Knoxville Sports
Knoxville is the center of Tennessee’s sports world — home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers. But did you know that Knoxville is also home to many professional sports teams — plus the only museum in the world dedicated to women’s basketball? If you like sports — watching or playing — Knoxville is a great place to live! Here are a few of the many options Knoxville has to offer to avid sports fans:
University of Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee is crazy about college football. And Knoxville is the epicenter of Tennessee’s obsession! Downtown Knoxville is home to UT’s football facility, Neyland Stadium — the largest college football stadium in the South — where 100,000 orange-clad fans cheer on their team on Saturdays in the fall. But the University of Tennessee has more than just football: UT also claims one of the most storied women’s college baskeball programs in the country, the Lady Vols, who have won eight national championships under legendary coach Pat Summitt, the all-time wins leader in women’s and men’s college basketball. In addition to UT’s storied football and women’s basketball programs, Volunteer teams also compete for SEC glory and national recognition in men’s basketball, baseball, softball, golf, tennis, track and field, cross country, rowing, volleyball, swimming and diving. If you enjoy exciting, competitive college athletics, Knoxville, Tennessee is the place to be!
Tennessee Smokies Baseball
Minor League baseball is a summer tradition — as American as apple pie. The Smokies are East Tennessee’s minor league baseball team, a Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Smokies Park is located in Sevierville, Tennessee — a short drive from Knoxville on I-40. Whether you’re an baseball fan or just a casual observer, Tennessee Smokies games are great entertainment for the entire family. And who knows, you may be watching some of Major League Baseball’s future stars: some notable major league baseball players that have played for the Smokies are Roy Halladay, Carlos Delgado, Shawn Green, and Felipe López. Take me out to the ball game!
Knoxville Ice Bears Hockey
Knoxville’s professional ice hockey team is the Knoxville Ice Bears, playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League. They play their home games at James White Civic Coliseum, which UT also uses for its hockey team. Like Knoxville’s other sports teams, the Ice Bears compete to win, taking the SPHL championship in 2006 and 2008. If you’re looking for a coooool way to spend an evening with friends or family, skate on down to the arena and cheer on the Ice Bears!
The Pitch: Knoxville’s Soccer Source
“The Pitch” is an online media soccer forum where players, coaches, referees, parents, and spectators of all ages can come to find anything from scores and stats of their favorite teams to an “Open Forum” section. If you’d like to watch — or play — soccer in the Knoxville area, check out The Pitch.
Rowing and Kayaking
Chota Canoe Club is East Tennessee’s whitewater canoe and kayak club, offering an annual training school for new and experienced paddlers, plus clinics, events, and weekly river trips throughout the year. The funds raised from club activities support the conservation of natural resources. Another organization, the Knoxville Rowing Association, promotes the sport of rowing through instruction and equipment use to area youth and adults — and hosts nationally-recognized rowing competitions. Get paddling!
Golf
Knoxville has many public and professional golf courses open year round. A few of the top courses include the Avalon Golf Community, Dead Horse Lake Golf Course, and Rivers Island Golf Club. The Medalist golf course at Avalon features 6815 yards of tree lined fairways, challenging greens and impressive views. Dead Horse Lake Golf Course is an 18 hole course, open to the public, located in West Knoxville. River Islands Golf Club is the most beautiful golf course in East Tennessee! It’s the perfect venue for corporate and charity events and tournaments. If you enjoy hitting the links, Knoxville will not disappoint!
The Outdoors
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only a 45-minute drive from Knoxville. Walking and hiking are favorite ways for many people to see Smokies. There are over 800 miles of trails within the park! In addition to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Knoxville is within 90 miles of five other national parks. It’s a hiker’s paradise! Additionally, residents can take advantage of the numerous parks and gardens located within the heart of the city. If you love the outdoors, Knoxville is hard to beat.