July 2024

Welcome to the inaugural Sports ETA Facility Showcase! This new feature aims to highlight the best sports facilities within our membership. Each month, we'll spotlight a new destination's premier facility at the heart of their sports tourism portfolio, showcasing what sets them apart, as their "key difference maker".

To kick off our launch, we're excited to feature four future hosts of some of our upcoming Sports ETA events.

Tampa Bay Sports Authority

 Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay
This facility was opened in 2019 and is managed by the Tampa Sports Authority, as their organization is charged with recruiting and attracting events.  This facility was built for $17 million through a partnership with Hillsboro County, The Tampa Sports Authority and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.   

Since its opening, it has hosted 161 events with total attendance exceeding 372,000 spectators with almost half coming from outside the Tampa Bay area.   

KEY DIFFERENCE MAKER: Collaborative partnership between public and private funds to achieve mutual goals.
 

Ft. Worth Sports Commission

Dickies Arena 
The Fort Worth Sports Commission is dedicated to bringing signature events to the community that enhance the image of Fort Worth. On November 4, 2014, the citizens of Fort Worth overwhelmingly voted in favor of a new multipurpose arena for the community. Dickies Arena, which is adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus, is a state-of- the-art venue for events of all kinds, including concerts, sports, community events and the Fort Worth Stock Show rodeo performances.  

The facility is the result of a pioneering public-private partnership between the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, the State of Texas and a group of private-sector participants, including foundations, individuals and organizations. Dickies Arena is owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by the not-for- profit operating entity, Trail Drive Management Corp. (TDMC). 

KEY DIFFERENCE MAKER: Committed to operating a financially self-sustaining venue by using surplus funds for capital maintenance and improvement.
 

Tulsa Sports Commission

BOK Center 
Tulsa's BOK Center is an award-winning and premier sports & entertainment venue in the heart of Downtown Tulsa.  This 19,199-seat arena hosts 50+ ticketed events each year including A-list concerts, family shows, sporting events & more. 

The BOK Center has transformed Tulsa’s downtown landscape and spurred economic growth and development, all by hosting events such as the NCAA 1st & 2nd Round Men’s Basketball, the NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championship and the home of the Big 12 Wrestling Championship since 2018.   

Owned by the City of Tulsa and managed by Oak View Group, the BOK Center is part of Vision 2025, a project to grow economic & community infrastructure for future generations.  

KEY DIFFERENCE MAKER:  Balance high performing attractions while hosting top tier sporting events.
 

Chattanooga Sports

Jim Frost Stadium 
Jim Frost Stadium at Warner Park, built to NCAA fast pitch specifications, is a 3,000-seat stadium and amenities included are concession stands, restrooms, a glass-enclosed press box, two sky boxes, climate-controlled locker rooms connected to the dugouts, batting cages and bullpens. 

Since opening in 1998, Frost Stadium has hosted the Southern Conference Softball Championship nine times including 1998, 2001-2004, 2006-2007, 2009 and 2010. It also was in the spotlight for the 2001 and 2001 SEC Softball Championship. The United States national team played an exhibition game at Frost Stadium in June 2000. 

Chattanooga hosted the NCAA Division II Softball Championships in May 2023.  The feedback from the event was positive and showed how one event can not only showcase a great facility but a destination as well.  

KEY DIFFERENCE MAKER:  Create or host events that encourage people to return to your destination.


Parting Thoughts 
“When you observe a [facility], one can observe three phases of interest, its structure, function and service.”  Notable scholar Robert Phillips, PhD of Purdue University stated in one of his books, “The important question is not what the [facility] is, nor how it operates, but rather what it does.”  As we continue to showcase member facilities, we endeavor to explore the following questions: “What does your facility do? Who are you impacting? Are you meeting the intended goals of the facility in its current structure, function or service levels?” 


Want to showcase a facility in your destination?
Contact: Vince Trinidad at Vince@SportsETA.org
 

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