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Sport Fans

Tailgates to Tee Time

From spectator sports, to college and high school rivalries, and every type of experience level in between, Upstate South Carolina is home to endorphin-pumping sports of all kinds, whether you choose to cheer from the sidelines or be at the center of the competition. In Upstate SC, we have a passion for our home teams that extends far beyond touchdowns and tailgates.

Whatever sport you’re of a fan of, the Upstate has it. And our convenient location between Charlotte and Atlanta means you can catch a home game with the Charlotte Knights, Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets in less than an hour’s drive from Gaffney, or see the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons or Atlanta Hawks in action within two hours from Anderson.

Upstate SC Sport Teams:

Why Move Up?

26

Greenville Swamp Rabbit Home Games per Season

66

Greenville Drive Home Games per Season

  • Football
  • On the Ice
  • At the Diamond
  • On the Green
  • In the Water

Touchdown Throw-Down

If there’s one thing you should know about sports in the Upstate, it’s that football rules – especially on Saturdays. We bleed orange for the Clemson Tigers, anticipate Sir Paladin’s white steed to kick-off the game at Furman University and watch the Wofford Terriers tear it up. Wherever your loyalties lie, there’s a tailgate spot with your name on it and more than enough friendly competition to go around.

As if we couldn’t get enough football through our college teams, the Upstate has the privilege of hosting the Carolina Panthers every summer at Spartanburg’s Wofford College. All practices and fan zone activities are free and open to the public, which means you can get can up close and personal with some of the NFL’s best players in the country. Plus, Upstate SC’s convenient location means a Carolina Panthers or Atlanta Falcons home game is just a short day trip away.

Hit Us with Your Best Shot

In the Upstate, one of the best ways to stay cool is rink-side. Hockey fans can keep their fingers crossed for a hat trick at a Greenville Swamp Rabbits game. The Swamp Rabbits, an affiliate of the East Coast Hockey League, play their home games at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, where spectators can attend a host of theme events, which run the gamut from Star Wars night to the Dog Derby, which deems the fastest dog on ice in the Upstate, and just about everything else in between. The Swamp Rabbits are guaranteed to keep you cheering all evening long – just make sure you stay out of the penalty box.

If you’d rather get on the ice then stand behind the boards, there are a number of opportunities where you can trade your shoes for skates. The Pavilion, part of Greenville County Rec, offers everything from ice skating to curling, while Ice on Main in Downtown Greenville, and Holiday Ice in Anderson’s Carolina Wren Park offer a festive way to skate every holiday season.

Root for the Home Team

Spectators of all kinds can get their Fenway fix at Fluor Field, Greenville’s baseball stadium, which was modeled after the Green Monster itself. Home to the Greenville Drive, a Class A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Socks, baseball culture in the Upstate is way more than just peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Attending a Drive game is an experience in itself, where the farthest seat from the field is only fifteen rows away. Add in craft beer, bourbon, fireworks and even a picnic pavilion, and you’ll remember why baseball is considered America’s greatest pastime.

On top of that, the Upstate repeatedly welcomes the Southern Conference Baseball Championships, and offers a myriad of field facilities, leagues and camps that encourage residents to step up to the plate and play ball. Just look to Easley, the historic host of the Big League Baseball World Series. Today, Easley’s JB “Red” Owens Sports Complex hosts the Senior League World Series and Fall League Youth Baseball at its eight ball fields.

If soccer is more your style, go watch the Greenville Triumph Soccer Club, a member of the USL League One as of 2019.

Hole in One-in-a-Million

Nothing beats scoring that perfect tee time, so if a round of golf is more your style, check out one of the dozens of premier golf clubs and courses in Upstate SC. Without any resort properties in the area, Upstate courses are perfectly suited for residents, offer more comfortable temperatures for playing than other regions in South Carolina and stunning Blue Ridge Mountain views.

On the national stage, the Upstate is proud to host the annual BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation golf tournament, the only tournament on the Web.com tour where tour pros are grouped together with celebrities and amateurs across four days and three courses.

Splish Splash

With the Upstate scattered with rivers, lakes and the coast just a few hours away, you better believe we love the water. For fishing fanatics, Lake Hartwell has played host to the GEICO Bassmaster Classic twice, the professional world championship, cementing the Upstate as one of the best destinations in the world for bass fishing. Even if you’re not a professional bass fisher, the Upstate offers a myriad of fishing holes in which to practice your hook, line and sinker.

For those that don’t mind getting a little wet, there are a number of excellent recreational swimming facilities for swimmers of all types, as well as award-winning waterparks: Discovery Island Waterpark, 7th Inning Splash Waterpark, Otter Creek Waterpark and Shipwreck Cove. For even more water-inspired fun, read about the Upstate’s outdoor recreation opportunities.

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