National Championships. Conference titles. The Durham Sports Commission is no stranger to hosting premier events. From the ACC Baseball Championship, to the CIAA Football Championship, to bidding on and hosting NCAA Championships of different kinds, we look forward to continuing to bring in high-level sporting events to the Bull City. Read below to learn more about major events we have hosted in the past and what to look forward to in the coming years.
Current and Future DSC Events
ACC Baseball Championship
The ACC Baseball Championship has been hosted at Durham Bulls Athletic Park 14 times, including most recently in 2025. The multi-day event has brought fans from across the nation to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, a top minor league facility located in the middle of downtown. In 2025, the ACC Baseball generated $8,717,472 in economic impact for the Bull City and had an overall attendance of over 60,000.
Durham looks forward to hosting the Championship again in 2027 and 2029.
CIAA Football Championship
On November 15, 2025, the Durham Sports Commission hosted the CIAA Football Championship at Durham County Memorial Stadium. The Championship featured Virginia Union University out of Richmond, Virginia against Johnson C. Smith University, out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Johnson C. Smith secured the victory 45-21, marking their first CIAA Football Championship since 1969. The entire weekend was not only a celebration of the student-athletes, but also a celebration of HBCU football in the Bull City. Check out the event recap reel here.
The DSC looks forward to continuing to host the event in the coming years.
CIAA Track and Field Championship
The 2023-2025 CIAA Track and Field Championships were held at Durham County Memorial Stadium. Check out the 2024 Event Snapshot to learn more.
Conference Carolinas Flag Football Championship
The DSC is excited to host the first ever Conference Carolinas Flag Football Championship in April 2026 at Durham County Memorial Stadium.
Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit
The Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit has been held since 2023 at the Durham Convention Center. The Summit is a one-of-a-kind event, bringing together women in the sports industry from across the country to network and learn from one another. Check out the 2025 Event Snapshot to learn more!
Stay tuned for an announcement on the 2026 date!
Garmin Marathon Series
For the first time in 2026, Durham is hosting the Garmin Marathon Series on Saturday, May 2. The series includes a marathon, half-marathon, 10K and 5K, with all courses beginning in the American Tobacco Campus and finishing at Wallace Wade Stadium on Duke’s campus.
NCAA Fencing National Championships
The 2023 NCAA Fencing Championships were held at Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke University. The competition brought collegiate fencers from across the country to compete for a national championship. The NCAA has also selected Duke and Durham as the hosts for the 2027 NCAA Fencing Championships.
NCHSAA State Championships
From 2022-2025, The North Carolina High School Athletics Association has brought many of their championships to Durham. In 2025, the NCHSAA Lacrosse,Softball and Football Championships were held in Durham, bringing teams from across the state to Durham to compete for state titles. The DSC looks forward to continuing to partner with the NCHSAA to host their state championships in the coming years.
North Carolina Girl’s High School Flag Football State Championship
In 2024 and 2025, the DSC proudly hosted the first ever Girl’s High School Flag Football State Championships at Durham County Memorial Stadium. The DSC is proud to be on the forefront of this emerging and rapidly growing sport.
Past DSC Events
Champion Durham Classic
The Champion Durham Classic is the Bull City’s premier high school basketball invitational tournament. The event ran from 2021-2024 and has brought in teams from across the state to compete in the three-day tournament.
NAIA Football National Championship
The DSC and Durham County Memorial Stadium played host to the NAIA Football National Championship from 2021-2024.
NCAA Field Hockey National Championship
In partnership with Duke University, the DSC hosted the 2025 NCAA Division I Field Hockey National Championship at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium. Championship weekend began with a banquet at the 21C Hotel, celebrating the accomplishments of the final four teams. The two semifinal games were held on Friday, November 21, featuring Princeton, Harvard, Northwestern and UNC, seeing Northwestern and Princeton advance to the National Championship game. After a thrilling double-overtime game, Northwestern secured the honor of 2025 NCAA D1 Field Hockey National Champion.