.

Sunseeker Resort Florida Gulf Coast in Charlotte County is underway with a major expansion that will add 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space, more than doubling its current footprint.

With completion targeted for 2028, the project will create one of the region’s largest conference destinations while complementing nearby investments like Port Charlotte Beach Park, Pickleplex of Punta Gorda and Charlotte Sports Park.

For event planners, it’s another sign of the continued growth happening across Charlotte County—and another reason to keep an eye on this Southwest Florida destination.

Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach

First Look: Sunseeker Resort Expansion An additional 100,000 square feet at Sunseeker Event Center is set to boost premium event space in Southwest Florida.

Get a first look at the Pulaski County Sportsplex and see what this new venue could mean for sports events in Virginia’s New River Valley.

A new sports destination is coming to Southwest Virginia. Opening in Fall 2026, the 165,000-square-foot Pulaski County Sportsplex will bring year-round opportunities for regional and national tournaments, competitions, expos, conferences and more.

The facility will feature flexible indoor event space for basketball, volleyball, futsal, wrestling, gymnastics, cheer, dance, pickleball and other sports—plus amenities designed for athletes and families, including a restaurant and catering, indoor walking track, fitness spaces, golf institute, locker rooms and Virginia’s largest indoor playground.

Located in the New River Valley, Pulaski County also gives event planners plenty to explore beyond the venue, from outdoor recreation and local dining to craft beverages and the region’s natural beauty.

Pulaski County USA, Tourism Bureau & Visitors Center

First Look: Pulaski County Sportsplex Pulaski County Sportsplex Brings a New Era of Tournament & Event Opportunities to Southwest Virginia