Sports in South Carolina

S. Carolina Gamecocks football game at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia

A variety of sports are popular in the US state of South Carolina.

College football is the most popular sport.[1][2] Memorial Stadium and Williams–Brice Stadium are two of the 55 largest stadiums in the world. Clemson University and the University of South Carolina are both ranked in the top 27 colleges in the country in athletic revenue.[3] Their rivalry is considered one of the best in college sports,[4][5][6][7] and their annual football game (the Palmetto Bowl) is considered the most important sporting event in the state.[8]

There are no major league professional franchises based in South Carolina. However, the state does have numerous minor league and lower-division (soccer) teams. Additionally, the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC, two major league professional teams based in Charlotte near the South Carolina border, have shown an interest in representing both of the Carolinas.[9][10][11][12]

Myrtle Beach is the self-proclaimed "Golf Capital of the World", with around ninety courses.[13] The Grand Strand and Hilton Head areas are both ranked in the top four locations in the country in golf courses per capita.[14] The state is also a prime destination for water sports. A government survey from 2000 found that South Carolina had the seventh most surfers of any state in the nation.[15]

  1. ^ "Most popular sport in each of the 50 states". Yahoo Sports. 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  2. ^ R, Brett (2022-02-26). "The Most Popular Sports in America By Each State". FanBuzz. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  3. ^ "NCAA Finances: Revenue & Expenses by School". USA Today. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  4. ^ "Ranking the top 25 rivalries in college sports". Saturday Down South. 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  5. ^ "What are the best rivalries in college athletics? It starts in North Carolina". College Sports Wire. 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  6. ^ "Ranking the Top 25 Rivalries in College Football History". AthlonSports.com. 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  7. ^ Humphrey, Chris. "College Football: The 50 Best Rivalries in College Football". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  8. ^ "Clemson, South Carolina enter Palmetto State's biggest rivalry on three-game win streaks". Yahoo News. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  9. ^ Callihan, Schuyler (2022-05-07). "Odds Are 'Slim' That the Panthers and Rock Hill 'Resurrect' Terminated Agreement". Sports Illustrated Carolina Panthers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  10. ^ Raven, Jason (2019-06-28). "Carolina Panthers officially become 'two states, one team'". wistv.com. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  11. ^ "Carolina Panthers training camp: What to know about practice times, parking, autographs". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  12. ^ "Charlotte FC reveal inaugural 'Carolina Kit' primary jersey". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  13. ^ "Capital Conundrum: Which destination is the golf capital of the United States?". NBC Sports. 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  14. ^ Leonard, Michael (2021-05-23). "U.S. Golf Destinations With the Most Courses Per Capita". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  15. ^ "How many surfers?". surfrider.org. Retrieved 2024-02-14.