DISCOVER THE BEST ELGIN FACILITIES FOR SPORTS TOURNAMENTS IN ILLINOIS
If you’ve ever planned a sports tournament, you know how costly it can be. From the hotel rooms and dining expenses to the complex where your event will be, it isn’t hard to break your budget. If you’re in the heart of a major city, you can expect your trip to be especially costly. But, fortunately, you can experience big-city fun at reasonable prices in smaller urban areas—and Elgin is one of them!
Elgin offers the perfect mix of visitor attractions and sports facilities. Athletes of all ages and levels can train and compete in premier venues that host a variety of sports, including soccer and BMX biking.

Elgin is located on Interstate 90 about 42 miles from downtown Chicago, 53 miles from Rockford and 103 miles from Milwaukee. Fly into Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, which is only 20 miles away from the city of Elgin, or Midway International Airport, which is just 33 miles away.
Sports facilities in the Elgin Area
Local sports facilities include:
- 307-acre outdoor sports complex including:
- 10 soccer fields
- 10 softball fields
- Top-rated BMX track
- Multipurpose indoor and outdoor facilities to host sports including basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, martial arts, wrestling, golf and fencing:
- The Centre of Elgin
- Judson University – Lindner Fitness Center
- Judson University – Dawson Field
- Lifezone 360
- Elgin Community College
- Top Flight Athletic Center
- Canlan Ice Sports
- Midwest Elite Gymnastics Academy (MEGA)
- Numerous award-winning golf courses
- Multiple disc golf courses for all levels
To obtain the Elgin Area sports facilities directory, please contact our sales department at Ryan@ExploreElginArea.com.
Things to do in Elgin
Besides Elgin’s abundance of sports facilities, our city—which encompasses Cook and Kane counties and is located along the Fox River—is filled with affordable lodging and local attractions. Stay comfortable at any of our local hotels by contacting Ryan Cortez for room blocks and special rates.
Looking for ways to entertain your team during your stay in Elgin? Natural beauty abounds in Fox River Shores Forest Preserve and Tyler Creek Forest Preserve. Take the kids to Randall Oaks Zoo, where they will be able to pet animals while touring the park. During the winter, get into the holiday spirit by skiing at Villa Olivia in Bartlett. All year round, families can experience the Santa-themed rides, live shows and petting zoos at Santa’s Village Azoosment Park in East Dundee. Spend an afternoon golfing at the award-winning Highlands of Elgin or Bowes Creek Country Club. Check out State Street Market Shops for antiques and locally made trinkets and gifts. The Spring Hill Mall is a popular shopping destination in West Dundee, with a broad selection of specialty retailers and a Cinemark Theatre. Elgin’s diverse dining scene features more than 100 restaurants to try.
What sports event planners say about running tournaments in the Elgin Area
“Hospitality is an Elgin reality.”
Wally Reynolds, McHenry County College Athletic Director“I have been working closely this year with the Explore Elgin Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and in this short time, we have hosted a major international tournament and have landed the rights to host a second this December. Explore Elgin has been a close partner throughout all of these processes, and without them, I do not think I could have landed either tournament nor could I have done so on budget. The team at Explore Elgin goes above and beyond for my every request, and I look forward to working with them in the years to come.”
Craig Rot, Director, Team Handball Academy Lifezone
Support for sports tournament directors and event planners
The Northwest Chicagoland Sports Commission can help you plan your sporting event in the Elgin Area. Please get in touch with us, and we will help ensure that your next tournament is a huge success. We offer event planners a variety of services, including:
- Facility and hotel availability research
- Event management
- Marketing
- Merchandising
- Public relations
- Facility and site selection
- Volunteers
- Hospitality
- Sponsorship opportunities
- Fundraising assistance
- Vendor referrals
- Connections to the Elgin Area community
We have a dynamic Sports Commission with a proven track record of hosting high-quality tournaments and events, including national events like the Nike-USA Cup Tournament and regional shows like Prime Time Sports Summer Hoops Tour. We host sporting events for teams from all over Chicago’s northwest suburbs and the Midwest.
Find the venue for your next tournament by checking out our list of Elgin sports facilities.
If you would like help planning a sporting event in the Elgin Area, please email Ryan@ExploreElginArea.com or complete our form to request more information.