Cultivating excellent recreational opportunities has long been a goal for the City of Florence’s comprehensive plan, and this focus has come to include sports tourism as well, allowing the community to invest in itself as a vibrant economic hub.  

Florence’s expanding slate of sports facilities, drawing people from across the region and even the nation, now includes the 30-court Dr. Eddie Floyd Tennis Center, the 14-field Florence Soccer Complex, and the multipurpose Freedom Florence Recreation Complex. The newest facility, the Florence Sports Complex, is home to Carolina Bank Field, where the Coastal Plan League baseball team, the Florence Flamingos, play, as well as five Little League fields, a high-school baseball field and a collegiate-level track.  

The city used installment and hospitality revenue bonds to fund the approximately $35.6 million construction costs of its newest facilities. Land donations came from the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation and philanthropist Dr. Edward Floyd. The facilities, spread among the city’s neighborhoods and commercial districts, have easy interstate highway access and trail system connections.  

In 2022, Florence saw a $12.2 million economic impact of sports tourism, compared to $8.2 million in 2018. More recently, the 2023 Florence Cup alone brought more than 11,000 unique visitors to the Florence Soccer Complex. Hospitality revenues generated by sports tourism exceeded the projected $5.8 million in the 2023 fiscal year.  

Planning for future expansions at every step, the city now aims to solidify its status as a premier sports destination with a four-field multipurpose complex, and an expansion of the three-court Pearl Moore Basketball Center with an arena-style facility.  

Contact Amanda Pope at apope@cityofflorence.com or 843.495.2284.