In 1920, the Columbus Panhandles took the field in what became the first official NFL game, ever! The team drew its name from the Panhandle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and most of its players worked there, too. They rode the rails to away games, played on Sunday, then punched back in on Monday. Then, for a stretch between 1927 and 1939, the NFL itself was headquartered in Downtown Columbus as the league was taking shape. Thanks to HOMAGE and the NFL, there's now an historical marker at 16 E. Broad Street commemorating that location.
Today, Ohio State football sets the rhythm of fall, and the city’s sports story keeps expanding. Ohio Stadium, opened in 1922, packs in more than 100,000 fans who turn the city into a surge of scarlet and gray—you can feel kickoff coming long before you see the field.
However, Columbus’s story doesn’t end at the gridiron. The city has also played a key role in American sports history as the backdrop for important moments in baseball, soccer, hockey, and more.
When Columbus Residents Saved Soccer
Did you know Columbus’s MLS team, the Columbus Crew, nearly left town in 2017? After ownership raised the prospect of relocating the club, the city’s passionate fans rallied hard. Eventually, a new ownership group stepped in to take over, and the team stayed put! In 2021, Scotts Miracle-Gro Field opened as one of the country’s top soccer-specific venues, where the die-hard “Nordecke supporters” have a reputation for rattling visiting teams before they even hit the field!
Over the years, Columbus has hosted major international soccer matches, including the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, plus more than 10 U.S. Men’s National Team FIFA Men's World Cup qualifiers. In fact, Crew Stadium (now called Historic Crew Stadium) was the first soccer-specific venue built in the country when it opened its gates in 1999!
Ice, Hardwood, and Home Runs
The NHL came to Columbus and Nationwide Arena in 2000 with the Blue Jackets. Their famous cannon goes off after every goal, and trust us, it never gets old! The arena also hosts concerts and other sporting events like the upcoming 2027 NCAA Women’s Final Four.
The Columbus Clippers (AAA affiliates of the Cleveland Guardians) have been playing baseball at Huntington Park since 2009. The ballpark sits in the heart of downtown with skyline views from the outfield and is consistently ranked among the best minor league stadiums in the country! Add in Ohio Dominican, Capital, and other college programs competing across sports, and you start to see how full the local sports calendar really is.
Running the Scioto and Beyond
Every October, the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon brings thousands of runners through downtown and along the Scioto River. The course loops past German Village, through the Short North, and back to the Arena District. It's been an annual tradition since 1980.
The riverfront trails and downtown corridors make Columbus a runner's city year-round. The Scioto Mile's paved paths stretch along both sides of the river, connecting neighborhoods and giving athletes a car-free route through the heart of town.
Legends Who Wore Columbus Colors
Did you know Jack Nicklaus learned golf here before becoming one of the greatest players of all time? Jesse Owens ran track at Ohio State before winning four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics. Katie Smith played at Ohio State before becoming a WNBA legend. Basically, the Columbus sports pantheon runs deep and continues to grow.
In 2027, Columbus will host the NCAA Women’s Final Four, and new facilities keep popping up, filling the local calendar with events like lacrosse, weightlifting meets, professional volleyball, pickleball, and more! A city that once built pro football around busy railroad schedules is still finding new ways to compete and giving people plenty of action to tap into while they’re here.