Comprehensive study evaluates region's sports infrastructure and identifies strategic growth opportunities, including indoor sports facility 

 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (April 1, 2026) — Chattanooga Tourism Co., in partnership with KemperSports, presents key insights from the Sports Tourism Facilities: Needs and Opportunities Assessment. The study evaluates Hamilton County's sports tourism assets and identifies strategic actions to strengthen the region's ability to attract athletic events. 

"This assessment provides our community with a strategic roadmap and actionable priorities to strengthen our sports tourism infrastructure," said Susan Harris, interim CEO and COO of Chattanooga Tourism Co. "The insights give our stakeholders a shared direction forward, and by working together, we can remain competitive and continue growing our tourism economy.” 

The comprehensive study included site visits across Hamilton County, including Chattanooga and East Ridge, along with stakeholder meetings with elected officials, parks leaders, facility operators, and tourism partners. These efforts were designed to better understand and highlight the benefits to our community.  

“As local parents know firsthand, high-quality youth sports facilities both strengthen our community and drive tourism in Hamilton County," said Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp. "Kemper’s study shows we have a historic opportunity to build a premier indoor multi-sport complex, which will support and change the game in local youth sports as well as generate tens of thousands of hotel stays.”

KemperSports also conducted a targeted survey of tournament and event rights holders who have previously hosted events throughout Chattanooga and Hamilton County to gather direct feedback on facility quality, operations, and overall experience. 

The study is the latest in a series of tourism infrastructure assessments led by Chattanooga Tourism Co., following the Chattanooga Convention Center Futures Study and Music Venue Needs Assessment. 

Key Study Findings: 

  • New indoor sports complex would address a major market gap. 

 A key finding is the absence of a purpose-built indoor court sports complex. Indoor sports such as basketball and volleyball represent one of the most active segments of sports tourism and generate significant multi-day tournament demand. Development of a 10 to12 court indoor facility would expand Chattanooga and Hamilton County’s ability to host basketball, volleyball, and other court-based tournaments, increasing event capacity, hotel demand, and competitiveness for regional and national events. 

  • Outdoor multiple-purpose field inventory falls below regional standard.  

For outdoor multi-purpose field sports, such as soccer, lacrosse, and rugby, the region relies primarily on Camp Jordan Park, which provides 11 tournament capable fields. Regional benchmarks indicate that competitive destinations typically offer 20 to 24 fields. Achieving this target would require the equivalent of nine to13 additional fields through upgrades to existing sites or development of a new multi-field complex. 

  • Modernization of baseball and softball facilities will increase reliability and competitiveness. 

Baseball and softball facilities are among Chattanooga and Hamilton County’s current sports tourism strengths. Facilities including Warner Park and Frost Stadium, The Summit of Softball Complex, and Camp Jordan Park collectively provide approximately 26 fields. As a result, future efforts should focus on modernization and target upgrades that improve reliability and regional competitiveness, such as artificial turf and spectator amenities. 

  • Surface diversity and lighting are critical outdoor deficiencies.  

Heavy reliance on natural grass and limited lighting infrastructure reduce scheduling flexibility, increase weather risks, and constrain event recruitment. Facilities that recently received turf, lighting, and amenity upgrades are demonstrating measurable event and economic growth.  

The complete study findings and recommendations are available here.  

## 

About Chattanooga Tourism Co. 
Chattanooga Tourism Co. is the official destination marketing organization for Hamilton County, dedicated to sustainably increasing visitation and connecting guests with authentic Chattanooga experiences. The organization strengthens the local economy and enriches the community by establishing Chattanooga as a premier destination for meetings, conventions, sporting events, and leisure travel. Hamilton County welcomes more than 11.1 million visitors annually, who generate an economic impact of $1.8 billion. This visitor spending contributes $186 million in local and state tax revenue, saving each resident household $1,232 in taxes and supporting more than 30,000 jobs. VisitChattanooga.com 

 

Media Contact: 

Dawn Kimberlin 
Communications Manager 
(907) 360-4874 
dawnk@chattanoogatourism.com