Professional and amateur sports enthusiasts have a lot to cheer about in the Lake Norman region. While many area newcomers carry other team allegiances, it doesn’t take long for Charlotte’s home teams to earn a place in their hearts as well.

NASCAR is the region’s oldest professional sport, as the city embraced stock car racing long before it became a national passion. More NASCAR teams are based in the Charlotte area than in any other city. Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the largest sports facility in the Southeast, hosts three major races – the UAW-GM 500 in October and the Nextel All-Star Challenge and Coca-Cola 600 in May – as well as numerous other events throughout the year.

While Charlotte has been home to NASCAR for decades, fans can now cheer local teams of the NBA, WNBA and NFL. Under the ownership of Black Entertainment Television founder Robert Johnson, the Charlotte Bobcats played their first season in 2004 at the Charlotte Coliseum and are the new tenants of the brand-new Charlotte Arena in Uptown.

The Charlotte Sting, an original WNBA team, arrived on the scene in 1997. The team, which moves to the new Charlotte Arena in 2006, draws thousands of fans to its games each summer and consistently makes it to postseason play.

The Carolina Panthers’ 2003-2004 season was simply magical. Overcoming a 1-15 record just two years before, the Panthers rallied to make their first-ever Super Bowl appearance in 2004. After suffering numerous injuries in 2004-2005, the Panthers rebounded from a 1-7 record to finish the season 7-9. Led by head coach John Fox, the Cardiac Cats’ 2005-2006 season promises to be exciting, as they are Sports Illustrated’s top pick to win the Super Bowl.

If hockey’s your game, check out the Charlotte Checkers. The Checkers play in the East Coast Hockey League and are affiliated with the NHL’s New York Rangers. In 1996, the Checkers won the ECHL Championship and fans’ excitement about the team has remained high ever since. The team moves to the Charlotte Arena for its 2005-2006 season.

If golf is more your speed, don’t miss the Wachovia Championship in May. Hosted by Quail Hollow Country Club, the tournament had a successful third year in 2005 as Vijay Singh won the sudden-death playoff with Jim Furyk and Sergio Garcia to secure the $6 million prize. The tournament’s purse is one of the largest on tour, which brings many of the greats to Charlotte, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

While Charlotte is not a Major League Baseball town, the Charlotte Knights, 1999 International League Champions, are a favorite of all who enjoy the national pastime. As the Chicago White Sox’s AAA affiliate, the Knights afford local residents the opportunity to see the sport’s rising stars. The team plays at Knights Castle in Fort Mill, just across the S.C. state line off I-77.

The region is also home to two single-A baseball clubs – the Hickory Crawdads, affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Kannapolis Intimidators, farm club for the Chicago White Sox. Both teams play in the South Atlantic League.

Additionally, the Charlotte Eagles, who play in the A-League of the United Soccer Leagues, and the Lady Eagles, who play in the south conference of the United Soccer League, will delight soccer fans.

Catching a Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball game is a must. Led by head coach Bobby Lutz, the 49ers consistently make postseason play and join the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2005.

Outdoor sports enthusiasts are excited about U.S. National Whitewater Center, a world-class park with controllable rapids that is modeled after the 2000 Olympic site in Australia. The park features rock climbing walls, mountain biking trails and flat water canoeing and kayaking in addition to the rapids. Located on the Catawba River near the interchange of I-85 and I-485, the park is expected to open in the summer of 2006.

Whatever your passion, and whatever your budget, as a sports fan you’ll be satisfied in Charlotte.

Ticket Information
Lowe’s Motor Speedway
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com
704-455-3200

Carolina Panthers
www.panthers.com
704-358-7800

Charlotte Sting
www.wnba.com/sting
877-WNBA-TIX

Charlotte Bobcats
www.nba.com/bobcats
704-BOBCATS

Charlotte Checkers
www.gocheckers.com
704-342-4ICE

Wachovia Championship
www.wachoviachampionship.com
800-945-0777

Charlotte Knights
www.charlotteknights.com
704-36-HOMER

Hickory Crawdads
www.hickorycrawdads.com
828-322-3000

Kannapolis Intimidators
www.intimidatorsbaseball.com
704-932-FANS

Charlotte Eagles/Lady Eagles
www.charlotteeagles.com
704-841-8644

Charlotte 49ers
http://charlotte49ers.collegesports.com
704-687-4949

U.S. National Whitewater Center
www.charlottewhitewater.com

Recreation
Recreational opportunities abound on Lake Norman. Whether you’re looking to spin around the lake on a boat, take a hike through the forests that surround the lake or spend a peaceful morning fishing for crappies, you’ll find all of it on Lake Norman.

Created in 1963 when Duke Power constructed the Cowans Ford Dam, Lake Norman was named after former Duke president Norman Cocke. Beyond the power it generates, the lake is a major water source for Mooresville, Davidson, Huntersville, Charlotte and Lincoln County. Lake Norman covers 32,510 acres and offers 520 miles of shoreline. Known as the “Inland Sea,” Lake Norman is the largest manmade lake in North Carolina.

Undoubtedly, Lake Norman’s biggest draw is its water activities. On the weekends, pontoon and power boats dot the lake, many of them towing a water skier. Sailboats are also popular on Lake Norman, which is home to several yacht clubs.

Marinas can be found all around the lake. Many offer both wet and dry storage as well as boat rentals. Duke Power, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and local county governments operate a number of public access areas on Lake Norman. For more information about lake access areas and water levels, go to www.dukepower.com/community/lakes.

Lake Norman’s plentiful fish population attracts anglers in search of catfish, crappie, yellow perch, striped bass and largemouth bass. A number of fishing guide services provide amateurs with tips to catch the big ones. Local bass fishing tournaments are often held on the lake. In 2004, Lake Norman hosted the Junior Bassmaster Classic, which coincided with the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Wylie, Norman’s sister lake to the south.

Four parks along the lake also offer a variety of activities for those who enjoy the outdoors. Lake Norman State Park in Troutman includes 13 miles of shoreline, a public beach and a boat rental harbor where you can rent pedal boats, rowboats and canoes. The park also provides mountain biking and hiking trails, picnic areas, a community building and a campground.

Three parks operated by Mecklenburg County are in Cornelius. Jetton Park, near The Peninsula, covers 105 acres and includes picnic sites, lighted tennis courts, walking trails, a sunning beach, bicycle rental shop, playgrounds, concessions and Waterfront Hall, which hosts weddings and other special events. Nearby, Ramsey Creek Park offers a sunning beach, boat launch, docks, playground, picnic shelters, nature trails and a fishing pier on its 44 acres along Lake Norman.

Blythe Landing is primarily a boat access area, with floating piers and boat launch, but the park also features a playground, picnic areas, sand volleyball courts and the Dockside Café, where you can dock your boat and grab a bite to eat.

Huntersville Family Fitness and Aquatics Center is a state-of-the-art facility with an indoor pool for swimming classes, an indoor pool for competitions and an outdoor family fun pool. The facility also includes a gymnasium, meeting room for 300 people and a diving platform. The center hosted the 2004 World Cup Diving Trials, which featured a number of Olympic hopefuls.

In the summer of 2006, the area will be home to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, a world-class park that will occupy 300 acres along the Catawba River. Modeled after the Olympic facility in Sydney, Australia, the center will include a customized whitewater river with adjustable rapids ideal for training and hosting whitewater events. Additionally, the park will provide opportunities for flat-water boating, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking and swift-water rescue training. Located near the future I-85/I-485 interchange, the park will include a 37-acre island for primitive camping.

Public Access Areas
Upper Section
• Long Island Access Area
• Lake Norman State Park
• Bill’s Marina
• Long Island Marina
• Stumpy Creek Access Area
• McCrary Creek Access Area
• Pinnacle Access Area
• Marshall Fishing Area
• North Bridge Marina
• River City Marina
• Skipper’s Marina

Lower Section
• Lake Norman Marina
• Mountain Creek Marina
• Lake Norman Motel, Restaurant & Marina
• The Boat Rack Marina
• Hager Creek Access Area
• Little Creek Access Area
• Westport Dry Storage
• Holiday Harbor
• Beatties Ford Access Area
• Jetton Road County Park
• Ramsey Creek Access Area
• McGuire Fishing Area
• EnergyExplorium
• Blythe Landing County Park
• All Seasons Marina
• Stutts Bait & Tackle
• Inland Sea Marina