Sports fans live for unforgettable moments when they can connect with the games and athletes they love, from stepping onto hallowed grounds where legends were made to getting an inside look at how the magic happens behind the scenes. More than merely spectating, experiencing sports destinations while on vacation is a great way for groups to immerse themselves in an area’s athletic heritage and passion.
Fortunately, the Southeast abounds with incredible sporting attractions, including world-class museums that celebrate athletic excellence and iconic venues where the action unfolds in real time. No matter what sports or teams your travelers are fans of, these six all-star experiences will make winning memories.
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
Louisville, Kentucky
The first thing visitors see when they pull up to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in Louisville, Kentucky, is a giant bat towering 120 feet into the sky. The enormous wood bat is a scaled replica of the iconic R43 model wielded by Yankees’ legend Babe Ruth, and it’s a favorite photo opportunity. Since opening its doors in 1996, the museum has welcomed more than 7 million visitors and is routinely voted one of the top five sports attractions in the country.
“This is a living, breathing, working factory where we make all of our wood bats — hundreds of thousands of bats every year, both full-sized and mini,” said marketing director Andrew Soliday. “We’re celebrating the museum’s 30th anniversary in 2026, and it’s a pretty exciting time for us.”
Entering the museum, guests see a giant wall with more than 9,000 signatures of all the players since the late 1800s who signed promotional contracts with Louisville Slugger and swung their bats.
“I’ve seen families come in here and interact with that, trying to find their father or their uncle or whoever that may be on that wall,” Soliday said. “It’s really exciting for those family members to see that piece of history on display in the museum.”
The museum is conveniently located just off Interstate 64, and tours can be tailored for groups.
“If we have a group coming in, let’s just say they’re from Cincinnati, we can do tours that reference the Cincinnati Reds, for example,” he said. “So, we can make them specific to the area that the group may be coming in from.”
College Football Hall of Fame
Atlanta
With a 45-yard indoor football field, five themed galleries and more than 50 engaging and interactive exhibits, the College Football Hall of Fame is one of Atlanta’s most popular tourist attractions. The hall of fame was founded in 1951, and the current 95,000-square-foot structure opened in 2014, at a cost of $68.5 million.
“We are the only college football hall of fame located in the Southeast, in what we call the capital of college football,” said Yomand Brown, vice president of marketing, sales and communication. “It’s a truly immersive, one-of-a-kind experience. We have a scavenger hunt and other team-building opportunities for groups.”
Brown is particularly excited about the museum’s new AI enhancements.
“A few months ago, we became the first museum in North America to incorporate AI into the guest experience. You can give us a few data points and take a picture, and then as you journey throughout the building, you can see yourself posing as a fan from yesteryear, posing as someone tailgating or posing with the Heisman trophy.”
Groups can also bring in lunches or catering from the museum’s partner, Chick-fil-A, to re-create a tailgating experience on the 45-foot indoor field.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Kansas City, Missouri
Opened in 1990, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was designated by Congress as “America’s National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum” in 2006, making it the official depository for Negro League history and memorabilia as well as a must-do on any Kansas City itinerary. Excluded from white teams until Major League Baseball began desegregating in 1947, Black players found professional baseball opportunities with the Negro Leagues from 1920 to 1955.
“We showcase the history of the Negro Leagues with images and films,” said Cathie Moss, who handles special events and guest services for the museum. “We have a simulated baseball field inside the museum called the ‘Field of Legends,’ and we have 13 life-size bronze statues of players on the field, like they are getting ready to play a baseball game.”
Guests will see Satchel Paige, one of the greatest pitchers of all time; Josh Gibson, who has been declared the home run king in baseball; Cool Papa Bell, the fastest man in the Negro Leagues; and other Negro League players who have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
In the exhibition gallery, visitors can also view the film, “They Were All Stars.” Narrated by actor James Earl Jones, the narrative history of the Negro Leagues is only shown at the museum.
Group tours and discounts are available, along with special after-hours events and rentals for private groups. The museum is in the heart of Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine Jazz District.
Nationals Park
Washington, D.C.
Located along Washington, D.C.’s fast-developing Capitol Riverfront adjacent to the Navy Yard district, the 41,565-seat home of the Washington Nationals opened in 2008. The state-of-the-art ballpark offers a full slate of events throughout the calendar year, including baseball games, full-park concerts and festivals.
The Nationals’ 2025 season schedule was highlighted by more than 50 ticketed special events, and the team has a lineup of unique experiences to make group outings especially memorable.
Groups of 50 or more are treated to a complimentary scoreboard message. Larger groups may also be eligible for experiences such as singing the national anthem, throwing out a ceremonial first pitch, a visit from mascot Screech during the seventh-inning stretch, swinging for the stands during batting practice inside the Nationals’ own batting cages and more.
Groups can make the most of their visit to Nationals Park with a pregame group event. Group spaces vary in capacity from 20 to more than 400 visitors and offer varying ballpark atmospheres and food and beverage options.
NASCAR Hall of Fame
Charlotte, North Carolina
Stock car racing got its start when bootleggers began modifying passenger cars to outrun and outmaneuver “revenuers” during Prohibition as the rumrunners transported moonshine from bootleg stills deep in the Appalachian mountains. From these humble — and illegal — beginnings grew a sport that draws millions of spectators and generates hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
NASCAR’s headquarters are in Daytona, Florida, but Charlotte, North Carolina, is a natural fit for the sport’s Hall of Fame.
“Most of the teams that run at the top level, called the cup level, those teams are located 20 minutes away and no more about 90 minutes away,” said Kevin Schlesier, senior director of museum and industry affairs. “So all the race teams are within an easy drive from the Hall of Fame, and it’s become a hub of the sport. A lot of people in the Charlotte area work within the sport. Our legends live here. It’s not uncommon to go to a restaurant north of town and run into a driver. So, NASCAR is part of Charlotte’s DNA.”
Schlesier celebrates the unique nature of the hall of fame.
“We’re part traditional museum, where you learn about the history and heritage, and a hall of fame that honors the legends of our sport,” he said. “But we’re also a highly interactive experience where you get to understand what it’s like to partake in NASCAR.”
Groups can participate in interactive elements like trying their hand at being a member of a pit crew, racing against the clock or against three other people to jack up a car, change tires and add fuel. Simulators that are full-size cars also allow guests to race against others.
Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more, with complimentary admission for tour escorts and bus drivers.
Nissan Stadium
Nashville, Tennessee
Scheduled for a February 2027 opening, the Tennessee Titans’ new 60,000-seat home in Nashville, Tennessee, will be much more than a football stadium; it will be a multipurpose megastructure hosting concerts, conferences, festivals and a plethora of private events, from small to supersized.
Ashlee Stokely, head of stadium, operations and experience, can’t wait to get into the new facility.
“The new Nissan Stadium is going to be a game-changer for both private and major events in Nashville, and we can’t wait for opening day,” she said. “In the meantime, now is the time to enjoy all our different experiences in the current stadium while we celebrate its rich history in our community. From group tours to exclusive experiences on game days, we want to give every guest at Nissan Stadium an unforgettable time.”
Hospitality packages for groups feature unique pregame tailgate experiences located inside the current stadium. On game days, the Titans Insider Experience provides an all-access pass with a private, expert-led tour. Tours can be paired with enhancements like meeting the Titans’ mascot, T-Rac, or the Titans Cheerleaders; seeing your group’s logo light up the videoboard before snapping a photo on the 50-yard line; tossing passes on the Titans’ home turf; or finding a custom jersey waiting in a team member’s locker. Groups can then savor a one-hour culinary experience in the home team tunnel.
