The Colorado Springs Sports Corporation plays a central role in advancing athletic opportunity and community engagement in “Olympic City USA”. By using sports as a platform for destination development, the organization continues to elevate Colorado Springs as a place where events, athletes, and communities can thrive.

From Vision to Venue: City for Champions

Since 2013, the City for Champions initiative has served as a catalyst for destination development in Colorado Springs. Designed to build on the city’s Olympic identity, it pairs state incentives with local and private investment to attract new spending, expand tourism, and support long-term growth.

Its anchor projects, including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Weidner Field, Ed Robson Arena, the Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center at UCCS, and the Air Force Academy Visitor Center, work together to strengthen visitor appeal, enhance event-hosting capacity, and support downtown revitalization. 

Facility Spotlight: Weidner Field

Opened in 2021, Weidner Field has become a key sports and entertainment asset in downtown Colorado Springs. At 6,035 feet above sea level, it is the highest professional soccer venue in the country, and its synthetic turf supports both high-level competition and year-round activation.

Signature features such as the Epicenter sculpture, the McDivitt Sky Club overlooking Pikes Peak, and the Base Camp supporters’ section give the venue a distinct sense of place. Its connection to surrounding mixed-use development further strengthens its role as a downtown anchor.

Why It Matters: Performance, Attendance, and Activation

Weidner Field continues to deliver both competitive success and measurable destination impact. In 2024, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC won its first USL Championship title with a 3-0 victory over Rhode Island FC in front of 8,023 fans and 431,000 CBS viewers, setting a new mark for the league’s most-watched finals match. The club also recorded 13 sellouts that season, drew more than 125,000 fans in 2025, and advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after a 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City.

Beyond matchday, Weidner Field functions as a year-round venue for events and entertainment. In 2025, it welcomed more than 153,000 visitors and hosted 115 additional events ranging from camps and clinics to corporate rentals, while also attracting major concert acts that broaden its reach and reinforce its versatility.

Community Impact: Inclusion in Action

A key part of Weidner Field’s impact is its commitment to inclusion. Through a partnership with Special Olympics Colorado, the Switchbacks Unified Team became the first Special Olympics Unified soccer team in the USL Championship, creating meaningful opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete locally and nationally. In 2025, the team also participated in the Inspire Soccer League, a national competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Sports Infrastructure as a Destination Strategy

City for Champions demonstrates how sports infrastructure can do more than support events. By turning Olympic legacy into lasting assets, Colorado Springs has strengthened its tourism profile, expanded its hosting capacity, and created a model for how destinations can use sport to drive economic impact and long-term community value.

How can your destination use its facilities to strengthen its tourism profile?

What is your strategy to create long-term community value?

Special thanks to the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation & COS Switchback FC for its contribution to this facility showcase.

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

Miss a previous Facility Showcase? Check them out here!