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{{Short description|Sport in the United States}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Refimprove|date=December 2006}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2006}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
'''Sports in Louisville, Kentucky''' include amateur and professional sports in baseball, football, horse racing, horse shows, ice hockey, soccer and lacrosse. The [[Louisville, Kentucky|city of Louisville]] and the [[Louisville metropolitan area]] have a sporting history from the mid-19th century to the present day.
'''Sports in Louisville, Kentucky''' include amateur and professional sports in baseball, football, basketball, horse racing, horse shows, ice hockey, soccer and lacrosse. The [[city of Louisville]] and the [[Louisville metropolitan area]] have a sporting history from the mid-19th century to the present day.
[[File:Louisville slugger field evening 2002.jpg|thumb|right|280px|[[Louisville Slugger Field]], where the [[Louisville Bats]] play]]
[[File:Louisville slugger field evening 2002.jpg|thumb|right|280px|[[Louisville Slugger Field]], where the [[Louisville Bats]] play]]

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==College sports==
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[[College basketball]] and [[college football]] are very popular in Louisville, which prides itself on being one of the best college sports towns in America.

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The city is home to the [[University of Louisville]] [[Louisville Cardinals|Cardinals]], who compete in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] and are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The U of L men's basketball team won the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA Division I basketball championship]] in 1980 and 1986 under head coach [[Denny Crum]], and recently achieved the NCAA [[Final Four]] in [[2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2005]], [[2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2012]], and [[2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2013]] under head coach [[Rick Pitino]], and winning the National Championship in 2013 which would later be vacated. The women's basketball team, under head coach [[Jeff Walz]], reached the final of the [[NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA women's tournament]] in [[2008–09 Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team|2009]] and [[2013 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament|2013]], losing [[2008–09 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team|both]] [[2012–13 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team|times]] to [[Connecticut Huskies women's basketball|Connecticut]]. The 2008–09 team featured [[2009 WNBA Draft]] #1 pick [[Angel McCoughtry]]. Both basketball teams ended their tenure at [[Freedom Hall]] in 2010 and moved to the new [[KFC Yum! Center]] in downtown Louisville for the 2010–11 season.

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The U of L football team, with coach [[Bobby Petrino]], finished No. 7 in the nation for the 2006 season, 19th in the final BCS rankings of 2005 and 10th in 2004. After winning the Orange Bowl—the school's first Bowl Championship Series game—in January 2007, Petrino left the Cardinals to be the head coach of the [[Atlanta Falcons]]. [[Steve Kragthorpe]] was hired to replace Petrino less than two days later. Kragthorpe was fired after three years and replaced by [[Florida Gators football|University of Florida]] defensive coordinator [[Charlie Strong]]. Petrino returned for a second stint with the Cardinals in 2014, after Strong left for the head coaching vacancy at [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas]]. The U of L football team plays on campus at [[Cardinal Stadium]]. [[2012 Louisville Cardinals football team|U of L]] won the Allstate Sugar Bowl in [[2013 Sugar Bowl|2013]], upsetting the [[2012 Florida Gators football team|Florida Gators]].

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The U of L baseball team advanced to the [[2007 College World Series|2007]] and [[2013 College World Series]] in Omaha, where eight teams competed for the national championship. In 2012–13, U of L became the first school ever to appear in a BCS bowl game, the men's and women's Final Fours in basketball, and the College World Series in the same school year.<ref>https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=330800097</ref>

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[[Bellarmine University]], home of the Knights, fields 16 competitive [[NCAA Division II]] teams and competes in [[lacrosse]] at the Division I level (the only men's collegiate lacrosse program in the state). Bellarmine will move all sports up to the NCAA Division I level in the 2019-2020 academic year. [[Spalding University]], home of the Golden Eagles, plays in [[NCAA Division III]] and in the [[St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]].

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==Horse racing and equestrian events==
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[[Churchill Downs]] is home to the [[Kentucky Derby]], the largest sports event in the state, as well as the [[Kentucky Oaks]], which together cap the two-week-long [[Kentucky Derby Festival]]. Churchill Downs has also hosted the renowned [[Breeders' Cup]] on eight occasions, in [[2011 Breeders' Cup|2011]], and most recently in 2018.

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Besides racing there is the World's Championship [[Horse show]]. This show is mostly for [[Saddlebred]] horses and is held in conjunction with the [[Kentucky State Fair]]. This is the premier event of the year for [[Saddle seat]] Pleasure and Equitation.


==Professional sports==
==Professional sports==
Louisville is now home to five minor-league professional and semi-professional sports teams. The [[Louisville Bats]] are a [[baseball]] team playing in the [[Triple-A East]] as the Class AAA affiliate of the [[Cincinnati Reds]]. The team plays at [[Louisville Slugger Field]] at the edge of the city's downtown.
Louisville is home to one major league professional women's team, and two minor league professional men's teams. The [[Louisville Bats]] are a [[baseball]] team playing in the [[Triple-A East]] as the Class AAA affiliate of the [[Cincinnati Reds]]. The team plays at [[Louisville Slugger Field]] at the edge of the city's downtown.


Louisville hosts two soccer teams. [[Louisville City FC]] began play in the [[United Soccer League]] in 2015, sharing Louisville Slugger Field with the Bats. Louisville City was the reserve side for [[Major League Soccer]]'s [[Orlando City SC]] in 2015, but no longer fills that role after Orlando City launched [[Orlando City B|a team-owned reserve side]] for the 2016 season. The [[Derby City Rovers]], founded in 2010 as the River City Rovers, have played in the [[Premier Development League]] since 2011 but have since ceased operations as of July 2018 with no plans of returning to the pitch.
Louisville hosts two soccer teams. [[Louisville City FC]] began play in the [[United Soccer League]] in 2015, sharing Louisville Slugger Field with the Bats. Louisville City was the reserve side for [[Major League Soccer]]'s [[Orlando City SC]] in 2015, but no longer fills that role after Orlando City launched [[Orlando City B|a team-owned reserve side]] for the 2016 season.


In October 2019, the [[National Women's Soccer League]] announced that it would award an expansion franchise to Louisville that would begin play at [[Lynn Family Stadium]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite press release |date=October 22, 2019 |title=National Women's Soccer League announces expansion to Louisville in 2021 |url=http://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-expansion-to-louisville-in-2021 |publisher=[[National Women's Soccer League]] |access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref>
In October 2019, the [[National Women's Soccer League]] announced that it would award an expansion franchise to Louisville that would begin play at [[Lynn Family Stadium]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite press release |date=October 22, 2019 |title=National Women's Soccer League announces expansion to Louisville in 2021 |url=http://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-expansion-to-louisville-in-2021 |publisher=[[National Women's Soccer League]] |access-date=November 17, 2019 |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027113957/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-expansion-to-louisville-in-2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|- "
|- "
⚫
|+Women's Major League Teams
|+Current Louisville area professional teams
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|-
! Club !! Sport !! Began Play !! League !! Venue
|-
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| [[Racing Louisville FC]]
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| [[Soccer]]
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| align=center | 2021
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| [[National Women's Soccer League]]
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| [[Lynn Family Stadium]]
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|- "
|+Minor League Professional Sports Teams
|-
|-
! Club !! Sport !! Began Play !! League !! Venue
! Club !! Sport !! Began Play !! League !! Venue
Line 38: Line 37:
| [[International League]]
| [[International League]]
| [[Louisville Slugger Field]]
| [[Louisville Slugger Field]]
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|-
| [[Derby City Dynamite]]
| [[Women's American football|Women's football]]
| align=center | 2013
| [[Women's Football Alliance]]
| [[John Hardin High School]] ([[Radcliff, Kentucky|Radcliff]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.derbycitydynamite.com/|title=Derby City Dynamite|work=derbycitydynamite.com|access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Louisville City FC]]
| [[Louisville City FC]]
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| [[Lynn Family Stadium]]
| [[Lynn Family Stadium]]
|-
|-
|}
| [[Metro Louisville FC]]

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| [[Soccer]]
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==College sports==
| align=center | 2020
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[[College basketball]] and [[college football]] are very popular in Louisville, which prides itself on being one of the best college sports towns in America.
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| [[National Premier Soccer League]]

| [[King Louie's Sports Complex]]
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The city is home to the [[University of Louisville]] [[Louisville Cardinals|Cardinals]], who compete in the [[NCAA]]'s [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] and are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The U of L men's basketball team won the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA Division I basketball championship]] in 1980 and 1986 under head coach [[Denny Crum]], and recently achieved the NCAA [[Final Four]] in [[2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2005]], [[2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2012]], and [[2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2013]] under head coach [[Rick Pitino]], and winning the National Championship in 2013 which would later be vacated. The women's basketball team, under head coach [[Jeff Walz]], reached the final of the [[NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA women's tournament]] in [[2008–09 Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team|2009]] and [[2013 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2013]], losing [[2008–09 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team|both]] [[2012–13 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team|times]] to [[Connecticut Huskies women's basketball|Connecticut]]. The 2008–09 team featured [[2009 WNBA draft]] #1 pick [[Angel McCoughtry]]. Both basketball teams ended their tenure at [[Freedom Hall]] in 2010 and moved to the new [[KFC Yum! Center]] in downtown Louisville for the 2010–11 season.

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The U of L football team, with coach [[Bobby Petrino]], finished No. 7 in the nation for the 2006 season, 19th in the final BCS rankings of 2005 and 10th in 2004. After winning the Orange Bowl—the school's first Bowl Championship Series game—in January 2007, Petrino left the Cardinals to be the head coach of the [[Atlanta Falcons]]. [[Steve Kragthorpe]] was hired to replace Petrino less than two days later. Kragthorpe was fired after three years and replaced by [[Florida Gators football|University of Florida]] defensive coordinator [[Charlie Strong]]. Petrino returned for a second stint with the Cardinals in 2014, after Strong left for the head coaching vacancy at [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas]]. The U of L football team plays on campus at [[Cardinal Stadium]]. [[2012 Louisville Cardinals football team|U of L]] won the Allstate Sugar Bowl in [[2013 Sugar Bowl|2013]], upsetting the [[2012 Florida Gators football team|Florida Gators]].

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The U of L baseball team advanced to the [[2007 College World Series|2007]] and [[2013 College World Series]] in Omaha, where eight teams competed for the national championship. In 2012–13, U of L became the first school ever to appear in a BCS bowl game, the men's and women's Final Fours in basketball, and the College World Series in the same school year.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=330800097| title = North Carolina A&T vs. Louisville – Game Recap – March 21, 2013 – ESPN| access-date = July 13, 2020| archive-date = July 17, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200717082149/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=330800097| url-status = live}}</ref>

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[[Bellarmine University]], home of the Knights, moved all sports up to the NCAA Division I level in the 2019–2020 academic year. [[Spalding University]], home of the Golden Eagles, plays in [[NCAA Division III]] as members of the [[St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]].

{| class="wikitable sortable" width="80%"
|- "
|+Louisville Universities
|-
! University || Nickname || League || Division
|-
|[[University of Louisville]] || [[Louisville Cardinals]] || [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] || [[NCAA Division I]]
|-
|[[Bellarmine University]] || [[Bellarmine Knights]] || [[ASUN Conference]] || [[NCAA Division I]]
|-
|[[Spalding University]] || [[Spalding Golden Eagles]] || [[St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] || [[NCAA Division III]]
|-
|-
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|[[Racing Louisville FC]]
|Soccer
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| align=center | 2021
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|[[National Women's Soccer League]]
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|Lynn Family Stadium
|}
|}

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==Horse racing and equestrian events==
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[[Churchill Downs]] is home to the [[Kentucky Derby]], the largest sports event in the state, as well as the [[Kentucky Oaks]], which together cap the two-week-long [[Kentucky Derby Festival]]. Churchill Downs has also hosted the renowned [[Breeders' Cup]] on eight occasions, in [[2011 Breeders' Cup|2011]], and most recently in 2018.

⚫
Besides racing there is the World's Championship [[Horse show]]. This show is mostly for [[Saddlebred]] horses and is held in conjunction with the [[Kentucky State Fair]]. This is the premier event of the year for [[Saddle seat]] Pleasure and Equitation.


Louisville is also the home of [[Valhalla Golf Club]] which hosted the 1996, 2000, and 2014 [[PGA Championship]]s, and hosted the [[2008 Ryder Cup]]. It is also home to one of the top [[skatepark]]s in the U.S., [[David Armstrong Extreme Park]].
Louisville is also the home of [[Valhalla Golf Club]] which hosted the 1996, 2000, and 2014 [[PGA Championship]]s, and hosted the [[2008 Ryder Cup]]. It is also home to one of the top [[skatepark]]s in the U.S., [[David Armstrong Extreme Park]].


Louisville is also the home of [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]], a [[professional wrestling promotion]] that at different times served as the official developmental territory for [[WWE]] (2000–2008)<ref name="WWEleavesOVW">{{cite web |title=WWE to cease affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling |url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008_02_07.jsp |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |date=February 7, 2008 |access-date=February 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309213846/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008_02_07.jsp |archive-date=March 9, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling|TNA Wrestling]] (2011–2013).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://leoweekly.com/news/learning-ropes |title=Learning the ropes |first=Anne |last=Marshall |work=[[Louisville Eccentric Observer]] |date=December 7, 2011 |access-date=December 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108084627/http://leoweekly.com/news/learning-ropes |archive-date=January 8, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Many notable WWE performers trained in OVW, such as [[Jillian Hall]], [[Randy Orton]], [[John Cena]], [[Dave Bautista|Batista]], [[CM Punk]], and [[The Spirit Squad]] (which included the wrestler now known as [[Dolph Ziggler]]).<ref name="OVWalumni">{{cite web |title=Ohio Valley Wrestling Alumni |url=http://www.ovwrestling.com/alumni.html |publisher=[[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] |access-date=June 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501001219/http://ovwrestling.com/alumni.html |archive-date=May 1, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
Louisville is also the home of [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]], a [[professional wrestling promotion]] that at different times served as the official developmental territory for [[WWE]] (2000–2008)<ref name="WWEleavesOVW">{{cite web |title=WWE to cease affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling |url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008_02_07.jsp |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |date=February 7, 2008 |access-date=February 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309213846/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008_02_07.jsp |archive-date=March 9, 2008 }}</ref> and [[TNA Wrestling]] (2011–2013).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://leoweekly.com/news/learning-ropes |title=Learning the ropes |first=Anne |last=Marshall |work=[[Louisville Eccentric Observer]] |date=December 7, 2011 |access-date=December 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108084627/http://leoweekly.com/news/learning-ropes |archive-date=January 8, 2012 }}</ref> Many notable WWE performers trained in OVW, such as [[Jillian Hall]], [[Randy Orton]], [[John Cena]], [[Dave Bautista|Batista]], [[CM Punk]], and [[The Spirit Squad]] (which included the wrestler now known as [[Dolph Ziggler]]).<ref name="OVWalumni">{{cite web |title=Ohio Valley Wrestling Alumni |url=http://www.ovwrestling.com/alumni.html |publisher=[[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] |access-date=June 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501001219/http://ovwrestling.com/alumni.html |archive-date=May 1, 2009 }}</ref>


==High school==
==High school==
High school sports are also very popular in the city, especially football and basketball.
High school sports are also very popular in the city, especially football and basketball.


Louisville area high schools have been dominant in [[American football|football]] in recent years. [[Trinity High School (Louisville)|Trinity]] (1994, 2001–2003, 2005–2008, 2010–2013), [[Louisville Male High School|Male]] (1993, 1998, 2000, 2015) and [[St. Xavier High School (Louisville)|St. Xavier]] (1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2009) high schools have won 22 of the 24 football titles in Kentucky's largest enrollment class (4A through 2006, 6A since 2007) since 1992. [[Central High School (Louisville, Kentucky)|Central]] has won five 3A titles since Kentucky's move to a six-class system (2007, 2008, 2010–2012). [[Manual Crimsons|Manual]] also has a storied history, collecting 5 state titles (1925, 1938, 1948, 1959, 1966) and 2 national titles (1925 and 1938). Manual and Male are the oldest high schools in Louisville, and the 1st football game in the state was played between these two in 1893. Also, Trinity and St. Xavier have one of the fiercest rivalries in high school football. Every year, the Trinity-St. Xavier game draws an average of 35,000 fans to [[Cardinal Stadium]], and is promoted by the schools as the largest attended regular-season high school football game in the country.<ref>{{cite news |author=Patrick, Dick |title=High school rivals are like family |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2005-09-21-rivalries_x.htm |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=September 21, 2005 |access-date=July 6, 2014}}</ref> Currently, St. Xavier leads this storied rivalry with 31 wins, 26 losses and 2 ties.
Louisville area high schools have been dominant in [[American football|football]] in recent years. [[Trinity High School (Louisville)|Trinity]] (1994, 2001–2003, 2005–2008, 2010–2013), [[Louisville Male High School|Male]] (1993, 1998, 2000, 2015) and [[St. Xavier High School (Louisville)|St. Xavier]] (1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2009) high schools have won 22 of the 24 football titles in Kentucky's largest enrollment class (4A through 2006, 6A since 2007) since 1992. [[Central High School (Louisville, Kentucky)|Central]] has won five 3A titles since Kentucky's move to a six-class system (2007, 2008, 2010–2012). [[Manual Crimsons|Manual]] also has a storied history, collecting 5 state titles (1925, 1938, 1948, 1959, 1966) and 2 national titles (1925 and 1938). Manual and Male are the oldest high schools in Louisville, and the 1st football game in the state was played between these two in 1893. Also, Trinity and St. Xavier have one of the fiercest rivalries in high school football. Every year, the Trinity-St. Xavier game draws an average of 35,000 fans to [[Cardinal Stadium]], and is promoted by the schools as the largest attended regular-season high school football game in the country.<ref>{{cite news |author=Patrick, Dick |title=High school rivals are like family |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2005-09-21-rivalries_x.htm |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=September 21, 2005 |access-date=July 6, 2014 |archive-date=May 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513103226/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2005-09-21-rivalries_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Currently, St. Xavier leads this storied rivalry with 31 wins, 26 losses and 2 ties.


The 2002 Kentucky state 4A Football Championship between Male and Trinity, a showdown between future UofL teammates [[Brian Brohm]] (Trinity) and [[Michael Bush]] (Male) that ended with a 59–56 Trinity win, is listed as one of the top 50 sporting events of all time by many critics. The "Old Rivalry" between [[Louisville Male High School|Male]] and [[DuPont Manual Magnet High School|Manual]] high schools is one of the nation's oldest, dating back to 1893, and was played on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving Day]] through 1980, with Manual winning the final T-Day game by a score of 6–0 in overtime.
The 2002 Kentucky state 4A Football Championship between Male and Trinity, a showdown between future UofL teammates [[Brian Brohm]] (Trinity) and [[Michael Bush]] (Male) that ended with a 59–56 Trinity win, is listed as one of the top 50 sporting events of all time by many critics. The "Old Rivalry" between [[Louisville Male High School|Male]] and [[DuPont Manual Magnet High School|Manual]] high schools is one of the nation's oldest, dating back to 1893, and was played on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving Day]] through 1980, with Manual winning the final T-Day game by a score of 6–0 in overtime.


==Annual competitions==
==Annual competitions==
Since 2007, Louisville has been host to the annual Ironman Louisville<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ironmanlouisville.com/ |title=ironmanlouisville.com/ |publisher=ironmanlouisville.com/ |date=August 31, 2012 |access-date=September 22, 2013}}</ref> triathlon in August, one of only eight [[Ironman Triathlon|Ironman]] events in North America. In 2009, 2,352 participants finished the course.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ironman.com/events/ironman/louisville/?show=raceresults&year=2009|title=Ford IRONMAN Louisville Kentucky&nbsp;— August 30, 2009|access-date=July 27, 2010}}</ref>
From 2007 to 2019, Louisville was host to the annual Ironman Louisville triathlon, in August until 2014 then in October afterwards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ironman.com/im-louisville |title=Ironman Louisville/ |publisher=ironman.com/ |access-date=December 9, 2021 |archive-date=December 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209153004/https://www.ironman.com/im-louisville |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, 2,366 participants finished the course.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ironman.com/layout_container/show_layout_tab?layout_container_id=64188347&page_node_id=5184347&tab_element_id=213221|title=2019 IRONMAN Louisville|access-date=December 9, 2021|archive-date=December 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209153002/https://www.ironman.com/layout_container/show_layout_tab?layout_container_id=64188347&page_node_id=5184347&tab_element_id=213221|url-status=live}}</ref>


In early 2012, Louisville became the first American city to ever host the UCI Masters [[Cyclocross]] World Championships, and the following year became the first American city to host the Masters, Juniors, U23, and Professional Elite Women's and Men's [[UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships]], the biggest races of the fastest growing form of bicycle racing.<ref>{{cite news |title=Louisville to host 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships |url=http://www.cxmagazine.com/breaking-story-uci-confirms-louisville-world-champs-2013 |publisher=Cyclocross Magazine |date=January 29, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2010}}</ref> The event was held at a new permanent cyclocross course at [[Eva Bandman Park]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Louisville Moving Forward with Permanent Cyclocross Course |url=http://www.cxmagazine.com/louisville-kentucky-moving-forward-with-permanent-cyclocross-course |publisher=Cyclocross Magazine |date=December 16, 2009 |access-date=January 29, 2010}}</ref>
In early 2012, Louisville became the first American city to ever host the UCI Masters [[Cyclocross]] World Championships, and the following year became the first American city to host the Masters, Juniors, U23, and Professional Elite Women's and Men's [[UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships]], the biggest races of the fastest growing form of bicycle racing.<ref>{{cite news |title=Louisville to host 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships |url=http://www.cxmagazine.com/breaking-story-uci-confirms-louisville-world-champs-2013 |publisher=Cyclocross Magazine |date=January 29, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |archive-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201212513/http://www.cxmagazine.com/breaking-story-uci-confirms-louisville-world-champs-2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The event was held at a new permanent cyclocross course at [[Eva Bandman Park]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Louisville Moving Forward with Permanent Cyclocross Course |url=http://www.cxmagazine.com/louisville-kentucky-moving-forward-with-permanent-cyclocross-course |publisher=Cyclocross Magazine |date=December 16, 2009 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |archive-date=January 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125181602/http://www.cxmagazine.com/louisville-kentucky-moving-forward-with-permanent-cyclocross-course |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Historical teams==<!-- This section is linked from [[Louisville, Kentucky]] -->
==Historical teams==<!-- This section is linked from [[Louisville, Kentucky]] -->
Louisville long ago hosted teams in the [[National Football League]] and [[Major League Baseball]] and fielded a strong franchise, the [[Kentucky Colonels]], in the [[American Basketball Association]] before the [[ABA–NBA merger]] in June 1976. The Colonels won the [[1975 ABA Playoffs|penultimate ABA championship]] in 1975, defeating their archrival, the [[Indiana Pacers]], in the [[1975 ABA Finals]].
Louisville long ago hosted teams in the [[National Football League]] and [[Major League Baseball]] and fielded a strong franchise, the [[Kentucky Colonels]], in the [[American Basketball Association]] before the [[ABA–NBA merger]] in June 1976. The Colonels won the [[1975 ABA Playoffs|penultimate ABA championship]] in 1975, defeating their archrival, the [[Indiana Pacers]], in the [[1975 ABA Finals]].


The [[Kentucky Colonels]] were the winningest team in the history of the American Basketball Association, but the Colonels were not included in the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976. A later team with the same name played in Louisville in the [[ABA 2000]] league but moved to [[Murray, Kentucky]] in 2007 before folding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenews.org/2.10055/american-basketball-association-team-looks-to-bring-new-energy-to-murray-1.1334632 |title=American Basketball Association team looks to bring new energy to Murray |publisher=The Murray State News |date=January 19, 2007 |access-date=February 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822041923/http://www.thenews.org/2.10055/american-basketball-association-team-looks-to-bring-new-energy-to-murray-1.1334632 |archive-date=August 22, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Louisville and the corporate community had also attempted to pursue the [[Vancouver Grizzlies]] franchise before their ultimate move to [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] in 2001,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/grizzlies/2001-03-20-louisville.htm |title=Report: KFC owner offers to buy Grizzlies |publisher=Usatoday.Com |date=March 21, 2001 |access-date=August 5, 2009}}</ref> as well as the [[Charlotte Hornets]] franchise, which ultimately moved to [[New Orleans Pelicans|New Orleans]] in 2002 but was revived in 2004 as the Charlotte Bobcats, regaining the Hornets name and the team's pre-relocation history in 2014.
The [[Kentucky Colonels]] were the winningest team in the history of the American Basketball Association, but the Colonels were not included in the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976. A later team with the same name played in Louisville in the [[ABA 2000]] league but moved to [[Murray, Kentucky]], in 2007 before folding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenews.org/2.10055/american-basketball-association-team-looks-to-bring-new-energy-to-murray-1.1334632 |title=American Basketball Association team looks to bring new energy to Murray |publisher=The Murray State News |date=January 19, 2007 |access-date=February 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822041923/http://www.thenews.org/2.10055/american-basketball-association-team-looks-to-bring-new-energy-to-murray-1.1334632 |archive-date=August 22, 2009 }}</ref> Louisville and the corporate community had also attempted to pursue the [[Vancouver Grizzlies]] franchise before their ultimate move to [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] in 2001,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/grizzlies/2001-03-20-louisville.htm |title=Report: KFC owner offers to buy Grizzlies |publisher=Usatoday.Com |date=March 21, 2001 |access-date=August 5, 2009 |archive-date=August 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822035849/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/grizzlies/2001-03-20-louisville.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as the [[Charlotte Hornets]] franchise, which ultimately moved to [[New Orleans Pelicans|New Orleans]] in 2002 but was revived in 2004 as the Charlotte Bobcats, regaining the Hornets name and the team's pre-relocation history in 2014.


Another soccer team, the [[Louisville Lightning]], played [[indoor soccer]] in the [[Professional Arena Soccer League]] from 2009 to 2012 before folding.
Another soccer team, the [[Louisville Lightning]], played [[indoor soccer]] in the [[Professional Arena Soccer League]] from 2009 to 2012 before folding.
Line 95: Line 107:
| [[Baseball]]
| [[Baseball]]
| 1876–1878
| 1876–1878
| [[National League]]
| [[National League (baseball)|National League]]
| Various
| Various
|-
|-
| [[Louisville Lacrosse Club]]
| [[Louisville Lacrosse Club]]
| [[Lacrosse]]
| [[Lacrosse]]
| 1882-
| 1882–
| [[United States Amateur Lacrosse Association]]
| [[United States Amateur Lacrosse Association]]
|-
|-
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| [[Baseball]]
| [[Baseball]]
| 1891–1899
| 1891–1899
| [[National League]]
| [[National League (baseball)|National League]]
| [[Eclipse Park]]
| [[Eclipse Park]]
|-
|-
Line 139: Line 151:
| [[Eclipse Park]] and [[Parkway Field]]
| [[Eclipse Park]] and [[Parkway Field]]
|-
|-
| [[Louisville (NFL)|Louisville Brecks]]
| [[Louisville Brecks]]
| [[American football|Football]]
| [[American football|Football]]
| 1921–1923
| 1921–1923
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| [[American football|Football]]
| [[American football|Football]]
| 1935–1939
| 1935–1939
| [[Midwest Football League (1935–1940)|Midwest Football League]], <br> Midwest Professional Football League, <br> [[American Football League (1938)|American Professional Football League]]
| [[Midwest Football League (1935–1940)|Midwest Football League]], <br /> Midwest Professional Football League, <br /> [[American Football League (1938)|American Professional Football League]]
| [[Parkway Field]]
| [[Parkway Field]]
|-
|-
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| [[Softball]]
| [[Softball]]
| 1977–1982
| 1977–1982
| [[Professional softball leagues|American Professional Slow Pitch League]], <br> [[Professional softball leagues|North American Softball League]], <br> [[Professional softball leagues|United Professional Softball League]]
| [[Professional softball leagues|American Professional Slow Pitch League]], <br /> [[Professional softball leagues|North American Softball League]], <br /> [[Professional softball leagues|United Professional Softball League]]
| Bishop David Stadium
| Bishop David Stadium
|-
|-
Line 250: Line 262:
| [[American football|Football]]
| [[American football|Football]]
| 1988–2011
| 1988–2011
| [[Hearts of Ohio Football League]], <br> Mid-Continental Football League, <br> Elite Mid-Continental Football League
| [[Hearts of Ohio Football League]], <br /> Mid-Continental Football League, <br /> Elite Mid-Continental Football League
| Various
| Various
|-
|-
Line 268: Line 280:
| [[Soccer]]
| [[Soccer]]
| 1994–1995
| 1994–1995
| [[United Soccer Leagues|USISL]] / [[USL Second Division|USISL Pro League]]
| [[USISL]] / [[USISL Pro League]]
|
|
|-
|-
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|-
|-
| [[Derby City Rovers]]
| [[Derby City Rovers]]
| [[Association football|Soccer]]
| [[Soccer]]
| 2011–2018
| 2011-2018
| [[Premier Development League]]
| [[Premier Development League]]
| [[Christian Academy of Louisville|Centurion Soccer Fields]], Woehrle Athletic Complex, and King Louie's Sports Complex
| [[Christian Academy of Louisville|Centurion Soccer Fields]], Woehrle Athletic Complex, and King Louie's Sports Complex
Line 341: Line 353:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://louisvillesports.org/ Louisville Sports Commission]
* [https://www.louisvillesports.org/ Louisville Sports Commission]


[[Category:Sports in Louisville, Kentucky| ]]
[[Category:Sports in Louisville, Kentucky| ]]

Latest revision as of 07:02, 12 June 2024

Sports in Louisville, Kentucky include amateur and professional sports in baseball, football, basketball, horse racing, horse shows, ice hockey, soccer and lacrosse. The city of Louisville and the Louisville metropolitan area have a sporting history from the mid-19th century to the present day.

Louisville Slugger Field, where the Louisville Bats play

Professional sports

[edit]

Louisville is home to one major league professional women's team, and two minor league professional men's teams. The Louisville Bats are a baseball team playing in the Triple-A East as the Class AAA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team plays at Louisville Slugger Field at the edge of the city's downtown.

Louisville hosts two soccer teams. Louisville City FC began play in the United Soccer League in 2015, sharing Louisville Slugger Field with the Bats. Louisville City was the reserve side for Major League Soccer's Orlando City SC in 2015, but no longer fills that role after Orlando City launched a team-owned reserve side for the 2016 season.

In October 2019, the National Women's Soccer League announced that it would award an expansion franchise to Louisville that would begin play at Lynn Family Stadium in 2021.[1]

Women's Major League Teams
Club Sport Began Play League Venue
Racing Louisville FC Soccer 2021 National Women's Soccer League Lynn Family Stadium
Minor League Professional Sports Teams
Club Sport Began Play League Venue
Louisville Bats Baseball 1982 International League Louisville Slugger Field
Louisville City FC Soccer 2015 USL Championship Lynn Family Stadium

College sports

[edit]

College basketball and college football are very popular in Louisville, which prides itself on being one of the best college sports towns in America.

The city is home to the University of Louisville Cardinals, who compete in the NCAA's Division I and are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The U of L men's basketball team won the NCAA Division I basketball championship in 1980 and 1986 under head coach Denny Crum, and recently achieved the NCAA Final Four in 2005, 2012, and 2013 under head coach Rick Pitino, and winning the National Championship in 2013 which would later be vacated. The women's basketball team, under head coach Jeff Walz, reached the final of the NCAA women's tournament in 2009 and 2013, losing both times to Connecticut. The 2008–09 team featured 2009 WNBA draft #1 pick Angel McCoughtry. Both basketball teams ended their tenure at Freedom Hall in 2010 and moved to the new KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville for the 2010–11 season.

The U of L football team, with coach Bobby Petrino, finished No. 7 in the nation for the 2006 season, 19th in the final BCS rankings of 2005 and 10th in 2004. After winning the Orange Bowl—the school's first Bowl Championship Series game—in January 2007, Petrino left the Cardinals to be the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Steve Kragthorpe was hired to replace Petrino less than two days later. Kragthorpe was fired after three years and replaced by University of Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. Petrino returned for a second stint with the Cardinals in 2014, after Strong left for the head coaching vacancy at Texas. The U of L football team plays on campus at Cardinal Stadium. U of L won the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2013, upsetting the Florida Gators.

The U of L baseball team advanced to the 2007 and 2013 College World Series in Omaha, where eight teams competed for the national championship. In 2012–13, U of L became the first school ever to appear in a BCS bowl game, the men's and women's Final Fours in basketball, and the College World Series in the same school year.[2]

Bellarmine University, home of the Knights, moved all sports up to the NCAA Division I level in the 2019–2020 academic year. Spalding University, home of the Golden Eagles, plays in NCAA Division III as members of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Louisville Universities
University Nickname League Division
University of Louisville Louisville Cardinals Atlantic Coast Conference NCAA Division I
Bellarmine University Bellarmine Knights ASUN Conference NCAA Division I
Spalding University Spalding Golden Eagles St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference NCAA Division III

Horse racing and equestrian events

[edit]

Churchill Downs is home to the Kentucky Derby, the largest sports event in the state, as well as the Kentucky Oaks, which together cap the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. Churchill Downs has also hosted the renowned Breeders' Cup on eight occasions, in 2011, and most recently in 2018.

Besides racing there is the World's Championship Horse show. This show is mostly for Saddlebred horses and is held in conjunction with the Kentucky State Fair. This is the premier event of the year for Saddle seat Pleasure and Equitation.

Louisville is also the home of Valhalla Golf Club which hosted the 1996, 2000, and 2014 PGA Championships, and hosted the 2008 Ryder Cup. It is also home to one of the top skateparks in the U.S., David Armstrong Extreme Park.

Louisville is also the home of Ohio Valley Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion that at different times served as the official developmental territory for WWE (2000–2008)[3] and TNA Wrestling (2011–2013).[4] Many notable WWE performers trained in OVW, such as Jillian Hall, Randy Orton, John Cena, Batista, CM Punk, and The Spirit Squad (which included the wrestler now known as Dolph Ziggler).[5]

High school

[edit]

High school sports are also very popular in the city, especially football and basketball.

Louisville area high schools have been dominant in football in recent years. Trinity (1994, 2001–2003, 2005–2008, 2010–2013), Male (1993, 1998, 2000, 2015) and St. Xavier (1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2009) high schools have won 22 of the 24 football titles in Kentucky's largest enrollment class (4A through 2006, 6A since 2007) since 1992. Central has won five 3A titles since Kentucky's move to a six-class system (2007, 2008, 2010–2012). Manual also has a storied history, collecting 5 state titles (1925, 1938, 1948, 1959, 1966) and 2 national titles (1925 and 1938). Manual and Male are the oldest high schools in Louisville, and the 1st football game in the state was played between these two in 1893. Also, Trinity and St. Xavier have one of the fiercest rivalries in high school football. Every year, the Trinity-St. Xavier game draws an average of 35,000 fans to Cardinal Stadium, and is promoted by the schools as the largest attended regular-season high school football game in the country.[6] Currently, St. Xavier leads this storied rivalry with 31 wins, 26 losses and 2 ties.

The 2002 Kentucky state 4A Football Championship between Male and Trinity, a showdown between future UofL teammates Brian Brohm (Trinity) and Michael Bush (Male) that ended with a 59–56 Trinity win, is listed as one of the top 50 sporting events of all time by many critics. The "Old Rivalry" between Male and Manual high schools is one of the nation's oldest, dating back to 1893, and was played on Thanksgiving Day through 1980, with Manual winning the final T-Day game by a score of 6–0 in overtime.

Annual competitions

[edit]

From 2007 to 2019, Louisville was host to the annual Ironman Louisville triathlon, in August until 2014 then in October afterwards.[7] In 2019, 2,366 participants finished the course.[8]

In early 2012, Louisville became the first American city to ever host the UCI Masters Cyclocross World Championships, and the following year became the first American city to host the Masters, Juniors, U23, and Professional Elite Women's and Men's UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, the biggest races of the fastest growing form of bicycle racing.[9] The event was held at a new permanent cyclocross course at Eva Bandman Park.[10]

Historical teams

[edit]

Louisville long ago hosted teams in the National Football League and Major League Baseball and fielded a strong franchise, the Kentucky Colonels, in the American Basketball Association before the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976. The Colonels won the penultimate ABA championship in 1975, defeating their archrival, the Indiana Pacers, in the 1975 ABA Finals.

The Kentucky Colonels were the winningest team in the history of the American Basketball Association, but the Colonels were not included in the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976. A later team with the same name played in Louisville in the ABA 2000 league but moved to Murray, Kentucky, in 2007 before folding.[11] Louisville and the corporate community had also attempted to pursue the Vancouver Grizzlies franchise before their ultimate move to Memphis in 2001,[12] as well as the Charlotte Hornets franchise, which ultimately moved to New Orleans in 2002 but was revived in 2004 as the Charlotte Bobcats, regaining the Hornets name and the team's pre-relocation history in 2014.

Another soccer team, the Louisville Lightning, played indoor soccer in the Professional Arena Soccer League from 2009 to 2012 before folding. The city was home to two professional ice hockey teams in the East Coast Hockey League, from 1990 to 1994 the Louisville Icehawks, followed by the Louisville RiverFrogs from 1995 to 1998. The city also had an American Hockey League team from 1999 to 2001, the Louisville Panthers.

Club Sport Played League Venue
Louisville Grays Baseball 1876–1878 National League Various
Louisville Lacrosse Club Lacrosse 1882– United States Amateur Lacrosse Association
Louisville Eclipse Baseball 1882–1884 American Association Eclipse Park
Louisville Colonels Baseball 1884–1891 American Association Various
Louisville African Americans Baseball 1887 League of Colored Baseball Players Various
Louisville Colonels Baseball 1891–1899 National League Eclipse Park
Louisville Colonels Baseball 1901 Western Association Various
Louisville Colonels Baseball 1901–1962 American Association Eclipse Park and Parkway Field
Louisville Brecks Football 1921–1923 National Football League Various
Louisville Colonels Football 1926 National Football League Various
Louisville Bourbons Football 1931–1936 American Football League (1934)  
Louisville Tanks Football 1935–1939 Midwest Football League,
Midwest Professional Football League,
American Professional Football League 		Parkway Field
Louisville Colonels Basketball 1947–1948 Professional Basketball League of America unknown
Louisville Blades Ice hockey 1948–1950 International Hockey League
United States Hockey League 		Louisville Gardens
Louisville Buckeyes Baseball 1949–1950 Negro leagues Various
Louisville Alumnites Basketball 1950–1951 National Professional Basketball League Louisville Male High Gym
Louisville Shooting Stars Ice hockey 1953–1954 International Hockey League Louisville Gardens
Louisville Rebels Ice hockey 1957–1960 International Hockey League Louisville Gardens
Freedom Hall
Louisville Raiders Football 1960–1962 United Football League Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky Colonels Basketball 1967–1976 American Basketball Association Convention Center and Freedom Hall
Louisville Colonels Baseball 1968–1972 International League Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky Bourbons Softball 1977–1982 American Professional Slow Pitch League,
North American Softball League,
United Professional Softball League 		Bishop David Stadium
Kentucky Trackers Football 1979–1980 American Football Association Cardinal Stadium
Louisville Redbirds Baseball 1982–1998 American Association Cardinal Stadium
Louisville Catbirds Basketball 1983–1985 Continental Basketball Association Louisville Gardens
Louisville Thunder Soccer 1984–1987 American Indoor Soccer Association Broadbent Arena
Louisville Bulls Football 1988–2011 Hearts of Ohio Football League,
Mid-Continental Football League,
Elite Mid-Continental Football League 		Various
Louisville Icehawks Ice hockey 1990–1995 East Coast Hockey League Broadbent Arena
Louisville Shooters Basketball 1991–1993 Global Basketball Association Louisville Gardens
Louisville Thoroughbreds Soccer 1994–1995 USISL / USISL Pro League
Louisville RiverFrogs Ice hockey 1995–1998 East Coast Hockey League Broadbent Arena
Louisville RiverBats Baseball 1998–2002 International League Louisville Slugger Field
Louisville Panthers Ice hockey 1999–2001 American Hockey League Freedom Hall
Louisville Fire Arena football 2001–2008 af2 Freedom Hall
Kentucky Colonels Basketball 2004–2006 American Basketball Association Louisville Gardens
Kentucky Retros Basketball 2007 American Basketball Association Freedom Hall
Louisville Lightning Indoor soccer 2009–2012 PASL-Pro Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club
Kentucky Stickhorses Lacrosse 2012–2013 North American Lacrosse League Freedom Hall
Kentucky Xtreme Indoor football 2013 Continental Indoor Football League Freedom Hall
Derby City Rovers Soccer 2011–2018 Premier Development League Centurion Soccer Fields, Woehrle Athletic Complex, and King Louie's Sports Complex

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "National Women's Soccer League announces expansion to Louisville in 2021" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. October 22, 2019. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  2. ^ "North Carolina A&T vs. Louisville – Game Recap – March 21, 2013 – ESPN". Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "WWE to cease affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling". World Wrestling Entertainment. February 7, 2008. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  4. ^ Marshall, Anne (December 7, 2011). "Learning the ropes". Louisville Eccentric Observer. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  5. ^ "Ohio Valley Wrestling Alumni". Ohio Valley Wrestling. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2008.
  6. ^ Patrick, Dick (September 21, 2005). "High school rivals are like family". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  7. ^ "Ironman Louisville/". ironman.com/. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "2019 IRONMAN Louisville". Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "Louisville to host 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships". Cyclocross Magazine. January 29, 2010. Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  10. ^ "Louisville Moving Forward with Permanent Cyclocross Course". Cyclocross Magazine. December 16, 2009. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  11. ^ "American Basketball Association team looks to bring new energy to Murray". The Murray State News. January 19, 2007. Archived from the original on August 22, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  12. ^ "Report: KFC owner offers to buy Grizzlies". Usatoday.Com. March 21, 2001. Archived from the original on August 22, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
[edit]
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