Planning a successful swim meet – like any type of sports travel planning – has a long list of requirements. Local hotels in a wide range of budgets and star levels? Check. Lots of quality dining? Check. Transportation logistics like bus rentals and shuttles? All available. But all these things go for naught if one main ingredient is missing: the venue.
Fortunately, there is a shortcut for locating sports venues of good quality and reputation: copy from a master. So when you see that, say, the NCAA has booked a certain facility for its playoffs or championship meets, you can be reasonably sure that the destination and the venue will meet your requirements.
The recent swim and dive championship meets were held at four NCAA-approved locations: University of Minnesota’s Aquatic Center in Minneapolis (Women’s Division I); Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center at the University of Texas in Austin (Men’s Division I); the Aquatic Center at the SPIRE Institute of Geneva, Ohio (Men’s Division II and Women’s Division II); and the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis (Women’s Division III and Men’s Division III). Here we take a look at what each of these facilities offers, plus what the location can provide for swim and dive travel planners.
University of Minnesota Aquatic Center
Minneapolis
U Minn Center
About the Aquatic Center: The Aquatic Center hosts everything from Division I NCAA Championship meets to local swimming classes. The 50-meter racing pool and 55-foot diving well make it suited to any kind of meet. There’s a multi-use lobby attached to the swimming area.
About Minneapolis: Famous for its snowy winters, Minneapolis is a prime travel destination in the summer. (And don’t let the winters scare you away; the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is one of the best in the country at keeping flights on schedule regardless of the weather.) The city is well-known for its active arts and culture scene and high-quality restaurants and hotels. Sports fans know of Minneapolis as a major-league mecca; it is home to NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB teams. CVB personnel can help you with marketing your event, booking venues, and securing discounts, among many other services.
Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
About the Swimming Center: Home to both the Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame and the University of Texas Austin’s collegiate swim and dive team, the Jamail Texas Swimming Center is no stranger to hosting competitive events. The lane width, depth (9 feet) and gutter system of the facility’s 50-meter racing pool reportedly makes it one of the fastest pools available. The diving well reaches a depth of 18 feet, and there is a total of 10 1- and 3-meter springboards. The center was ranked #2 on Swimswam.com’s list of top swimming venues in the U.S.
About Austin: Situated at the start of Texas Hill Country, Austin is ranked as a great destination by Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and other publications. It is especially known for its dining and music scene. Annually, the city brings in more than 20 million visitors. The Austin CVB staff has plenty of experience in helping travel planners with logistics; services include securing group rates, customizing itineraries and assistance with arranging motorcoach tours.
The SPIRE Institute Aquatic Center
Geneva, Ohio
SPIRE
About the Aquatic Center: The Aquatic Center, located in Ashtabula County, is just part of SPIRE Institute’s massive, 750,000-square-foot sports and education center. The 10-lane, 50-meter Olympic-sized pool at Ohio’s largest natatorium shares the complex with a 25-yard support pool, four therapeutic pools and space for diving. There’s also a food court (featuring healthy choices) and locker rooms.
About Geneva: Geneva is located in the corner of northeast Ohio, about 50 miles from both Cleveland and Erie, Pa. Thanks to its position near the shoreline of Lake Erie, the area enjoys a milder microclimate and a reputation as a great spot to spend summer vacation. In fact, Geneva-on-the-Lake, a village close to Geneva, is considered the oldest summer resort in Ohio.
Contact the Geneva (Ashtabula County) CVB
Indiana University Natatorium
Indianapolis
About the IU Natatorium: It’s hard to argue with a place that has been ranked #1 in the USA (by Swimswam.com), hosted 26 men’s and women’s NCAA Championship meets, and was awarded the 2014 U.S. Olympic diving trials. The IU Natatorium is the biggest permanent facility in the US, and it’s very spectator-friendly. Seating for up to 6,200 is available (1,500 on deck), making it ideal for larger meets.
About Indianapolis: Conveniently located in the middle of Indiana, Indianapolis is a sports lover’s dream town. Not only does it contain the NCAA Headquarters and NCAA Hall of Champions, it’s also home to motor sports (Indianapolis Speedway), major league basketball and football, and minor league baseball. Visitors should not miss White River State Park, the only urban state park that contains wide-open green spaces, a zoo, concert and museum venues, and an IMAX.
Knowing that you’ve booked a good facility takes some of the uncertainty out of sports travel planning. With these four swim and dive venues receiving the NCAA’s approval, you can be confident about sending your group there as well.
