El Paso and its sports

El Paso, Texas offers a wide array of recreational sporting opportunities. El Paso benefits from moderate temperatures and attracts outdoor enthusiasts interested in hiking, cycling, climbing, running, soccer, and football – everything you’d expect in this wild climate. It’s also a mecca for golfers with year-round playing available and is home to a few well-known golfers including Kristi Albers, Rich Beem, J.P. Hayes and the legendary Lee Trevino. Our El Paso bail bonds division of the Bail Bonds Bros also take pride in sponsoring a few of these well-known golfers. However, with regard to professional sports, El Paso has a conspicuous void. The city is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. without a single professional team from the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, or MLS. In early 2015, the city lost a hard-fought bid to draw a Major League Soccer team to the area.

SPECTATOR SPORTS:

Not all is lost, however, as hockey fans have the Rhinos, a junior ice hockey team.

Also in town are the El Paso Chihuahuas, a minor league baseball team from the Pacific Coast League and a Triple-A for the San Diego Padres. The El Paso Diablos are an independent team in the Central League.

The owners of the Chihuahuas announced in June 2015 that they have been awarded a new team franchise by the Mexican Futbol Federation. That team, however, will be playing in Ciudad Juarez based at the Universidad Autonoma of Cuidad Juarez across the border.

Without any professional teams, college sports play an especially prominent role. The University of Texas at El Paso has dominated the sports world in El Paso from the time it was known as the Texas College of Mines.

Basketball history and Hollywood fans alike might remember the movie, Glory Road, featuring the 1966 NCAA championship team under Don Haskins. Haskins started five black players for the championship game against University of Kentucky – an unprecedented decision for the sport in those days. Their basketball team, the Miners, today is a Conference USA team.
UTEP football is also a Conference USA team playing from September to December at the Sun Bowl Stadium. Each December, the university hosts the annual Sun Bowl, one of the oldest bowl games in the nation.

Horse racing is in nearby western El Paso (it’s actually in New Mexico) at the Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino for racing enthusiasts. It runs from December through April and features several restaurants, lounges and casino. Their website: www.sunland-par.com offers more details.

The Southwestern International PRCA Rodeo is held each September in El Paso. Check out their website for details: www.elprodeo.com

RECREATIONAL SPORTS:
For those who’d rather participate than watch sports, the Franklin Mountains State Park is the largest urban wilderness park in the country with plenty of opportunities to climb, bike, or hike. If you’re up for a trek, you can summit the mountain at 3,000 feet.

El Paso offers a world-class bouldering site at Hueco Tanks State Historic Site about 30 miles NE of the city. It’s a popular climbing site. If climbing isn’t in your box of interests, then you can take one of the tours offered at the site. There’s also cycling, walking, and birding.

Golf courses are plentiful in El Paso. There are plenty of courses including some good municipal courses.