North Carolina is considered a foremost sports destination. Here are some of the reasons why.
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Geographic location – Positioned nearly halfway between New York and Miami, North Carolina is a great location right in the center of the East Coast. Many regions of the state are within 3-4 hours drives of Washington D.C., Atlanta, Ga. and Richmond, Va.
- Mild Southern climate – The state enjoys mild winters, long pleasant periods of spring and fall and warm summers.
- Great scenery – From the highest mountains in the East, to 300 miles of Atlantic coastline, to vibrant, exciting cities.
- One of the fastest growing states in the nation – With 9 million residents, its large population draws many sporting events.
- Excellent facilities – Collegiate, professional and private.
- Experienced sports contacts – Including event organizers, college coaches, and athletic trainers.
- A major hub for NASCAR – Considering these accomplishments, it was no surprise when NASCAR chose Charlotte to be the host city for the NASCAR Hall of Fame set to open in 2010:
- One of the most famous tracks in NASCAR, Lowe’s Motor Speedway
- The majority of NASCAR teams headquartered in the Charlotte area.
- Good corporate base – The banking, pharmaceutical and technology companies based in areas such as Research Triangle Park and Charlotte are strong supporters of both big and small events. Behind New York, Charlotte is the second leading banking center in the United States.
- International golf resort area – In addition to Pinehurst and Southern Pines, nearly 500 public golf courses across the state host major events, including the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro and the Wachovia Classic in Charlotte, both PGA TOUR events.
- Well-known universities – The University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, Wake Forest University and Duke University consistently win national championships.
- Well-known college basketball tournaments – Including the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) tournaments across the state.
- Airports – North Carolina has 74 conveniently-located, publicly-owned airports and nearly 300 privately-owned airports offering these services:
- Nine airports have regularly scheduled airline service
- Three are major international airports (Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Piedmont-Triad International Airport)
- Thirty-two of the East Coast’s “million-plus” population centers are within two hours’ flight-time.
- Highways – The state has the second largest state-maintained highway system in the nation, incorporating 78,600 miles of highways and providing same-day access to all eastern U.S. markets. Five major interstate highways intersect North Carolina including: I-26, I-40, I-77, I-85 and I-95.
- Extensive passenger rail network throughout the state.