Durham is a city that’s as synonymous with baseball as it is with its historic tobacco roots. From the iconic Durham Bulls, immortalized in the 1988 movie Bull Durham, to the city’s deep ties to the sport, including Durham’s American Tobacco Company playing a role in the creation of the baseball card, you’ll find Bulls references and logos on shirts and hats no matter where you are in town. Baseball has become more than just a pastime here. It’s a way of life.
Durham is built for the baseball fanatic, and that will be more apparent than ever this May during the ACC Baseball Championship. Whether you are right down the road or it’s your first time in Durham, this guide will show you everything you need to know about how to make the most of your ACC Baseball Championship experience in the Bull City.
Game Schedule
Baseball in Durham
Durham is home to one of the most famous minor league teams, the Durham Bulls. The Bulls have historically been one of the most successful minor league franchises, winning a total of 17 Triple-A championships, most recently in 2022.
The Bulls have played at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) since 1985, which will host the ACC Championship. The DBAP is known nationally as one of the top minor league stadiums in the country, with USA Today ranking it a top 10 minor league ballpark in the country for 2025, and Stadium Journey ranking it the number 2 Triple-A ballpark. The iconic feature of the ballpark is the smoking bull that sits above the left field wall, which is a must-see after a home run.
Read the Discover Durham guide on the best ways to enjoy a Durham Bulls game here.
The ACC Baseball Championship has been hosted in Durham a total of 13 times, most recently in 2023. In 1984 and 1986, the ACC played at Historic Durham Athletic Park, which is where the movie Bull Durham was filmed. You can still go visit the historic ballpark today.
Home to the Duke Blue Devils and less than 100 miles from three additional premier ACC universities, Durham sits as a major hub for ACC athletics. During the 2013 Championship in Durham, the ACC Championship single-game attendance record was set with 11,329 fans in attendance.
What’s Nearby in Downtown Durham
With the change in format this year, all 16 ACC teams will be competing in Durham this May. While you are in town to support your school, make sure to extend your stay in Durham to explore everything that the Bull City has to offer.
Durham Bulls Athletic Park is situated in the heart of the American Tobacco Campus. With a man-made river winding through and the signature Lucky Strike Tower in the sky, the former busy industrial center has been transformed into a lively historic campus featuring, restaurants, shopping and more.
Here you’ll find restaurants with a wide range of cuisines, including Parker and Otis, a perfect spot to grab breakfast or a gourmet sandwich for lunch. Stop by Boricua Soul with a mouthwatering fusion of Caribbean and Southern flavors. Right down the road from the ballpark, you’ll find casual local eateries like QueenBurger. If you don’t want to leave the ballpark, but a need a break from the sun, behind the left field wall you’ll find everything you could ever want in a sports bar but with an elevated food menu in Tobacco Road Sports Café. Tobacco Road is open to the public, but you can also enter from inside the ballpark gates.
Whether you are looking for cocktails, beer or coffee, ATC is home to local gems like the Waiting Room, Ment Beverage Company and more. Opened in the summer of 2024 across from the ballpark is also State of Golf, a golf simulator bar whose goal is to merge indoor golf with entertainment. Book an hour on the simulator, grab a drink from their bar and enjoy their multitude of simulator sports options. They also welcome to you to grab food from one of the delicious nearby eateries to bring in with you while you play.
While at the ballpark, you are less than a mile from all of the additional sections of Durham’s vibrant Downtown. Grab a drink, listen to live music and enjoy the expansive outdoor space at Bull McCabe’s Irish Pub in the Downtown City Center. Play classic arcade games and get a drink at Boxcar Bar + Arcade in the Central Park District.
Beyond the Ballpark: Explore Duke University
For the sports fanatic, make the 10-minute drive over to Duke University’s campus, where you can walk around the Duke Basketball Museum and Sports Hall of Fame, right next to the historic Cameron Indoor Stadium. Walk around Duke Chapel, explore the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, and visit one of the many delicious restaurants in the area.
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Follow @durhamncsports and @durhamnc on social media to stay in the know with all things happening in the Bull City.