Austin may not have a professional sports team of it’s own but that doesn’t mean we don’t have plenty of high action sports to fill your need. Home to the University of Texas, Austinites are treated to some of the top college sports in the country. Sprinkle in some Round Rock Express baseball (Texas Rangers minor league team), Roller Derby and pro watersports; Austin has it all… Not to mention the San Antonio Spurs are located just 80+ miles south on IH-35.
Local Sports
Texas Football
Nobody knows football like the great state of Texas and there isn’t anywhere better to see a big time game than DKR Texas Memorial Stadium. The Texas Longhorns are regulars in the top ten at just about every college sport and have many National Championships across the board. Some say “you haven’t experienced football until you attend a Texas game”. Come Early, Be Loud, Stay Late!!
Texas Basketball
Texas is a football state but don’t say that to Texas Basketball coach Rick Barnes. Since coming to Texas in April 1998 he has guided the Horns to a school record twelve consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and a school-best twelve consecutive 20-win seasons as of February 6, 2011. With Barnes’ knack for recruiting superstar talent like T.J Ford, LaMarcus Aldridge and now two-time NBA scoring champ Kevin Durant; you can always count on seeing some of the best college b-ball in the country.
Texas Longhorn Baseball
You want baseball? Then you won’t want to miss a Longhorns Baseball game at the newly renovated UFCU-Disch-Falk Field. The Texas Baseball program is the winningest program in college baseball history in terms of winning percentage and ranks 2nd in total wins with over 3000. The Horns hold the record for most appearances and games won in the College World Series and their six NCAA National Baseball Championships rank 2nd only to USC. Texas Baseball has sent many superstars to the majors including Roger Clemens and Greg Swindell just to name a couple. Root, root, root for the home team!!
Austin Toros Basketball
The Austin Toros are the city’s semi-pro basketball team owned by the San Antonio Spurs. This is a great opportunity to see some young raw talent before they get called up to the big leagues. There’s never a dull moment at a Toros game!!
Round Rock Express Baseball
Just 15-20 minutes from downtown Austin Real Estate is the city of Round Rock. Many consider RR and Austin to be one in the same. The Round Rock Express are a top class organization owned by Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan that plays ball at the Dell Diamond in RR. As a the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers you can catch some great young talent before going to the big leagues and also have a chance to catch some of the big leaguers finishing up rehab games before heading back to the Rangers. Friday night games end with a spectacular fireworks display and the Saturday summer concert series is always a blast with Live music immediately following the game.
Texas Ski Ranch
Have an appetite for wakeboarding, wakeskating, or skateboarding? Get on down to the Texas Ski Ranch located just 20 minutes or so south on IH-35 in New Braunfels. They have a cable, boat lake and skatepark. This is a great option for the boat impaired and a great way to spend the day!! From personal riding to huge Pro events like Cablestock, you will always have a GREAT time at TSR!
Waketoberfest
This is the granddaddy of all grassroots wakesport events. Started back in 1998 by the 360 Wakeboard Club, now just known as 360Wake, this event has grown every year. The early years found the event somewhat close to downtown on Lake Austin at Emma Long Park but after 7 years the event had out grown it’s home. Waketoberfest is now held at the massive, beautiful Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis. Pro, Outlaw riders and lake lovers ascend to central Texas for the last big blow out of the season. The event is held over the course of a weekend in October with the majority of the attendees camping out in tents, rv’s and tour buses. The main attraction of the event is held on Saturday with fun activities on land, boat demos from all the participating local dealers and Pro-style tournaments in wakeboarding, wakeskating and wakesurfing. You MUST experience this event!!
