From Ohio.org staff
Posted: March 13, 2024
At the heart of it all, Ohio is home to some of the nation's top venues, competitions, and outdoor events that are sure to create unforgettable moments in the coming months.
Here's a list of 10 sports activities you can't miss this spring in Ohio.
NCAA Men's Basketball First 4 at University of Dayton Arena
Feel the “madness” at a hoops event
For passionate sports fans, there are few times as exciting as the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments. Ohio State plays a big role in this season's events.
The University of Dayton's UD Arena has hosted the men's tournament's “First Four” in all but two seasons since the competition expanded from 64 to 68 teams in 2011. The men's tournament begins and ends with two games each in Dayton on March 19th and 20th. April 6th, Glendale, Arizona.
The NCAA Women's Tournament begins on March 20th and concludes with the Final Four on April 5th and 7th at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.
Once these two events are complete, the NBA Playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 16 and end in late June. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who also played at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and won his only NBA championship in 2016, are one of his top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Ohio State has two men's teams competing in the Basketball League (TBL), which began its seventh season on March 2nd. Toledo's Cincinnati Warriors and Glass City Wranglers will square off in the Midwest Division.
Pickleball courts at Windsor Park in Grove City
Participate in a pickleball game
Pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, continues to impact the people of Ohio.
According to a report released last year by the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), nearly 19% of the total U.S. adult population has played pickleball at least once in the past 12 months.
The World Pickleball Tour will be in the state twice this spring. The Cincinnati Challenger will be held at Pickle Lodge in Westchester from March 22nd to 24th, and the Columbus Challenger will be held at Pickle & Chill in Columbus from May 31st to June 2nd. The gold medalist from both competitions will be invited to his WPT Amateur Invitational Championship in 2025.
Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park
take me to the ball game
Whether you love hearing the sound of bats, seeing freshly mown lawns on diamonds, or enjoying hot dogs and Cracker Jacks with your loved ones, one of Ohio's many beautiful parks is the place to be. There's nothing like watching a professional baseball game in the United States.
The Major League Baseball season opens on March 28, when the Cincinnati Reds begin their 22nd season against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park. The Cleveland Guardians will play their home opener against the Chicago White Sox on April 8th at Progressive Field, their home since 1994.
Ohio's two Triple-A teams are the Guardians' Columbus Clippers, who play at Huntington Park, and the Detroit Tigers' Toledo Mud Hens, who play at Fifth Third Field. Both players play in the International League.
Ohio's only Double-A team is the Akron Rubber Ducks of the Eastern League, an affiliate of the Guardians who play at Canal Park.
Competing in the High-A Midwest League are the Dayton Dragons, an affiliate of the Reds who play at Day Air Ballpark, and the Lake County Captains, an affiliate of the Guardians, who play at Classic Park.
The Lake Erie Crushers, a member of the Independent Frontier League, play at Crushers Stadium in Avon and have been a professional team since 2009.
To experience the sport from another era, check out the Ohio Village Muffins Vintage Club. It shows how the game was played in the 1860s.
Cycling while watching cherry blossoms in Athens
Experience the great outdoors on Ohio's bike trails
Spring is the perfect time to take out your bike and explore the state's 1,523 miles of trails. Highlights include trails at the Athens Conservancy Bluebell Preserve and his 28-mile Richland B&O Trail in Northeast Ohio.
A must-see event for bikers is the “Signs of Spring Bicycle Tour” set for March 30th. This tour provides an opportunity to explore the new spring flora and fauna of the Wayne National Forest along his 22 km of Hocking-Adena Bikeway.
OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon
run for glory
It's always running season for road racing enthusiasts, but spring offers a number of notable events for those looking to participate in everything from 5Ks to ultramarathons.
One of the first big events of spring is the ORRRC Ksenia Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K starting April 7th at the Ksenia YMCA. And on April 14th, the Athens Marathon & Half Marathon, which began in 1968 and holds the title of “Ohio's Longest Running Marathon,” will take place.
The OhioHealth Capital City Half & Quarter Marathon will be held on April 27th. USA Today. There's also the Grass City Marathon, which includes a 5K, half marathon, marathon, and relay. It is scheduled to begin April 28 on the west side of the University of Toledo.
One of the nation's largest running events, the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon features a 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon and will be held May 3-5.
Downtown Cleveland is the center of the Cleveland Marathon, which takes place May 18 and 19 and includes a 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon.
ohio stadium in columbus
Ohio State football season touchdown
Ohio State's dozens of college football teams are months away from starting their official seasons, but watching Ohio State's spring game will get you ready for next season. The event, first held in 1931, is scheduled for April 13 at Ohio Stadium. In 2023, this game drew over 75,000 fans and saw the Ohio State Grays (defensive team) defeat the Ohio State Scarlets (offensive team) 40-31.
Another option for sports enthusiasts are Ohio's two women's teams, the Columbus Chaos of the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) and the Cincinnati Sizzle of the United States Premier Women's Football League (USPWFL). The Chaos will play a six-game regular season starting April 27th. Sizzle plays in the USPWFL's Northern Division and is also preparing for a seven-game regular season that begins April 27th.
Ohio State women's football has been around for 50 years, and Columbus has fielded a team nearly every year since 2003.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena
Retain the excitement of a hockey game
The Columbus Blue Jackets ice hockey team, a staple of professional sports in Ohio since its founding in 2000, has five home games remaining at Nationwide Arena during the 2023-24 regular season, which concludes April 16. Masu. The club last qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2019-20.
Ohio State also has three minor league teams in the middle of their respective seasons.
The Cleveland Monsters, another team that plays their home games at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, participate in the American Hockey League (AHL) and are the Blue Jackets' top affiliate.
The Monsters' regular season ends on April 21st. The East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), considered a lower tier of the AHL, is represented by the Cincinnati Cyclones and Toledo Worley. The Cyclones, an affiliate of the New York Rangers who won the Kelly Cup in both 2008 and 2010, will end their regular season on April 13th. Worley, whose regular season ends on April 14, is affiliated with the Kelly Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. Until 2022.
Columbus Fury at Nationwide Arena. Credit: Columbus Fury, Facebook
Get ready for a professional volleyball match
The newest professional team based in Ohio is the Columbus Fury women's volleyball team, which began its first season in late January. Fury joins the Professional Volleyball Federation, a seven-team league that is expected to expand to 10 franchises in 2025.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is part of the ownership group for the Fury, which will play its home games at Nationwide Arena and conclude its 24-game regular season schedule on May 11.
Lower.com Columbus Crew on the field
Take a kick in a soccer match
Sip a vuvuzela and watch one of Ohio's two men's professional soccer teams, the Columbus Crew or FC Cincinnati, and get ready for the world's most popular sports extravaganza.
The Crew, who entered their 30th season in late February, are the defending Major League Soccer (MLS) champions and will spend the next few months looking to win their fourth title in club history.
After competing in the United Soccer League (USL) from 2016 to 2018, Columbus gained a new MLS rivalry in 2019, as FC Cincinnati joined MLS.
The two clubs first met in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup and will meet this season in the first of two games on May 11 at Lower.com Field in Columbus.
Commemorative tournament in Dublin
Check out Jack's Golf Tournament
The Memorial Tournament, founded and designed in 1976 by PGA Tour legend and Upper Arlington native Jack Nicklaus, is scheduled for June 3-9 and will be held at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin.
The 2024 tournament honorees will be Julie Inkster, a seven-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Famer, and Tom Weiskopf, an Ohio native and 16-time PGA Tour winner who will be honored posthumously. They are the 82nd and 83rd recipients of the award, respectively.
Dublin will also host Fore!Fest that weekend on April 7th and 8th at Bridge Park. The street festival is packed with entertainment, food, and more.
This spring is also a popular time for players of all skill levels to hit the links. According to World Population Review, Ohio ranks fifth in the United States for the number of golf courses with 774.
Great public courses in Ohio include Golf Club in Dublin, Champions Golf Club in Columbus, JE Good Park Golf Course in Akron, Shaker Run Golf Course in Lebanon, and The Virtues Golf Club near Newark.
Ohio State Park Lodge also has some great courses. Like Maumee Bay Golf's courses, its architect was the late Arthur Hills of Toledo, known as one of golf's best players. The Scottish Links style of his course he opened in 1991 offers a visually appealing challenge.
No matter what event you decide to participate in over the next few months, you're sure to find a great adventure in Ohio.
Check out #SpringinOhio for more sports and recreation. #ohiotheheartfitall At Ohio.org.
*Hero image courtesy of Destination Cleveland.Photo credit: Gabe Wasilko
