Sports & Outdoor Recreation

We can’t talk sports without mentioning our four professional teams. Hockey fans have the National Hockey League’s   (known locally as the Canes). Baseball lovers can root on the Durham Bulls or Carolina Mudcats, and soccer fans can cheer for the North Carolina FC.

Baseball
Durham Bulls: Made famous by the movie “Bull Durham,” this Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays plays at the 10,000 seat Durham Bulls Athletic Park, adjacent to the American Tobacco Campus. DBAP is also home to the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Central Eagles college baseball teams.

Carolina Mudcats: This Class AA professional baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds plays 70 games at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The Mudcats are one of the top-drawing teams in attendance in the Southern League.

Hockey
Carolina Hurricanes:  The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes play at the 20,000-seat PNC Arena. It hasn’t taken long for hockey to gain a loyal following in this southern city. In 2006, the Canes won the Stanley Cup and for the last three consecutive seasons, the team has made the playoffs. Don’t be alarmed if you hear fans call the team a “Bunch of jerks” – it’s their battlecry!

Soccer
North Carolina FC:  Originally known as the Carolina RailHawks, the team changed its name in 2016 to the North Carolina Football Club. The team plays in USL League One.

North Carolina Courage: North Carolina’s professional women’s team became the first to win both the Shield and the Championship in NSWL history in 2018. In 2019, they were the first NSWL team to win the Championship on their home field, Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

When it comes down to it, the Triangle is best known for its collegiate sports teams, including ACC legends the NC State Wolfpack, UNC Tar Heels, and Duke Blue Devils.

Higher Education

Our sports facilities, including public and private pools, tennis courts, batting cages, driving ranges, ice rinks, rollerskating rinks, horseback riding and more, will definitely keep you active. Many of the local communities also have recreation programs sponsored by city parks departments, the Y, and other independent groups.

Golf enthusiasts will love easy access to world-class golfing on the nine courses at Pinehurst Resort (only an hour away in Southern Pines) or at any of the 45 golf courses within the Triangle.

Need an adrenaline rush? We’ve got plenty of action sports facilities, if you’re into biking or skateboarding, rock wall climbing, or even racing your car.

Raleigh, N.C.’s reputation is on the rise for outdoor activities and action sports in a capital-city setting (Men’s Health magazine recently named Raleigh the third sportiest city in America). With a wide variety of ways to get out and get active—ranging from hiking trails to golf courses to hidden kayaking spots, it won’t be hard to find a way to keep busy!

The area has a strong list of action sports opps, whether you’re looking to skate, bike or ride. Check out the skate parks, go-kart tracks, speedways and much more! Participate in other sports by visiting sports facilities, including batting cages, rock walls, tennis parks, ice rinks and aquatic centers, take part in horseback riding or take a swing at one of Raleigh’s many golf courses.

Visit one of the numerous local parks and lakes for a day of boating or just relaxing, and see for yourself the beauty of the area’s natural environment. Check out two state parks for even more recreational activities, plus hike or bike some of the area’s 180 total miles of greenway trails.

Dog owners can play at several dog parks throughout Raleigh, while those with a green thumb can explore the beautiful flowered gardens for fresh ideas.