Whether you’re a sports fanatic — or just look good in Carolina blue and black — when it comes to sports, the Queen City has no shortage of teams to support. Our city is home to some of the most loyal fans in the country — they’ve even scored a Guinness World Record.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Charlotte sports, so whether you’re already a devoted Charlottean sports fan or you’re new to the area, we hope it can serve as a valuable resource.

In his first start of the 2024-25 season, Andy Dalton threw three touchdowns in the game against the Las Vegas Raiders, winning 36-22. | Photo via WCNC

🏈 Carolina Panthers (NFL) | Est. 1993

The Panthers are part of the NFC South. Ever wondered about their mascot? The team's president, Mark Richardson, chose the nickname in the 90s because it reminded him of what a team should be — sleek, powerful, and strong.

Where they play: Bank of America Stadium

Opened in 1996
Max. capacity: 74,867
Has also hosted musical acts from Sir Elton John, Beyonce, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones

Mascot: Sir Purr

Introduced in 1995
Holds a belly shake record of 331 times per minute

Team colors: Carolina blue, black, and silver

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Major accomplishments:

Won the NFC Championship in 2003 and 2015
Established the record for most wins by an expansion team in 1995 (their inaugural season)

📅 Take a look at the team’s season.

LaMelo Ball dropped his most points in a game against the Boston Celtics on Feb. 2, 2022, scoring 38 points. | Photo via WCNC

🏀 Charlotte Hornets (NBA) | Est. 1988

The Hornets were originally established in 1988 before being moved to New Orleans in 2002 (ultimately becoming the Pelicans). The NBA came back to Charlotte in 2004 with the Bobcats. In 2014, they changed their name to the Hornets, reclaiming the original team's history and records.

Where they play: Spectrum Center

Opened in 2005
Max. capacity: 17,500
Has also hosted musical acts from Tim McGraw, Bad Bunny, P!nk, Aerosmith

Mascot: Hugo the Hornet

Introduced in 1988
Cheryl Henson, the daughter of Jim Henson, designed Hugo.
Hugo is a four-time winner of the NBA Mascot Slam Dunk Championship.

Team colors: Purple, teal, and gray

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Major accomplishments:

Highest 3-point field goal percentage in NBA history of 42.8% in the 1996-97 season
Had the biggest comeback to win a game in team history (24 points) on Oct. 29, 2024 vs. Milwaukee (Hornets won 108-106)

📅 See the team’s schedule.

USAToday nominated Truist Field in Uptown Charlotte for “Best Minor League Ballpark." | Photo by CLTtoday

⚾ Charlotte Knights (MiLB) | Est. 1976

The Charlotte Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Before the Knights, there was another Hornets team in Charlotte. In 1892, the baseball Hornets played in the South Atlantic League. From 1901 to 1973, the team won 11 league titles. Established as a Double-A franchise of the Southern League in 1976, the team was known as the Charlotte Orioles (or Charlotte O's) before rebranding in 1988.

Where they play: Truist Field

Opened in 2014
Seats 10,200 people
Boasts panoramic views of Uptown Charlotte

Mascot: Homer the Dragon

Debuted in 1989
Homer often attends grand openings, parades, fundraisers, makes school visits, and has never missed a home game

Team colors: Black, blue, gold, silver, white

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Major accomplishments:

Won four league titles
Won seven division titles

📅 See the team’s schedule.

Team Captain Vicky Bruce scored the first goal ever for Carolina Ascent in their inaugural home opener. | Photo via Carolina Ascent

⚽ Carolina Ascent FC (USL Super League) | Est. 2024

The Carolina Ascent is Charlotte's first and only professional women's sport team. The team set a new single-game attendance record during their first game with 10,553 fans.

Where they play: American Legion Memorial Stadium

Opened in 1936
Hosted Charlotte's first professional soccer team, the Carolina Lightnin', in 1981
Max. capacity: 10,500

Team colors: Orange, yellow, white, pink, light blue, dark blue

Wear jerseys with all the colors at home and a primarily white jersey during away games
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Major accomplishments:

Played their first game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 to a sold out crowd, defeating DC Power FC 1-0
Carolina Ascent sits in the No. 3 spot across the USL Super League Standings

📅 See the team’s schedule.

Cheer on the Boys in Blue at the Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, July 3. | Photos provided by Charlotte Football Club

⚽ Charlotte FC (MLS) | Est. 2019

Charlotte FC was awarded the MLS expansion franchise in December 2019 and began play in the 2022 MLS season. The Crown's home debut at Bank of America Stadium ended in a 1-0 loss to the LA Galaxy on March 5, 2022. That night, the crowd of 74,479 set an MLS record for the largest single-match in league history.

Where they play: Bank of America Stadium

Opened in 1996
Max. capacity: 74,867, reduced to 38,000 for most matches
Shared stadium with the Carolina Panthers

Mascot: Sir Minty

Sir Minty wears a crown, cape, and a stylish silver chain with an "M" medallion
Introduced in 2022

Team colors: Royal blue, black, silver, and white

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Major accomplishments:

Advanced to the 2022 Leagues Cup quarterfinals
Had a second-highest average attendance per match in MLS, behind Atlanta United FC, in 2022

📅 See the team’s schedule.

The Charlotte Checkers are a minor-league professional ice hockey team and affiliate of the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. | Photo by Jacob Kupferman via Charlotte Checkers

🏒 Charlotte Checkers (AHL) | Est. 1954

The Charlotte Checkers began as the Baltimore Clippers in 1954 and played in the Eastern Hockey League. The team's arena burned down, relocating the team to the Charlotte Coliseum in 1956 (now known as Bojangles Stadium). Playing in front of 10,000 locals, the team stayed in Charlotte for the rest of the season. The Checkers are currently the AHL affiliate for the Florida Panthers.

Where they play: Bojangles Coliseum

Opened in 1955
Max. capacity: 10,829
Known as Charlotte's first coliseum and was the largest unsupported steel dome coliseum in the world.
Elvis once performed at the Charlotte Coliseum in 1977.

Mascot: Chubby

Chubby is a white bear who can be found attending special events, on the ice, or napping in his cave.
In the Mascot Hall of Fame
Has his own coloring pages

Team colors: Red, black, silver, white

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Major accomplishments:

Won the Calder Cup championship in 2019
Named the AHL's Team of the Year in 2019-2020
The Checkers and Charlotte Knights hosted the first-ever outdoor professional hockey game in Charlotte in 2024 where the Checkers defeated the Rochester Americans 5-2 in front of a sold-out crowd of 11,031 people.

📅 See the team’s schedule.

🏉 Anthem RC (MLR) | Est. 2024

The Anthem Rugby Carolina (ARC) competes in Major League Rugby, North America’s premier rugby competition. The team provides a competitive platform for local players to develop their skills and contribute to the success of the USA Eagles.

Where they play: American Legion Memorial Stadium

Opened in 1936
Max. capacity: 10,500
Shared stadium with Carolina Ascent FC

Team colors: Blue

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Major accomplishments:

Partnered with The Charlotte Rugby Football Club (CRFC) to develop rugby players from across the US
Anthem RC played its inaugural season in 2024 as part of a partnership between Major League Rugby, World Rugby, and USA Rugby

📅 See the team’s schedule.