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.
🏈 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
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.
🏀 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
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.
⚾ 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
Major accomplishments:
- Won four league titles
- Won seven division titles
📅 See the team’s schedule.
⚽ 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
- Shop for merch
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. 1 spot across the USL Super League Standings
📅 See the team’s schedule.
⚽ 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
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.
🏒 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
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.
