Rochester Sports Banquet
- Rochester Event Center
Event Details
For eighteen years Rochester Sports has hosted the Rochester Sports Banquet and each year it continues to be a highlight around the community. The Banquet recognizes area athletes, coaches and teams on their hard work, dedication and commitment to amateur sports. Each year a guest speaker shares a message with the attendees, that promotes the ideas that amateur athletics is all about.
While the evening is all about the athletes and sharing the special night with families and friends, there is also a Silent Auction that takes place throughout the evening. The Sports Banquet designates an organization to donate the proceeds of the auction to and the support of items whether it be sports memorabilia, gift cards, tickets to events, etc have grown each and every year.
If you have questions about the Sports Banquet or are interested in attending please call our office at 507.280.4701, we would be happy to answer any questions. We look forward to seeing you all at the 18th Annual Sports Banquet in January of 2024!
Guest Speaker
We are honored to have former NBA Legend Spud Webb as our guest speaker for the 18th Annual Rochester Sports Banquet. Webb is an American retired basketball player, best known for winning a slam dunk contest despite being one of the shortest basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Spud was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He became interested in playing basketball when he was a kid. Although he faced a lot of difficulties due to his short height, he used that to his advantage. His short stature gave him the benefit of being quick. He was also a high jumper, which somehow helped him start his basketball career while he attended Wilmer-Hutchins High School. He proved that he was destined for much bigger things when he scored an average of 26 points per game for the varsity team. Midland College showed little interest in him initially, but his continuous good performances got him drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1985 NBA Draft. During his 12 year NBA career, he averaged 9.9 points per game. He also won the NBA Slam Dunk contest in Dallas in 1986, making national headlines due to the unexpectedly amazing feat.

Atlanta Hawks - Spud Webb
Finalists
Amateur Team of the Year
RCTC Women’s Basketball
St.Charles/Lewiston-Altura Girls Soccer
Mayo Girls Tennis
PI/ZM Boys Soccer
Stewartville Football
Coach of the Year
Matt Kolling - Kingsland Football
Jeff Demaray - Mayo Girls Tennis
Jason Bonde - RCTC Basketball
Garrett Mueller - Stewartville Football
Ben Halder - Byron Football
Male Athlete of the Year
Isaac Matti - Hayfield Football & Basketball
Carter Holcomb – Mayo Football & Track
Christopher Tree - PI/ZM Soccer, Track & Basketball
Ayden Helder - Stewartville Football
Jayce Kiehne - Fillmore Central Football
Female Athlete of the Year
Haylie Strum - Stewartville Basketball & Track
Claire Loftus - Mayo Tennis
Makadyn Gust - St.Charles Bball, Soccer, Softball
Elise Jensen - Volleyball & Track
Paige Halder - Byron Basketball, Soccer, Track
Adaptive Athlete/Team of the Year
Joseph Hansen - Rochester Raiders
Tyler Gunnarson - Track & Field
Rochester Raiders Softball
Rochester Raiders Soccer
Event Information
Schedule of Events
- 5:30- Reception & Silent Auction
- 6:30- Dinner
- 7:30- Program
- VIP Social Following the Program
Sports Benefit Auction Information: This year’s silent auction will see 100% of the proceeds go to the Rochester Sports Foundation Community Grant Program
Ticket Information - Limited to 550 tickets
- Individual Tickets: $50.00
- Student Tickets: $30.00
- VIP Meet and Greet: $10.00
- Business Table: $500.00
- VIP Business Table: $650.00
- To purchase tickets CLICK HERE!
- Tickets will NOT be sold at the door
Sponsor Information
The Rochester Sports Banquet is a great opportunity to get your businesses' name out in front of a large group of local athletes, parents, and fans. We are in the process of securing the 2023 Category Sponsors. Contact Linsy with Rochester Sports for more details at: lfunk@rochestermnsports.or or see the Resource Tab for "Table Sales & Category Sponsor Information"
Full List of Event Sponsors below
2023 Rochester Sports Banquet Sponsors:
- ONB Bank
- ABC 6 News-KAAL TV
- KFAN AM 1270- Rochester’s Sports Talk
- Rochester Event Center
- Rochester Swim Club -Adaptive Athlete/Team of the Year
- SPONSOR AVAILABLE-Coach of the Year
- Corporate Car and Coach -Female Athlete of the Year
- SPONSOR AVAILABLE-Male Athlete of the Year
- Larson Siding and Windows -Lifetime Achievement Award
- SPONSOR AVAILABLE-Post Secondary Female Athlete of the Year
- Rochester Plumbing and Heating -Post Secondary Male Athlete of the Year
- SPONSOR AVAILABLE-Team of the Year
Resources
- Past Winners
- Table Sales and Category Sponsor Information
- 2023 Finalists
- Nominating Form
- Nominating Process and Committee
Title Sponsor
Category Sponsors





Media Sponsors


Contacts
Location
All-Star Restaurants
- Featured restaurant

Beetle's Bar And Grill
Beetle's Bar and Grill230 20th Avenue SouthwestRochester, MN 55902Beetle's Bar and Grill, conveniently located 2 blocks west of St. Mary's Hospital on 2nd Street. We feature a full lunch and dinner menu with everything from burgers to broasted chicken and wraps to ribeyes. Enjoy outdoor dining while the weather is warm on our patio.
- Featured restaurant

Bowlocity
2810 North Broadway AvenueRochester, MN 55906Grab a bite to eat in our Sports Bar! We offer a menu featuring delicious pizzas, burgers, appetizers and more! We have great lunch specials as well!
- Featured restaurant

Charlie's Eatery & Pub
1654 US-52Rochester, MN 55901Charlie's Eatery & Pub is locally owned and is located in the Hillcrest Shopping Center next to the Indoor Golf Center. Enjoy a meal in our restaurant with live Bluegrass music on Wednesdays or visit our pub for food, drinks, entertainment, music and games.
- Featured restaurant

Chick-Fil-A
1201 Broadway Avenue SouthRochester, MN 55904We’re proud to be your nearest Chick-fil-A®, serving freshly prepared food crafted with quality ingredients every day of the week (except Sunday, of course). Our restaurant offers everything from Chick-fil-A menu classics, like the original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Nuggets and Chick-fil-A Waffle Potato Fries®, to breakfast, salads, treats, Kid’s Meals and more. Feeding a group? Our Chick-fil-A location also offers a variety of catering options, perfect for your next get-together. On this page, you can check out our operating hours as well as the dining options that are currently available at our restaurant.
If you’re looking for great food nearby, it’s our pleasure to serve you. - Featured restaurant

Newt's
1201 Broadway Avenue SouthRochester, MN 55904There are now 4 Newt’s locations. Downtown, North, South, and Express (a faster version of the sit-down restaurants located in the Mayo clinic subway). Each restaurant serves up over 2 tons of fresh ground beef a month. Cooks are continuously busy patty-ing the burgers to half a pound, and then seasoning and cooking them to your temperature specifications. In addition to fresh meat, Newt’s also receives freshly baked Kaiser buns daily, these are buttered and grilled and are the perfect complement to our delicious burgers.
- Featured restaurant

Purple Goat
3708 North Broadway AvenueRochester, MN 55906The Purple Goat, located in the old Shopko North building in northwest Rochester, MN, the restaurant will seat 166 indoors, 24 at the bar, and 60+ on the extensive patio. Try our sandwiches, salads, and other familiar items – but with a creative twist.
- Featured restaurant

The Redwood Room
300 1st Avenue NorthwestRochester, MN 55901The Redwood Room is a cozy restaurant serving new American cuisine with global influences. It offers an innovative twist on classic cocktails featuring premium spirits and house-made syrups.
- Featured restaurant

Red Cow
Red Cow217 14th Ave. SW, Suite #100Rochester, MN 55902507-361-7910Family owned and locally operated since 2013, Red Cow provides a sophisticated twist on the classic neighborhood tavern. We celebrate finely crafted eats and drinks with a focus on gourmet burgers, craft beers and fine wine. #Followtheherd to Red Cow!
- Featured restaurant

Nautical Bowls
230 20th Avenue SouthwestRochester, MN 55902WE KNOW IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND A QUICK MEAL WITHOUT COMPROMISING YOUR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. AT NAUTICAL BOWLS, WE COMBINE HEALTHY, FRESH SUPERFOOD BOWLS WITH AN UPLIFTING ATMOSPHERE, GIVING YOU ENERGY TO LIVE A FULL LIFE.
- Featured restaurant

Red Savoy
Red Savoy2550 Broadway Avenue SouthRochester, MN 55904To be Determined.Don't miss out on a pizza experience that's as unique as you are! Join us for a taste of tradition, a slice of community, and a whole lot of flavor. Red Savoy's Pizza - Where Every Slice Tells a Delicious Story! - Featured restaurant

Twigs
401 6th Street SouthwestRochester, MN 55902Located within the Centerstone Plaza Hotel, Twigs offers a unique dining experience. Features a separate dedicated gluten-free kitchen and innovative dishes using only the freshest ingredients available. Order small plates for easy sharing with a group, or gather around a Hot Rock, a 650° rock that is brought to your table where you can cook and season your entree to your liking.
- Featured restaurant

Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill
Wildwood1517 16th Street SouthwestRochester, MN 55902507.226.8380Our mission is to provide excellent eats and drinks in a casual, fun environment, and there’s no place we’d rather do it than right here in southeast Minnesota. - Featured restaurant

Tavern 22 Neighborhood Grill
Tavern 223401 Northern Valley Place NortheastRochester, MN 55906507.258.4445Dine-in. Outdoor seating. In-store pickup.
The Tavern 22 Neighborhood Grill is located along 37th Street Northeast just east of the CMX Chateau Theater Complex.
- Featured restaurant

The American Legion Post #92
915 21st Avenue SoutheastRochester, MN 55904Good Eats. Good Drinks. Good Company at The American Legion Post #92 " Your Home Away From Home" - Rochester, MN.
Starter Restaurants
- Featured restaurant

Indigo Bowls
2571 Clare Lane NortheastRochester, MN 55906507-261-6345Established in early 2023, Indigo Açaí Bowls continues to grow from a food truck concept into a brick-and-mortar restaurant at 2571 Clare Lane in Rochester, Minnesota. Committed to providing healthier alternatives, their handcrafted, made-to-order açaí bowls are a nutritious and refreshing treat. The mobile food truck, powered entirely by solar energy, extends their reach, bringing their eco-friendly, compostable bowls and utensils to special events. With a mission to promote a greener planet, Indigo Açaí Bowls is not only delicious but sustainable and innovative too.
Additional Restaurants

Whistle Binkies
3120 Wellner Drive NortheastRochester, MN 55906Whistle Binkies offers two convenient locations to serve you on both the North and South ends of Rochester. The large menu features delicious appetizers, entrees, soups, salads, specialty sandwiches, wraps, desserts, and much more! Ranked as the best bar in Minnesota by "Business Insider" in March 2016.
South Location:
247 Woodlake Dr SE, Rochester, MN 55904
507-424-1227