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Event Calendar
Sports & Tournaments
Grinnell as a Sports Destination
Grinnell is positioned as an ideal event destination by its central and easily accessible location in the State of Iowa. Grinnell is approximately one hour's drive from three of Iowa's major population centers — Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines, and is roughly equidistant between Dubuque and Council Bluffs. Nearly 1.3 million people live within 70 miles of Grinnell making it a logical choice for statewide competitions, conventions, meetings, and sporting events. Grinnell's recreational amenities and sports venues are extraordinary - unusual given its population of just under 10,000.
Ahrens Park, Grinnell College, The City of Grinnell, and the Grinnell-Newburg School District make up the majority of our recreational/athletic facilities that totals to 100 acres of land and includes:
- Home to eight youth softball fields and baseball fields
- 2 outdoor basketball courts
- 9 Full size gymnasiums and two wrestling rooms
- 16 tennis courts
- 8 practice fields
- 2 sand volleyball courts
- 11 soccer fields
- 27 holes of golf and a driving range
- 20 miles of bike trails and lanes
- 8 element skate parks
- 18 hole disc golf course
- 2 small fishing lakes
- 8 - 25 meter outdoor lap lanes at the Aquatic Center
- 6 lane - 200 meter running track with eight lane straightaway, seating for more than 400 spectators at Bear Fieldhouse
- 19 - 25 yard lap lanes, competition diving platforms, and seating for 500 spectators at Grinnell's new spectacular natatorium
The mission of the Grinnell Area Regional Sports Authority District is to: bring regional and national awareness of the area's recreational amenities and extraordinary sports venues; actively recruit more teams and spectators to high school, collegiate, and recreational events to Grinnell; guide the direction and evolution of the Grinnell Games. The Grinnell Games were piloted in 2009 as a collaborative effort by the Grinnell Convention & Visitors Bureau, the City of Grinnell, the Ahrens Park Foundation, and the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce to create a signature event that would highlight Grinnell's unusual assets with regard to sports and recreation and encourage all age groups to participate in amateur athletics.
Sports Authority District Board
The Grinnell Area Regional Sports Authority District Board is comprised of representatives from all Grinnell area organizations that manage relevant programs and/or facilities as follows:
- Greg Wallace - Athletic Director, Grinnell College (Collegiate Athletics)
- Pete Brownell - Business Owner (Hunting and Shooting Sports)
- Craig Cooper - Sports Retailer (Event Logistics)
- Jim Dunn - Athletic Director, Grinnell - Newburg Community School District (High School Athletics)
- Paul Nowasell - Business Owner (Tournament Logistics & Planning)
- Troy Gosselink - Facilities Manager, Ahrens Park (Facility Logistics)
- Monica Chavez - Director, Grinnell College Office of Community Enhancement & Engagement (Marketing & Community Branding)
- Sarah Smith - Executive Director, Imagine Grinnell (Trail Events, Publicity)
- Kelly Rose - Director, Grinnell Parks and Recreation (Swimming and Running Events)
- Russ Behrens - City Manager (Planning & Safety)
- Todd Linden - CEO, Grinnell Regional Medical Center (Wellness)
- Angela Harrington - President & CEO, Grinnell CVB, Grinnell Chamber (Advertising, Communications & Promotion)
- Rachel Bly - Director, Grinnell College Conference Operations (Grinnell City Council Member)
- Larry Wilson - Community Member (Grinnell City Council Member)
- Jim White - Business Owner (Grinnell City Council Member)
- Doug Shutts - Business Owner (Poweshiek County Supervisor)