5 minute read
Hometown Heroes
Watch the Boise Hawks swing for the fences! / Courtesy Boise Hawks
BY DAVE SOUTHORN
There is a rich history of sports success in Boise and a strong community of support for our local teams and events. Any time of year, there are great opportunities to check out pro, minor league, and college sports around Boise. Check out some of our big events on the sports calendar! Swing for the fences
Since 1987, Boise baseball fans have flocked to enjoy a beautiful summer day at the ballpark watching the Boise Hawks. In the past, the team has been affiliated with multiple Major League Baseball teams and currently plays in the independent Pioneer League. The team’s 48-game home schedule is full of fun for all ages with tons of promotions, including 11 postgame fireworks shows, “Feed Your Face” Wednesday with all-you-can-eat menu items, discount drinks on Thursdays and Kids Club Sundays. And if you needed even more bang for your buck, Boise’s beloved Blitz the Bat Dog retrieves bats for the Hawks during every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday home game.
Blitz the Bat Dog retrieves a bat during a Hawks baseball game. / Courtesy Boise Hawks
Walk on thin ice
A bit of trivia for you: Did you know the Idaho Steelheads, Boise’s minor league hockey team, held the longest streak of reaching the postseason of any North American pro sports team? It’s true. The Steelheads, playing in the 5,000-seat Idaho Central Arena downtown, had reached the playoffs in 22 straight seasons until the run was snapped in the 2021-22 campaign. The Steelheads are always a hot ticket, playing in an arena with great sight lines and making hometown fans happy with a lot of wins, plus an array of special nights, like the Teddy Bear Toss to support Toys For Tots and Marvel Super Hero Night, when the team wears jerseys patterned after comic book heroes.
Look at the birdies
An annual tradition at Boise’s Hillcrest Country Club, the Albertsons Boise Open has drawn fans since 1990 and is one of the Korn Ferry Tour’s top stops, with a $1 million purse. At the time of last year’s tournament, 70% of the winners of 2021 PGA Tour events previously played in the Boise Open as they worked their way up the pro ranks. And the event isn’t just for golf lovers—tickets include entry into an air-conditioned fan pavilion and access to after-golf concerts on the 18th fairway. Recent performers have included Old Dominion, Cheap Trick, and Justin Moore. It also is a major community event, with the 2021 tournament raising $2.9 million for charity, a record for any stop in the Korn Ferry Tour’s 32-year history.
Steelhead season is hockey fans heaven. / Courtesy Idaho Steelheads
Tee off with the pros at the Albertsons Boise Open / Courtesy Albertsons Boise Open
Catch the action at the Big Sky Tournaments. / Courtesy Big Sky Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships Dribble, shoot, score
March Madness has a home in Boise at the Idaho Central Arena when the Big Sky Men’s
and Women’s Basketball Cham-
pionships come to town. The tournament—with an NCAA Tournament berth on the line for the champion—has been held in Boise since 2019 and is slated to continue through the 2026 tournament. The tournament brings fans from all around the West, as the Big Sky includes Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, and Weber State. The Grove Plaza outside Idaho Central Arena is always buzzing with fans and pep rallies for the Big Sky Block Party, which includes the chance to win prizes in basketball skills challenges and a pizza-eating competition.
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Celebrating at the Big Sky Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships. / Courtesy
Big Sky Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships
The Boise State Broncos play on the famous home blue turf. / Karen Day
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Champions / Courtesy Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Gear up for football
As one of the only cold-weather outdoor college football bowl games, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl has a unique place in the crowded schedule of bowls, now totaling more than 40. Only 11 non-playoff bowl games are older than the Boise bowl game, played on the famous blue turf of Albertsons Stadium on the Boise State University campus. Football fans can not only get their shot to watch teams from the Mid-American and Mountain West conference face off, perhaps catching a future NFL star, but also can take part in the many events surrounding the game. Fans and their families can check out the Family Field Day at Boise State’s indoor facility before the game and of course, enjoy free fries afterward. Make sure to stick around for the end of the game to see one of the best new bowl traditions. Having the winning coach doused with water or Gatorade is passe—for the last two bowl games, the coach instead is showered with a bucket of fries! But don’t worry, they’re not hot!
