Sports in Cologne

Here's an interesting fact that I recently learned: Cologne has the greatest variety of professional sports teams than any other city in Germany. (Berlin has more teams because they have two soccer teams and three volleyball teams.)

As someone who has never been to a professionally basketball or football match in the U.S., it's amazing that I've seen all these teams — with the exception of ice hockey. I turned down my chance to watch them since, I went to hockey matches in the States and didn't find them all that interesting. In retrospect I probably should have gone. The fans in Cologne are awesome and probably would have made the game more interesting.

Here's a list of all the teams and their Web sites. I recommend attending a game if you can.

• 1.FC Köln – Fußball/Soccer
• Kölner Haie – Ice Hockey in German
• VfL Gummersbach – Handball
• Köln 99ers – Basketball
• Köln Renn-Verein – Horse Racing