Polk County is currently in the middle of its busiest sports tourism month, with hundreds of collegiate and youth teams descending on Central Florida for the RussMatt Baseball Invitational and THE Spring Games.
These events are major economic drivers for the Lakeland and Winter Haven areas, contributing significantly to the $200+ million annual economic impact generated by local sports tourism.
RussMatt Baseball Invitational
Now in its 18th year in Polk County, RussMatt is the largest collegiate baseball event in the country.
- Dates: February 20 – April 13, 2026.
- Scale: Over 250 colleges across all divisions (NCAA D-I, II, III, NAIA, and JUCO) participate.
- Primary Locations: * Lake Myrtle Sports Park (Auburndale)
- Chain of Lakes Park (Winter Haven)
- Northeast Regional Park (Davenport)
The Spring Games
Known as the world’s largest college softball event, THE Spring Games brings elite fastpitch competition to the county’s softball complexes.
- Dates: February 13 – March 28, 2026.
- Scale: More than 400 teams travel to Florida for this tournament.
- Primary Locations:
- DiamondPlex Softball Complex (Winter Haven)
- Auburndale Softball Complex
- Miss Bartow Softball Complex (Bartow)
## Local Impact
The sheer volume of athletes, coaches, and families has a massive footprint on the local economy:
- Accommodations: Hotels in Lakeland and Winter Haven typically reach peak occupancy during this window, supported by newer developments like the Margaritaville RV Resort in Auburndale.
- Dining: Local events like Polk County Taco Week and various business incubators benefit from the increased foot traffic and visitor spending.
- Jobs: Sports tourism and the broader leisure industry support over 41,000 jobs in the county.
Regular season RussMatt games are $12 for adults and free for kids. A day pass for THE Spring Games is $20, $15 for seniors and the military. Children 5-12 are $10.
Find more information and schedules for RussMatt at russmatt.com/tournament-info/2026-schedule/.
Schedules and more information for THE Spring Games is available at www.thespringgames.com.