Top 10 Reasons to Host Your Next Sports Event in Fairfax County
1. Top-Notch Sports Facilities
Fairfax County offers many first-rate facilities capable of hosting a wide array of sports events, including George Mason University, Hoop Magic Sports Academy, Reston SkateQuest, Dulles Expo Center, public/private schools, and numerous local/regional parks. Many of our parks feature new turf fields and diamonds, which allow tournament play to continue on schedule regardless of inclement weather.
2. Central Location
Fairfax County, Virginia, is located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. (about halfway between Maine and Florida). We're just minutes from Washington, D.C. in the middle of the Capital Region tourist experience. In fact, groups hosting events in Fairfax County typically report increased attendance because our area is such a popular destination. And, about 50% of the U.S. population is within a day's drive of Fairfax County...which can also translate into greater event attendance.
3. Successful Event Track Record
Fairfax County has successfully hosted a wide variety of sporting events - at state, regional, national, and international levels. From the seven-team, Capital Clash Wheelchair Rugby Regional Championships to The Virginian, our homegrown, 700-team soccer tournament - one of the largest in the country - we've handled events both big and small. A few of the competitions already planned for 2009 include the Virginia High School League Spring Jubilee, Tom Dolan Invitational Swim Meet, LawFit Challenge, Virginia State Little League Championships, and VentureQuest Adventure Race. We've also recently been selected to host the 2015 World Police and Fire Games, one of the largest sporting events in the world.
4. Multiple Transportation Options
It's easy to get in, out, and around Fairfax County. If you're planning to fly, finding the right flight will be easy because we're close to three major airports. Coming by train? Amtrak has stations right in the county. And if you're driving, we're easily accessible from three major highways, including the well-traveled I-95. Once you arrive, our region's extensive Metro system can get you to downtown D.C. in minutes.
5. A "Sports Friendly" County
In Fairfax County, we're passionate about sports! Not only do we cheer on the area's six professional sports teams, our community has numerous local sports clubs and organizations supporting a variety of youth and adult programs. Our local clubs compete hard, but we still root on our out-of-town competition and make everyone feel right at home.
6. A Variety of Hotels...and Great Rates
Fairfax County boasts more than 100 hotels, from economy accommodations to 4-star luxury properties. Compared with many destinations in the U.S.-including nearby D.C.-our hotels offer a low occupancy tax...and most offer free parking as well. The savings for large groups can be pretty substantial when you add up all the numbers, especially if your group can take advantage of lower weekend rates.
7. Lots to See and Do
When you stay in Fairfax County, you're just minutes from D.C. monuments, memorials, and museums, as well as Northern Virginia wineries, Civil War sites, and numerous historic attractions. And, you can visit our county's world-class attractions, including George Washington's Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center, and Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.
8. Superior Shopping and Dining
Fairfax County offers the best shopping south of New York's Fifth Avenue, with more than 200 shopping centers featuring everything from discount stores to high-fashion boutiques. In fact, our Tysons Corner area has more than 500 retailers within one square mile! We also have thousands of restaurants...from family-friendly to fine cuisine. With such a wide variety of stores and restaurants throughout the county, your attendees will be sure to find what they're looking for!
9. Guaranteed Fun
Sports participants and attendees tend to be an active bunch. So when there's a break in the action-or when the event is over-they'll love trying some of the activities we have to offer. From mini-golf, water parks, and bowling to hiking trails, botanical gardens, and nature centers, Fairfax County is the place for guaranteed fun!
10. Dedicated Sports Marketing Team
With the mission to attract and grow sports events in the county, Visit Fairfax's staff is committed to helping our clients save time and money. How? By serving as an impartial, one-stop source for marketing, research, and logistics assistance. Consider us a valuable part of your event-planning team...contact us today to take advantage of our sports services!
