Maryland boasts a passionate sports culture, highlighted by professional franchises and unique state traditions.
- **Professional Teams**: The **Baltimore Ravens** (NFL) and the **Baltimore Orioles** (MLB) are the state's premier professional franchises, both playing in downtown Baltimore stadiums (M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, respectively). - **College Sports**: The **University of Maryland Terrapins** (NCAA Big Ten Conference) have strong basketball and football followings, along with a historically dominant men's and women's lacrosse program. - **Lacrosse**: The official team sport of Maryland, lacrosse has a massive youth, collegiate, and professional following here, more so than in almost any other state. - **Jousting**: Uniquely, the official state sport of Maryland is jousting, a tradition that has been celebrated with local tournaments since colonial times.
