SPORT_333.qxp_Layout 1 11/8/18 8:19 AM Page 333 2019 SPG NORTH CAROLINA GUIDE A LEADER ON THE DIAMOND North Carolina is filled EVENT-READY with great facilities DESTINATIONS HIGHLIGHTING MINOR TOP VENUES LEAGUE BASEBALL 8 IS BIG FUN A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com SPORT_334.qxp_Layout 1 11/9/18 11:24 PM Page 334 Jason Philbeck NCSA Chair Dear Sports Event Rights Holders, As we all know, teamwork and partnerships are crucial to hosting a great sports event and you will not find any place where this is more evident than the great state of North Carolina. SportsNC is North Carolina’s statewide sports development effort dedicated to growing and promoting the sports event i NC ndustry. In partnership with Visit NC, this ongoing effort is championed by the North Carolina Sports Association (NCSA), a statewide collaboration of Sports Commissions, CVBs, Park and Recreation entities and Sports Authorities from across North Carolina, who share a direct interest in supporting sports tourism. The NCSA exists to help you explore North Carolina to find the perfect community to host your next successful sports event! North Carolina’s arsenal of sports venues is as impressive as the state’s wide-ranging and geographically diverse footprint. From the coast of the Atlantic Ocean to some of the highest mountains on the East Coast, it’s a footprint of unrivaled sports terrain whether you are a participant or spectator. Sports events rights holders choose North Carolina year after year due to our unbeatable venues, hospitality, temperate climate and central location on the East Coast. Whether you are looking to bring a new event to North Carolina or already have an event in the state, SportsNC’s partners are ready and willing to provide unpar- alleled service to ensure the success of your event. From amateur events to in- ternational championships, North Carolina can provide the perfect location for any sports event. The state is home to world-class venues, world champion profes- sional sports, superior amateur sports and the best collegiate sports in America. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram as our members continue to spotlight their sports destinations throughout 2018! Get to know what makes each of our members such great sport partners as they'll be giving you a behind the scenes look into their destination. Join us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings, and visit the SportsNC website for partner contact information and more. For more information on the wide variety of sports-friendly communities and award-winning venues in North Carolina, please contact: [email protected]. As always, we look forward to assisting with your next event! Yours in Sport, Jason Philbeck NCSA Chair 2019 State TOC's pp2.qxp_Layout 1 11/8/18 8:27 AM Page 335 NORTH CAROLINA 336 North Carolina is a Leader on the Diamond Minor League Baseball is Big League Family Fun ©iStock.com/bgblue 338 SI 340 Fayetteville, NC 343 Mooresville, NC 344 Gaston County, NC 346 Greensboro, NC 348 Greenville, NC 350 Nash County, NC 352 Wilmington and the Beaches, NC 354 Winston-Salem, NC SportsPlanningGuide.com Sports Planning Guide 335 SPORT_336-339.qxp_Layout 1 11/8/18 8:02 AM Page 336 orth Carolina has long legs in hosting competitive events for traveling teams. From the beginning, baseball and softball competitions have been regulars on the state’s sports scene. Here’s a look at the destinations and their venues that are wooing event planners. NCary The USA Baseball National Training Complex in 2019 will enter its 12th season hosting top-notch baseball events. The stadium field and three practice fields each have dimensions of 330 feet down the lines and 400 feet to straight-away center field. The stadium field features a press box with two suites, an official scorer’s table and a press row. There’s spectator seating for 2,000 at the stadium field and restrooms and concessions are available at each field. NorthPLA CarolinaY is a Leader BALL! on the Diamond From the mountains to the piedmont to the coast, North Carolina is a given when event planners are reviewing baseball and softball sites 336 Sports Planning Guide @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG SPORT_336-339.qxp_Layout 1 11/8/18 8:03 AM Page 337 Wilmington Greensboro In addition to seven various city park fields, three of which are Although Greensboro is best known for aquatics, basketball and lighted, Wilmington features two stadiums/complexes in their mix. For soccer, Carolyn Allen Park is no stranger to hosting ballgames. Four baseball, Godwin Stadium is lighted, seats 1,000 and has plenty of baseball/softball tournament fields feature 300-foot fences with parking. The Legion Sports Complex features a lighted artificial turf temporary fencing available for Adult Slow Pitch Softball, Girls Fast Pitch field, 3,500 seats, home and visitor field house, concessions, press Softball and Youth Baseball. There’s a concession stand, bleacher box and paved parking. Olsen Park also features five lighted baseball/ seating and a picnic area just outside the park. Check out the minor league softball fields, a restroom/vending building, a picnic shelter and parking. baseball Greensboro Grasshoppers schedule while your event is in Brooks Field on campus for baseball and Boseman Field on campus town. for softball at UNC-Wilmington are both NCAA Division I fields. Fayetteville Scattered throughout the area are eight baseball/softball venues to fit your every need. 360 Elite Sports Training features six Astro Turf high Baseball and softball are hugely popular in the Tar Heel State as school-sized fields and two portable pitching mounds along with six numerous cities offer fabulous ballpark experiences. batting cages. Larger 300 feet completion fields are available at Glendale Acres Elementary School, Greenwood Park, R. Max Abbott Middle School, Terry Sanford High School and Milton E. Mazarick Park. Make sure to catch a minor league baseball game at the new stadium. Rocky Mount Just four miles off I-95, the Rocky Mount Sports Complex sits on 143 acres with 11 fields dedicated to baseball/softball. There are six youth playing fields each with six-foot fences at 200 feet. Four softball/multipur- pose fields are 325 feet with six-foot fences. Portable fencing can reduce the fields to 200 or 225 feet. The championship baseball field features 350/380-foot fences. All fields are lighted and irrigated and feature Bermuda grass infields and outfields and a professionally mixed sand and clay infield. Gaston County Belmont Abbey College has been a great partner for Gaston County. A Division II college, Abbey Yard is the college’s home baseball field and an excellent championship venue. The college’s softball field also serves as a championship site. Nearby, George Poston Park features four base- ball/softball lighted fields and picnic shelters. In Gaston, an additional four lighted baseball/softball fields can be found in the 48-acre Martha Rivers Youth Complex. Greenville-Pitt The East Carolina University Pirates, an NCAA Division I American Conference member, has baseball and softball stadiums capable of host- ing events. Clark-LeClair Stadium seats 5,000, and measures 320 feet down the lines and 390 feet to center field. The stadium also features indoor and outdoor batting cages. Among the many player amenities are the spacious clubhouse and locker room. ECU Softball Stadium contains a state-of-the-art video board in right center field with a three-camera system. Near the ECU campus, Elm Street Park Stallings Stadium is no stranger to championship play. Greenville’s Sara Law Softball Complex provides four natural grass fields and two practice fields. Winston-Salem Winston-Salem is fortunate to have an Atlantic Coast Conference university with outstanding facilities. David F. Couch Ballpark on the campus of Wake Forest University features a state-of-the-art indoor batting facility and two home plate programmable pitching machines. Throughout the city, there are a variety of competition ballparks. Blum Field, historic Hanes Hosiery, Parkland Field, South Park Field and Washington Park No. 1 are lighted. Secondary practice fields are also available. For additional information about ballfields in the Tar Heel State contact [email protected]. SPG SportsPlanningGuide.com Sports Planning Guide 337 SPORT_336-339.qxp_Layout 1 11/8/18 8:07 AM Page 338 NORTH CAROLINA MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Is Big League Family Fun With fun promotions, entertaining mascots and specialty foods, North Carolina’s 11 minor league boys of summer are the best value in professional sports orth Carolina has plenty of options for families and teams to chased for $5,000 and reconstructed in Burlington and ready for the 1960 enjoy off the field. For those visiting between early spring and schedule. The Dollar Monday Madness promotion includes general ad- late summer, catching a ballgame featuring one of the state’s mission, hot dogs, soda, peanuts, candy and chips, all for a buck each. 11N minor league baseball teams should be high on the list. There’s likely Could there possibly be a cooler name in baseball than the Carolina a stadium near your competition event. Mudcats, or a mascot named Muddy the Mudcat? You’ll need to make The Asheville Tourists are a Class A affiliate of the Colorado Rock- up your own mind by visiting Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC just ies playing in historic McCormick Field. Built in 1924, it was a popular stop 25 miles from downtown Raleigh. The Class A Advanced affiliate of the for major league teams heading north after spring training. The New York Milwaukee Brewers has been playing baseball at Five County Stadium Yankees, with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and in 1948, the Brooklyn since 1991 with no shortage of major league talents.