Dating back to 1911, the state fairgrounds (and later Independence Stadium, formerly State Fair Stadium) has traditionally hosted a college football game or two during the State Fair of Louisiana, an event currently dubbed the Red River State Fair Classic.
Since 1976, Independence Stadium has served as host of college football's annual Independence Bowl.
Also, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team occasionally hosts games at Independence Stadium.
Shreveport was also home to a few now defunct football teams.
The Houston franchise of the professional World Football League relocated to Shreveport rebranded as the Shreveport Steamer midway through the 1974 season, but the franchise along with the WFL folded midway through the 1975 season.
Another franchise named the Shreveport Steamers played as a member of the American Football Association from 1979 until folding in 1981.
Shreveport's Independence Stadium was also home to the Shreveport Pirates, an unsuccessful professional Canadian Football League franchise that opened play in 1994 but folded after the 1995 season.
Baseball in Shreveport has an extensive past.
The city had affiliated Minor League Baseball teams from 1968 to 2002.
The most memorable team was the Shreveport Captains of the Texas League.
Baseball teams in Shreveport have gone through eight different name changes and seven different leagues all since 1895.
Shreveport's most recent independent minor league baseball team, the Shreveport-Bossier Captains, ceased operations in 2011 and moved to Laredo, Texas.

The city also has an extensive history in basketball and soccer.
The Shreveport Crawdads and Shreveport Storm operated in 1994 and 1995 as members of the Continental Basketball Association.
The Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks of the American Basketball Association played from 2013 to 2015 before relocating to Owensboro, Kentucky.
The Shreveport/Bossier Lions played in 1998 as affiliates of the United Soccer League.
NPSL-affiliate Shreveport Rafters FC operated from 2016-2018.
Their expansion team for the Women's Premier Soccer League operated for one season in 2017.
Shreveport almost had a USL expansion team in 2020 before its rejection by the city council.

Currently, Shreveport is home to a few amateur sports clubs and college teams.
The city was once considered as location for a NBA G League-affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans.
The city council unanimously rejected the proposal.
The Shreveport Mudbugs are a Tier II junior ice hockey team that has competed in the North American Hockey League since 2016.
The Centenary Gentlemen and Ladies compete in NCAA Division III as a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The LSU–Shreveport Pilots compete in the NAIA as a member of the Red River Athletic Conference.
Dating back to 1911, the state fairgrounds (and later Independence Stadium, formerly State Fair Stadium) has traditionally hosted a college football game or two during the State Fair of Louisiana, an event currently dubbed the Red River State Fair Classic. Since 1976, Independence Stadium has served as host of college football's annual Independence Bowl. Also, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team occasionally hosts games at Independence Stadium. Shreveport was also home to a few now defunct football teams. The Houston franchise of the professional World Football League relocated to Shreveport rebranded as the Shreveport Steamer midway through the 1974 season, but the franchise along with the WFL folded midway through the 1975 season. Another franchise named the Shreveport Steamers played as a member of the American Football Association from 1979 until folding in 1981. Shreveport's Independence Stadium was also home to the Shreveport Pirates, an unsuccessful professional Canadian Football League franchise that opened play in 1994 but folded after the 1995 season.Baseball in Shreveport has an extensive past. The city had affiliated Minor League Baseball teams from 1968 to 2002. The most memorable team was the Shreveport Captains of the Texas League. Baseball teams in Shreveport have gone through eight different name changes and seven different leagues all since 1895. Shreveport's most recent independent minor league baseball team, the Shreveport-Bossier Captains, ceased operations in 2011 and moved to Laredo, Texas.
The city also has an extensive history in basketball and soccer. The Shreveport Crawdads and Shreveport Storm operated in 1994 and 1995 as members of the Continental Basketball Association. The Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks of the American Basketball Association played from 2013 to 2015 before relocating to Owensboro, Kentucky. The Shreveport/Bossier Lions played in 1998 as affiliates of the United Soccer League. NPSL-affiliate Shreveport Rafters FC operated from 2016-2018. Their expansion team for the Women's Premier Soccer League operated for one season in 2017. Shreveport almost had a USL expansion team in 2020 before its rejection by the city council.
Currently, Shreveport is home to a few amateur sports clubs and college teams. The city was once considered as location for a NBA G League-affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans. The city council unanimously rejected the proposal. The Shreveport Mudbugs are a Tier II junior ice hockey team that has competed in the North American Hockey League since 2016. The Centenary Gentlemen and Ladies compete in NCAA Division III as a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The LSU–Shreveport Pilots compete in the NAIA as a member of the Red River Athletic Conference.
Shreveport, Louisiana