Santa Rosa Attracts World-Class Athletes & Spectators from Across the Globe Area; Thrives As Sporting Event Destination

Press Release

Visit Santa Rosa reports a booming year for sporting events. Sonoma County is getting noticed as a much desired location and host for destination events drawing athletes and viewers from around the world.

Santa Rosa, CA - This has been a big year for events in Santa Rosa, located in sparkling Wine Country, just 55 miles north of San Francisco, Trip Advisor has awarded the area #1 wine region in the United States and number two globally. There has been an explosion of sporting events including; the Amgen Tour of California, making history as the first Northern California city to host the grand finale, watched around the globe on NBC Sports. From professional marathons, cycling, hockey or soccer tournaments the city has become popular. Andrew Messick, President of AEG, one of the leading sports presenters in the world said, “Santa Rosa is beautiful, the roads are good, people there appreciate riding, it has everything you want. Santa Rosa is a pretty special place and we are happy to be back for a fifth time.” See more information and a full list of sporting events here or call (707) 545-1414.

The 2013 Santa Rosa Marathon attracted over 3600 participants qualifying over 250 people for The Boston Marathon ranking 5th nationally as a qualifier. They welcomed the Vineman Triathlon and 70.3, a sanctioned event by Ironman and also became the first Northern California location to welcome the Iron Girl Half Marathon. “Santa Rosa provides the Iron Girl Series with a gorgeous new event destination,” said Judy Molnar, Vice President of Iron Girl. “Santa Rosa is a dynamic venue that offers great support for the outdoor enthusiast and an outstanding backdrop for our race.”

Situated right in the middle of Sonoma County event organizers are enthusiastic about offering guests adventures in; award-winning restaurants, wine tasting, beautiful countryside to bicycle or drive through, family-friendly attractions and a range of places to stay for a week or weekend.

The “Snoopy” ice arena built by Charles Schulz draws teams from across America and all corners of the globe to participate in premier hockey tournaments. Soccer events are nationally ranked and United Soccer hosts their Nike Premier Harvest Wine Cup annually. Sonoma State University is a great partner offering a variety of sporting facilities and producing outstanding collegiate athletes.

Lodging and dining options for groups include full-service accommodations with spa amenities to family-oriented, budget-minded comfort stays. Northern California Wine Country cuisine is one of Santa Rosa’s biggest attractions, earning; Sperling’s “best place to live if you’re a foodie” designation.

In-between events visitors partake in family-friendly adventures, hiking and biking in 57 parks, outdoor adventures at Safari West, visiting the Pacific Coast, Russian River and the redwoods. Museums include the Charles M. Schulz Museum, Sonoma County Museum, Pacific Coast Air Museum, and Luther Burbank Home & Gardens. Located right near town is The Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport offering Alaska Airlines connections with easy boarding and affordable parking.

About Visit Santa Rosa

Dedicated to an ever growing sports market Visit Santa Rosa works with fantastic directors, event organizers, commissioners and athletic directors in order to create incredible experiences here in Sonoma Wine Country. They provide assistance to visitors and groups seeking information about Santa Rosa. The bureau operates an Official State of California Welcome Center. For more information, please go to http://www.visitsantarosa.com or call (707) 577-8674.