SPORTS EVENT FAQS

The Albuquerque Sports Commission is a division of Visit Albuquerque dedicated to bringing sports events, tournaments and championships to our Southwest city. The team provides free planning services — including venue sourcing, vendor connections, destination navigation, welcome programs and community engagement — to help your event run smoothly from bid to final whistle.

Reach out to the Albuquerque Sports Commission team:

Angie Jepsen, STS
VP of Sales, Services and Sports
jepsen@visitabq.org
505.222.4359

Angela Gandy, STS
Director of Sports Development
gandy@visitabq.org
505.222.4306

Or submit your request for proposal. 

No. Planning services — venue sourcing, vendor and hotel connections, and more — are provided free of charge.

New Mexico’s largest city has hosted events at every level of play, from youth and club sports to collegiate and Olympic-level competition, including:
    •    NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Regional and National Championships
    •    USA Track & Field Indoor Championships
    •    USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships
    •    USA Boxing National Open
    •    USA Archery
    •    National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs Championships
    •    National Senior Games
    •    PGA Jr. League
    •    New Mexico Bowl (annual, December)

Any size. With over 17,000 hotel rooms area-wide and venues ranging from single-field complexes to a 600,000-square-foot Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque supports everything from regional tournaments to national championships.

Albuquerque offers a range of purpose-built and multi-use venues, including:

• Albuquerque Convention Center 
• Albuquerque Indoor Track Facility (200-meter banked Mondo track)
• Balloon Fiesta Park (86-acre multi-purpose grass field)
• Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex (baseball/softball)
• Los Altos Park (softball, tennis, pool, skate park)
• Manzano Mesa Pickleball Facility
• Santa Ana Soccer Tournament Complex
• Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park
• Sandia Motor Speedway
• Jerry Cline Tennis Complex
• Duke City BMX Facility
• University of New Mexico Sports Facilities
• 15 area golf courses

See the full list of sports facilities and specs on each.

The Albuquerque Convention Center in Downtown, within walking distance of more than 1,000 hotel rooms, is equipped to host sports ranging from wrestling to volleyball.

The Albuquerque Indoor Track Facility features a 200-meter banked Mondo track (6-lane oval, 8-lane sprints), vertical and horizontal jump runways, a throwing pit, bleacher seating for 2,000, and TV-ready lighting — all inside the Convention Center. 

• Santa Ana Soccer Tournament Complex: 22 grass fields (8 lighted)
• Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex: 5 synthetic-turf fields, adjustable for baseball or softball, with bullpens and dugouts
• Los Altos Park: 5 lighted grass softball fields
• Balloon Fiesta Park: 86-acre multi-purpose grass field with a 12,000-square-foot multi-use indoor pavilion
• University Stadium at the University of New Mexico (UNM): 39,200-seat outdoor football stadium

Yes. Jerry Cline Tennis Complex has 18 Laykold courts (13 lighted). Manzano Mesa Pickleball Facility has 33 lighted courts with spectator seating. UNM also offers 13 lighted outdoor and 6 indoor tennis courts.

Yes. Sandia Motor Speedway is a multi-use racing facility with two paved ovals (¼ mile, ½ mile), a high-banked ⅜-mile dirt oval, a 1.7-mile road course, and a motocross track.

Contact the Albuquerque Sports Commission with your event dates, sport and space needs, or submit your RFP. Our team will help source and coordinate the right venue at no cost to your event.

Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)—ranked the seventh-best airport in the U.S. by The Washington Post in 2025 and ninth among medium-sized airports in J.D. Power’s 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Survey—offers nonstop flights to more than 30 major cities. Situated at the intersection of I-25 and I-40, Albuquerque is also easily accessible by road.

The airport is less than 5 miles from Downtown — roughly a 10-minute drive — and all hotel districts are within 20 minutes of the airport.

Taxi service, Uber and Lyft are widely available. Shuttle and limo companies can be arranged for group and team travel. View more on transportation options.

Yes. Group transportation can be arranged on the ground, and venues are accessible via the interstate system. The Sports Commission can help coordinate shuttle or transportation logistics for larger groups.

Over 17,000 hotel rooms area-wide, with more than 1,000 rooms within walking distance of the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Yes. Albuquerque has several hotel districts, all within 20 minutes of the airport and positioned near major venues and the Convention Center.

Yes. As part of its free planning services, the Sports Commission helps connect planners with affordable, strategically located hotel options for teams and attendees.

Albuquerque averages 310 days of sunshine a year, with low humidity and four distinct seasons. Its high-desert setting (5,312 feet above sea level) makes it ideal for outdoor events nearly year-round.

Yes. Albuquerque has been named one of top travel destinations by multiple leading travel publications. Affordable hotels, group transportation, dining and low-cost attractions help planners stretch their budget without compromising quality.

Albuquerque's high-desert setting and cultural attractions — from the Sandia Mountains to Native American, Hispanic and Latin heritage sites — give teams and families plenty to explore between games, including the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum and the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.

Albuquerque's dining scene is known for Southwestern flavors, especially red and green chile — order it "Christmas" if you want both. Affordable, locally sourced dining options are available throughout the city.