How Monroe-West Monroe Drives Tourism Through World-Class Sports Facilities

Discover Monroe-West Monroe recognizes the important role that competitive sports plays in the tourism economy. According to Sports ETA’s State of the Industry Report for 2023 the sports events and tourism industry resulted in “a direct spending impact of $52.2 billion, which generated at total economic impact of $128 billion.”

“We have invested in sports facilities to grow the economic impact of visitors to Ouachita Parish through sports travel,” said Alana Cooper, President/CEO of Discover Monroe-West Monroe. “It has paid dividends for our community and it’s a win-win as the community benefits from updated or new facilities for local sports, as well as attracting visitors to come and play.”

Through our Tourism Development Grant Program’s Capital Projects Grant, Discover Monroe-West Monroe has invested in a number of facilities in Ouachita Parish. Such projects include:

• West Monroe Sports & Events, partnering with the City of West Monroe and Ouachita Parish Police Jury with a $6 million investment
• Forsythe Tennis Courts expansion to include additional courts and a new clubhouse with a viewing deck
• The construction of the Sterlington Sports Complex and the subsequent addition of a state-of-the-art batting cage facility
• The rebuilding of Ouachita Sportsplex, which was a transformation of the Osterland baseball and softball facility
• Northeast Louisiana Soccer Complex
• Ike Hamilton Expo Center
• ULM Facilities
  • Brown Stadium Track & Field Facility
  • Sand Volleyball Courts
  • Heard Tennis Stadium
  • University Park
  • Turfing of Warhawk Baseball & Softball Stadiums

Investing in our facilities allows us to create a championship atmosphere for event participants and create a destination where organizers want to host their events.

Interested in hosting your next event at one of our state-of-the-art facilities? Click here to contact Scott Bruscato, Executive Vice President of Sales.