2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden, also known as "The Kentucky Kid", was born and raised in Owensboro along with his two brothers Tommy and Roger Lee, who also race motorcycles professionally.

Sports

The City of Owensboro has the distinction of being named as one of the Top 50 Sports Towns in the United States by Sports Illustrated.

We are nestled on the banks of the Ohio River between Evansville, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky. As a town of nearly 60,000 people, we boast outstanding sports complexes not matched by cities much larger than ours. We have two large championship baseball/softball complexes and a state-of-the-art, four-field football complex. We also have two huge ten-field soccer complexes, a 5000 seat indoor arena, a year-round ice arena, a year-round indoor sports facility, and numerous other indoor gymnasiums. Also just opened is the new gravity racing track that hosts the Owensboro Lions Club Soap Box Derby and other gravity races each year at Ben Hawes Park. Ben Hawes Park will also open their new Mountain Bike Trails in 2012 that offers single and double tracks for all skill levels of bikers, hikers and runners.

In seven short years we have hosted 25 national championships in baseball and softball. Owensboro also hosts numerous local and state tournaments as well as the aforementioned national events. Very few cities have the proven sports pedigree of Owensboro, Kentucky.

We invite you to come to Owensboro and see what SPORTS is all about in our town. We think you will find out the same thing Sports Illustrated did - that Owensboro is one of the best places in the USA to play or watch Sports!

Sports Facilities in Owensboro/Daviess County

The Owensboro Sportscenter, located at 1215 Hickman Avenue, is a multi-purpose 5,000 seat arena which went through a multi-million dollar renovation in 1997. The Sportscenter hosts concerts, sporting events, trade shows, conventions, meetings, and receptions. The Sportscenter is the home of the 8-time Division II national champion Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers basketball team. The actual floor size is 135 x 83. The height from floor to ceiling is 31 feet. The stage size (which is permanent) is 50 x 22, and can be expanded with portable staging. For specific technical information, please contact the Sportscenter. 270-687-8330

Edge Ice Center

The Edge Ice Center, located at 1400 Hickman Avenue is Owensboro's municipal ice arena. Open year-round, The Edge offers skating, skate rental, a full concession and pro shop, and is also home to the Owensboro Youth Hockey Association and the Owensboro Figure Skating Club. The Edge has over 42,000 square feet, with an ice surface of 17,000 square feet. 270-687-8720

Jack Fisher Park

The Owensboro Softball Complex is located in Jack C. Fisher Park at 3900 West 5th Street Road. This first-class complex provides four lighted softball fields, a field house with concessions, and announcer's area. It has been the host to many local, state, regional and national tournaments. It also provides fields for our local leagues and schools.

Panther Creek Park, 5160 Wayne Bridge Road, contains six baseball/softball diamonds which accommodate softball and baseball tournaments, Daviess County Church League and the Owensboro/Daviess County Babe Ruth league. All fields are lighted with scoreboards and there are also on-site batting cages available. There are two concession stands available for refreshments.

Yellow Creek Park

Yellow Creek Park, 5710 Highway 144, is acclaimed and recognized for hosting statewide and national softball and baseball tournaments, as well as locally accommodating Daviess County Men and Women Church League, and Owensboro/Daviess County Babe Ruth League. There are three fields at this complex ranging from a 200-foot youth softball diamond to a 350-foot baseball field.

Owensboro boasts two amazing ten-field soccer complexes.Thompson Berry Soccer Complex, located on Raven Drive off US 60 W., has been the home to numerous Soccer tournaments, but with the addition of the newly opened Horse Fork Soccer Complex at 3005 Fairview, Owensboro can host Soccer tournaments of almost any size.

Waymond Morris Park

Owensboro also has a state-of-the-art, four-field football complex. Waymond Morris Park, at 5200 Todd Bridge Road just south of Southtown Boulevard, allows Owensboro to host numerous large youth football events each year.

The Next Level at 105 Carlton Drive is an indoor sports/recreational facility located in the heart of Owensboro! This facility offers 32,000 square feet of indoor space that can be used for softball, baseball, football, soccer, inline hockey, volleyball, cheerleading, and so much more.
www.thenextlevelsportsfacility.com

Mountain Biking Trails at Ben Hawes Park offer over six miles of trails for hikers, runners, and mountain bikers. The single and double track trails were designed and built according to IMBA guidelines and can be enjoyed by all skill levels of bikers, hikers, and runners.

OWENSBORO DAVIESS CO. 2012 SPORTS SCHEDULE

DATE	TOURNAMENT	LOCATION
Feb 3-5	AFA National Qualifier Softball	The Next Level
Feb 10-12	2012 NSA Indoor Battle II	The Next Level
Feb12, 19, 26, March 4	Adult 18 & Older Indoor Flag Football	The Next Level
Feb 13-16	16" Mens World Series Qualifier	The Next Level
Feb 17-19	Boys & Girls Basketball Tournament	The Next Level
Feb 24-26	BPA Indoor Baseball Tournament	The Next Level
March 2-4	AFA National Qualifier Softball	The Next Level
March 9-11	2012 NSA Indoor Battle III	The Next Level
March 17-18	BPA Baseball World Series Qualifier	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
March 24-25	NSA Slow-Pitch Mens Qualifier	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
March 31-Apr 1	BPA World Series Qualifier	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
April 7	BPA WS Qualifier-Easter One Day	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
April 14-15	NSA Slow-Pitch Mens Qualifier	Panther Creek Park
April 14-15	NSA Fastpitch World Series Qualifier	Fisher Park
April 16-20	OV Surgical Specialists Tennis Invitational	Moreland Park
April 21	Benefit Fast Pitch Tournament	Panther Creek Park
April 21-23	Ice Skating Institute Figure Skating Competition	The Edge Ice Arena
April 27-28	Touchtone All-A State Softball Championships	Fisher Park
April 28-29	NSA Slow-Pitch Mens Qualifier	Panther Creek
April 28-29	Rumble on the River Youth Basketball	The Next Level and Apollo HS
May 4-5	Owensboro Catholic Softball Invitational	Fisher Park
May 5-6	USGF Fastpitch tournament	Panther Creek Park
May 5-6	Kick For A Cure Soccer tournament	Horse Fork and Thompson Berry Park
May 12	NSA Fastpitch World Series Qualifier	Fisher Park
May 12-13	American FP Association	Panther Creek Park
May 19	County Community Regional	Fisher Park
May 19-20	NSA Fastpitch World Series Qualifier	Panther Creek Park
May 26-28	Kentucky Cup Soccer	Horse Fork and Thompson Berry Parks
May 25-28	BPA “Memorial”	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
June 2	Friends of Sinners Slow Pitch	Panther Creek Park
June 7-10	KHSAA Fastpitch State Tournament	Fisher Park
June 8-10	Luke Woodward Tennis Tournament	Moreland Park
June 9-10	BPA World Series Qualifier	Panther Creek Park
June 9	Lakewood Valley Sprint Triathlon	Whitesville
June 16	USSSA Slow Pitch Mens	Panther Creek Park
June 16-17	NSA Fastpitch World Series Qualifier	Fisher Park
June 22-24	NSA Fastpitch World Series Qualifier	Panther Creek and/or Fisher Parks
June 30-July 1	NSA Fastpitch World Series Qualifier	Panther Creek and/or Fisher Parks
July 7	USSSA Slow Pitch	Yellow Creek Park
July 7-8	USFA Softball	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
July 13-15	BPA Baseball State Tournament	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
July 14-16	Owensboro Open Junior Tennis Championships	Moreland Park
July 20-22	NSA Fastpitch Tri-State Championships	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
July 20-27	39th Annual Dust Bowl	Kendall Perkins Park
July 25-29	BPA Baseball World Series	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
Aug 11-12	Summer Slam Down Volleyball Tournament	Apollo High School
Aug 11-12	USGF Fastpitch	Panther Creek and or Fisher Park
Aug 18-19	BPA Baseball	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
Aug 25	County Community qualifier	Panther Creek
Aug 25-26	USFA Fastpitch	Panther Creek
Sept 1-2	NSA Fastpitch	Fisher Park
Sept 8-9	USGF Fastpitch	Panther Creek
Sept 14-16	NSA Mens Class D World Series	Panther Creek and/or Fisher Parks
Sept 22	County Community qualifier	Panther Creek
Oct 5-7	NSA C Super World Series	Panther Creek and/or Fisher Parks
Oct 12-14	NSA Fastpitch World Series Qualifier-Charity	Panther Creek and/or Fisher Parks
Oct 12-13	Monsters On the Ohio Catfish Tournament	English Park and Ohio River
Oct 19-21	County Community Championships	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
Oct 27-28	BPA Halloween Tournament	Panther Creek & Fisher Parks
Nov 9-11	Owensboro Youth Football “King of the Hill”	Waymond Morris Park
Nov 23-25	Owensboro Youth Football “Kentucky Cup”	Waymond Morris Park
Dec 17-20	Apollo HS Boys Basketball Invitational	Apollo High School
Dec 26-29	Owensboro Catholic Girls Basketball Tournament	Owensboro Catholic High School

Additional events will be added when confirmed

Owensboro Hotels

Ramada Inn

3136 W. 2nd Street (US 60 W.) 270-685-3941 / 800-854-9517
140 rooms, 4 handicap rooms
Newly remodeled rooms
Microwaves, refrigerators, and hair dryers
Indoor swimming pool
Free Hot Breakfast
Free high speed wireless internet access
Earn Wyndham Rewards Points or miles for your stay
Free Showtime Movies, ESPN
24 hour fitness and business center
AARP/AAA discounts
Meeting space that seats up to 30
Largest franchise full service Hotel in town
All major credit cards accepted and Diners Club
Milligan's Lounge

Days Inn

3720 New Hartford Road 270-684-9621 / 800-225-3297
116 rooms, 2 handicap rooms
Recently renovated rooms
Outdoor swimming pool
Restaurant on site
Free high speed internet access throughout Hotel
Earn Wyndham Rewards Points or miles for your stay
Free Showtime Movies, ESPN
AARP/AAA discounts
All major credit cards accepted
Small pets allowed

Fairfield Inn

800 Salem Drive 270-688-8887 / 800-228-2800
100 rooms, 5 handicap rooms
Indoor swimming pool
Meeting space to seat up to 30 people theater style
All major credit cards accepted & Diners Club card

Courtyard by Marriott

3120 Heartland Pointe Drive 270-685-4140 Courtyard by Marriott / 888-236-2427
109 rooms
Restaurant and lounge
Starbucks Coffee 24/7
Meeting room available
Indoor pool and jacuzzi
Fitness Center

Motel 6

4585 Frederica Street 270-686-8606 / 800-466-8356
90 rooms, 4 handicap rooms
Outdoor swimming pool
All major credit cards accepted and Diners Club
Motel 6 Welcome Card
Pets allowed

Hampton Inn

615 Salem Drive270-926-2006 / 800-426-7866
86 rooms, 5 handicap rooms
Outdoor swimming pool
Meeting space to seat up to 25 theater style
All major credit cards accepted and Diners Club

Holiday Inn Express

3220 West Parrish Avenue 270-685-2433 / 800-465-4329
70 rooms, 4 handicap rooms
Outdoor swimming pool
Business center and fitness center
Express Start continental breakfast
Complimentary fresh-baked cookies and popcorn
Meeting space to seat up to 40 theatre style
All major credit cards accepted

Comfort Suites

230 Salem Drive 270-926-7675 / 800-424-6423
63 suites
3 two--room suites
4 hearing-impaired room
5 handicapped rooms
Heated indoor pool
Guest laundry
Refrigerators, microwaves, and hair dryers
Deluxe breakfast bar
Meeting space for up to 90 people

Sleep Inn

51 Bon Harbor Hills 270-691-6200 / 800-424-6423
64 rooms, 3 handicap rooms
Heater indoor pool & hot tub
Fitness center
Delicious hot breakfast
Flat-panel HDTV's
High-speed internet
Wall Street Journal
Meeting space available for up to 50 seated theater style and 40 classroom style
All major credit cards accepted