Overview of Charlotte's sports teams

Sports fans may be familiar with Charlotte's basketball and football teams, but there are more athletic teams that local fans follow.

A fond nickname for Charlotte is the Queen City and Charlotte's sports teams have equally as colorful of names, like the Hornets, the Hounds and the Checkers. 

Check out this brief overview of Charlotte's professional sports teams.

Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium
800 S. Mint St.
704-358-7000

Charlotte's NFL team was established in 1993 and debuted in 1995. The Panthers were originally in the NFC West division, but now play in the NFC South. During its first couple of seasons, the team boasted of a surprisingly good record for an expansion team. After that, the team struggled for awhile until the hiring of coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton, who helped turn the team into a contender. The Panthers played in Super Bowl  50, but lost to the Denver Broncos. The Panthers play at Bank of America Stadium. 


Charlotte Hornets
Spectrum Center
333 E. Trade St.
704-688-8600

This NBA team is full of buzz, from its fan base, aka "The Swarm," to the cheerleaders, also known as "The Honey Bees." One of the NBA expansion teams created in the two-year period spanning 1988 and 1989, the team's chairman as of 2018 is basketball legend Michael Jordan, the first former player to become a major owner of an NBA team. The Hornets have made 10 playoff appearances, though they've never managed a championship or division final.

Charlotte Hounds
American Legion Memorial Stadium
310 N. Kings Drive
704-206-1515

A well-known team in a lesser-name sport, the Hounds are the Major League Lacrosse team on the Charlotte list of sports teams. Home games at the Legion stadium include lots of beer and season tickets are very reasonably priced, starting at about $60 for six or seven games. 

The Foxes, a volunteer squad, are the official Promo & Dance Team of the Charlotte Hounds. The program's mission is to offer young women an opportunity to gain valuable experience in public speaking, dance, marketing and promotions. The team welcome avid fans with promotions from forming a tunnel for the home players at the game's onset to hosting a birthday party at the edge of the field. 

Charlotte Checkers
Bojangles Coliseum
212 S. Tryon St.
704-342-4423

Pro ice hockey is the Checkers' claim to fame: They play in the American Hockey League, originating in the mid-1950s after the Eastern League's Baltimore Clippers had to find a new place when their home rink was destroyed by fire. 

The team got the "Checkers" name in the late 1950s and won back-to-back championships in 1971 and 1972 but folded in 1977. They resurfaced in 1992 and moved to the AHL in 2010. The squad offers season ticket deals for loyal fans, with value-adds like flexible ticket exchange, 12-month payment plan and a souvenir cup with free refills. The team offers family-friendly entertainment and hosts rowdy, fun events throughout the season, including Zamboni rides and watch parties. 

Charlotte Independence
Sportsplex
2425 Sports Parkway, Matthews
980-314-7539

The Charlotte Independence is a soccer team that plays in the United Soccer League. The team was founded in 2014. The Charlotte Independence plays at the Sportsplex at Matthews.

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