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The Missouri State University and Springfield, MO.              

– A Championship Location:                                                    

Springfield is ideally situated for national competition as it is near the geographic center of the lower 48 states.                 Springfield, which was named by Sports Illustrated as Missouri’s top sports town, is the state’s third-largest city.  With a    population within the city limits of 198,000 and a Metropolitan Statistical Area including over 398,000 the city has the         resources to host major events.  Springfield is a one-of-a-kind city for meetings, conventions and recreation.  Nearly 50      percent of the U.S. population lives within a 500-mile radius of Springfield.  Offering over 6,000 hotel rooms as well as       ample convention space, Springfield has consistently been ranked by the "Corporate Travel Index" as one of the least        expensive convention cities in the nation.  Easy access via major highways, interstates and the recently-expanded              Springfield National Airport allows Springfield to be a prime special event destination.  In one of the country's most scenic  regions, Springfield and the Ozarks offer fabulous entertainment, great attractions and wonderful shopping.                     

Springfield’s weather is mild for a Midwest city.  For the NCAA Championship weekend average highs are 54 degrees with a low of 33.  A chance for snow is extremely uncommon at that time of the year in southwest Missouri.

Getting to Springfield is easy.  The city is located in the southwest region of Missouri and is a short drive from cities such    as Kansas City, Mo., St. Louis, Mo, Tulsa, Okla. and Fayetteville, Ark.                                                                              

The Springfield National Airport (SGF) is one of the fastest growing air hubs in the nation.  With more than 50 daily departures the airport is serviced by Allegiant Air, American Connection, American Eagle, Delta Connection, Northwest Airlines, and United Express. SGF recently completed construction of a brand new terminal that has brought even greater air access to the area.  A new Branson Airport, serviced by AirTran and Sun Country Air, opened in May just 45 minutes away.

Known as the destination airport for nearby tourist mecca Branson and the Ozark Mountain Country, Springfield-Branson National Airport is the regional hub for one-stop flights to more than 400 destinations, including 18 foreign cities.  In 2005 a record number 900,000 passengers passed through SGF’s gates.  SGF’s list of non-stop cities continues to grow as SGF currently offers non-stop travel to 12 destinations including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas / Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Memphis, Minneapolis, Orland, Phoenix, St. Louis and Tampa.

AMERICAN
(AA) 1.800.433.7300
Flies to Chicago, , St. Louis, Dallas

 

ALLEGIANT
(G) 1.702.505.8888
Flies to Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa. Phoenix

DELTA
(DL) 1.800.221.1212
Flies to Atlanta

 

NORTHWEST
(NW) 1.800.225.2525
Flies to Detroit, Minneapolis, Memphis

UNITED
(UA) 1.800.864.8331
Flies to Chicago, Denver

 

Springfield is serviced by most major rental car companies including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.  The area also features service by multiple charter bus companies such as Branson Shuttle, Fisk Transportation, Grey Line, Show-Me Coaches and White Knight Bus Lines with buses seating 18 to 58 passengers available including entertainment and sleeper coaches.  In addition to the national companies Springfield’s Fisk Transportation provides an extensive fleet of rental vans in sizes of 7, 10, 12 and 15 passengers sure to keep the supply above visiting team’s demands.  Enterprise also features rental of 15 passenger vans.

Avis
417.865.6226
800.331.1212

Budget
417.831.2662
800.527.0700

Enterprise
417.862.0753
800.736.8227

Hertz
417.865.1681
800.654.3131

National/Alamo
417.865.5311
800.227.7368

Thrifty
417.866.8777
800.367.2277

 

 

 

Fisk Transportation

(15 passenger vans, mini-buses, etc.)
417.862-2900

 

White Knight Transportation

(Charter Bus, Entertainment Bus, etc.)
573.814.5466

800.508.6546

Cavallo Bus Lines

(Charter Bus, etc.)
417.869.4190
877.869.4190

For those traveling by ground Springfield can be accessed by several four lane highways and interstates including Interstate-44, and Missouri Highway’s 13, 60, and 65 which provide easy access from any direction.  

Below are distances from various major cities and Midwest university cities and towns:

Branson, MO - 35 mi.

Joplin, MO - 80 mi.

Fayetteville, AR - 145 mi.

Kansas City, MO - 174 mi.

Tulsa, OK - 185 mi.

Columbia, MO - 206 mi.

St. Louis, MO - 220 mi.

Jonesboro, AR - 223 mi.

Topeka, KS - 230 mi.

Little Rock, AR - 234 mi.

Lawrence, KS - 236 mi.

Wichita, KS - 248 mi.

 

Cape Girardeau, MO - 276 mi.

Memphis, TN - 285 mi.

Manhattan, KS - 287 mi.

Oklahoma City, OK - 290 mi.

Norman, OK - 301 mi.

Macon, IL - 329 mi.

Carbondale, IL - 330 mi

Des Moines, IA - 348 mi.

Charleston, IL - 356 mi.

Lincoln, NE - 365 mi.

Omaha, NE - 385 mi.

Normal, IL - 386 mi.

 

Peoria, IL - 386 mi.

Terre Haute, IN - 386 mi.

Evansville, IN - 389 mi.

Ames, IA - 391 mi.

Champaign, IL - 399 mi.

Dallas, TX - 430 mi.

Indianapolis, IN - 458 mi.

Iowa City, IA - 459 mi.

Nashville, TN - 480 mi.

Cedar Falls, IA - 482 mi.

Chicago, IL - 512 mi.

Minneapolis, MN - 602 mi.

New Orleans, LA - 694 mi.

Once you arrive in Springfield your stay will be comfortable.  Springfield, Mo has over 6,000 hotel rooms, with accommodations as close as one mile from the competition facility.  Not that Springfield’s hotel offerings should ever come up short several surrounding cities, including Branson, Mo. and Marshfield, Mo, can provide significant additional lodging.  The number of hotel offerings in the Springfield area should allow teams and spectators to always find an affordable hotel rate regardless of demand.

A trio of hotels will serve as headquarters for the 2009 Midwest Regional hosted by Missouri State including the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, the Ramada Oasis Hotel and Convention Center and the Doubletree Hotel.  All are providing special rates for teams and spectators.

 

University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center

Special NCAA Cross Country Rate: $89

(www.UPSpringfield.com)

333 S John Q. Hammons Parkway

Springfield, Missouri 65806

Phone: (417) 864-7333

Sales Contact:  Leigh Ann Garren

Distance to Course:  4.2 Miles

 

 

Doubletree Hotel

Special NCAA Cross Country Rate: $79

(www.DoubleTree.com)

2431 N. Glenstone Ave.

Springfield, MO 65803

Phone:  (417) 831-3131

Sales Contact:  Deborah Yocum

Distance to Course:  3.0 Miles

 

 

 

Oasis Hotel and Convention Center

Special NCAA Cross Country Rate: $76

(www.SpringfieldOasis.com)

2550 North Glenstone Ave.
Springfield, Missouri 65803

Phone: (888) 532-4338
Sales Contact:  Debbie Julich

Distance to Course:  3.2 Miles

 

In addition to hotel accommodations the University Plaza, located by the MSU campus and just five miles west of the Missouri State cross country facility via the four-lane Chestnut Expressway features 43,000 square feet of meeting space.  Another 112,000 square feet of meeting space is available directly across the street at the recently constructed Springfield Expo Center where banquets and meetings can be held.  Ample parking is available in this area at adjacent parking lots used for the Springfield Expo Center and Springfield’s “AA” Baseball Stadium.

From pre-race meals to post race celebrations restaurants and catering services of all kinds are in high supply in the Springfield area.  Most runners favorites are in town including Olive Garden, Zio’s, Macaroni Grill, Pasta House as well as many local favorites.  Runners will enjoy Springfield’s ban on smoking in its local restaurants.

A selection of restaurants of the category frequented by cross country teams: (Area code is 417)

Restaurant

Region

Address

Phone

Category

Azenzare

East

1908 S Glenstone Ave

567-3463

Italian

Bambino’s

Campus

1141 E Delmar St

862-9999

Italian

Brunos

Downtown

416 South Ave

866-0007

Italian

D’Arpino’s

South

3014 S National Ave

889-9898

Italian

D’Giacinto

Southwest

2259 S. Campbell Ave

882-5156

Italian

Fazolli’s

North

2137 N. Glenstone

832-8711

Italian

Fazolli’s

South

2055 E. Independence

882-0073

Italian

Gilardi’s

Campus

820 E Walnut St

862-6400

Italian

J. Parrino’s

South

1550 E. Battlefield

882-1808

Italian

Macaroni Grill

South

1286 E. Battlefield

881-7804

Italian

Mr. Goodcents

East

521 S. Glenstone Ave

863-2900

Italian & Subs

Mr. Goodcents

North

203 E. Kearney Ave

863-7722

Italian & Subs

Mr. Goodcents

South

3342 S National Ave

886-8200

Italian & Subs

Nona Italian Café

Downtown

306 South Ave

831-1222

Italian

Olive Garden

South

3105 Glenstone Ave

886-3168

Italian

Ott’s Pasta

Campus

1437 E. Cherry St

863-8843

Italian – Catering

Pasta Express

South

3250 E. Battlefield

890-1345

Italian

Pasta Express

South

3025 W. Republic Rd

888-3048

Italian

Pasta House

South

4109 S National

883-5678

Italian

Pasta Pronto

Campus

1933 S. National Ave

887-7272

Italian

Zio’s Italian Kitchen

South

1249 E Kingsley St

889-1919

Italian

Applebees

North

2430 N. Glenstone Ave

863-2200

American

Applebees

South

1855 E. Primrose Ave

883-4700

American

Cheddar’s

South

1950 E. Primrose Ave

889-8998

American

Chili’s

South

3020 S Glenstone  Ave

886.3630

American

TGI Friday’s

South

3242 S. Stewart Ave

883-2600

American

Lambert’s Café

Ozark

1800 W State Hwy J

581-7655

American

Golden Corral

North

2734 N. Kansas Expy

862-6800

Buffet

Ryan’s

North

1950 E. Kearney

862-6133

Buffet

Jimmy John’s

Downtown

322 E Walnut St

832-0500

Sub Shop

Jimmy John’s

North

2645 N. Kansas Expwy

863-011

Sub Shop

McAlister’s Deli

North

2445 N. Kansas Expy

866-2331

Sandwiches

Panera Bread Co

Campus

500 S National Ave

862.9898

Sandwiches

Panera Bread Co

North

2535 N. Kansas Expy

520-1313

Sandwiches

Panera Bread Co

East

2924 E. Sunshine Ave

880-0440

Sandwiches

Planet Sub

Campus

533 S Kimbrough Ave

862-4782

Sub Shop

Subway

Campus

605 E Harrison  St

863-7827

Sub Shop

Subway

Northeast

1923 E. Kearney St

862-6000

Sub Shop

Subway

North

2721 N. Kansas Expy

869-7827

Sub Shop

Quizno’s

Northwest

3459 W. Kearney St

862-9777

Sub Shop

Quizno’s

Downtown

431 S. Jefferson Ave

866-9991

Sub Shop

The above list is just a small sample of the restaurants in Springfield. Contact the Springfield Visitors and Convention Bureau for more (800) 678-8767.

While you are visiting Springfield there are a wide variety of attractions and entertainment options including downtown night life, movie theaters, live shows, shopping and more.  For night life each of the team hotels has a restaurant and bar or head downtown to South Avenue for bars, live music, coffee shops and art galleries.

 Some team friendly entertainment options include:

Bass Pro Shops (World’s Largest)

1935 S. Campbell Ave

(417) 887-7334

Battlefield Mall

2825 S. Glenstone Ave.

(417) 883-7777

Springfield Art Museum

1111 E Brookside Dr

417-837-5700

Campbell 16 Movies

4005 South Ave.

(417) 326-3264

Springfield 8 Movies

3200 E. Monclair St.

(417) 882-7479

Hollywood Theater Movies

415 W. College St.

(417) 799-3456

 

Contacts for general shopping and special needs: 

Walgreens (North)

1140 E. Kearney St.

(417) 869-5112

Walgreens (Campus)

1155 E. St. Louis St.

(417) 862-5302

Taylor Health Center (Campus)

901 S. National Ave. by Bookstore

(417) 836-4000

Price Cutter

1901 E. Division St.

(417) 866-5502

Dillon’s

1960 E. St. Louis St.

(417) 895-3120

Wal-Mart (North)

1923 E. Kearney St.

(417) 865-1250

Wal-Mart (South)

2021 E. Independence St.

(417) 886-8209

 

City Cab

(417) 865-7700

Yellow Cab

(417) 862-5511

Ridge Runner Sports (South)

3057 S. Fremont Ave.

(417) 882-5590

 

Ridge Runner Sports (Downtown)

431 S. Jefferson Ave.

(417) 862-5590

The Starting Block (South)

1254 E. Republic Rd.

(417) 890-7200