Sarasota County boosts sports tourism

Sarasota County's tourism arm is angling to land more sports-themed events. 

Visit Sarasota County recently launched a new website landing page with the sole purpose of garnering the attention of national sporting events to the more than 40 parks, sports complexes, courts, trails and arenas in the county. 

“With the resources we have in Sarasota County, it makes for an ideal destination for any size of sporting event,” Nate Sweetman, sports marketing coordinator, says in a release. “As we move past our traditional visitor season, these tournaments and special events will continue to draw in outside visitors that will contribute to tourism expenditure.”

The landing page allows visitors to explore the facilities virtually, check the upcoming events and begin the process of hosting a sporting event. The release states that due to warm weather throughout the year and prominent sporting facilities, the county has become a sports destination. 

The county is home to the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves spring training complexes as well as the multi-sport rowing venue at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, west of Interstate 75.