When an athlete wants to stand out from the crowd, he or she goes the extra mile to be the best. When you want your sports event to stand out, you pick a place like Columbus, Indiana. Not only is this sports destination a little off the radar, making it a unique spot for a tournament, but it also has a team and community that goes above and beyond to create an elite athletic experience for you and your sports event.
Columbus, Indiana, provides athletes with top-of-the-line sports venues, an enthusiastic atmosphere, affordable accommodations and exciting attractions. Plus, sport event organizers receive the assistance they need to plan a successful event. Columbus makes it easy, fun and stress-free.
What can athletes do in Columbus, Indiana?
When sports teams are off the field, Columbus, Indiana, provides them and their families with a plethora of activities to enjoy.
Columbus is known for its collection of modern architecture and public art, and the Columbus Area Visitors Center offers a variety of guided and self-guided tour options for visitors to experience. Athletes can explore free public art created by artists such as Henry Moore, Jean Tinguely and Robert Indiana. Dale Chihuly has three installations in Columbus, and guests can pick up some of their own Chihuly glass.
Credit Don Nissen
Columbus is also home to Indiana’s largest outlet mall and largest antique mall, conveniently located right next door to one another, making for a full day of retail therapy excitement.
The community is bike- and pedestrian-friendly, with more than 27 miles of trails that wind through the city. There are lots of family-friendly activities, including a bike-share program, a three-story children’s museum, an indoor playground featuring a 40-foot-tall play structure, an adventure park with zip lining and buggy tours, and a fully-restored ice cream parlor dating to 1900.
Visitors to Columbus will appreciate the small-town charm, lack of traffic and ease with which they can navigate the community.
X-Factors
- 48 baseball-softball diamonds
- 17-field multi-purpose sports complex
- #1- ranked public golf course in Indiana
- Centrally located on I-65 about an hour from Indianapolis, Louisville and Cincinnati
- Engaged local volunteers
- Sports event enhancement fund
Planner Perspective
Sports Facilities in Columbus, Indiana
Otter Creek Golf Course
Credit Don Nissen
Sports: Golf
Ranked among the top 25 public golf courses in the U.S. since its inception in 1964, Otter Creek is located in the midst of serene countryside. Robert Trent Jones Sr. created the original 18 holes of this championship course. Robert’s son, Rees Jones, was given the challenge of designing an additional 9 holes that would complement his father’s original course. Opened in June of 1995, the result is a “links” look that is as challenging as the original design. Many championship tournaments have been held at this property, including the 1991 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, AJGA tournaments, NCAA regional championships, the Independent Youth classic and the Indiana Men’s Amateur Championship (26 times). The course has also served as a qualification site for the U.S and Senior Open, plus the National Public Links.
Blackwell Park & Wigh Soccer Complex
Sports: Soccer, rugby, lacrosse
Blackwell Park is home to the Wigh Soccer Complex, and is a versatile outdoor sports park for soccer, rugby, lacrosse and any other outdoor sports. The fully irrigated complex can hold up to 17 full-size fields that can be laid out to fit any tournament’s needs. The park also features the renowned Freedom Field Playground along with barbecue areas, picnic areas and a shelter-house.
Lincoln Park Softball Complex
Sports: Baseball, softball
The Lincoln Park Softball Complex hosts many state, regional and national events. The facility has six fully irrigated, lighted softball fields and a six-station batting cage. This softball complex has been named “Complex of the Year” by both the National Softball Association and USSSA. The complex is said to have the best natural grass diamonds in the state.
Hamilton Center Ice Arena
Sports: Hockey, figure skating
This elite sports facility was designed in a Swiss chalet style by famed architect Harry Weese. Originally designed as a warming house and changing area for an outdoor ice rink, the arena was transformed into an indoor skating facility in the 1970s. The facility now includes a regulation-size hockey rink and an adjacent practice rink, providing year-round skating for the community and sports events.
How do you get to Columbus, Indiana?
Take your sports tournament to an unexpected destination. When you decide to host your sports event in Columbus, Indiana, you will not be disappointed. The city offers an unparalleled level of professionalism, keen volunteers and sports fans, top athletic facilities and activities galore. Once you’ve experienced Columbus, it will forever be on your radar for future sports events.
By Car: Columbus is centrally located between Indianapolis, Louisville and Cincinnati, and just minutes from I-65, I-70 and I-74.
By Air: The Indianapolis and Louisville airports are the closest major airports. There are no shuttles or taxis from the airports to Columbus, but teams can rent vans or arrange for buses to take them to the city.
