Since opening in November of 2019, the Community First Champion Center has proven to be as successful as the Town of Grand Chute and Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau could have hoped. Funded by hotel room taxes from surrounding municipalities, the main goal of the facility is to host youth sporting tournaments and events that attract sport tourism to fill area hotels and bring in outside dollars to benefit local Fox Cities businesses.
In 2024, the Community First Champion Center hosted over 4,300 teams, over 45,000 players, and over 78,000 spectators for events. These events included mainly basketball, volleyball, and hockey tournaments, showcases, and leagues. With an average of 3,000 visitors per week, the facility has quickly become a staple of the Town of Grand Chute. “Many people do not realize this place is actually in Grand Chute,” said Adam Ligocki, GM. The facility brings opportunity and positivity to sports families in Grand Chute and many more from far and wide.
Club volleyball season is in full swing at the Community First Champion Center, as the Wisconsin Blaze host their Blaze Battle on Saturday and Sunday, February 1st and 2nd. Prep Dig Wisconsin will also be hosting the Champions Cup tournament on March 1st and 2nd. Overall, there will be 160+ volleyball teams competing in the facility over these two weekends.
Having two ice rinks, the Community First Champion Center will also continue hosting hockey tournaments and local games. The Appleton Area Hockey Association’s Squirt Classic (February 7-9) and the Monsters on Ice (February 15-16 & 22-23) are two such events that will allow over 50 teams to play on two NHL sized ice rinks during the month of February. In addition, the Champion Center hosts both the Neenah/Hortonville/Menasha high school boys’ team and the Lawrence University girls’ team. The facility will be the site of 2 Lawrence Vikings home games in February, as well as the Neenah Rockets’ last home game before regionals on Thursday, February 13th. Hockey season is in full throttle in Grand Chute!
Of course, grade school basketball is another consistent presence at the Community First Champion Center. In fact, the Champion Center is hosting its own Wisconsin State Basketball Tournament for 4th – 8th grade “B” level teams on February 22nd & 23rd that will include over 75 teams! Podium teams will go home with trophies/medals and banners for their accomplishment.
As the new year begins, the Community First Champion Center extends a token of gratitude to all local businesses and people who support the mission of the facility. A promising 2025 awaits, and the residents of Grand Chute should be excited to see what the new year has in store at their local, state-of-the-art, youth sports facility.
Whether it be access to the Pickleball courts, the Golf Simulator or open Skate opportunities: The Champion Center is open for everyone.
Matthew Edwards
Sports Events Coordinator/Champion Center
