A KemperSports study commissioned by Chattanooga Tourism Co. recommends building a new 10-12 court indoor sports complex and adding 9-13 outdoor fields to strengthen Chattanooga’s youth sports tourism competitiveness. The findings identify specific infrastructure gaps and lay out concrete recommendations for Hamilton County to close ground with peer markets.
Key Takeaways
- KemperSports recommends a 10-12 court indoor complex for basketball and volleyball tournaments in Chattanooga
- The region needs 9-13 additional outdoor multi-purpose fields for soccer, rugby, and lacrosse to reach competitive benchmarks
- Camp Jordan Park’s 11 tournament-capable fields fall well short of the 20-24 field standard set by peer destinations
- A new indoor facility is projected to generate tens of thousands of hotel stays
- Heavy reliance on natural grass and limited lighting were flagged as critical outdoor deficiencies
The Gap Between 11 Fields and 24: Outdoor Capacity in Chattanooga Youth Sports
The study, commissioned by Chattanooga Tourism Co. and prepared by KemperSports, identifies where Chattanooga and Hamilton County stand in the youth sports facility market. For outdoor multi-purpose sports, the region’s primary asset is Camp Jordan Park with 11 tournament-capable fields. The regional benchmark for competitive destinations is 20-24 fields. The study recommends adding 9-13 additional multi-purpose outdoor fields for soccer, rugby, and lacrosse to close that gap.
Indoor Courts: The Biggest Missing Piece
The study’s headline recommendation is a new indoor sports complex with 10-12 courts designed to host basketball and volleyball tournaments. Chattanooga currently lacks a purpose-built facility of this scale.
Hamilton County Mayor Wamp framed the opportunity directly: “Kemper’s study shows we have a historic opportunity to build a premier indoor multi-sport complex, which will support and change the game in local youth sports as well as generate tens of thousands of hotel stays.”
Baseball Holds Strong, but Needs Upgrades
Not everything requires a ground-up build. The study identified baseball and softball as current strengths, with roughly 26 fields spread across Warner Park, Frost Stadium, The Summit of Softball Complex, and Camp Jordan Park. The recommendation is modernization rather than expansion, keeping existing diamond inventory competitive as other markets invest in theirs.
Outdoor Infrastructure Needs Go Beyond Field Count
Beyond field count, the study flagged heavy reliance on natural grass and limited lighting infrastructure as critical deficiencies. Both limit playable hours and increase weather-related cancellation risk. The KemperSports team conducted site visits across Hamilton County, including Chattanooga and East Ridge. Stakeholder meetings were held with elected officials, parks leaders, facility operators, and tourism partners. A targeted survey of tournament and event rights holders rounded out the research.
Where Chattanooga Goes From Here
Susan Harris, interim CEO and COO of Chattanooga Tourism Co., stated: “This assessment provides our community with a strategic roadmap and actionable priorities to strengthen our sports tourism infrastructure. The insights give our stakeholders a shared direction forward, and by working together, we can remain competitive and continue growing our tourism economy.”
The study is part of a broader series of tourism infrastructure assessments that includes a Convention Center Futures Study and a Music Venue Needs Assessment.
Chattanooga Eyes New Indoor for Youth Sports Operators
Club directors and tournament operators evaluating host city pipelines should flag Chattanooga as an emerging market with identified gaps now on a public investment roadmap. Facility developers and investors looking at underserved mid-size markets should note that both Hamilton County government and Chattanooga Tourism Co. have engaged KemperSports to quantify the opportunity, signaling serious municipal intent. The recommended indoor complex, if built, would add 10-12 courts to a market currently without a purpose-built facility at that scale, creating immediate demand for tournament programming partners. Organizations planning multi-year event calendars should monitor procurement timelines as Chattanooga moves from study to site selection. directly.
Source: Chattanoogan
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