08/18/2025

A New Era for Sports Tourism in Dublin, Ohio

Sports Facilities Company will manage SportsOhio

Dublin City Council made it a priority to create a “premier athletic complex” that embodies both recreation and economic vibrancy attracting visitors and serving as an amenity for Dublin residents. As another step toward this vision, the city of Dublin finalized a long-term management agreement with Sports Facilities Company (SFC) to manage the recently purchased SportsOhio.

SportsOhio, a 243-acre multi-sport facility in the city’s West Innovation District, was acquired by the city in July 2024. SFC is the leader in the management of sports facilities, guiding for more than 3,000 communities nationwide overseeing $15 billion in developed projects. The company hosts nearly 30 million visits annually and drives $200 million in overnight hotel stays annually. Visit Dublin was part of selection committee that reviewed, interviewed and ultimately made a recommendation to Dublin City Council to select SFC to manage SportsOhio.

This partnership between the City and SFC sets the stage to elevate the SportsOhio facility into a premier hub for local, regional and national sporting events.

Athletic events play an important role in Dublin's visitor economy, attracting teams, families and fans who support Dublin hotels, restaurants and the local business economy. In fact, sporting events are often the catalyst for someone visiting Dublin for the first time.

The youth travel sports market has continued its rapid growth over the past decade. More than $17 billion is annually attributed to youth sports across the United
States, doubling in size over the past 10 years. In Dublin, the youth sports market is critical in helping fill hotel rooms during weekends and during off-peak periods.

"With SFC leading the way, SportsOhio will become a world-class attraction for events across the nation and will serve as an amenity for Dublin residents for generations to come," said Scott Dring, president & CEO at Visit Dublin. "If you combine Darree Fields with the adjacent SportsOhio, it will serve as the third largest athletic complex in the United States."

Beyond sports, SFC plans to include programming for all ages from youth leagues and tournaments to wellness events and community celebrations making the facility a shared community value for Dublin residents