Akron, Ohio: Sports Facilities and Tournament Locations
Easily accessible for more than half the country’s population, Greater Akron’s heritage and history shines on and off the field.Introduction
Greater Akron, Ohio
With a fabulous array of attractions, accommodations and restaurants, Akron/Summit County, OH is an ideal location for your next sporting event. Athletes and their families will have a multitude of options for entertainment while they’re here. Greater Akron is a destination where visitors can hike through beautiful landscapes or enjoy an action-packed night out downtown. From theaters and concerts to shopping and culinary experiences at some of the best restaurants, visitors are bound to have a great time!
It is also home to numerous state-of-the-art facilities including the impressive Copley Road Soccer Complex; Firestone Stadium which recently underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation; the Lee R. Jackson Track & Field Complex at the University of Akron; and Rubber City Sports at Goodyear Gym, part of a 400-acre campus that houses a gymnasium, auditorium and other amenities.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio’s only national park, offers hiking, biking and running set against a peaceful landscape. View the eclectic collection available at the Akron Art Museum or take the family out to the ballgame to catch the Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park. Step back in time and visit Hale Farm & Village, a living history museum, or Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, the former home of F.A. Seiberling, cofounder of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. For animal lovers, be sure to check out the Akron Zoo with over 2,000 animals!
Easily accessible and close to both Akron/Canton Airport and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Akron/Summit County is an affordable destination and looks forward to hosting your next sporting event.
Get a Planner’s Perspective
Don’t just take our word for it, hear what these planners had to say.
“We appreciate the support from the ASCVB since our softball state tournament moved to Akron in 2008 and our baseball state tournament in 2019. From logistics with hotels, restaurants and meeting spaces to making the teams feel welcome, their staff have gone out of their way to make this a special place for our participants, fans and the OHSAA.”
– Doug Ute, Executive Director, Ohio High School Athletic Association
Greater Akron Local Activites
Find Your Perfect Summit County Facility
Facility Spotlight
Rubber City Sports at Goodyear Gym
Sports Covered: Futsal, Soccer, Volleyball, Martial Arts, Gymnastics
Hold your next indoor tournament at Rubber City Sports at Goodyear Gym. Goodyear Gym boasts 20,000 square feet, with seating for up to 1,100 in the mezzanine. It is home to, and has welcomed, a wide variety of events such as the Great Lakes Regional Futsal Championships (held annually), the Rubber City Gymnastics Rumble, Ohio State Line Gymnastics Championships, 2023 AAU Taekwondo Ohio State Championships and many more.
FIRESTONE STADIUM
Sports Covered: Softball/Kickball
Firestone Stadium was dedicated on July 25, 1925, by Harvey Firestone, the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. In 2023, the City of Akron and the Akron Recreation & Parks divisions began a multi-million-dollar renovation to the Stadium. The renovations include brand new, state-of-the-art artificial turf fields, renovated restrooms, new press equipment, upgraded scoreboards, new dugouts and updated locker rooms. It has a seating capacity of 4,576. It is home to the OHSAA Softball Championships, the Greater Midwest Athletic Conference Softball Championships plus the Mid-American Conference Softball Championships.
Akron Civic Theatre
Sports Covered: Cheer/Dance
The Akron Civic Theatre was built in 1929 and is one of Akron’s cultural landmarks. Among facilities of its size, the Civic is one of only five remaining atmospheric theaters in the country where patrons experience a twinkling starlit sky and intermittent clouds moving across the horizon, all while sitting inside the auditorium. The theatre has seating for up to 3,000 and has a spacious, beautiful stage for performers. It has been home to numerous cheer and dance competitions.
John S. Knight Center
Sports Covered: Cheer, Dance, Martial Arts, Gymnastic, Esports
The John S. Knight Center has been welcoming convention planners, tradeshow exhibitors and event attendees to the heart of downtown since 1994. The John S. Knight Center offers – 28,000 sq. ft. of exhibit hall space, two large ballrooms, a green room for speakers, and 25 separate breakout rooms. The Center also has a 3,000 sq. ft. glass rotunda – perfect for awards and registrations. It is home to the Rubber City Cheer Dance Championships, AAU Martial Arts Championships, the Akron Marathon and so much more!
University of Akron – Lee R. Jackson Track & Field Complex
Sports Covered: Track and field events
The University of Akron’s Lee R. Jackson Track & Field Complex completed a $1.2 million full renovation in 2022. With a new eight-lane, 400-meter Rekortan surface that was widened, new curbing, a new javelin runway, hammer and discus cages, shot put sector, long jump pit and pole vault box. The steeplechase was completely updated and is not state of the art. It has hosted the 2023 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Annual Pole Vault Convention and the upcoming 2024 NCAA DI Great Lakes Regional Cross Country Championships.