The following is a list of the professional sports teams that have played games and been based in the state of Colorado:
Baseball
Major League Baseball Colorado Rockies
Minor League Baseball
American Association Denver Zephyrs (previously the Denver Bears; also played in the Pacific Coast League. Moved to New Orleans; now play as the Wichita Wind Surge)
Pioneer League Grand Junction Jackalopes Based in Grand Junction, CO. Formerly Grand Junction Rockies, renamed in 2022.https://www.denverpost.com/2022/11/04/grand-junction-jackalopes-name-change/#:~:text=PUBLISHED%3A%20November%204%2C%202022%20at,Jackalopes%20following%20a%20rebrand%20Friday.(defunct)https://www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/pioneer-baseball-league-launches-historic-partnership-with-redpocket-mobile Rocky Mountain Vibes Based in Colorado Springs, CO. (defunct)https://www.cpr.org/2025/10/30/rocky-mountain-vibes-leaving-colorado-springs/ Northern Colorado Owlz Based in Windsor, CO. Formerly Orem Owlz, relocated from Orem, UT in 2022.https://www.denverpost.com/2021/11/04/northern-colorado-owlz-baseball-to-begin-inaugural-season-in-may/https://www.northerncoloradoowlz.com/sports/bsb/2022/releases/20220323g5liwb (defunct)https://www.pioneerleague.com/sports/bsb/2025/releases/20250630lkwe86
Pacific Coast League Colorado Springs Sky Sox AAA League for Milwaukee Brewers (now play as the San Antonio Missions) Denver Bears (Relocated from Kansas City. Also played in American Association; later became the Denver Zephyrs)
Texas-Louisiana League Pueblo Bighorns (defunct)
Western League Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Western League) (defunct) Denver Bears (Western League) (defunct; replaced by the new Denver Bears team)
Basketball
American Basketball Association Denver Rockets (now play in the National Basketball Association as the Denver Nuggets) Colorado Kings Based in Denver, CO (defunct) Colorado Cougars Based in Greeley, CO (defunct) Colorado Crusaders Based in Colorado Springs, CO (defunct)
American Basketball League Colorado Xplosion (defunct)
National Basketball Association Denver Nuggets (also played in American Basketball Association; also known as Denver Rockets) Denver Nuggets (1948-1950) (also played in the American Basketball League, National Basketball League, Amateur Athletic Association, and National Professional Basketball League) (defunct)
National Women's Basketball League Colorado Chill (defunct)
Minor League Basketball
American Basketball Association Colorado Storm (defunct)
International Basketball Association Aurora Cavalry (defunct) Colorado Crossover (defunct)
National Basketball Association Development League Colorado 14ers (now play as the Texas Legends)
Football
Arena Football League Colorado Springs Crush (defunct) Denver Dynamite (defunct)
Colorado Football Conference Mile High Eagles (Formerly Englewood Eagles and Colorado Cobras) Northern Colorado Nightmare Pueblo Steel Colorado Springs Flames 303 Thrashers (Formerly Denver Pirates) Colorado 76ers Inactive or Defunct Teams Below
Denver Dynasty (Defunct) Mile High Grizzlies (Defunct) Colorado Stealth (Defunct) North Metro Thunder (Defunct)
Metro State Roadrunners (MSU) Colorado Springs Mountain Lions (UCCS) Denver Sharks Pueblo Steel Metropolitan Wolverines Colorado Bulldogs Colorado Springs Generals Rocky Mountain Reapers Mile High Knights North Metro Red Raiders Denver Titans Greeley Stampede Ft Collins Stars Greeley Blaze Denver Bulls Denver Sharks Grand Junction Outlaws Colorado Springs Raptors Rocky Mountain Raptors Broomfield D.A.W.G.S.
Indoor Football League Colorado Crush (IFL) (previously the Colorado Ice; also played in United Indoor Football) (defunct)
Indoor Professional Football League Rocky Mountain Thunder (defunct)
Legends Football League Denver Dream (defunct)
National Football League Denver Broncos (Also played in the American Football League)
National Indoor Football League Colorado Venom (defunct) Denver Aviators (defunct)
Professional Indoor Football League Colorado Wildcats (defunct)
United Indoor Football Colorado Ice (later became the Colorado Crush; also played in Indoor Football League) (defunct)
United States Football League Denver Gold (defunct)
American Professional Football League II Grand Junction Gladiators
Hockey
National Hockey League Colorado Avalanche (moved from Quebec) Colorado Rockies (moved to New Jersey)
World Hockey Association Denver Spurs (moved to Ottawa; defunct) (also played in Western Hockey League and Central Hockey League)
Minor League Hockey
Central Hockey League Colorado Eagles Colorado Flames (defunct) Denver Spurs (also played in Western Hockey League and World Hockey Association) (moved to Ottawa; defunct) Rocky Mountain Rage (defunct) Denver Cutthroats (defunct)
International Hockey League Denver Grizzlies (moved to Utah; now play as the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League) Denver Mavericks (moved to Minneapolis; defunct) Denver Rangers (moved to Phoenix; defunct) (also known as Colorado Rangers)
United States Hockey League Denver Falcons (defunct)
West Coast Hockey League Colorado Gold Kings (moved from Alaska; defunct)
Western Hockey League Denver Invaders (moved from Spokane) (moved to Victoria; defunct) Denver Spurs (also played in Central Hockey League and World Hockey Association) (moved to Ottawa; defunct)
Lacrosse
Premier League Lacrosse Denver Outlaws
National Lacrosse League Colorado Mammoth
Rugby
Major League Rugby
Colorado Raptors (previously the Glendale Raptors; defunct)
Division I Men
Glendale Merlins
Elite Women's Rugby
Denver Onyx
Division I Women
Glendale Merlins
Soccer
Major League Soccer Colorado Rapids
National Women’s Soccer League Denver Summit
North American Soccer League Colorado Caribous (moved to Atlanta; defunct) Denver Dynamos (moved to Minnesota; defunct)
Professional Arena Soccer League Denver Dynamite (defunct)
Minor League Soccer
A-League Colorado Foxes (moved to San Diego; defunct)
Major Soccer League Denver Avalanche (defunct)
United Soccer League Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Major Arena Soccer League Colorado Blizzard Colorado Inferno
Australian Rules Football
USAFL
Men's Denver Bulldogs
Women's Denver Bulldogs Centennial Tigers
References