The club was founded on 23 November 1928, and today it has sections for football and ice hockey.

Sparta is regarded as one of the big clubs of Norwegian ice hockey, having played in the top division uninterrupted since 1980, and having won the Norwegian ice hockey championship three times (1984, 1989 and 2011) as well as four regular-season titles.

Sparta have in the recent years had the highest average home attendance of the Norwegian ice hockey clubs,[1] with the local derbies against Stjernen having the highest attendance throughout the season.

[4] After decades in the lower divisions, Sparta secured promotion to Adeccoligaen in 2005, with a 15-0 win against Fram Larvik on 22 October 2005.

[5] Ahead of the 2008 season Sparta withdrew their team and gave place to the new club called Sarpsborg 08.