Sport Tourism in Lennox & Addington

Sports tourism plays a key role in Lennox and Addington County's economy. We have world-class facilities, a dedicated volunteer-base experienced in managing large-scale sporting events, a supportive business community, and residents that enthusiastically support the events coming to our communities.

Only a short two hour drive from Toronto and Ottawa, and only three hours from Montreal, Lennox & Addington offers big-city amenities and friendly hospitality that is associated with smaller communities. We have immediate freeway access via Highway 401 and three major international airports are within a three hour drive. The Norman Rogers Airport in nearby Kingston conveniently offers regional flights from Toronto and Montreal.

Facilities

Lennox & Addington County is home to many indoor and outdoor recreation complexes that have the ability to satisfy the requirements of many sports.

L&A's premier indoor facility is the Strathcona Paper Centre (SPC), which has effectively put L&A on the map in the sport tourism industry. Since opening in 2004, the 93,000 square foot facility has hosted dozens of large regional minor hockey, figure skating and broomball tournaments. The SPC, featuring two NHL regulation sized ice pads, has twice been converted into a 5-sheet curling rink. The main rink has a seating capacity of 1,287 spectators.

The Strathcona Paper Centre houses a sporting goods store, a fitness centre and a physiotherapist office. Various lounges, meeting rooms and office areas are available for use, and a full-service banquet hall is onsite that is capable of seating 250 people. Adjacent to the facility is the Hampton Inn by Hilton Napanee, a 58-room hotel that regularly hosts teams from around the world that are competing in area. Additional lodging options are close by.

Other key sports facilities in Lennox & Addington include the Napanee Fairgrounds (softball), the Napanee & District Curling Club, the WJ Henderson Recreation Centre (hockey, figure skating, swimming), Loyalist Country Club (golf), and Dream Lake (water skiing). Several elementary and high schools also have large gymnasiums that serve as ideal volleyball and basketball venues. 

Successes

Lennox & Addingon has a proven track record of hosting large-scale sporting events. In addition to countless regional and provincial tournaments, our communities have hosted six Softball Canada championships, and have worked with Hockey Canada, the Canadian Curling Association, and PGA Tour Canada on multiple occasions. Each championship has been well-organized and has had tremendous community support. 

Residents and visitors to Lennox & Addington have had the benefit of watching some of the finest athletes from across Canada and around the world. Local sport facilities have hosted the following provincial/national championships and international competitions in the past decade:

• 2008 National Women's Under-18 Hockey Championship - Strathcona Paper Centre
• 2010 Ontario Men’s Curling Championship - Strathcona Paper Centre
• 2011 U23 Men's Canadian Fast Pitch Championship - Napanee Fairgrounds
• 2012 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championship - Strathcona Paper Centre/Napanee & District Curling Club
• 2013 IIHF World Women's Hockey Championship - Team Russia Training Camp - Strathcona Paper Centre
• 2014 PGA Tour Canada (Great Waterway Classic) - Loyalist Country Club
• 2014 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship - Czech Republic & Finland Training Camps - Strathcona Paper Centre
• 2015 PGA Tour Canada (Great Waterway Classic) - Loyalist Country Club
• 2015 U21 Men's Canadian Fast Pitch Championship - Napanee Fairgrounds
• 2016 Canadian Barefoot Water Ski Championship - Dream Lake
• 2017 U Sports Women's Hockey Championship - Strathcona Paper Centre
• 2017 Rendez-vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta - Port of Bath
• 2018 World Barefoot Water Ski Championship - Dream Lake

Will you be next on the list? Lennox & Addington County welcomes the opportunity to host your next sporting event.

Contact us for more information