Cheers to the South

The Southeastern Conference, one of the top college sports conferences in the country, introduced a new slogan in 2016: “It just means more.” The slogan ruffled some feathers—and continues to—because college football means a lot in many parts of the country. But whether or not they truly mean more, sports in the Southeast certainly mean quite a bit. This region is home to more than just great teams, it’s home to passionate fans and bucket list-type experiences that make it a top group destination.

When looking at sports venues of the Southeast, you have to start with college football. These teams engender a different kind of passion than their pro counterparts, with a longer history and a greater community presence. And in many places, they’re the only game in town—you won’t find pro sports in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, or Clemson, South Carolina.

Clemson features one of the most legendary atmospheres in college football. Its Memorial Stadium is better known by another name: Death Valley. That’s because it’s where “the visiting team’s hopes go to die.” Through the 2024 season, Clemson has won more than 76% of its games at the stadium.

The crowd gets into a frenzy early as they watch the team enter the stadium. Instead of running out of a tunnel, the players run down a hill behind the east end zone and onto the field. It’s what college football broadcaster Brent Musburger once called “the most exciting 25 seconds in college football.”

Home of the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers, Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge also bills itself as Death Valley. History shows Clemson had the nickname first—incidentally, both teams are also called the Tigers—but it is hard to argue with LSU also using it. Opponents will find their ears ringing after playing in Tiger Stadium. It’s considered one of the loudest stadiums in college football, once recording a noise level of 130 decibels—roughly the level of a jet taking off.

A college football Saturday in the South is about more than just the game. Fans throw some epic tailgate parties. At LSU, fans can start setting theirs up at 5 p.m.—on Friday. Most fans tailgate for five hours or more, and for some, that’s enough. Some fans come for the tailgate party and skip the game.

At Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, they even tailgate by boat. Located aside the Tennessee River, the home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers always sees a flotilla of “sailgaters.” As for the game itself, Neyland seats well over 100,000 fans, almost all of whom are wearing Tennessee orange, making for a stunning atmosphere.

Any one of these stadiums would make a lifetime of memories for visitors, and there are plenty more to be found throughout the South. Just remember to plan early. Even though these are some of the biggest stadiums in the world, they do sell out, particularly for rivalry games. Groups that plan ahead can find discounts, arrange for parking or tailgate passes, and make other arrangements such as tours on a non-gameday.

Can’t make it to a game? While in Atlanta, be sure to stop by the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. Across nearly 100,000 square feet, your group will find interactive exhibits, including a 45-yard football !eld. The Hall also has a premier collection of memorabilia and artifacts on display from the 150-plus-year history of college football.

Of course, there are other college sports worth experiencing in the South. Basketball is hugely popular, particularly in the “Tobacco Road” region of North Carolina. Duke University plays at perhaps the most iconic venue of college basketball, Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Be warned: Duke men’s basketball tickets are hard to get. But the facility does offer tours, giving your group a behind-the-scenes look at this legendary venue.

OFF TO THE RACES

When you think “sports in the South,” if you don’t think of college football first, you’ll likely think of NASCAR. Stock car racing is a uniquely American sport, and it all started in the South with bootleggers modifying their cars to outrun police during Prohibition. Eventually, they started racing each other, notably on the sands of Daytona Beach, Florida.

That sand has long been replaced by a 2 1/2-mile palace of speed called Daytona International Speedway. Famously home to NASCAR’s Daytona 500, the track hosts races throughout the year from several series. The track offers a variety of group seating options, including camping in Daytona’s massive infield space.

If your group isn’t visiting on a race day, there is still a ton to see. The track is home to the Motorsports Hall of Fame America, and the winning car from the most recent Daytona 500 is on display for a year until the next race. The track also offers tours, taking your group out onto the speedway itself for a one-of-a-kind experience.

There’s another kind of racing popular in the South: horse racing. And the capital of horse racing in the region is at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Best known as the home of the Kentucky Derby, the track also hosts a full calendar of live racing in both the spring and fall, with about 70 dates. Tours are offered on non-race days as well.

THE SOUTH’S PASTIME

For years, the Atlanta Braves were America’s team. Regularly aired nationally on then-owner Ted Turner’s TBS network, the Braves were the only MLB team in the South until the arrival of two Florida teams in the 1990s. The Braves still enjoy wide regional popularity and play in one of baseball’s newest and most group-friendly stadiums.

Located a short distance from downtown Atlanta, Truist Park is both a ballpark and a surrounding 2.25-million-square-foot development project called The Battery Atlanta. The Battery features a diverse blend of dining options, accommodations, and entertainment. But the main draw for baseball fans is the ballpark, which opened in 2017.

Truist Park offers 13 different hospitality areas, anywhere from an eight-person box to the Hank Aaron Terrace and Terrace Gardens that accommodate up to 550 fans. Groups can purchase a block of seats in the traditional seating areas as well, with groups of 20 or more eligible for group sale pricing. Besides the game, groups can visit Monument Garden, honoring Braves legends and championship teams. The bat and ball used on Hank Aaron’s record-setting 715th home run are also on display in the park.

While Truist Park is one of the newest baseball stadiums in the country, the oldest one can also be found in the Southeast. Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, was opened in 1910. It’s best known as the home stadium of legendary players of the Negro Leagues but has hosted minor league teams as well, and even hosted an MLB game in 2024—following some renovations. The stadium today is open for free, self-guided tours, but groups can also book private tours of this historical baseball artifact.

SOUTHERN SWING

For golf fans, the most iconic sports venue of the Southeast is Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters tournament. Unfortunately, this famously private club won’t let your group in for a look around. You can’t even easily buy Masters tickets—they are often sold out each year.

But, groups can get their own eyes on maybe the most iconic individual hole in American golf at the TPC at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, home of the annual Players Championship. The Stadium Course at Sawgrass was built specifically to host the tournament, and is therefore one of the best courses for spectators. Its signature hole is the 17th, known as the “island green,” as it is surrounded almost entirely by water.

Perhaps most famous for college football and racing, the Southeast also contains a multitude of sports venues that would make for a terrific group tour. It’s a great way to take in an authentic cultural experience of the region, sure to deliver a big win.

By Todd Kortemeier

Main Image: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia; Credit: Atlanta Braves