Going for Gold: Jackson, TN, Embraces All Sorts of Sports

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From baseball and softball to running and soccer, Jackson has been a hub of West Tennessee sports activity for decades. Now, the city’s reputation for successfully holding such events has resulted in Jackson being named as the host site for the inaugural State Games of Tennessee, which will be held in June 2025. 

Jackson: The Host City for the Inaugural State Games of Tennessee

Tennessee joins a national network of 27 other states that already hold their own annual Games, a multisport event modeled after the Olympics. Jackson’s impressive sports resume helped in the application process for the National Congress of State Games to vote for Jackson as a host city for the Tennessee Games. The event will take place over the first two weekends of June 2025. 

“This shows that we have both the infrastructure and the rich sports tradition needed to hold such a huge event,” says Lindsay Dawkins, a State Games of Tennessee spokesperson with the Greater Jackson Chamber. “It’s an exciting opportunity for us to have thousands of athletes from all across the state come to Jackson.” 

Dawkins says the State Games in other states have drawn up to 12,000 athletes and can create an economic impact of more than $10 million for the host city. 

©Journal Communications/Karen Pulfer Focht

A Rich Sports Tradition: The Andrew Jackson Marathon

Of course, receiving an influx of athletes for an event is nothing new for the city. Long-distance runners have been making the trek to Jackson since 1972 to compete in the Andrew Jackson Marathon. As the oldest marathon in Tennessee, the AJM serves as a certified qualifying race for the Boston Marathon and regularly attracts runners from more than a dozen states. 

“It’s an event that really showcases the city of Jackson,” says former AJM director Danny Crossett, who owns the Fleet Feet Jackson running store. “It’s good for the local economy, and I think having it here promotes a healthier lifestyle. It seems like every year I see more and more people out running and walking around Jackson.” 

Strategic Location: A Draw for Regional Athletes

Part of the appeal of Jackson as a sports destination is its location. The city spreads across both sides of Interstate 40 between Memphis and Nashville, with U.S. Route 45 also running through town. In addition to being a convenient destination for people from smaller communities throughout West Tennessee, Jackson is an easy drive for teams and athletes from the surrounding states of Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. 

Nathan Lambrecht

West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex: A Premier Facility

This central location has enabled the city’s West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex to thrive since opening nearly 20 years ago. The 17-field baseball/softball complex hosted more than 1,500 traveling teams for tournaments in 2023 and is expected to top 1,700 teams this year, says Jason Compton, Sportsplex director of operations. 

“We’re in a perfect location to draw people from all over the region,” Compton says. “We usually have between 60 to 100 teams pretty much every weekend from early March until the end of October, with a short break in the middle of the summer. There are teams throughout the region that need a place to play, and we’re providing that place. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. I think it can get much bigger than what we currently have. That’s a testament to what this area has done in terms of providing great facilities.” 

Karen Pulfer Focht

Beyond Baseball: Equestrian Events and Pickleball Tournaments

Those facilities go beyond baseball. The Madison County Equestrian Center located at Fred Young Park holds monthly horse shows from April through September, along with rodeo events and a walking horse show in late July. In addition, the city recently created 18 pickleball courts at Conger Park, resulting in the formation of the Hub City Showdown Pickleball Tournament with more than 200 players and a $7,000 purse. 

Oakfield Saddle Club/Madison County Parks/Carlyon Photography

Investing in the Future of Sports in Jackson

The work at Conger Park was part of a $4.3 million investment in 12 parks throughout the city. And with the State Games coming to town next year, Dawkins says more enhancements are on the way. 

“Holding the State Games in Jackson is helping us make park upgrades, which will benefit our local community all year round,” Dawkins says.