Editing Roanoke, Virginia (section)

==Sports==
The 1971–1972 [[Virginia Squires]] of the [[American Basketball Association (1967-1976)|American Basketball Association]] were the only [[Major professional sports leagues of the United States and Canada|major league]] sports team to play home games in Roanoke regularly. During that season, the Squires split home games between Richmond, [[Norfolk, VA|Norfolk]], [[Hampton Roads]] and Roanoke.<ref name=Squires>{{cite news |date=February 5, 2021 |title=Editorial: Our NBA dreams 50 years ago |work=The Roanoke Times |page=6A}}</ref> [[Julius Erving]] played his professional rookie season with the Squires that year before being sent to the [[Brooklyn Nets|New York Nets]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldaper |first=Sam |date=August 1, 1973 |title=Nets Get Erving From Squires for Carter, Cash and…Dr. J Coming Home To Do His Aerial Act |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/08/01/archives/nets-get-erving-from-squires-for-carter-cash-and-dr-jis-coming-home.html |access-date=May 5, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505150655/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/08/01/archives/nets-get-erving-from-squires-for-carter-cash-and-dr-jis-coming-home.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Salem Memorial Ballpark Blue Ridge.jpg|thumb|The [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] viewed from [[Salem Memorial Ballpark]]]]
[[Minor league baseball]] has had a long history in the Roanoke Valley.<ref name=McFarling1>{{cite news |last=McFarling |first=Aaron |date=June 19, 2017 |title=Salem salutes baseball bond |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref> In the 1940s and early 1950s, Roanoke was home to a class B farm team of the [[Boston Red Sox]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Salem Baseball History |url=https://www.milb.com/salem/team/salem-baseball-history |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=[[Minor League Baseball]] |language=en |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628230552/https://www.milb.com/salem/team/salem-baseball-history |url-status=live}}</ref> Since 1955, neighboring Salem has hosted the local minor league baseball team, which {{as of|2023|lc=y}} is the [[Salem Avalanche|Salem Red Sox]] of the Low-A [[Carolina League]].<ref name=":6" /> The team had previously been affiliated with the [[Houston Astros]] and [[Colorado Rockies]] and known as the Avalanche until becoming an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, whose ownership group purchased the Avalanche after the 2007 season.<ref name=Berman1>{{cite news |last=Berman |first=Mark |date=March 2, 2022 |title=Former Salem baseball team owner Kelvin Bowles dies at 82 |work=The Roanoke Times |page=3E}}</ref>

The history of minor league hockey in the Roanoke Valley goes back to 1967.<ref name=Berman2>{{cite news |last=Berman |first=Mark |date=October 21, 2015 |title=Star City slap shot |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref> The [[Roanoke Express]] of the [[ECHL]] built a loyal following in the mid-1990s,<ref name=Hockey>{{cite news |date=July 21, 2004 |title=Pro Hockey in the Roanoke Valley |work=The Roanoke Times |page=5A}}</ref> but a combination of financial turmoil due to mismanagement and declining attendance from a lack of post-season success led to the ECHL ending their franchise in 2004.<ref name=Hockey /><ref name=Waugh1>{{cite news |last=Waugh |first=Katrina |date=July 21, 2004 |title=ECHL ends Express franchise |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref> An attempt at a revival in 2005–06 by the [[United Hockey League|UHL]]'s [[Roanoke Valley Vipers]] failed after one season.<ref name="Berman2" /> In 2016, professional ice hockey returned to Roanoke after ten years when the [[Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs]] of the [[SPHL]] began to play,<ref name="Berman2" /> and the team won its first-ever President's Cup title in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Sordelett |first=Damien |date=May 2, 2023 |title=Jansen's overtime winner lifts Rail Yard Dawgs to President's Cup title |url=https://roanoke.com/sports/local/jansens-overtime-winner-lifts-rail-yard-dawgs-to-presidents-cup-title/article_4bc7d0f2-e955-11ed-a66f-8735bc871180.html |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=The Roanoke Times |language=en |archive-date=May 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503213141/https://roanoke.com/sports/local/jansens-overtime-winner-lifts-rail-yard-dawgs-to-presidents-cup-title/article_4bc7d0f2-e955-11ed-a66f-8735bc871180.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

While the Roanoke area is not home to any [[NCAA Division I]] schools, its proximity to Virginia Tech has led it to host some collegiate athletic events. Beginning in 1977, Roanoke, along with Richmond, was one of the primary neutral sites for the annual basketball game between Virginia Tech and the [[Virginia Cavaliers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Men's Basketball History vs University of Virginia |url=https://hokiesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/opponent-history/virginia/381 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |website=Virginia Tech Athletics |language=en |archive-date=April 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421104928/https://hokiesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/opponent-history/virginia/381 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2000 the schools started holding these games in campus facilities.<ref name=Bogaczyk1>{{cite news |last=Bogaczyk |first=Jack |date=January 25, 2000 |title=Campus sites will heat up state rivalry |work=The Roanoke Times |page=6B}}</ref>

From 1913, Roanoke played host to an annual football game between Virginia Tech and the Virginia Military Institute, first at Maher Field and then in the newly constructed Victory Stadium starting in 1942.<ref name="Cox1" /> The game was moved to [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving Day]] beginning in the early 1920s and was a holiday mainstay in the city until 1971.<ref name="Cox1" /><ref name=Ayers1>{{cite news |last=Ayers |first=Glenn |date=November 26, 2009 |title=A Roanoke Thanksgiving that is no more |work=The Roanoke Times |page=25A}}</ref>

Roanoke's location among the Blue Ridge Mountains makes it a destination for other sporting events. Every year since 2010 (barring 2020, when it was held virtually due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]),<ref name=Wall3>{{cite news |last=Wall |first=Sam |date=April 17, 2022 |title=Running back into its old form: Roanoke marathon circles back to pre-pandemic form, crowds |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref> the Roanoke Outside Foundation has put on the Blue Ridge Marathon, which is regarded as difficult due to its considerable elevation changes.<ref name=Wall3 /><ref name=Boone1>{{cite news |last=Boone |first=Jenny Kincaid |date=August 13, 2009 |title=New marathon rising in Roanoke |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref> The [[USA Cycling]] Amateur Road National Championships were held in the city and surrounding areas in 2022 and 2023,<ref name=Wall4>{{cite news |last=Wall |first=Sam |date=June 18, 2023 |title=USA Cycling national championships close in downtown Roanoke |work=The Roanoke Times |page=3A}}</ref> and an [[Ironman 70.3]] [[triathlon]] event brought competitors to the region from 2021{{Endash}}2023.<ref name=Sturgeon7>{{cite news |last=Sturgeon |first=Jeff |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Final splash for Ironman? Ironman athletes swim, bike, and run across the Roanoke Valley |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref>