When you think of South Dakota, one thing most likely comes to mind. And while those faces carved into the mountain are certainly impressive, the state is also known for its breathtaking scenery, exciting attractions and plethora of outdoor activities. It provides sports teams with a wide array of venues and welcomes all who are interested in hosting their sports event in South Dakota.
Rapid City
Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Rapid City is a popular vacation destination for people from all over the country. It is close to many famous attractions and offers lots of recreational opportunities. Rapid City has a number of great sports facilities that are perfect for any tournament or event, so sports planners are sure to find exactly what they are looking for. Also, with nearly 40 hotels, there is plenty of accommodations for all teams, families and friends.
The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center has an arena that seats 10,000 people and is equipped to host a variety of sports events. It also features a new 5,200-seat multipurpose arena that is ideal for putting on smaller tournaments.
Minutes from historic downtown Rapid City, Central States Fairgrounds is easily accessible and can accommodate sporting events of all sizes. The grandstand seats 6,000 spectators and the indoor arena and events center offers seating for 4,500. The fairgrounds offer over 40,000 square feet of exhibit space, so there is ample room for tournament headquarters, concessions and merchandise booths.
A new addition to the list of sports venues in Rapid City is the Parkview Sports Complex. Completed in 2010, the complex features 12 concrete tennis courts, a pool and a softball compound with four diamonds.
Another elite sports facility is Star of the West Complex, situated on the banks of Rapid Creek. The venue includes eight softball fields and 14 soccer fields, each with seating for 100 people.
Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota, offers a welcoming atmosphere, loads of entertainment and small-town charm. Apart from having a number of popular attractions, Sioux Falls is home to avid sports fans, talented athletes and more sports events than one can imagine. Sports teams will have a great time competing in Sioux Falls, and with all the athletic facilities in town, planners will find everything they need to host a successful sports event.
The Sioux Falls Arena is home to the Skyforce basketball team, the Storm indoor football team and the Stampede USHL hockey team. But it’s not just for professional matches; the arena is used for many other levels of competition. It seats 5,500 spectators and can be personalized to fit any sports planner’s needs.
For a wide variety of different sports facilities in Sioux Falls, check out Augustana College. The campus has one baseball field, six basketball courts, one football field, six volleyball courts and one pool. The major sports facility seats up to 4,000 people.
Other athletic venues in the city include Sioux Falls Stadium, a great place to host a baseball game or tournament. It features 2,474 fixed seats and 1,256 bleacher seats. Avera Sports Institute is a 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art venue. There are no fixed seating areas, but it can be transformed to accommodate a variety of sports.
Watertown
Located in the glacial lakes and prairies region of South Dakota, this small town is anything but that when it comes to its sports and recreation. Sports teams will find a welcoming environment, with enough accommodations to handle any size group.
The Watertown Civic Arena has seating for 5,800 people and can be converted to host anything from basketball and volleyball to wrestling and gymnastics.
Watertown Stadium seats 5,000 fans and can be used for baseball and football. Local high schools in the city use it for their games and tournaments, but sports planners from all over the country are welcome to rent it out for their events.
Other facilities in Watertown include the Codington County Extension Complex, a 20,000-square-foot venue with plenty of bleachers and fixed seating to hold any size sports event. Thehas a world-class indoor rink perfect for hockey, figure skating, broomball and curling. Mount Hope Soccer Complex is an ideal location for hosting a large soccer tournament and features abundant open space to set up tournament headquarters, seating, booths and concessions.
South Dakota is known for some of the most iconic attractions in the country, but it is also a great place to participate in or watch a sports event. Teams and coaches from across the U.S. will find everything they need in South Dakota.
