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The following article appeared in the Illinois State Sports Guide. Download the full guide below.
Midwest adventures await planners, no matter what kind of game you’re organizing. Chicago Southland is known for helping tournament planners across the nation organize their competitions. The area exceeds expectations when it comes to facilities and equipment. You’ll find yourself in sports heaven with more than 600 holes of golf, 250 soccer fields, 172 soccer fields, 160 basketball courts, 65 disc golf holes and eight hockey rinks. These fields have seen all sorts of major competitions, from rowing events, to lacrosse festivals to soccer playoffs. Bearing all these assets in mind, Chicago Southland sports an impressive resume with even greater things to come.
Get in on the action by taking your team to Chicago’s surrounding suburbs for a few days or weeks of sports fun. When you’re ready to plan, the respected team from the Chicago Southland CVB will match you to the right venue and guarantee that all your needs will be taken care of. The team customizes each experience with transportation and lodging assistance, offset by various outlets for social media promotion. In addition, the CVB’s sports managers understand how costly tournaments can be, so they will help you find affordable rates without sacrificing any of your original plans. To add to the convenience, nearly every venue is only minutes away from Chicago, which is home to some of the world’s best shopping districts and restaurants.
Notable Recent/Upcoming Events
- Spartan Stadium Sprint at SeatGeek Stadium (October 20, 2018)
- MultiGP Drone Racing North Central Regional Final at Matteson Community Center (September 22-23, 2018)
- NXL Chicago Open at Chicago Gaelic Park (September 14-16, 2018)
- World Wiffle Ball Championship at Memorial Park Fields (July 14-15, 2018)
- American Cornhole Organization Chicago Southland Major at Southland Center (May 25-26, 2018)
CVB/Sports Commissions Services Offered
- Volunteer Staff
- PR/Media Assistance
- Signage
- Site Visits
- Transportation Assistance
- Mobile CVB App
- Lodging Services
- Grant Programs
- Welcome Bags/Gifts
- Itinerary Development
- Event Planning Assistance
- Social Media Promotion
- Marketing Promotion
Click on tab to see more information about a specific facility
- Southland Center
- SeatGeek Stadium
- Matteson Community Center
- Memorial Park Fields
- Chicago Gaelic Park
- Roma Sports Club
- Tinley Park Convention Center
Southland Center
Since undergoing a major renovation a few years ago, the Southland Center has continued to be the hub of sports tournaments. Situated in Lynwood, Ho-Chunk enterprise has hosted numerous games, such as Prime Time Sports Basketball Tournament, the American Cornhole Organization Chicago Southland Major and American Tae-Kwon-Do Association Class “A” Tournament. The Southland Center now features baseball fields, hardwood basketball courts, Desso Turf and 100,000 square feet of event space for any kind of indoor affair. With the addition of 10 portable courts (available April – October), the Southland Center will be the largest indoor basketball and volleyball facility in Illinois. Accompanied by this magnificent space is a restaurant and bar to keep the whole party entertained. And with 1,200 spaces, there is more than enough parking available.
Sports: Baseball, basketball, cheerleading, dance, football, gymnastics, lacrosse, martial arts, rugby, soccer, softball, volleyball
SeatGeek Stadium
Formerly known as Toyota Park, SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview is where you’ll find the Major League’s Chicago Fire. You will also find a whole range of sports competitions throughout the year similar to past events like—USA Rugby challenges, the U.S. Adult Soccer Association’s National Cups Tournament, the Spartan Stadium Race, USASA National Cup Finals, BeerFit Brew Mile and more. This gorgeous stadium features a natural grass, full-size field of 75 by 120 yards. SeatGeek Stadium houses a 90,000-square-foot dome that has a full size regulation indoor soccer field. Teams will additionally have access to two practice fields with their choce of a natural or artificial surface. The capacity is 20,000 people and parking is available all day long for sports fans.
Sports: Rugby, soccer (other sports may be considered)
Matteson Community Center
Credit: Paul Park
The Matteson Community Center covers 73,000 square feet of multi-purpose rooms. Here, planners and teams will immerse themselves in two indoor basketball courts with wooden bleaches along the wall, as well as baseball fields. The center also houses a football field equipped with bleachers and a soccer field. Matteson hosts numerous events to keep the facility busy all season, with tournaments like the Baylor Youth Basketball Nike Showdown, Hoop It Up and the MultiGP Drone Racing North Central Regional Final. Restrooms and parking are available to all who visit.
Sports: Badminton, baseball, basketball, dodgeball, football, lacrosse, martial arts, pickleball, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, wrestling
Memorial Park Fields
Looking for the right venue to host an upcoming softball game? Memorial Park Fields in Midlothian is the ideal location, with five lighted and skinned infield softball diamonds resembling a wheel. In addition to the softball fields, Memorial Park Fields also houses a baseball field. This five-year old venue has already seen worldwide competitions, such as the Game Day USA Deep Dish Classic, JP Sports World Wiffle Ball Championship, USSSA and Triple Crown Sports.
Sports: Baseball, softball
Chicago Gaelic Park
Credit: MMPhotography_NXL
If you’re searching for sports facilities in Oak Forest, then the Chicago Gaelic Park can help you out. Get into the Irish spirit at this 65-acre cultural community space featuring six fields that seat a maximum of 2,000 guests. The fields hold many sporting events, such as the Chicagoland Lacrosse Getaway Festival the 2009 & 2010 USUSA Midwest Regional Cup Finals and the Chicago Open Paintball Event. Teams are invited to host events in the center’s banquet hall and theater. The bar is open for drinks, and staff members are always on-hand to assist you with your needs.
Sports: Gaelic sports, lacrosse, paintball, rugby, soccer
Roma Sports Club
Frankfort, Illinois offers its own gem of a sports complex: Roma Sports Club. Roma Sports Club houses plenty of professional turf space and modern sports facilities. Indoor teams will find several wooden volleyball, futsal and basketball courts, perfect for practice or play. Young soccer players can enter their own league and develop their skills on regulation-sized fields and goals. Baseball teams can practice their swings with a pitching machine geared to take them to the next level. The facility streamlines the booking process through an online registration system. Visitors can find restrooms and parking on-site.
Sports: Baseball, basketball, football, futsal, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, volleyball, wrestling
Things to do in Chicago Southland
Visitors will enjoy these premier attractions situated in and around the Chicago Southland Area. Zip around the tracks on electric go-karts at Accelerate Indoor Speedway & Events in Mokena. The arena is equipped with an exhilarating track and an arcade filled with popular games. You can even host a party following your competition. Another go-to for travelers is Dave & Buster’s in Orland Park. Located near several hotels, this attraction features an entertainment room and restaurant totaling 24,000 square feet. Play games of bowling or billiards, or get moving on the dance floor at Dance Dance Revolution A, an interactive battle that is only available in select locations.
Also included in your itinerary is a chance to visit the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, which holds up to 30,000 people. Visit between the months of May to September to witness lively outdoor music at the theatre. In the Game Hollywood Park in Crestwood presents awesome opportunities for children’s fun. They will love the mini go-karts, golf courses, typhoon simulator, giant slide and outdoor Himalaya ride. In addition, this venue provides private party space for large groups. While you’re in the area, check out the Windy City ThunderBolts at Standard Bank Stadium. You can purchase group tickets for a game or entire season, which range from a party box admission for 15 guests to all-you-can-eat picnics for a maximum of 300 people.
Planner Perspective
Working with the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau has been absolutely amazing. They helped us with everything we needed from our hotels to our shuttles to our after party spot, which is most important.
USA Dodgeball: Jake Mason (Ultimate Dodgeball Championships)
The Chicago Southland CVB was able to do what no one else was able to do. They found us a venue that had ample flat, beautiful grass to host our eight fields of 200 teams that come to play paintball at our Chicago Open event. They were able to convince the venue that we’re worth taking a risk on and it’s been a wonderful venue for us because we are close to six major interstates. Teams were able to drive in from multiple states, easily saving money on flights and travel. There are plenty of hotels nearby, which is just an event planner’s dream. Plus, just the draw. We’re close to Chicago, but we are in an area where people feel comfortable. They’re not dealing with the Chicago traffic. It’s just perfect. We’ve really been impressed with Joel Koester. He’s been our main liaison with the CVB and he was able to negotiate some really good rates for us with the hotels. Anytime we had questions about permits with the city, he just handled everything for us and made it much easier. We really hope we can come back and make this an annual event right here in Chicago Southland.
National Xball League: Camille Lemanski (Chicago Open)
How to Get to Chicago Southland
By Car: Driving to Chicago Southland’s communities is made easy by several Interstate routes, including I-55, I-57, I-80, I-94, I-294 and I-355.
By Air: If traveling by plane, there are a couple top-notch options for planners to consider. They are Midway Airport, which is serviced by Southwest, Delta, Porter, Sky County and Volaris Airlines, or O’Hare International Airport, the world’s second busiest airport.
Contact Information
Company Name: Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau
Sports Sales Manager: Joel Koester
Title: Sports Market Manager
Telephone: 888-895-3211
