One of the things I love doing when I’m planning a baseball trip is researching in detail the area that I’m visiting. Specifically, I enjoy seeing what attractions are within walking distance of the ballpark. Whether I’m staying in a hotel near the park or I want to drive to the park early and do some local sightseeing before the game, it’s always nice when there are some things to check out within walking distance.
The location of Truist Field in Charlotte gives you access to a seemingly endless array of attractions within a reasonable walk from the park. As a sports fan, I often seek out sports-related things to see, and I want to share some ideas for you to consider when you’re planning your own Charlotte visit.
Here are three sports attractions that are situated within walking distance of Truist Field.
Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium is the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, and is situated just 0.2 miles from Truist Field. In fact, the football stadium is easy to spot from the ballpark, looming high beyond the first base side. The 74,867 capacity stadium opened in 1996 and has been the home of the Panthers ever since. It’s also home to Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer and has hosted annual NCAA football bowl games. MiLB and the NFL are both in action in August and September, so it’s possible to plan a visit to Charlotte in which you’ll see both the Knights and Panthers — even if it’s just a preseason NFL contest. If you visit the Queen City in the summer before the NFL begins, consider taking a guided tour of Bank of America Stadium and visiting the team shop.
NASCAR Hall of Fame
North Carolina is the epicenter of the stock car racing world, and there’s no shortage of NASCAR-related attractions to enjoy around Charlotte and throughout the state. If you’re looking for a racing-related attraction within walking distance of Truist Field, look no further than the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It’s just 0.6 miles away and is an easy way to occupy a few hours before the baseball game. Numerous exhibits tell the story of stock car racing from its modest beginnings to the present day. Check out the Glory Road exhibit, which features 18 actual race cars positioned on a banked ramp, and the Hall of Honor, which is filled with displays that recognize the sport’s greatest stars. You can even run a race in a realistic iRacing simulator.
Spectrum Center
Spectrum Center has been home to the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets franchise since it opened in 2005, and sits just 0.6 miles from Truist Field. There’s minimal overlap between the NBA and MiLB seasons; the NBA regular season concludes about a week after the minor league season begins. However, if the Hornets make the playoffs and have a long run, your opportunities for seeing some round ball action when you’re in Charlotte for baseball increase. Even if you visit outside of the NBA regular season or playoffs, you can check out the team shop for some Hornets gear.
