10 Reasons Why Maryland Sports Rule
Maryland sports showcase athletic originality, competition and overall awesomeness.
If your passion for sports runs to the traditional or to the extreme, or whether you like watching the pros or prefer youth leagues and clubs, Maryland’s sporting landscape runs the gamut. Here are just 10 of the reasons sports in Maryland are must-see events.
Two NFL teams -- One MLB team (with a second an easy ferry ride from National Harbor). Six (six!) minor league baseball teams. Nine NCAA Division I college teams. The second leg of the Triple Crown. What do all of these have in common? If you haven’t guessed, Maryland is home to all of these and much, much more, making it a veritable heavyweight in the arena of sporting star power.
The wish for big wind is often granted at Annapolis’ Chesapeake Bay Fall Brawl where J Boats race in spectacular rows, hitting crazy speeds as master sailors push their crafts to the bleeding edge.
The “fastest game on two feet” is kind of a big deal in Maryland. Not only is Lax the official Maryland team sport, we’ve played host to 17 NCAA Division 1 Lacrosse Championships and are home to college lacrosse powerhouses Johns Hopkins, Navy, Loyola and the University of Maryland to name just a few. Sparks is home to the US Lacrosse national headquarters and The Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame. Plus the Lacrosse apparel and equipment chain, Cockeysville’s Lax World, isn’t far (great excuse for picking up some new gear after hitting the museums).
No matter what region of Maryland you travel to, you’ll have a great sports facility to visit to see amazing events. You’ll jump every time the puck hits the glass when you take in an ice hockey game at the Capital Clubhouse in Waldorf. In Annapolis, the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium hosts Navy football games and the Major League Lacrosse team Chesapeake Bayhawks. In Ocean City, the Roland E. Powell Convention Center is home to cheerleading competitions. Watch future major league stars playing wooden bat baseball in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League for the Bethesda Big Train at Shirley Povich Field. And Maryland is home to six unique minor league stadiums, perfect for catching the next batch of big league stars.
Just take that first step through the Eutaw Street gates into Oriole Park at Camden Yards and you’ll see why “The Yard” revolutionized baseball stadium design. From the historic B&O Railroad warehouse in the outfield to the pristine bluegrass field built over the streets where Babe Ruth once played, there’s just nothing like a day at The Yard; and be sure not to miss Boog’s BBQ!
With mountain bike and amateur cycling races and NASTAR skiing action at Deep Creek and Wisp Resort, white-water kayaking on the Youghiogheny or at Adventure Sports Center International in McHenry, hardcore moto-cross racing at Budds Creek in Southern Leonardtown, and even jet-skiing or water-jetpacking in O.C., there's plenty here for the extreme sports fan.
Crowds gather for the chance to see the University of Maryland Terrapins’ elite men’s and women's basketball teams play at the XFINITY Center in Prince George's County. Banners commemorating the men's and women's national championships hang high above the hardwood, setting the stage for a winning night.
Oh, and did we mention that UMBC (University Maryland Baltimore County) is the only 16 seed to take down a number 1 in the NCAA tournament?
It seems like everyone in Maryland runs, and running clubs are springing up everywhere from the Kent Island Running Group in Queen Anne’s County to the Westminster Road Runners Club in Carroll County. These clubs track upcoming races and personal best times, and, of course, host after-race parties that will keep you running back for more.
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat thoroughbred horse race held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland's rich equestrian heritage evokes a variety of traditions from Steeplechase to the Preakness Stakes. Also popular are the horse trials and shows held at Shawan Downs, Fair Hill and Loch Moy Farm. To create a lasting memory, see Assateague's wild horses in their natural habitat, a short distance from Ocean City.
Maryland’s oldest and largest stand up paddle board, kayak, sailing and windsurfing outfitter, has three full time waterfront locations in Baltimore County, offering the BEST instruction, rentals, tours, summer camps, beach parties and team building events in the industry. Also specializing in Adventure Travel and On-Water Event Management, no one on the Chesapeake has more experience or passion for fun on the water! Since 1985.
With rivers, lakes, beaches and the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland has an incredible variety of places to enjoy water sports including boating and sailing, stand up paddle boarding, fishing and more.