ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
When it comes to ranking sports venues in the state of Florida, the debate starts and stops with one place, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee. This complex sits on 220 acres and can host over 60 sports! This complex features a baseball quadraplex with the main attraction being Champion Stadium which seats 9500 fans and is the Spring Training Home of the Atlanta Braves. Also featured are the Marathon Sports Fields, which includes 17 fields that can be used for football, lacrosse, soccer, and softball just to name a few. There is also a state of the art tennis complex, New Balance track and field complex, a softball diamond complex and not to mention HP Fieldhouse and J Center. On top of hosting countless tournaments for all sports, housing the Atlanta Braves Spring Training, hosting major college basketball tournaments the one thing that really sticks out is the quality of all fields and the complex in general. All fields are finely manicured and well-kept not to mention the pristine conditions of the indoor facilities. These characteristics along with its enormous size help this complex to stick out not only as Florida’s best but quite possibly the best complex in the nation.
IMG Academy
A not so distant second in my humble opinion is the IMG Academy located in Bradenton. This gorgeous facility sits on 500 acres boasting an elite boarding school and sport training academy focusing on baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track & field and cross country. Some of the highlights of this facility include 20+ multi-sport fields, 50+ tennis courts, a 5,000 seat football stadium, an 18-hole golf course, two basketball gyms with multiple courts, and two 10,000+ square foot weight rooms. This training academy is not just the best in Florida, but possibly the best in the world as athletes come from all over the globe to train with the best in their particular sport. Attending school here does come with a hefty price tag; however that may pale in comparison to immaculate facilities and lifetime opportunities the school provides.
Weston Regional Park
Our next location takes us to Southeast Florida and the city of Weston. This gorgeous $15 million, 102 acre park features the Weston Community Center and Administration offices, 8 Baseball / Softball fields, 8 Football / Soccer fields, 8 Basketball courts, 3 Roller Hockey Rinks, 4 Multi-purpose artificial turf courts, 1 Skate Park, 2 Shaded Playgrounds (1 universally accessible), 3 Sand volleyball courts, 1 Event Stage, 5 Concession stands with restrooms, an exercise trail, 3 Picnic shelters with tables and grills, a fixit bike repair station, solar charging stations and a partridge in a pear tree. This facility seriously has it all! The variety of fields, along with how well maintained they are presents tremendous opportunities for the area. Odds are if ESPN’s Wide World of Sports and the IMG Academy didn’t exist, Weston Regional Park may just be the nicest sports complex in the state!
Seminole County Sports Complex
Located in Sanford, Florida is the Seminole County Sports Complex. This recently completed 102 acre central Florida destination is quickly advancing as one of the Premier baseball tournament venues not only in the state of Florida but also the country. Opened in 2016, with naming rights recently sold to Boombah, this facility boasts 15 lighted fields with 9 being state of the art artificial turf giving players of all ages a Major League experience. This facility is excellently maintained while also featuring a playground, covered seating areas and 3 separate concession stands.
Premier Sports Campus
Located in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, Premier Sports Campus has 22 fields located on 140 acres of land. This Bermuda grass complex is expertly maintained and features 65,000 feet of underground irrigation. With this site opening in 2011, it has quickly played host to some of the biggest soccer tournaments in the state of Florida, along with flag football, lacrosse, rugby, field hockey and ultimate Frisbee. The numerous tournaments that are hosted here are on the local, state, regional and national level, which speaks to the versatility of the complex and the capacity of events that it can hold.
Frank Brown Park
Our next stop takes us to Panama City Beach, and Frank Brown Park. This park sits on 200 acres and includes 9 Softball / Baseball Fields, 1 T-Ball field, 1 Miracle League Field, 3 soccer fields, 4 multipurpose football fields, 4 tennis courts, 2 outdoor basketball courts along with an indoor gym, shuffle board courts and an aquatic center. This complex plays host to numerous baseball and softball tournaments as well as rugby throughout the year, but the most appealing aspect of the facility may be the family atmosphere and environment. There is essentially something for everybody at this park no matter what your initial reason for being there, you are sure to find something you enjoy.
Roger Dean Sports Complex
Yes, the Roger Dean Sports Complex is a professional venue and the spring training home of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals as well as the minor league home for 4 affiliates, but its additional practice fields are also host to one of the largest and most heavily scouted baseball tournaments in the country. The event is the World Wood Bat Association World Championship hosted by Perfect Game and takes place in late October. This elite event brings only the best teams from across the country to compete on immaculately kept major league fields, with just a small tournament entry fee of $3000 per team. That was a joke, of course $3000 is an insane amount of money to enter a tournament, but given the quality of facility, the amount of exposure to college and professional scouts, teams are lining up check in hand to be a part of something special!
Lake Myrtle Sports Park
Lake Myrtle Sports Park located in Auburndale, Florida plays host to numerous tournaments through the year on their 11 soccer fields and 5 baseball fields. It also can host lacrosse, ultimate Frisbee, rugby, and flag football. These fields are kept in pristine condition with mowing almost daily and a great attention to detail provided by the Auburndale Parks and Recreation Department and City of Auburndale. This park is the home to Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing Headquarters and Florida Youth Soccer Association Headquarters. If sitting around and watching soccer or baseball tournaments isn’t your thing, this park has access to the TECO Auburndale Trail, 5.5 miles of paved flat trail to walk or bike while enjoying historic sites, orange groves, and a plethora of nature. The quality and reputation of this park stand for itself especially given how favorable their online reviews are from all who attend.
Indian Trails Sports Complex
Our penultimate location takes us to Palm Coast, Florida to a quaint little 35 acre gem, known as the Indian Trails Sports Complex. This complex includes 10 soccer/lacrosse/flag football fields, 3 baseball fields, 1 softball field and a family friendly playground. This complex has played host to the likes of local, regional and state sports tournaments. All fields are extremely well kept natural Bermuda grass and all are lighted as well to give an option to escape the Florida heat. Besides the top notch facility and well run complex, the location is ideal being easy access to the Interstates and perfectly located between historic St. Augustine and Daytona Beach to give you plenty of options during down time of your event. Oh and did I mention the free Wi-Fi throughout? It today’s technology driven age with the constant need to be connected whether phone or tablet, this is an added perk to enhance your experience!
Cocoa Expo Sports Center
Heading down to Cocoa, Florida, we find our final location in the top 10, the Cocoa Expo Sports Center. As a former Spring Training site for Major League Baseball, this site has put millions into renovations and houses countless tournaments throughout the year. This site has 10 baseball/softball fields with the main attraction being the 5000 seat main stadium with jumbo Tron, as well as onsite food and dorms for teams looking for an all-inclusive package. Many colleges and high schools make this a spring destination for their early season training given the field access and indoor batting cages and bullpens. This location also hosts community festivals, concerts, car shows and Atomic Wrestling. Given its area location, within an hour drive, you are in relatively short proximity to Disney World, Universal studios, Cape Canaveral and the Cocoa Beach Pier.
Remember, most sports complexes are located near various hotels. To make sure you stay at the best one for your team, book as soon as you can.