Over 400 Sports Travel Events each Year
While celebrating its 113th year of existence, the Country Club of Charleston hosted the 113th Annual US Women’s Amateur Championship in August 2013 and hosted the US Women’s Open in May 2019.
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort has hosted a number of PGA events, including: Ryder Cup (1991); World Cup (1997 & 2003); UBS Warburg Cup (2001); Senior PGA Championship (2007), and PGA Championship (2012), which is scheduled to return in May 2021.
Rivertowne Country Club in Mt. Pleasant was the chosen golf course for the Ginn Tribute –hosted by Annika Sorenstam (2007 & 2008).
Credit One Open is one of WTA’s Tour Premier Events and held annually at the Credit One Stadium and LTP Daniel Island Tennis Center. (2001-present).
The Credit One Charleston Open is the largest women’s only tennis tournament in North America. Every April, Credit One and Charleston welcomes more than 100 world-class, women athletes to participate in the excitement of the Credit One Charleston Open.
The International Tennis Federation held the Davis Cup Semi-Finals at the Family Circle Tennis Center, Daniel Island (2004).
Created by ESPN Events, the Charleston Classic is a pre-season NCAA men’s basketball invitational tournament held annually at the College of Charleston’s TD Arena (2008 – present).
The first professional rugby matches to ever be played in the state of SC have been held at MUSC Health Stadium. USA vs. IRB teams in the summer of 2008, 2009 and 2013.
The Charleston Harbor has been the backdrop for a number of solo yacht races including BOC Challenge (94/95); Around Alone Race (98/99) and VELUX 5 Oceans (2011) and now team races such as the Atlantic Cup (2014/15).
The Carolina Challenge Cup is hosted by the Charleston Battery and includes MLS professional men’s soccer teams in a pre-season tournament, since 2004.
Charleston Battery is a professional soccer club that plays in the United Soccer League. Founded in 1993, they are one of the oldest continuously operating professional soccer clubs in the US. The team plays 17+ home games at Patriots Point Soccer Complex.
Charleston hosted the Colonial Athletic Association’s Men’s Basketball Championship, 2017-2019. Member school, College of Charleston competes in NCAA Division I and sponsors 20 varsity sports teams.
Charleston hosted the Southern Conference M’s & W’s Basketball Championships, 2002 – 2008 and Baseball Championships for 23 years, from 1990-2015. Member school, The Citadel has been affiliated with the SoCon since 1936, and sponsors 16 varsity sports teams.
CSU Buccaneers participate in Division I of the NCAA as a member of the Big South Conference. Charleston Southern fields varsity teams in 16 sports, 7 for men and 9 for women. The football team competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
A top six collegiate power conference, the ACC has shown interest in hosting championship events at a neutral site, such as men’s and women’s soccer at MUSC Health Stadium.
First -time destination for a national championship, The Citadel hosted the 2018 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Rifle Championships.
Major League Lacrosse selected Charleston as the host city for their 2018 National Championships, played at MUSC Health Stadium on Daniel Island.
The SC Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team and play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. Established in 1993, the team plays 34+ home games at the North Charleston Coliseum.
The Charleston RiverDogs are a minor league baseball team and plays in the Class Single-A South Atlantic League. They are an affiliate of the New York Yankees and play 74+ home games at the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.
Created by ESPN Events, the Charleston Classic is a pre-season NCAA men’s basketball invitational tournament held annually at the College of Charleston’s TD Arena (2008 – present).
The American Junior Golf Association hosted their national marquee event, the Rolex Girls Junior Championship at The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek on Johns Island in June 2019.
The Bassmaster Elite Series is the highest level of professional bass fishing tournaments by B.A.S.S. The 2020 Bassmaster Elite is held at Santee Cooper Lakes.
The National Senior Women Tennis Association regularly hosts their marquee event, The Anne Geier Cup, in the Charleston area.
Since 1991, the Southern Kingfish Association is the premier sanctioning body for king mackerel tournaments and has hosted a number of competitions in the Charleston area.
The Steeplechase of Charleston is a National Steeplechase Association sanctioned Race Meet, held in November at The Plantation @ Stono Ferry Racetrack.
The American Canoe Association is the oldest and largest paddle sports organization in the US, promoting canoeing, kayaking, and rafting. The national organization is a regular sponsor for Charleston County Park Recreation Commission events.
Formed in 1979, the USTA Pro Circuit has grown into the largest developmental tennis circuit in the world and has hosted national girls’ tournaments in the Charleston area with $60K and $100K in prize money.
USA women’s professional soccer players have made four different appearances in the Charleston SC area.
The AVP Charleston Open was held at LTP-Daniel Island (formerly Family Circle Tennis Center) in June 2007 and 2008 and required over 1,470 tons of sand to create professional beach volleyball courts.
Known as the world’s largest tennis tournament, the Southern Sectional Championships were held in Charleston SC and included over 2,000 players for 9 days in July 2005 & 2006.
The 41st annual race begins at 8:30 at the Sullivan’s Island Fish Fry Shack. Presented by the Charleston Running Club, it honors the memory of Dr. Charlie Post, a well-known runner, triathlete, and family physician who volunteered his time and medical talents to the running community.
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MyHockey Tournaments host five youth hockey weekends each year at the Carolina Ice Palace. The Palmetto State Tournament Series includes up to 250 players and 500 attendees.
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Charleston Battery are a professional soccer club that plays in the USL Championship. Founded in 1993, they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer club in the US. Home games are played at Patriots Point Soccer Stadium.
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A 54-hole men's college tournament co-hosted by the College of Charleston and USC with a total of 15 men teams. Special appearances by Darius Rucker and band members from Hootie and the Blowfish.
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Charleston RiverDogs are a minor league baseball team and plays in Class Low-A South Atlantic League. An affiliate of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and play 74+ home games @ the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.
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The Annual Coastal Cyclists Ride the Lowcountry returns to Awendaw, SC. The Lowcountry bicycle ride winds through beautiful forests, featuring flat roads, coastal wooded scenery and quiet backcountry roads. Up to 600 cyclists can register for 33, 43, 65 or 100-mile rides.
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She Tris is the only pool swim and women-only triathlon in the Charleston area. Currently offering two regional events with beginner-friendly distances (swim: 200 yards, bike: 8-9 miles, run: 2-3 miles).
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Lowcountry Splash is SC's premier open-water swim and includes both a 2.4-mile and 6-mile swim along the Mt. Pleasant shoreline, under the Cooper River Bridge and finishing in front of the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point. The Splash attracts swimmers from 30+ states and 3 countries.
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The 30th annual Floppin’ Flounder 5K takes place on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 8 AM at the Sullivan’s Island Fish Fry Shack, located at 1424 Hennessy St.
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The annual tournament includes Boys 10-HS and Girls 13U-HS and played at Hyde Park Polo Club in Ravenel SC. It is a US Lacrosse Nationals Sanctioned Qualifier Event.
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The four-race sprint triathlon series features a 600-yard freshwater swim, 12-mile bike ride, and 5K flat run with 400 participants for each race.
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Hundred of runners compete on the beaches of Isle of Palms on the last Saturday in July. Includes a 5K, 10K run and 5K walk. Race day location is at The Windjammer.
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The Charleston Open features 300+ elite figure skaters held at the Carolina Ice Palace. It is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating and hosted by Figure Skating Club of Charleston. Event is open to public and admission is free.
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The Citadel Bulldogs compete in NCAA Division I athletics and in football the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. The school's affiliation is the Southern Conference, since 1936, and sponsors 14 varsity men's and women's sports teams.
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CSU Buccaneers participate in Division I of the NCAA as a member of the Big South Conference. Charleston Southern fields varsity teams in 14 men's and women's sports teams. The football team competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
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The College of Charleston Cougars compete in NCAA Division I and are currently members of the Colonial Athletic Association. The university sponsors 17 varsity men's and women's sports teams.
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The internationally known event is a 12-mile open water swim in the Charleston waterways and harbor. It begins at Remley's Point in Mt. Pleasant SC, proceeds across the Cooper River, parallels the Charleston peninsula, and proceeds up the Ashley River to the finish point at I-526. It is recognized as part of the Global Swim Series.
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The Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team and play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. Established in 1993, the team plays 34+ home games at the North Charleston Coliseum.
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Named SC Adult Tournament of the Year, the Championship is a National Level-3 and USTA National Level-1 Mixed Doubles Tournament in it’s 38th year. Held at Seabrook Island Racquet Club, it attracts over 250 senior players from more than 20 states. (Photo: Gary Bowers)
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The Charleston Scottish Games & Highland Gathering is the 2nd oldest event of its kind in the southeast. It draws visitors from around the US and abroad, bringing in over 8,000+ guests each year. Held at North Charleston Riverfront Park.
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LOWVELO rallies everyone together for one great cause raising money for innovative and lifesaving cancer research at the state's only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center: MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. Route options include 10m, 20m, 23m, 50m, and 80 miles around the Lowcountry.
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With deep roots in southern heritage, this Charleston tradition began in 1792 and will be ushered into its new era. The family-friendly Sunday event will feature six high-stakes races with coveted titles on the line.
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The ESPN-owned event includes 8 men's teams from top conferences, such as ACC, SEC, A10, Big Ten and Big 12, all playing for a total of 12 games during a four-day weekend. 2024 teams to be announced soon.
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The Turkey Day Run & Gobble Wobble is a sanctioned 5K race in SC. The annual run/walk takes place on Thanksgiving morning in downtown Charleston. The event attracted over 8,000 participants and thousands of onlookers in 2022, making it the largest 5K in South Carolina and the 9th largest timed 5K in the United States.
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Includes up to 4,000 participants for both full and half marathon. Often used as a Boston Marathon Qualifier due to its flat and scenic course.
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The Carolina Invitational will host some 156 Varsity Girls, Varsity Boys, JV Boys and JV Girls' teams. All games will be played at various high school gyms in Charleston with each site hosting an 8-team field with same competition level.
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Course begins at Joe Riley Stadium and includes historic streets of Charleston with a finish and post-race party back at the Stadium. Includes both a 5K and youth run. Up to 8,500 participants from 50 states and 6 countries!
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Held at Charleston Area Convention Center and includes some 2,000 girl gymnasts from over 20 states and 3 countries.
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Annual Sweetgrass Half Marathon is held at Park West Recreation Complex, Mt. Pleasant. Runners start at the Recreation Complex and run through the picturesque Carolina Park neighborhood. This is a flat and fast course.
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A world-class competition ranked #4 in the US and #18 in the world as the largest 10K road race with 40,000 annual participants. Begins in Mt. Pleasant and finish line is in historic Charleston. A two-day Expo takes place at the Charleston Area Convention Center on Thurs-Fri.
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Largest women's only tennis tournament in the world. Up to 900,000 spectators and more than 70 world-class, women athletes to participate in WTA 500 tournament. Over 100 live hours on Tennis Channel. Credit One is title sponsor for stadium at LTP - Daniel Island.
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Consists of up to 250 boats competing in the largest regatta of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Includes some 2,500 participants, representing 27 states and seven countries.
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