Even if you aren’t a huge sports fan, going to a sporting event while travelling in another part of the world is still a unique and enjoyable experience. It’s a great inclusion to any itinerary – and if your timing is within the regular season, tickets are normally not too difficult to come by.
Here are our top 5 picks for sporting experiences you can incorporate into your next holiday.
NBA – Basketball
NY Knicks, Madison Square Garden
No one quite does sport entertainment like the Americans. Even their college level games across all sports is huge amongst fans. If you’re travelling in the US between October – April, then squeezing in an NBA game is a must! Whether it’s watching the New York Knicks at the iconic Madison Square Garden, admiring the incredible Lebron James taking the court for the LA Lakers at Staples Centre or cheering on Australia’s very own Patty Mills as you watch the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Centre – you’ll have a great experience no matter who you watch. The pre-game & half time entertainment is often just as exciting as the game itself. There are plenty of different ticket levels to suit all budgets, and even if you’re up in the stands on a cheaper ticket, you’ll still have an incredible basketball experience.
EPL – Soccer
Photo by Tamás Mészáros from Pexels
For many Australians, attending an English Premier League game in the UK is a bucket list item. The EPL season runs from August to May and with 20 teams in the competition there are plenty of stadiums and matches to choose from. If your visit is mostly based in London, there are 6 teams with stadiums in London – Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, West Ham and Crystal Palace! Of course, if you’re a fan of a particular team outside of the London area then planning a day (or weekend) trip to fit in a game is recommended! The schedule for the following year is usually released around mid-June, so if you want to see a specific team you may need to hold off with final plans until then.
MLB – Baseball
Yankee Stadium
If you happen to visit the US outside of the NBA season, never fear, you can still walk away having experienced an iconic sporting event. The Major League Baseball season runs from late March/ early April until late September/ early October and is certainly a fun experience. Perhaps the most popular would be watching the NY Yankees at Yankee Stadium, whilst enjoying a hot dog in the stand! Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox, and Dodger Stadium, home to the LA Dodgers, are also iconic stadiums to visit.
Tour de France – Cycling
The Tour de France is one of the biggest events on the European professional cycling calendar. With 21 stages occurring over 23 days, there are plenty of opportunities for people to catch a glimpse of this iconic race along the route. The race usually happens sometime in June (2020 dates are 27 June – 19 July) and the route changes year to year. For cycling fans, a summer in France catching a glimpse of the action is a great addition to their European itinerary.
F1 Grand Prix – Motor Racing
Formula 1 motor racing happens all over the world, with 21 Grand Prix races from Australia to Abu Dhabi on the racing calendar each year. Aside from the Melbourne Grand Prix, the race in Monaco, Monza (Italy), Suzuka (Japan) and Singapore are quite popular amongst racing fans. The calendar generally runs from March through to December, however the schedule changes each year so it’s always best to wait for it to be released and plan your travel dates around the event (if a Grand Prix is specifically what you’d like to experience)! For Australians, attending the Singapore Grand Prix is generally a popular choice, as it is close to Australia and great for a smaller getaway.
These are just some of the regular sporting events that occur around the world and are available for travellers to include in their itinerary. Let our consultants know if you’d like to include a sporting experience in your next holiday.
