Whether you’re a sports fanatic (or just look good in Blue Ridge blue) when it comes to sports, the Land of the Sky has no shortage of teams to support.
Whether you’re already a devoted fan or you’re new to the area and want to explore Asheville athletics, we’re getting ahead of the game and rounding up everything you need to know about sports teams in Asheville. Now the ball’s in your court.
⚾ Asheville Tourists (MiLB) | Est. 1897
The Tourists have gone by several different monikers since their inception — including the Moonshiners and Mountaineers. The team officially became the Tourists in 1976 due to Asheville’s status as a popular destination for travelers. The team incorporated the moon into its logo in 2010, paying homage to its original team name of the Moonshiners. Currently, the Tourists compete in the South Atlantic League and they’re the High-A affiliate of the Houston Astros.
Where they play: McCormick Field
- Opened in August 1924
- Max. capacity of 4,000
Mascots: Ted E. Tourist and Mr. Moon
- The original mascot Ted E. is an anthropomorphic bear complete with sunglasses and a suitcase.
- Mr. Moon was introduced in 2011.
Team colors: Blue Ridge blue, midnight navy, and Biltmore jade
- Fun fact: A Twitter bet inspired The Asheville Tourists to transform into the Asheville Hippies for one night. The team sported tie-dye jerseys in their game against the Greenville Drive on June 29, 2017. Now, the Tourists still play as the Hippies every once in a while — and auction off their jerseys for charitable causes.
- Wanna rep your team? Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- League champs in 1915, 1939, 1961, 1984, 2012, and 2014
- Tied for most South Atlantic League championship titles (4)
- Six former Tourists are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame
📅 Sneak a peek at the team’s season schedule.
Asheville Tourists games have special offerings throughout the week, like drinks deals on Thursdays and fireworks on Fridays.
Photo by Tony Farlow, via @ashevilletourists
🛼 Blue Ridge Roller Derby (WFTDA) | Est. June 2006
This group of derby athletes is Asheville’s first flat track roller derby league. The organization also has a junior derby league for skaters under 18 to learn the sport (and if you want to try out the rink, you can get involved too).
Where they play: Smoky Mountain Event Center
- Opened in 1990
- Max. capacity of 600
Team colors: Orange and blue
- Need some new duds for a bout? Shop the merch.
Major accomplishments:
- The team won the WFTDA D2 Championship in 2016.
📅 Keep an eye on the team’s season schedule.
⚽ Asheville City Soccer Club (USL2 - Men’s and USLW - Women’s) | Est. 2016
The Asheville City Soccer Club’s men’s team played in the National Premier Soccer League until joining USL2 in 2019. In 2017, the women’s team was formed. Currently, the men’s team competes in the USL2’s South Central Division and the women’s team competes in the USLW’s South Atlantic Division.
Where they play: Greenwood Field at UNC Asheville
- Opened in 1989
- Max. capacity of 1,000
Team colors: Blue haze and white
- Fun fact: ACS’s “blue haze” color is named after the haze that often appears to hang over the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- The ACS crest features a graphic of the Asheville City Hall.
- Kicking around the idea of ACSC gear? Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- In 2024, the men’s team had an undefeated season for the first time in the club’s history.
- The women’s team got their first-ever playoff win in 2024, too.
- The club launched the Meghann Burke WNC Soccer Pollinator Award and presented the inaugural award to President of the Asheville-Buncombe Adult Soccer Association Felice Bell.
📅 Bookmark the schedule for the teams’ upcoming seasons.
You’ll get a kick out of these games.
Photo by @aka9photography, via @ashevillecitysc
🏀 UNC Asheville Men’s Basketball (Big South Conference) | Est. 1927
The men’s basketball team is currently coached by former Milligan College basketball player Mike Morrell, and the women’s team is coached by Tynesha Lewis, a former player for several professional basketball teams. During the 2021-2022 season, Morrell led the Bulldogs to their first postseason appearance in four seasons when they were invited to take part in the College Basketball Invitational.
Where they play: Kimmel Arena
- Opened in November 2011
- Max. capacity of ~3,200 for sporting events or ~3,800 for concerts and conferences
Mascot: Rocky the Bulldog
- Talk about a top dog. UNC Asheville Athletics released “Rocky’s Activity Book” featuring a word search, crossword puzzle, coloring activity, and more.
- There is a silver Rocky the Bulldog statue in front of the Sherrill Center and Kimmel Arena.
Team colors: Bulldog blue and white
- UNC Asheville’s sports teams rep a logo featuring a light gray bulldog wearing a spiky black and white collar.
- Looking for slam-dunk style? Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- The men’s team has appeared in five NCAA tournaments and won in 2003 and 2011.
- The women’s team has appeared in three NCAA tournaments and won tournament titles in 2007, 2016, and 2017.
📅 Look out for next season’s men’s schedule and women’s schedule.
Bonus: UNC Asheville has lots of other teams you can cheer on. Explore the schedules of everything from tennis to track + field, swimming to golf — and show your support.
