Your tournament schedule is locked in—hotels booked, brackets set. The thing is, Columbus gives sports teams plenty to work with beyond the courts and fields. Between games, your squad can spend time in training facilities on par with those used by pro teams and team-building spots that actually build chemistry!
Hit the Elite Training Spots around Columbus
Bo Jackson's Elite Sports in Hilliard turns team building into legitimate performance work. The 72-foot ceilings over the turf give you room to run nearly any kind of practice—MLB infield work, fastpitch softball, football wide receiver drills, lacrosse scrimmages, full soccer matches, and more! Plus, their Sport Performance Facility (spanning over 17,000 square feet) includes a professional weight room where teams can train properly—not just squeeze into a hotel gym between matches.
If you’re looking to switch things up, the Greater Columbus Rowing Association at Griggs Reservoir runs year-round rowing sessions that push teamwork and hit muscle groups your players probably don’t normally use! Fun fact—the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets are known to use this training facility in the off-season, so you know it’s tried and tested!
Sports Group Activities that Work
SportsOhio in Dublin sprawls across 100 acres with all sorts of activities like human foosball (yes, your team strapped to bars like the table version!), foot golf, batting cages, go-karts, and mini golf. Depending on your group’s size, you can even book the whole facility for a private team-building session.
ZipZone Outdoor Adventures focuses on ropes courses and zip lines designed with teamwork in mind. Teams use these setups to build trust and communication, the same instincts that matter when you’re calling for that pass in the fourth quarter or need to get out of a 9th-inning jam.
World-Class Venues in Columbus
Sports fans can get up close and personal with several of Columbus’s premier sports venues. Nationwide Arena hosts stadium tours for curious hockey fans. And Huntington Park (home of the Columbus Clippers) offers special group experiences that offer more intimate experienmces at the ballpark.
Sports fans can get up close and personal with several of Columbus’s top venues. Nationwide Arena offers behind-the-scenes tours for hockey fans who want to see more than just the ice. Huntington Park home of the Columbus Clippers, also runs group experiences that give your team a more personal look at the ballpark.
Visitors can also head to the massive Ohio Stadium and book one of several tour options. Stepping onto the field and hearing the stories behind Ohio State’s football history (and the legendary players who’ve worn scarlet and gray) adds a different layer to any Columbus sports trip!
Team Building in Columbus Beyond the Field
Your team needs to eat, and Columbus restaurants deliver. The North Market Downtown works for groups: grab food from different vendors, sit together, and talk shop. The Short North Arts District gives teams a place to wander after a tough day of games, with galleries and shops perfect for strolling.
To get the team really working together outside of the arena, try out one of Columbus’s escape rooms. The Escape Game Columbus has everything you might need with immersive storytelling and a countdown clock to turn up the heat. Need downtime? Franklin Park Conservatory is great for unwinding among nature, while COSI (Columbus’s science center) keeps teams engaged with hands-on exhibits.
Ready to plan your next sports event in Columbus? Our event planning resources can guide you through venues and logistics, so you’re not starting from scratch. Columbus knows how to show up for sporting events at every level. Get in touch to start mapping out your next one.