Team Maryland Sports Commission
About Team Maryland
Since 2010, TEAM Maryland has represented 18 total jurisdictions across the state. In that time, its partners worked together to create a dynamic landscape for sport tourism in communities woven across Maryland’s counties, towns and cities. Each of its current 16 TEAM Maryland partners boasts its own unique features and qualities that make it an exceptional sport tourism destination. With multiple national events on the calendar this coming year, TEAM Maryland is continually enhancing the state of Maryland as a whole.
Mission Statement
TEAM Maryland is a statewide initiative designed to collectively market Maryland to the entire sports industry by creating a synergistic approach to the way we market ALL of Maryland as a sports destination.
Standout Facilities and Destinations
In Montgomery County, Maryland SoccerPlex is the state’s most prolific linear field complex with 24+ fields and an indoor basketball and volleyball center. “It’s definitely one of the best in the country,” Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director of TEAM Maryland says. Based out of Churchville, Maryland, Top of the Bay Lacrosse holds some of the best lacrosse tournaments in the US. Cecil County is home to the Maryland 5 Star in Fair Hill, a state-of-the-art equestrian facility built by the Maryland Stadium Authority with cross country and competition rings. Down at the University of Maryland College Park, the Xfinity Center is home to the Maryland Terps Men and Women’s Basketball. In National Harbor, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, an up-and-coming destination, has tremendous event center space. Within the city of Baltimore, the Baltimore Convention Center, M&T Bank Stadium, the University of Towson, Morgan State University, and Loyola University Maryland all call Baltimore home.
Things to Do
The state of Maryland is bustling with things to do and sites to see. Known as the sailing capital of the world, the Chesapeake Bay is a sweeping maritime hub, with Maryland itself having over 3,000 miles of shoreline and often hosting prominent sailing competitions. In the capital city of Annapolis, the United States Naval Academy features waterfront grounds and the Naval History Museum and attracts major crowds each year. With the shoreline to the east and the mountains to the west, Metropolitan cities down the I-95 corridor, and some of the best fishing, hiking, and mountain bike trails in the country, there is something for everyone here.
From a sports perspective, Maryland is home to ‘the ballpark that forever changed baseball’: Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The state has two NFL teams, the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, and the Washington Football Team at FedExField. In the baseball world, Maryland has six minor league baseball teams and nine minor league ballparks.
Upcoming Events
Scheduled for Labor Day Weekend 2021, the Maryland Cycling Classic is the only UCI Pro-series cycling event in North America this year. In October 2021, the Maryland 5 Star will take place at Fair Hill. This international multi-day competition is only one of seven 5 Stars in the world and is the second in the United States. Within youth and amateur sports, groups like Hogan’s Lacrosse have significant tournaments on the books at Top of the Bay.
The CIAA Basketball Tournament:
Shifting to Virtual
The CIAA Basketball Tournament, set to take place in Baltimore in 2021, has gone to an all-virtual environment. “There will no basketball played, but we are still doing virtual events around those dates. The CIAA is more than just basketball, it’s a career and job expo, a high school opportunity expo, so there are significant activities that go along with it,” Hasseltine says.
The Youth and Amateur Sports Grant Program
Maryland’s Youth and Amateur Sports Grant Program is about to be back in play for the fiscal year ‘22, which will encourage new events and sports tourism in the state. “It allows us to coordinate with our partners at a higher level. We know there is not a light switch at the end of the pandemic, that there will be a recovery period before things get back to what we perceive as normal. The Grant Program establishes a footprint to get us into true recovery mode,” Hasseltine shares.
Testimonials
For over a decade, TEAM Maryland has been working collectively with its partners to successfully market the state of Maryland as a first-rate sport destination. As their team says, “No matter the event, we have a region in Maryland that has the FIELDS, courts, beaches, marinas and overall resources for you!” This has been demonstrated time and time again with TEAM Maryland’s partners and their various events held each year.
“IRONMAN Maryland is one of the top three North American races for athlete satisfaction, and a lot of that is due to the wonderful community and surrounding area. Dorchester County, Maryland has a beautiful landscape, little vehicular traffic and great roads. This is one of the most welcoming communities. Our athletes always comment on how there is something ‘special’ … and how they love coming here.”
Angie Hengst, Race Director IRONMAN Maryland & IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman
“For the teams, the event and the location, Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore, is a perfect culmination of their season, playing competitive softball in arguably the East Coast’s best summer beach community.”
Bill Dowell, USSSA Vice President of Fastpitch Maryland and Delaware State Fastpitch Director
“Baltimore is a proud sports town and with two major league stadiums in the heart of downtown, it’s the perfect destination for sports fans. Visitors can easily immerse themselves in Baltimore’s vibrant culture and meet the locals driving our city’s renaissance through chef-driven restaurants, locally owned boutiques and world-renowned attractions.”
Al Hutchinson, President & CEO of Visit Baltimore
“Hosting the USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championship (2018 & 2019) was such an incredible experience that brought both our local community together and cyclists from across the nation to Washington County.”
Visit Hagerstown
For more information on TEAM Maryland and their array of destinations and facilities, or to reach out with questions, head to their Playeasy profile!
