Sports History in Columbus

Columbus is a sports city. It's been home to professional teams in several leagues and college programs at all three NCAA divisions. Additionally, Ohio's capital city has hosted hundreds of events spanning dozens of sports. From the big ones like hockey, baseball, soccer, college football, and basketball to Olympic sports to growing sports like pickleball and lacrosse. Check out the pages below for a little more on several sports with a long history in Columbus.

Basketball

Columbus is hooked on hoops. We're counting down to the 2027 NCAA Women's Final Four and 2028 Men's March Madness First & Second rounds.

Volleyball

Home to the Columbus Fury and dozens of national tournaments, we welcome back the NCAA DI Women's Volleyball Championship in 2027.

Golf

Jack Nicklaus was born here. He founded The Memorial Tournament, in Dublin, which is a top event on the PGA Tour. Three local courses made GOLF's top 100 list in 2024.

Soccer

"The spiritual home of the USMNT." The city that saved the Crew. Home of the first soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. Columbus is a soccer city.

Baseball

Pro ball was first played here in 1877. The Clippers have called Columbus home since 1977. Huntington Park is consistently ranked among the top minor league ballparks.

Running / Track & Field

The Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon has been held annually since 1980 and the Cap City Half-Marathon is celebrating just hit two decades in 2023.

Football

The Ohio State Buckeyes reign supreme, but football’s history runs much deeper here. Did you know the first NFL game was played in Columbus?

Hockey

Home to the Blue Jackets, the 2025 NHL Stadium Series and two-time NCAA Women's Hockey champion Buckeyes, Columbus loves hockey.

Pickleball

Columbus has hundreds of courts and a Major League Pickleball team, the Sliders. MLP and the APP have hosted major events here in recent years.

Lacrosse

Columbus has been home to pro lacrosse events & teams, HS state championships and NCAA Quarterfinals.

Softball

Berliner Sports Park is the largest ball diamond complex in the country with 31 fields. Columbus welcomes back the iPride Gay Softball World Series for a fourth time in 2026.

Figure Skating

More than 60,000 fans attended the 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships here. Skating's history dates back to the 1960s in Cbus.