Columbus takes its sports seriously without leaving anyone out. A seven-year-old learning to swing a bat and a college athlete can share the same venue and still feel like it was built with them in mind! Our city’s fields, courts, and programs are set up so that age isn’t a barrier.
Family-Friendly Live Sports in Columbus
Huntington Park sits in the Arena District with downtown skyline views that make even hot dogs taste better! The Columbus Clippers play over 70 games here every season, and ticket prices won’t empty your wallet, making this one of the most family-friendly outings in Columbus. Kids under two get in for free, discounts are available for seniors and veterans, and the stadium is fully accessible. Plus, it’s conveniently located next to the Scioto Mile, where little ones (or adults, too!) can burn off some energy before or after a game.
Other pro teams in town include the NHL’s Blue Jackets, the MLS’s Columbus Crew, the MLV Columbus Fury, and the UFL Columbus Aviators. Their games are already great for families, but select kid-focused dates throughout the season layer in things like special giveaways and hands-on activities just for younger fans.
College sports fans are in good hands as well. Ohio State University games are all-ages, and while the football and basketball crowds can be a little rowdy for little ones, other OSU sports tend to feature more intimate crowds and affordable (or free) admission. Across town, Ohio Dominican Panthers games add even more family-friendly action to the mix. Otterbein University lets kids seven and under in for free at all varsity sports events, while Capital University provides free admission to seven of its programs, keeping local college matchups easy to access. Up in Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan University offers a welcoming small‑college atmosphere, with Battling Bishops games known for their community feel, accessible seating, and affordable tickets that make catching a game easy for families.
Explore our roundup of free and affordable sports events to make the most of your trip.
Diverse Sport Facilities for Tournaments and Competitions
If you’re here to play baseball or softball, Berliner Sports Park takes the prize as the nation’s largest diamond complex, owing to its 31 permanently fenced fields. Multiple concession stands mean you're never far from snacks, and three on-site playgrounds give non-players somewhere to go. Fields here are available for all ages of play, from little league to high school and college-level.
Just northwest of downtown, SportsOhio in Dublin adds another massive all-ages complex to the mix. The 100-acre park includes indoor and outdoor fields, courts, and driving ranges, with leagues, tournaments, and camps running year-round for kids, teens, and adults.
The Greater Columbus Convention Center is one of the city’s main hubs for tournaments and competitions across all ages and skill levels. In addition to hosting large regional and national volleyball tournaments annually, in 2024, it hosted the USA Fencing Championships, the largest event in the sport’s history, with more than 6,000 competitors, young and old! With five hotels connected by sky bridges, families can move between rooms and arenas without worrying about parking, traffic, or the weather!
Inclusive and Accessible Sports Programs in Columbus
Community Youth Camp, presented by The Columbus Foundation, teaches 16 different sports over four days. Kids entering first through fifth grade rotate through cycling, yoga, basketball, and more. At least half of their spots go to children on scholarship, and every sport has both men and women on the coaching staff, so kids learn early that no sport belongs to just one gender.
Columbus Futsal runs free play for youth and adults at multiple locations from April through October. Their annual Founder's Cup, held each June, celebrates grassroots play, and they've built a range of programs, from neighborhood pickup games to international training camps.
Our Greater Columbus Sports Foundation runs community youth clinics alongside major events: ice skating during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, girls’ basketball with NCAA coaches and more. We believe in connecting kids to the biggest sports events happening in Columbus. Maybe they’ll even step onto the ice or court themselves one day.
Columbus builds sports around people, not the other way around. Grandparents, toddlers, and everyone in between can find a way in, and the environment is intentionally designed to expand access to sports for as many people as possible.