Team Spirit

Sports tie-ins add variety and energy to any meeting.

By Marc Boisclair

Cheering for the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, Denver (Matt Inden/Weaver Multimedia Group)

You can enhance your meeting when you include a sporting event as part of the program, leaving attendees with fun memories and a renewed sense of camaraderie. Sports provide a bonding experience for attendees, as well as recreation and entertainment for families who come along for some pre- or post-meeting R&R. The options are almost endless, from traditional pro sports like baseball, football and hockey to off-the-beaten field action like rafting, lacrosse and roller derby.

Most convention and visitors bureaus have staffers, if not entire departments, available to help arrange group seating at sporting events, as well as help with venue rentals for private group functions. Planners also can rely on CVBs for connections to local sports clubs, youth leagues and tournaments for sign-ups and schedules. Chances are that some of those staffers themselves participate in the action and can share their knowledge to help a group get the most from their experience.

Here are six destinations across the country with a healthy mix of sports venues and teams, but every major city and many smaller ones offer a variety of venues.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

Convention center: Phoenix Convention Center

Sports venues: US Airways Center; Chase Field; Phoenix International Raceway

Pro teams: Arizona Diamondbacks (baseball); Phoenix Coyotes (hockey)

For many, it comes as no surprise that the Valley of the Sun is also home to an good number of group-worthy sporting events. Baseball’s Cactus League kicks off the year in extremely fan-friendly fashion, with 13 major league teams playing spring training games during February and March. Auto racing remains a group favorite here as well, thanks to a warm climate and slate that includes Nascar, Busch and Nextel Cup thrills. College sports (Arizona State), as well as dog racing, dozens of top golf courses and even equestrian events (the Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is the world’s largest of its kind) add more adult fun, while youth leagues from soccer to lacrosse run year-round. For youth league information and a valley events calendar, visit the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission. phoenixsports.org; CVBs: visitphoenix.com; scottsdalecvb.com

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

Convention center: Charlotte Convention Center

Sports venues: Bank of America Stadium; Time Warner Cable Arena; Lowe’s Motor Speedway; Charlotte Motor Speedway (Concord)

Pro teams: Carolina Panthers (football); Charlotte Bobcats (basketball)

Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city, is home to a plethora of group sports options, from pro football and basketball games to the PGA and such prime NASCAR events as the Coca-Cola 600 and Bank of America 500. Charlotte’s also home to NASCAR’s Hall of Fame, as well as major college sporting events (Meineke Car Care Bowl; CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball finals) and various X-Sports games. Check in with the Charlotte Sports Commission for community-area sports clubs, tournaments, youth events and fields. charlottesports.org; CVB: charlottesgotalot.com

PORTLAND, OREGON

Convention center: Oregon Convention Center

Sports venues: Rose Garden Arena; Memorial Coliseum; PGE Park; Portland International Raceway; Portland Meadows

Pro teams: Trailblazers (basketball); Lumberjax (lacrosse); Winter Hawks (hockey); Timbers (soccer); Beavers (AAA baseball)

Greater Portland offers groups some of the prettiest (and greenest) recreation opportunities in the country. While it’s always exciting to see the NBA’s Trailblazers in action, the Columbia River is home to America’s best wind-surfing and the Cascade Mountains and Oregon Coast offer great skiing, hiking and rock climbing. For added convenience, the Oregon Sports Authority functions as a planner-friendly directory for a variety of Portland area sports, including camps, clubs, organizations and facilities. oregonsports.org; CVB: travelportland.com

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

Convention center: Milwaukee Convention Center Complex

Sports venues: Bradley Center; Miller Park; U.S. Cellular Arena; Pettit National Ice Center; Milwaukee Mile Race Track (West Allis, Wisconsin State Fair Grounds)

Pro teams: Bucks (basketball); Brewers (baseball); Wave (soccer); Iron (arena football); Admirals (hockey)

Action is the m.o. behind this hardy Lake Michigan town’s sports and recreation — witness the ice skating center that bred Olympic champs Dan Jansen, Bonnie Blair and Shani Davis. The lake and surrounding parks and woods provide a great recreational complement (think canoeing, cycling, running and X sports) to Milwaukee’s storehouse of traditional sports activities. It’s never disappointing, though, to book attendees into the bleachers for some summer baseball with the Brewers and their colorful fans. CVB: visitmilwaukee.org

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Convention center: Orange County Convention Center

Sports venues: Amway Arena; Citrus Bowl; Amway Center (scheduled to open 10/2010); ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort (includes nine venues covering various types of sports)

Pro teams: Orlando Magic (basketball); Predators (arena football); Titans (lacrosse)

What’s not to love about this sunny blend of sports excitement and theme park thrills? Beside offering groups some of the world’s largest meetings venues, Orlando’s work-and-play set-up proves ideal for the entire family. The theme parks (Walt Disney World; Universal; Busch Gardens) are legendary; the sporting facilities plentiful and convenient. The Central Florida Sports Commission acts as a clearinghouse for activities and organizations in and around Orlando. centralfloridasports.org; CVB: orlandoinfo.com

DENVER, COLORADO

Convention center: Colorado Convention Center

Sports venues: Coors Field; Pepsi Center; INVESCO Field at Mile High; Bandimere Speedway

Pro teams: Broncos (football); Nuggets (basketball); Avalanche (hockey); Rockies (baseball); Mammoth (lacrosse)

The Mile High City boasts enough sports action to rival New York, Boston and Chicago. Moreover, beyond the big-name games the city and surrounding area are awash with terrific group-friendly pursuits: rafting, horseback riding, drag racing, professional lacrosse, soccer, golf (remember at a mile or higher, the ball travels farther) and roller derby, specifically the Rocky Mountain Roller Girls and the Castle Rock ‘n’ Rollers. The Metro Denver Sports Commission (denversports.org) keeps the activity level high around town and can assist with everything from youth activities to facility information. CVB: denver.org

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