Pennsylvania is historical for being one of the most important colonies in America’s early years. The state has another claim to fame to storied sports franchises like the Flyers, Steelers and Nittany Lions. With so much athletic fame, Pennsylvania has plenty of sporting venues to accommodate many different events.
Planning Sports Events in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, a hotbed of the American Revolution, is where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed by our founding fathers. Today, the City of Brotherly Love is known for its passion for sports. Being the sixth biggest American city, Philly is a great place for sports of all kinds.
The Wells Fargo Center (formerly the Wachovia Center) is home to four professional Philadelphia teams: the NHL’s Flyers, the NBA’s 76ers, the AFL’s Soul and the National Lacrosse League’s Wings. The center is located in the southernmost part of Philadelphia, just east of the Philadelphia International Airport. Inside, 21,000 people can fit in the arena. Along with accommodations for pro teams, it also is great for other like gymnastics, indoor soccer and volleyball. This past March, the center held the NCAA Division I Wrestling championships.
On the University of Pennsylvania campus is the 9000-seat Palestra. Home to Penn’s men’s and women’s basketball teams the storied gymnasium has hosted more visiting teams and held more games than any other facility in the nation since it opened in 1927. It can hold several indoor sports, including gymnastics, volleyball and wrestling.
Another storied University of Pennsylvania venue is Franklin Field. It was originally home for the running of the Penn Relays in 1895 and was in 1922. The field was once home of the Philadelphia Eagles. It has held the Penn Relays for over 100 years. In 2004 Franklin Field was installed with SprintTurf, a rubber-infill artificial surface.
State College Sports Venues
State College, often referred to as “Happy Valley,” is located in the heart of Pennsylvania. Historic Penn State University calls State College home. With deep collegiate sports roots, State College is home to several venues that may interest event planners.
The 118,000-square-foot Holuba Hall, one of the nation’s largest indoor venues, is the indoor practice facility of Penn State’s football team. The men’s and women’s lacrosse teams practice and compete in the hall as well. It is large enough to hold a baseball, softball, indoor soccer or rugby tournament.
In 1996 the 15,000-seat Bryce Jordan Center opened its doors and became home to the Nittany Lions’ basketball program. The center is where the teams play and practice. Locker rooms, video rooms and weight rooms are all located within the center.
Jeffery Field is the home of Penn State’s lacrosse and soccer teams. The field is a great place to play or watch a game, with a majestic view of Nittany Mountain in the background. The field is host to several NCAA tournaments during the season. It has a capacity of 5,000 and was named the Soccer Field of the Year by the Sports Turf Magazine Association in 2006.
Pittsburgh Sports Planning
The Steel City of Pittsburgh has a long tradition of hard-working Americans who feel passionate about the city’s sports teams. When citizens aren’t working hard in the mills, they are watching, playing or coaching the sports they love. To accommodate its athletic needs, Pittsburgh has built several top-notch sporting venues.
The do-it-all venue of Green Tree Park is located on Pittsburgh’s Southwest Side. The park has two baseball and softball fields as well as Point Park University’s full-size field. The park also offers batting cages for practice in between games. There is a soccer field at the park, along with a lit street hockey rink. Nearby are the Aiken School fields, and in conjunction the two parks have hosted several tournaments.
Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh boasts the Island Sports Center. This multi-purpose center has two ice hockey rinks and a pro shop for repairs or replacements. In March the center held the Iron Man Hockey Tournament. The sports dome at the center holds a variety of sports events including flag football and indoor soccer tournaments. It is big enough to accommodate indoor softball as well.
North Park, located 15 miles northeast of downtown Pittsburgh, has with nine baseball and softball fields, eight soccer fields, 10 tennis courts, five horseshoe pits and a 75-acre lake used for water sports like crew. It also boasts an ice rink, a two-million-gallon swimming pool and an 18-hole golf course. No matter what you are looking to play, chances are North Park will have accommodations for your sport.
Fans have rooted for is the Penguins for decades in Pittsburgh. The Penguins’ CONSOL Energy Center a 720,000-square-foot multi-purpose building, can handle just about any indoor sport. In June the center held the UFC Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Pennsylvania’s rich sports heritage has made it one of the top states in the nation for event planners. Philadelphia has a lot of sports history surrounding its venues. is deeply embedded with Penn State’s storied sports roots. And Pittsburgh is loaded with multi-sport venues. So if you are planning a tournament in the East, the Keystone State won’t let you down.
