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The following article appeared in the Missouri State Sports Guide. Download the full guide below.
This picturesque town sits on the Missouri River and boasts some of the finest sports facilities in the state. From Griffon Indoor Complex — home of the Missouri Western State University Griffons — to Bode Ice Arena, a tournament planner cannot go wrong in setting up an event in St. Joseph. Those two are big attractions, but this city also offers the Civic Arena for events of any kind, Heritage Park Softball Complex, and the REC Center. In fact, St. Joseph knows sports so well, the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs use the Griffon Complex each year for their annual training camp. St. Joseph also has some of the country’s most interesting museums and peaceful nature areas as well. Visitors should stop by the Pony Express Museum and the Glore Psychiatric Museum before heading to the Walter Cronkite Memorial. If this isn’t enough, the Remington Nature Center is a can’t-miss attraction where history and nature collide.
Notable Recent/Upcoming Events
- Special Olympics Missouri State Indoor Games
- Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp
- USA Softball – Youth, Men’s and Women’s State and National Qualifiers
- Missouri State High School Activities Association – State Softball Championships
- NCAA Division II Women’s Elite Eight Basketball and Women’s Softball Championships
CVB/Sports Commissions Services Offered
- Volunteer Staff
- PR/Media Assistance
- Signage
- Site Visits
- Transportation Assistance
- Lodging Services
- Welcome Bags/Gifts
- Itinerary Development
- Event Planning Assistance
Click on tab to see more information about a specific facility
- Griffon Indoor Sports Complex
- Civic Arena
- Heritage Park Softball Complex
- REC Center
- Bode Sports Complex/Bode Ice Arena
Griffon Indoor Sports Complex
This massive indoor facility, opened on July 21, 2010, cost $10.3 million to build — and it was worth every penny. Griffon Indoor Sports Complex has been a valuable asset to Missouri Western State University sports teams, serving Griffon football, softball, baseball, soccer, and men’s and women’s golf. In the summer, it plays home to the Kansas City Chiefs. The complex has a 100-yard turf indoor field, a state-of-the-art locker room, a 120-seat theatre, and an athletic training room. In addition, there’s the Herzog Strength Training Room, which spans 5,500 square feet and includes top-notch technology to make working out efficient and enjoyable. With all these features, it would be a mistake to miss out on this sparkling indoor facility.
Sports: Football, baseball, soccer, men’s and women’s golf
Civic Arena
The beauty of Civic Arena comes in its incredible flexibility. It has seating capacities that enable accommodation of any type of event. General assembly seating can provide for 4,200 spectators, or 19,000 square feet of exhibit space along with seating for 2,300 people. Some features event planners might be interested in: top-of-the-line acoustics, great lighting, and meeting rooms throughout the arena. Overall, Civic Arena is St. Joseph’s most adaptable facility.
Sports: Basketball, football, bull riding, wrestling, weightlifting, cheerleading, dance, tumbling
Heritage Park Softball Complex
This sprawling sports complex is filled with five dazzling softball fields. Named the 2009 National Amateur Softball Association Complex of the Year, Heritage Park has hosted 10 national tournaments, several regional and state tournaments, and numerous local contests since its opening in 2003. Each field includes covered dugouts, scoreboard, and state-of-the-art lighting. The Championship Field has a press box and bleacher seating for up to 1,200 people. The complex is also great for kids: there is a playground with a rubber floor just outside the pavilion. Heritage Park Softball Complex is set to host USA Softball National Qualifiers this summer.
Sports: Softball, kickball, outdoor festivals
REC Center
The REC Center is exactly what every community needs: A large, multi-purpose facility that uses its features and programs to increase local quality of life. It hosts adult and youth basketball and volleyball leagues for people of all ages. It offers a full-service fitness center with a variety of cardio and weight training equipment. It boasts an indoor walking track in a climate-controlled walking or running environment. Finally, the REC Center offers many different programs, whether you are interested in core training, long-distance running, cardio exercises, or basically any other types of physical activity. If you like to be active, this is the place for you.
Sports: Basketball, volleyball, running
Things to do in St. Joseph
The Pony Express Museum honors the Pikes Peak Stables and the Pony Express riders. These riders traveled all the way from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California — with the hopes of uniting a nation divided by distance. This museum is exciting, educational, and altogether enjoyable. Next, visitors will want to explore the Glore Psychiatric Museum, which is regularly distinguished as one of the most unusual museums in the United States. It chronicles the 130-year history of the state hospital and centuries of mental health treatment. Check out surgical tools, nurse uniforms, personal items and other fascinating items at Glore. The final of the three big museums in St. Joseph is the Walter Cronkite Museum, a memorial to the incredible career of a renowned journalist and television anchor. Tourists should also visit the Remington Nature Center for beautiful views.
Planner Perspective
St. Joseph provides the amenities of a big city with the customized service of a small town. The CVB staff is among the best of the best and are actively involved in the planning and execution of our event. They go above and beyond to diligently meet the needs of their customers. It is a pleasure to do business in St. Joseph!
Programs, Special Olympics MO : Trish Lutz (Vice President)
I have been running my event in St. Joseph, MO for several years and the event is growing by leaps and bounds! One of the biggest reasons for the event success is the St. Joseph CVB (Lindsay Bernard) and staff. She goes above and beyond to ensure my event is the best it can be. I am very thankful to the St. Joseph CVB for all of the effort they put into helping me continue to grow my event. It is just great to know that if I need any information about who to contact for anything in St. Joseph, MO that Lindsay is a phone call away and always comes through for me.
Catfish Chasers Tournament Series: Craig Collings (Organizer)
How to Get to St. Joseph
By car: St. Joseph is served by two interstate highways and four U.S. Routes. I-29 runs south to Kansas City and north to Iowa. I-229 acts as a western bypass to St. Joseph.
By air: The nearest major airport is Kansas City International Airport, approximately 35 miles to the south.
Contact Information
Company Name: St. Joseph, Missouri Convention Visitors Bureau
Sports Sales Manager: Lindsay Bernard
Title: Sports Marketing Sales Manager
Telephone: 816-233-6688
