Northwest Ohio is a great place for sports fans.
From high school and college to professional sports, the Toledo area has you covered for nearly every sport you can watch.
College Sports
If you love college sports, this is the perfect place for you! The region is home to Division I mid-major University of Toledo and within driving distance of several major power conference sports programs such as The Ohio State University, Michigan State, Michigan, and Notre Dame. Nearby Bowling Green and a host of lower division colleges are also located within a short drive of Toledo. With so many colleges to choose from, you can easily get your fill of collegiate football, basketball, wrestling, hockey, and many other sports.
Baseball Fans
Besides being central to a bevy of colleges and university sports programs, Toledo is home to several professional sports teams – including one of the most legendary minor league baseball franchises.
Baseball fans throughout the country recognize the name Toledo Mud Hens – the triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The Mud Hens play their home games at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Toledo. Dating back to 1896, the franchise has a storied history. Ten baseball Hall-of-Famers played in Toledo including Elmer Flick, Hack Wilson, Jim Bunning, and Kirby Puckett. Two HOF managers, Casey Stengel and Joe McCarthy, spent some of their playing days in Toledo. Stars such as Kirk Gibson and Magglio Ordonez dawned Mud Hen uniforms as they worked their way up to the big leagues. Mud Hens games are a fun way to see the stars of tomorrow before they get called up to the show.
Keep in mind, fans wanting to see Major League Baseball are an hour drive away from Detroit or two hours to Cleveland to take in either a Tigers or Indians game.
Hockey Fans
Hockey fans can enjoy the action of the Toledo Walleyes, an East Coast Hockey League affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, which are an easy drive up I-75. The Walleyes play their games in the recently built Huntington Center, which is located a block away from the Mud Hens ballpark, near the Maumee River. The Walleyes have won 11 championships throughout their history, which dates back to 1947 when the organization was known as the Toledo Mercurys.
Football Fans
Rejoice football fans – there is plenty of action in northwest Ohio! In addition to college football, local high school teams keep fans entertained Friday and some Saturday nights. Want to see the pros? Every Sunday during the NFL season, fans head up to Detroit to watch the Lions or east to Cleveland to cheer on the Browns.
Racing Fans
If you are into auto racing, Toledo has you covered as well. The region is home to the Toledo Speedway, a .5-mile asphalt oval track owned in part by ARCA. Nearly every Friday night, there is action at the track. Racing fans are also within driving distance of sister track Flat Rock Speedway (Michigan), Michigan International Speedway (home of two NASCAR Sprint Cup races), Sandusky Speedway, and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Golf Fans
Northwest Ohio is also home to many golf courses. Some of the notable public courses include Ottawa Park (the second oldest course in the U.S.), South Toledo Golf Club, Detwiler Park Golf Course, Maumee Bay State Park Golf Course, and Eagle’s Landing. Heather Downs Country Club is a semi-private course that offers golf to the general public.