The City of Gulf Shores Sportsplex has established an impressive sports tourism reputation at regional and national levels and currently hosts the collegiate NAIA National Outdoor Track & Field Championship, the high school AHSSA and AISA State Outdoor Track & Field Championships and numerous other track and field events annually.
Equally as important to the City, the Sportsplex greatly benefits and enhances the Gulf Shores High School, Middle School and City recreational programs offering our residents superior athletic facilities. Following the 2018 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, the City received a letter from Mike Higgins, NAIA Director of Champions thanking the City for hosting the for the past five years. In addition, the NAIA offered to extend their contract
for a minimum of two years if the City would agree to resolve the deficiency in new high jump area. The past five years of hosting the NAIA Track & Field Championship has generated 16,022 room nights with an economic impact of $13.5 million. In an effort for the City to retain and attract these economically beneficial events as well as continue to offer high quality recreational amenities to its residents, the construction of a new high jump area was a necessity. Data from the Gulf Shores Orange Beach Sports Commission Recreation Facility Market, Feasibility & Impact Study coupled with recent NAIA Championship requests support the need for a new, larger high jump area.