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17 Sports Venues to Know in 2017

By Connect Sports, 01/18/17, 1:45PM EST

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A new year means new sports venues for planners to consider placing their events. In 2017, there’s something for everyone, whether you specialize in field or indoor sports and regardless of which section of the country you’re interested in. Behold, 17 venues for you to know in 2017.

A new year means new sports venues for planners to consider placing their events. In 2017, there’s something for everyone, whether you specialize in field or indoor sports and regardless of which section of the country you’re interested in. Behold, 17 venues for you to know in 2017.

Albany Capital Center
Where: Albany, N.Y.

Albany Capital Center tips off in time to host the MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships in March. Local officials say the center should add 150,000 attendees to the region annually and have an estimated economic impact of $36 million. Beyond basketball, the venue can host trade shows and meetings for up to 5,000 people.

Anaheim Convention Center
Where: Anaheim, Calif.

The convention center is in the midst of an expansion that will add 200,000 square feet of flexible space. The project is slated for completion in fall 2017 and will open the door for more indoor events like gymnastics, wrestling and weightlifting, including the IWF World Championships.

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
Where: West Palm Beach, Fla.

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches will be a shared spring training site used by the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals. The 6,500-seat venue, set to open in January, includes six practice fields. The teams have agreed to build a 12-acre public park, making the facility one of the Grapefruit League’s top draws.

DE Turf Complex
Where: Frederica, Del.

Opening this spring, the new complex will fit 12 synthetic turf fields and a 1,500-seat championship stadium into an 85-acre campus. The facility figures to be a big draw for regional events, attracting teams from New York, Philadelphia and D.C.

Dunkin’ Donuts Park
Where: Hartford, Conn.

The stadium is slated to open in time to host the Hartford Yard Goats’ season opener in April, a year behind schedule. Officials hope the 6,000-seat Minor League Baseball gem will be the centerpiece of an urban renewal project, including the first Hard Rock Hotel in New England.

Fieldhouse USA Mansfield
Where: Mansfield, Texas

The suburb in the Dallas-Fort Worth area started 2017 on the right foot with the opening of Fieldhouse USA Mansfield. The 100,000-sq.-ft. indoor facility is built to host basketball, volleyball and futsal. Look for regional tournaments to use Fieldhouse first before national tournaments sign on. Combined with the city’s Big League Dreams baseball site, Mansfield is now officially on the map as a sports tourism destination.

Foley Events Center
Where: Foley, Ala.

With 16 fields and seating for 1,000, Foley Sports Complex debuted with many accolades in 2016. But this year will bring another major piece to the puzzle: a 90,000-sq.-ft. indoor events facility perfect for basketball, volleyball and more. Look for it to open by Memorial Day.

Harbour Pointe Badminton Club
Where: Snohomish County, Wash.

The venue has already brought the 2016 USA Badminton Junior Nationals to Snohomish County, Washington, in July. Tammy Dunn, sports development director at the Snohomish County Sports Commission, says that is the only the beginning. She predicts the 12-court facility will draw small-scale international events, not to mention a wide range of national events.

Little Caesars Arena
Where: Detroit

Little Caesars Arena will add another spectacular venue to The District in Motor City when it opens in September. Originally built to host the Red Wings, the facility gained an unexpected co-tenant when the Detroit Pistons announced in November 2016 they’ll be joining their NHL counterparts downtown after nearly 40 years in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Additionally, the venue will be an epicenter of youth tournaments and training.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Where: Atlanta

It’s countdown to kickoff on another major sporting venue in Atlanta. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will replace the Georgia Dome as the home of the Falcons. It will also be home to new MLS team Atlanta United FC. By the way, the stadium has already been tapped to host the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, Super Bowl LIII in 2019 and the 2020 Final Four.

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Where: Uniondale, N.Y.

The famed coliseum returns to life this spring with the completion of a $130 million renovation. While the New York Islanders won’t be bringing NHL hockey back from Brooklyn to Long Island (at least not yet), the arena plans to host boxing and college basketball, among other sporting events. A performance by Billy Joel will mark the start of the 43-year-old building’s second life.

New England Sports Village
Where: Attleboro, Mass.

New England Sports Village is slated to immediately become Massachusetts’ largest athletics complex when it opens in September. The ice rinks are already open and will be joined by a 47,000-sq.-ft. aquatics center, a 165,000-sq.-ft. indoor field house and a 150-room on-site hotel. Organizers expect more than 100,000 athletes to make use of the facility annually—more than 15,000 are signed up for the ice skating center for 2017 already. Located off Interstate 95, the 120-acre site will also include restaurants and shopping.

North Houston Bike Park
Where: Houston

North Houston Bike Park will only add to Houston’s expertise in extreme sports. The 20-acre venue will include an elite BMX track that will host UCI’s World Championships in 2017. The facility, on track for a fall start date, will be adjacent to the acclaimed North Houston Skate Park.

Orange County Great Park
Where: Irvine, Calif.

The beginning stages of 194-acre sports complex is scheduled to arrive in 2017. Among the facilities included will be  five beach volleyball courts, six soccer fields and 24 tennis courts. More than 80 fields for baseball, softball, rugby, cricket and lacrosse, as well as a 270,000-sq.-ft. ice facility are scheduled to be online by the 2018 grand opening.

SunTrust Park
Where: Atlanta

The new home of the Braves moves the team from the old Olympic stadium downtown to Cobb County, generating $235 million for the Atlanta suburb. In addition to the stadium, The Battery Atlanta will include 400,000 square feet of retail and office space.

Titletown District
Where: Green Bay, Wis.

The Packers finalized plans in 2016 for the first phase of Titletown District outside of Lambeau Field. Among the highlights: a 45-ft.-high sledding hill and skating area, a multipurpose artificial turf field and a Lodge Kohler (a four-diamond hotel). The hope is for everything to be ready before Green Bay kicks off a new season in September.

Worcester Sports Center
Where: Worcester, Mass.

What was an empty eyesore will transform into a vibrant home of college, youth and amateur hockey events come August. Groundbreaking was last year for the $18 million Worcester Sports Center, the latest example of a community using a sports venue to rebuild a downtown.


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