Which Sports Team Should You Watch in Charleston?

Figure 1 Charleston is home to a good range of sports teams

The short answer to that question is, surely, every team in Charleston. But newcomers to the city may not know just how passionate this place is about sports. We may not have any major league pro teams, but there is no need to travel to places like Atlanta or Charlotte to get a sports fix.

Not all the best betting sites online will offer markets on some of our teams, but you are guaranteed a good time at any of them. Whether it is soccer, hockey, basketball, baseball, or even rugby – Charleston has you covered and you may just discover your new favorite team.

Charleston Battery

It is no surprise that soccer is big in Charleston. This part of the country has loved ‘the beautiful game’ for a long time now and the Battery is one of the oldest continuously operating pro clubs in the country. Formed in 1993, it pre-dates the last time the FIFA World Cup was hosted by the U.S.

It is also one of the most successful at its level. Now playing in the second tier of soccer in the U.S., the Battery won the USL Pro Championship in 2012 and has regularly featured in the later rounds of the nationwide knockout U.S. Open Cup. If you want to see real passion, you should check out the various supporters’ groups on a match day at the Patriots Point Soccer Complex in Mount Pleasant.

South Carolina Stingrays

For some minor league hockey, fans can make the trip to the North Charleston Coliseum to watch the South Carolina Stingrays. They play in the ECHL Eastern Conference, one level below the AHL. There is an affiliation with both the Hershey Bears of the AHL and NHL’s Washington Capitals.

After a cancelled season and a few years of below par hockey, the Stingrays returned to the playoffs last season, making it all the way to the Kelly Cup finals. This year is looking good too, with the team top of the Eastern Conference South Division at the time of writing.

Charleston RiverDogs

If you prefer to spend your afternoons enjoying America’s game, then you should check out the Charleston RiverDogs at the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park overlooking the Ashley River. The team is one of the best at the Single-A level in the last few years and has won the championship two years running.

Formed in 1980 as an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, the team has gone through a number of different names and affiliations, but now is a Single-A team for the Tampa Bay Rays. There have been a number of notable former players too, including one Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.

Figure 2 Rugby is getting bigger all across the US, including Charleston

Charleston Outlaws

If you want to discover a new sport, as well as a new team, then the Outlaws might be worth a visit. The rugby club actually has a long history in the Carolinas, being formed way back in 1973 and has an equally long record of success. The latest being the Carolinas Geographic Union Division 3 title last year.

The club welcomes new fans – and players – all the time and the Memorial Day 7s tournament is an excellent day out and a chance to find out more about the Outlaws.

College of Charleston

As you can see, there is more than enough choice across a range of sports when it comes to supporting your local team in Charleston. There are obviously also a good number of high school and college teams to cheer for in the region. One of the most notable is the College of Charleston Cougars men’s basketball team.

The Cougars play at the TD Arena and compete at Division I level in the Colonial Athletic Association. The last time they made it to the NCAA Tournament was in 2018 but this season is turning out to be a classic and there are big hopes for this Cougars team.

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