There are few things in life as exciting as attending a major sporting event. Whether it’s the Super Bowl, the World Series, An NBA playoff game, the Kentucky Derby, the World Cup, the Masters Golf Tournament, or the Olympic Games, attending a major sporting event is an unforgettable bucket list experience. For those that know me, my love of sports is only superseded by my love for travel.
Traveling to these epic events can present challenges every bit as demanding as those faced by the athletes on the field of competition. Success will require careful planning, execution, and sheer will power. Whether your favorite team, horse, driver, or golfer wins or loses the competition, you will emerge victorious in your adventure by adhering to basic tips for traveling to a major sporting event.
- Make travel arrangements as far in advance as possible
Availability of flights, hotels, and rental cars can disappear in a hurry. Booking as soon as you know that you’re going to the event is the only way to assure that you can get there and that you’ll have a place to stay. - Consider ancillary cost when booking your hotel
Though hotels in outlying areas are usually less expensive than hotels in town, you need to consider how you are going to get to and from the airport and the big event. Rental car? Taxi? Public transportation? How much will it cost to park at the event? Do your research. - Purchase tickets from a legitimate source
Beware of scams involving counterfeit tickets. It’s best to purchase tickets from a team-sanctioned ticket reseller or through authorized websites - Arrive early
As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to arrive at least two hours early. You don’t want to miss the pre-event ceremonies because you’re stuck in traffic, trying to find a place to park, or standing in line waiting to get inside. - Make purchases outside the venue
Food and souvenir prices are notoriously high inside sporting venues. You will almost always save more money and eat better food outside the venue.
My Sports Team Affiliations
I absolutely love sports and at the risk of alienating some – I know how passionate we can be our teams – I’m going to declare my team affiliations.
The one thing I’m going to miss this fall is going to live games and especially traveling out of town to see my teams play. I usually count down to the release of the season schedule so I can see what the best away games are and plan accordingly. This is an awesome way to experience a new city while supporting your favorite team when they need it most; those hometown fans are a force to recon with.
My favorite NFL team is the San Francisco 49ers! Being a Cali team means we can attend home games as well as away games. A trip to see the game in San Francisco which is 5 hours away from LA is always fun. It involves tail gating before the game, watching the game and then celebrating or drowning our sorrows after, the former being more common.
Each season we pick one home game and one away game. We’ve enjoyed games at the famed Candle Stick Stadium and the new state-of-the-art Levi Stadium. Since the L.A Rams moved to Los Angeles, we’ve actually attended an away game in LA but usually we shoot for an out of state game. So far we have attended Vs New Orleans Saints in New Orleans at the famed Mercedes Benz Superdome Stadium (X3 just coz that’s the most fun city in the U.S. and they have a great rivalry) and Vs Minnesota Vikings at the state of the art U.S Bank Stadium (my favorite stadium so far). I would love to catch a game Vs. Greenbay packers so that remains on the bucket list..
My favorite NBA Team is The Lakers! Even though I have attended several games at Los Angeles Staple Center, I actually haven’t gone to an away game. That is a bucket list item that has been shelved until further notice due to the current crisis. However, attending a Lakers game in L.A can feel like an out of body experience. It’s as electric as it feels on T.V. complete with who’s who of celebrities in attendance. I got to see Kobe Bryant play live and that’s a priceless memory..
When it comes to baseball, my favorite MLB team is the Los Angeles Dodgers! I love me some “Blues” and I’ve enjoyed several home games as well as an out of town game against the Chicago Cubs at the famed Wrigley Stadium during playoffs that was super exciting even though we lost! I already love Chicago as a city but being there as a sports fan and seeing their passion for sports made it that much more of an awesome trip..
For all you soccer fans, my favorite MLS team is The LA Galaxy! I’ve been to more games than I can count but actually haven’t traveled to an away game. I would love to go to a Vs Seattle Sounders or Vs Portland Timbers because they have great fans; another bucket list item.
Last but definitely not least, in europe, my favorite is the reigning English Premier League champions Liverpool FC! (You Will Never Walk Alone) I saw them play in Los Angeles Vs Chelsea during an international tour but my big bucket list is to see them live at Anfield or famously known as the Kop! And this will definitely be the ultimate experience!
I hope I’ve inspired you to incorporate your love of sports into your travel adventures. Kill two birds with one stone! Happy trails!
