By Maura Keller | Photo by Kansas Athletics

While many planners set their sights on traditional venues like convention centers and conference hotels for all things meetings and events, others are exploring the region’s new and renovated sports complexes as venues as a more playful option.

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS IN LAWRENCE, KANSAS

The University of Kansas has big plans to enhance its meeting and event venue offerings via its much-celebrated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and Anderson Family Football Complex.

Called the Gateway District, the project is expected to transform the north entrance of campus to drive student enrollment and economic benefit to the region. The project will develop a new campus gateway, a multiuse space and upgraded football facilities, which will 34 contribute to the University of Kansas’ ability to recruit and retain students, while simultaneously enticing meeting and event planners.

According to Andrew Eisch, director of football communications at the University of Kansas, the most innovative component of the project is the development of multiuse facilities to be used throughout the year to generate revenue for academic programming.

“In addition to the conference center, and as suggested by the project consultant, the project will potentially include a mix of arts and entertainment, dining, retail, office space, lodging and other uses that support economic development and the university’s academic mission,” Eisch says.

The transformational changes to the Anderson Family Football Complex and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium — one of the nation’s oldest football venues — will create a world-class experience for attendees. Currently, the University of Kansas generates $192 million and 2,600 jobs for Kansas, and the Gateway District will increase those figures in the future.

“Phase 1 includes the recently completed weight room and locker room renovations to Anderson Family Football Complex; a complete new build of the southwest, west and north sides of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium; as well as the conference center on the north end,” Eisch continues. “Future phases of the project will then focus on the south and east portions of the stadium, as well as the entertainment, dining, retail and other potential aspects of the Gateway District.”

Kirk Goodman, general manager of the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and the University of Kansas Conference Center, adds that the Gateway District includes the rebuilt Memorial Stadium and conference center, a 55,000-square- foot multipurpose venue designed to accommodate a variety of gatherings.

“David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in addition to being the permanent home for Jayhawks football, will serve a year-round purpose and truly be a gathering place for the greater Lawrence community,” Goodman says. “Plans include large-scale concerts, community events, watch parties and many other stadium-level events that will appeal to a wide swath of the local population. Multiple event spaces also exist within the stadium, complementing the other new venues in the complex.”

Heather Blanck, vice chancellor of strategic growth initiatives and real estate, University of Kansas, says the state-of-the-art conference center offers versatile meeting spaces, including a 15,000-square-foot main hall, and is equipped with the latest technology to facilitate conferences, workshops and social gatherings.

“The conference center is also home to the 1921 Field Club, which serves as a premium space on gamedays, but can be used for events and offers a spectacular field-level view of the stadium, videoboard and campus,” she says.

The stadium will be open for the first home University of Kansas football game on August 23, 2025, and the conference center will open in October 2025.

Phase 2 plans for the Gateway District project include an upscale Marriott-branded hotel adjacent to the stadium and conference center, student housing, dining, retail, podium parking and a 20,000-square-foot outdoor plaza.

“The University of Kansas Conference Center can accommodate groups of five to 2,000 in various configurations and will be attached to the north end of the stadium,” Goodman says. “Parking is available near the stadium and, for larger groups, satellite parking with shuttles will be utilized. The conference center will be exclusively catered by Oak View Group Hospitality, which manages catering and concessions for all University of Kansas athletics facilities.”

Blanck adds that, within David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, non- gameday options are also plentiful. The Jayhawk Club, on the main concourse, can comfortably hold up to 300 people, while the Limestone Club, one level above, offers space for 250 guests. For an outdoor feel, the North Patio is a unique space, with tremendous views of the field and can host as many as 200 attendees.

The entire complex is just a few blocks from downtown Lawrence, which offers a plethora of shopping and dining opportunities for visiting guests. The city offers many hotel options, both near the complex and throughout downtown and adjacent areas.

“The unique aspect of the University of Kansas Conference Center is its access to the stadium, videoboard and field, offering an experience that cannot be replicated at other venues in the area,” Blanck says. “Between the Main Hall, the 1921 Field Club and multiple breakout rooms, nearly any size group can be well-served at the center. The stadium itself offers multiple premium areas, including the Jayhawk Club, Limestone Club, North Patio and various levels of suites, making the entire complex incredibly versatile for any size or structure of group.

“Creative uses of the videoboard, stadium and field will bring event attendees new experiences and create lasting memories, which sets this venue apart as one of the best values and options in the greater Kansas City market,” she concludes.

EMERALD ACRES SPORTS CONNECTION IN MATTOON, ILLINOIS

The Emerald Acres Sports Connection is a facility that features a sports complex, walkable retail, and plenty of room for meetings and events of all sizes. According to Ryan Malone, director of marketing and sales at Emerald Acres, the 150-acre complex is part of a larger community revitalization and development effort, which also encompasses The Shops at Emerald Acres — a mixed-use development featuring retail spaces, dining options and other amenities designed to boost the attendee experience.

“This initiative aims to create a vibrant, walkable environment that complements the sports facilities and serves both residents and visitors alike,” Malone says. While Emerald Acres boasts eight basketball courts and 16 volleyball courts, the component of the venue that is most appealing to meeting planners is its expansive mezzanine with views of the courts — the ideal spot for social gatherings, meetings or banquets. Additional indoor features include team rooms, locker rooms, a cafe with food service and catering capabilities, and an arcade.

“These spaces have already hosted a variety of events, such as the Mattoon Chamber of Commerce’s community brunch and the Rural King’s annual sales meeting, as well as private business meetings and training sessions, and we look forward to hosting the Marantha Seeds Gala, a Mattoon Chamber of Commerce dinner and Girls Night Out events,” Malone says.

In the near future, the Emerald Acres complex will undergo an expansion of its outdoor facilities to include multipurpose turf fields and various baseball and softball diamonds that will provide additional multipurpose space — ideal for event planners looking to take their gatherings outside.

“Once complete, these fields will accommodate large-scale sports tournaments, outdoor festivals and even corporate team-building events,” Malone says. “Emerald Acres is designed for flexibility and scale, making it ideal for everything from formal banquets to expos, conferences and corporate events. The facility is equipped with a full speaker system for presentations or entertainment, and four private rooms are available for breakout sessions, meetings or smaller group activities. We also have an arcade with 47 games, virtual and augmented reality, and a redemption store that is perfect for all ages.”

As Malone further explains, the open- court layout of the venue’s interior allows for custom configurations, including pipe and drape setups to accommodate up to 130 vendor or exhibitor booths. Additionally, Emerald Acres can arrange banquet- style seating for over 500 attendees, making it perfect for galas, dinners or training seminars. The on-site kitchen and cafe staff can provide catering options ranging from buffet service to individually packaged meals, depending on event needs.

FARGO PARKS SPORTS CENTER IN FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA

Fargo has become a beacon of sorts for sports aficionados, thanks in part to its new expansive Fargo Parks Sports Center. Opened in June 2024, the sports center is situated on 123 acres, and offers a preeminent indoor gathering space for sports teams, and corporate and nonprofit groups alike.

“The facility is designed to accommodate over 20,000 local youth and more than 20 community organizations, attracting over 1,000,000 visitors annually and hosting over 60 community events,” says Tori Benders, marketing and communications specialist at the Fargo Park District.

Indeed, the Fargo Parks Sports Center offers a variety of spaces suitable for events of different scales and activities. Imagine hosting an expansive gathering on the facility’s eight full- sized basketball courts. Or perhaps an event on the venue’s 95,000-square-foot turf field would be the ideal setting for a corporate soiree. The sports center’s three large multiuse rooms on the main level and six smaller multipurpose rooms on the mezzanine level are ideal spots for the smaller to more medium- sized gatherings.

“The Fargo Parks Sports Center’s versatile spaces and state-of-the-art amenities provide planners with the flexibility to host a wide range of events, from sports tournaments to corporate gatherings,” Benders says. “The availability of on-site concessions, ample parking and proximity to transportation routes further enhances convenience for event attendees. Additionally, the center’s commitment to community wellness and multipurpose use ensures a welcoming environment for all participants.”

THE WOODMAN’S SPORTS & CONVENTION CENTER IN JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN

One of the newest sports and convention centers to join the Midwest’s sports complex venue offerings is the Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center. Scheduled to open in late September 2025, this versatile 140,000-square-foot facility is designed to accommodate all sorts of events, from conferences and trade shows to sports tournaments. In addition, the center is conveniently located just five minutes from I-39/90 in south central Wisconsin, ensuring easy access for attendees from Milwaukee, Chicago, Madison and beyond. What’s more, Janesville is located within an hour of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and just 90 minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

According to Christine Rebout, executive director of the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, the center also boasts the Robert & Delores Kennedy Convention Center — a 25,800-square-foot space that is ideal for trade shows, conventions, expos, banquets and community events.

“It can accommodate over 2,000 people in theater seating, nearly 1,200 seated at rounds and 110 trade show booths,” she says. The space can be divided into four sections with the use of soundproof partitions, each with its own projector, screen, podium, microphone and other audiovisual capabilities. The space can also be configured for athletic activities, such as basketball, volleyball and pickleball — ideal team-building activities to help attendees work hard and play harder.

The center’s multipurpose arena features 23,000 square feet with a ceiling height of 27 feet, and is ideal for conferences and events, with a theater seating capacity of 1,800, round table seating for 1,000 or 82 vendor booths.

The Woodman’s Center offers an additional small meeting space, which can be divided into two rooms with the use of soundproof partitions to accommodate approximately 50 people with classroom seating and 75 in theater seating.

“In addition to indoor access to Uptown Janesville, which provides attendees with shopping, dining and recreation opportunities, groups can take advantage of flexible catering, the ability to work with a variety of licensed area caterers, a dedicated registration area and audiovisual capabilities,” Rebout says. “Familiar restaurants and retail stores are within walking distance, providing many choices for visitors. And downtown Janesville, with a variety of uniquely local restaurants and shops, is an easy 2 miles down the street with plenty of free parking.”

While a hotel is being planned within 5 miles of The Woodman’s Center, meeting planners will find 10 hotels with a total of 1,000 rooms now, offering various options for budget and accommodation preferences.

As Rebout further explains, meeting and event planners can leverage the center’s flexible spaces and amenities to host a variety of events, from large-scale conferences to sports tournaments. The proximity to dining, shopping and lodging facilities enhances convenience for attendees. The center’s modern infrastructure, including Wi-Fi access and advanced audiovisual equipment, supports seamless event execution.

“Collaborating with the center’s administrative team and the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau staff can further ensure that specific needs are met, making full use of the venue’s versatile offerings,” concludes Rebout.

And Janesville itself has proven to be an area of growing interest for meeting planners and attendees alike, thanks in part to the city’s size and location. With a population of 66,100, Janesville is located on the Rock River in scenic south central Wisconsin, and offers ample parks, recreation areas, and a thriving downtown district with plenty of dining and retail opportunities for attendees to enjoy.