Charlotte Activities: Sports

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Professional sports are one of Charlotte's most popular forms of entertainment. Though its roots are primarily in stock car racing, the city offers something for fans of nearly every kind of sport. In particular, its success in the NFL and NBA have given it widespread exposure as a growing sports hub.

Bank of America Stadium is home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

NASCAR events take place at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Charlotte is the de facto hub of stock car racing in the U.S., with several NASCAR teams based in the city. 3 NASCAR Sprint Cup races take place each season, including the All-Star Race www.nascar.com/promos/2005/all_star and the Coca-Cola 600. Additionally, Charlotte was chosen as the home for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and headquarters, which will be located near the Convention Center in Uptown. Each year Charlotte hosts "Speed Street", a large festival featuring various racing-themed attractions and a long list of musical guests. The Carolina Panthers is is the city's NFL franchise. Games are played at Bank of America stadium. In 2002, was awarded a new NBA franchise, the Bobcats after the city's first NBA team left for New Orleans in an ugly divorce ending in 2002. These events take place in Uptown.

Minor league sports include the Charlotte Knights (AAA baseball) which operates in Fort Mill, South Carolina, one exit past Carowinds. The Charlotte Checkers ice hockey team play in Uptown and is cheap fun (Charlotte was the first city south of Baltimore to host professional hockey and has had a team for most of the last 50 years). The Carolina Speed is the fourth professional indoor football team to be based in Charlotte, with games taking place in East Charlotte. The Charlotte Eagles soccer team play near SouthPark. Charlotte Rugby Football Club www.charlotterugby.com, which play northwest of Uptown, and Charlotte Roller Girls, with games in Elizabeth complete a vast list of professional, minor league and club sports to enjoy in the city.

• www.nascar.com/promos/2005/all_star
• www.charlotterugby.com