Overland Park becomes ‘Home of the Heart’

Overland Park, Kansas, will now be the “Home of the Heart.”

In a three-year partnership announced by Visit Overland Park, the city’s official destination marketing organization, the city will host at least one postseason championship and one marquee conference event for the NAIA’s Heart of America Athletic Conference, commonly known as “the Heart,” through 2028.

“The Heart is proud to call Overland Park home,” said Nik Rule, commissioner of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. “Overland Park sits within a vital part of our footprint and offers the vibrancy, infrastructure, and forward-thinking community that allow us to elevate small-college athletics. Beyond competition, it’s a destination where our families and membership can gather, stay, and experience a region that has long been central to The Heart’s identity.”

The first major event under this arrangement will be the Esports – Rocket League Championship, to take place March 21 at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk.

Visit Overland Park will be the official tourism partner for several Heart of America Athletic Conference championships and the presenting sponsor of the weekly “Inside the Heart” television show. The DMO will receive commercial placements during national broadcasts on the Heart Conference Network.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Heart of America Athletic Conference,” said Eric Olson, vice president of sports and events at Visit Overland Park. “Identifying key partnerships and events that drive economic impact and strengthen community engagement is paramount to our work every day. Just as importantly, this collaboration introduces student-athletes and their families to the professional and lifestyle opportunities available here after graduation. We’re positioning Overland Park as a destination where people can thrive on and off the field.”