Must-See Spots for Sports Fans
See the sights that make up the Durham half of the storied tobacco road rivalry, check out the most famous Minor League baseball team in the world and satisfy your need for sports and recreation in Durham with our year-round guide to Durham sports.
Whether you’re a player or a fan, Durham is full of activities for sports enthusiasts all year long.
Fall and winter bring a full-court press of options at Duke University and North Carolina Central University, while spring and summer will have you singing, “Take me out to the ball game” at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Make some progress on your sports bucket-list by visiting the basketball courts, football stadiums, golf courses and indoor sports facilities that make Durham a destination for any kind of sports fan.
Fall/Winter
For visitors coming to Durham in the colder months, we recommend experiencing a bit of the famed Tobacco Road rivalry and more indoor options during your stay.
Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium | 110 Frank Basset Drive
Home to the Duke University Blue Devils Division I football program
See the Duke Blue Devils play their home games under the lights at Brooks Field at the 40,000-seat Wallace Wade Stadium. For a convenient place to stay, walk to Duke games and explore campus from the JB Duke Hotel.
O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium | 1801 Fayetteville St.
Home to the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Eagles Division I football program
Watch the NCCU Eagles fly high at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium and savor the cool crisp fall air from the stands or the tailgate. NCCU holds the 2022 HBCU National Championship title and Eagle players have gone on to play in the NFL and the Super Bowl.
Cameron Indoor Stadium | 115 Whitford Drive
Home to the Duke University Blue Devils Men’s and Women’s Division I Basketball programs
Experience the electric energy of a Duke University basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, one of the top things to do on Duke's campus. With less than 10,000 seats, this historic stadium doesn’t have a bad seat in the house for the "Cameron Crazies." While students camp out in Krzyzewskiville to get tickets, visitors can learn more about the Duke basketball schedule and how to get tickets at goduke.com.
Duke Basketball Museum and Athletics Hall of Fame | 306 Towerview Road
Even if you visit when the men's and women's basketball teams aren't playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Duke Basketball Museum and Athletics Hall of Fame is a reason to walk the grounds of campus. The Duke University Blue Devils Men’s Basketball team is world-renowned for its five national championship wins under past head coach Mike Krzyzewski (pronounced Shuh-SHEFF-skee), and is currently thriving under the leadership of coach and Duke alum Jon Scheyer. The museum showcases trophies, interactive videos and memorabilia. The Duke Athletics Hall of Fame features the accomplishments of Duke athletes from 27 intercollegiate sports, which have collectively earned 17 national championships.
McDougald-McLendon Arena | 700 E. Lawson St.
Home to the NCCU Eagles Division I Men’s Basketball program
Don’t miss the opportunity to see an NCAA Division I basketball game at NCCU. The Eagles have soared to the NCAA tournament four times since 2014; three times under the leadership of head coach LeVelle Moton, and they show no sign of slowing down.
Triangle Curling Club | 2310 So-Hi Drive
Interest in curling seems to take off during the Winter Olympics, but you can brush up on your curling fandom and try your hand at this unique sport anytime at the Triangle Curling Club, one of the only dedicated facilities in the state. The facility is a non-profit with the goal of expanding the sport in North Carolina and promoting competitive curling at a national and international level. Register for a curling class or book a private group session!
Triangle Rock Club | 1010 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy, Suite 400
If you love climbing walls, check out Triangle Rock Club! With the largest bouldering space in North Carolina, this climbing gym features 16 and 20-foot walls, where climbers can boulder or use auto or top-belays.
Spring/Summer
Get your fill of Cracker Jacks and America's favorite pastime with the Durham Bulls baseball team while exploring more of Durham's summer-friendly sports activities.
Durham Bulls Baseball Club at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) | 409 Blackwell St.
The Durham Bulls Baseball Club proudly celebrates America’s favorite pastime while providing an exceptional ballpark experience for the whole family. Views from DBAP overlook downtown Durham and the Historic American Tobacco Campus. Mascot Wool E. Bull provides entertainment and between-inning antics. Concessions feature local breweries and restaurants, so you don’t even have to leave during the seventh-inning stretch to get a taste of the Durham food scene. Stay close to the action at the Aloft Hotel, which is a short walk from the ballpark. Read our blog post on the best ways to enjoy a Durham Bulls game, including navigating the locally-focused concessions and weekly specials.
Historic Durham Athletic Park | 500 W. Corporation St.
Catch a glimpse of the former Durham Bulls home and see where the 1988 hit movie Bull Durham was filmed. The Historic Durham Athletic Park was home to the Bulls from 1926-1994 and was originally named El Toro Park. The park now hosts the NCCU Baseball team as well as youth leagues and other events and is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Hillandale Golf Club | 1600 Hillandale Road
Looking for a hole-in-one? Drive over to Hillandale Golf Club, a par-71 course open to the public. The course features sculpted bermuda grass fairways with water features and well-placed doglegs.
The Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club | 3001 Cameron Blvd.
Designed in 1957 by architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., the 18-hole championship course has received top rankings. If you have companions that are more interested in tea time than a tee time, don’t miss afternoon tea at the Fairview Dining Room, which is part of The Washington Duke Inn and overlooks the golf course. If you're up for a hike, the beautiful, wooded Al Beuhler Trail is a 5k that surrounds the property and passes by a pond, bird-watching areas and a fit trail with exercise equipment
Durham County Memorial Stadium | 750 Stadium Dr.
Durham County's flagship sports facility hosts championship-level events throughout the year, as well as Shaw University soccer games and Carolina Flyers Ultimate Frisbee games in the summer.
Topgolf | 4901 Page Road
This three-story indoor facility boasts 102 hitting bays in the heart of Research Triangle Park. The simulated golf experience features food, beverages and covered bays, meaning you can practice your swing rain or shine. Indoor, air-conditioned facilities welcome groups to watch sports on the big screen, play games and more.
Whatever the weather, there’s plenty of ways to play and root for the home teams. And, even if you're not up for attending a game or playing a sport, you can feel the energy of fandom at any of Durham's best sports bars, as outlined in our blog post. Either way, there’s no doubt that your time in Durham will be a home run.
Additional Trip-planning Resources
Here's everything you need to know about where to stay, what to explore, and how to discover Durham!
