From the perspective of a youth sports player, few things wow them as much as the chance to step onto the courts that host their favorite NBA stars or the rinks that serve their favorite PWHL pro. It’s one thing to watch these elite athletes play on the TV screen or from the stands as a spectator, but it’s something else entirely to have the next generation of athletes don their own jerseys and represent their team in the place these sports stars call home.
In the Midwest, arranging youth sports events at professional venues provides more than a sense of glory and notoriety—these destinations are already set up to accommodate hundreds, if not thousands, of people, creating spaces that are easily flexible for a variety of events and tournaments. In addition, such venues often have high-level technological capabilities ready to go—such as scoreboards and game clocks—along with amenities like concession stands and locker rooms.
And the venues themselves are often housed in larger metro areas, providing both planners and teams with proximity to hotels, restaurants, and activities—making their youth sports events super convenient. With your help, players can skate on the same ice as the pros they idolize, relax in their hotel room just down the street after the final whistle blows, and score dinner at a nearby restaurant with their fellow teammates—all in a matter of hours.
From high-profile rinks like Grand Casino Arena (formerly Xcel Energy Center) in St. Paul, Minnesota, to expansive fields like Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, these venues bring youth athletes to the big stage—creating an experience to remember for players and families alike, complete with all the ease, accessibility, and exemplary facilities you will surely applaud.
The Big Leagues
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, makes a big splash in the world of youth sports. “What’s really a
draw is how easy it is to get to Milwaukee—how accessible it is, how affordable it is, and
the amazing venues and hotel packages we’re able to provide,” says Marissa Werner, director of Sports Milwaukee, the sports tourism arm of Visit Milwaukee. “We are lucky [for] the number of event venues available to us within the greater Milwaukee area.” To hit the court like the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks do, planners can organize tournaments at Fiserv Forum, which also is home to Marquette University’s men’s basketball team. The arena seats up to 17,500 people and caters best to court sports like basketball and volleyball.
“Fiserv Forum is only several years old [opened in 2018] and was built by thinking beyond what any other arena has ever done,” says Werner. “When we [can] showcase it to event organizers, the ancillary spaces [make] it a standout arena compared
to its competitors across the country.”
Both the NBA and WNBA house teams at other Midwest venues that also can host youth sports events, including Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, home to the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and WNBA’s Indiana Fever play basketball.
“Indianapolis is built for hosting sporting events [and offers] many high-quality venues capable of hosting everything from area youth tournaments to national championships,” says Chris Gahl, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Visit Indy, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. “The city also is home to key governing bodies like the NCAA, USA Track & Field, USA Gymnastics, and the National Federation of State
High School Associations, reinforcing Indianapolis’ national leadership in youth and amateur sports.”
Gainbridge Fieldhouse hosted the 2025 Indiana High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball State Finals in March, which had eight teams compete for four champion titles in A, 2A, 3A, and 4A class brackets. While the fieldhouse is best for court sports, nearby Lucas Oil Stadium accommodates football, soccer, and even swimming—in fact, it hosted the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for swimming, marking the first NFL stadium ever to do so. When the Indianapolis Colts aren’t on the field, youth teams can take over Lucas Oil Stadium for large tournaments of more than 70,000 players and spectators. For more NFL stardom, planners can consider Geha Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. Or, you might opt for Children’s Mercy Park, located in Kansas City, Kansas, just west of its Missouri twin. The stadium houses MLS’ Sporting Kansas City and accommodates youth and amateur soccer events.
For a venue that hits all the bases, perhaps one of the region’s major- or minor-league ballparks will fit the bill. Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, is home to MLB’s Cincinnati Reds; Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Nebraska,is where the Lincoln Saltdogs (part of the American Association of Professional Baseball) play ball; and LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park, Michigan, is the home field of the West Michigan Whitecaps, a minor-league affiliate of MLB’s Detroit Tigers—and all three venues suit youth baseball and softball events.
The Ice Experts
Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul is the home ice of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and, more recently, the PWHL’s Minnesota Frost, now a headlining team in the world of women’s sports. The Frost were one of the first six teams to debut the Professional
Women’s Hockey League back in 2023 and have since taken home two championship titles.
“Grand Casino Arena offers athletes the unique opportunity to skate on the same ice as their heroes,” says Kelly McGrath, vice president and general manager at Grand Casino Arena. “The elevated experience not only inspires competition but also encourages quality play and sportsmanship.”
Since 2001, Grand Casino Arena has been the host venue of the Minnesota State High School League’s (MSHSL) Boys’ State Hockey Tournament, one of the largest state sports tournaments in the country. The arena also hosts the girls’ state hockey tournament, as well as wrestling and volleyball tournaments, which are accomplished by covering the ice when hosted during the hockey season. In December 2025, the arena will host the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, an annual 10-team event showcasing the top junior hockey talent from across the globe.
“The venue has state-of-the-art technology, high-quality locker rooms, and multiple spaces to accommodate groups of all sizes,” McGrath adds. “Our experienced staff consistently delivers high-quality service and hospitality to ensure the event is run smoothly and safely in a welcoming, organized environment.”
Another option for skate-donning athletes is the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, an official U.S. Olympic training facility for US Speedskating and two-time host of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for long-track speedskating in 2018 and 2022. Here, planners will find two international-size ice rinks and a 400-meter Olympic speedskating oval, which double as host sites for youth hockey and figure skating events.
One of the center’s claims to fame? It’s the only ice oval in the U.S. located at sea level, Werner notes. “It becomes especially useful and needed when Olympians are about to compete in an Olympics located in another country at sea level,” she says. It’s also one of only 30 indoor 400-meter ovals in the world.
Over to the east in Detroit, Michigan, Little Caesars Arena opened in 2017 and is home ice for the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, sharing the venue with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons (and, in 2029, Detroit’s expansion WNBA team). Planners of youth basketball and hockey events can book the arena for private practices and games.
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