Destination Guides

28Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides

Autumn Nations Cup: rugby union’s new international tournament

International rugby union fans will welcome a new tournament this year - the Autumn Nations Cup.  Taking place from 13 November to 6 December, eight countries will play 16 matches across four consecutive weekends. Three rounds of fixtures will then be followed by a finals weekend.  Governing body World Rugby says the competition has been set up due to the traditional November international fixtures not being able to be held because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Six Nations rugby championship teams England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy are joined by Fiji and Georgia for the inaugural cup. The 2020 Six Nations will conclude just two weeks ahead of the new competition.  Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media What the organisers say&nb...

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13Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Sports Travel

What is the world’s best sports city? Here’s 30 you should visit…

If you ask the question “what is the world's best sports city?” the answers won’t just be varied but it could also start a huge debate.  Take the United States for example. You have Boston - home of NFL’s New England Patriots, baseball’s Red Sox, NBA’s Celtics and NHL’s Bruins - which was named America’s best sports city in 2020 by Forbes magazine.  Would residents of Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago or New York agree with the Forbes ranking? Of course not, but this is the beauty of such a list, it certainly gets sports fans talking... In February communications agency Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW) published its 2020 ranking of the best sports cities and it was New York that took top spot ahead of London, Paris, Los Angeles and Lausanne.   Is New York a be...

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26Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

UK horse racing in 2020: major races, events and festivals

Horse racing - flat and jumps - is a huge sporting tradition in the UK.  Featuring the English Classics and Grand Nationals to the Gold Cups and the Derby, the UK racing calendar is action-packed throughout the year.  From Ayr to Ascot, we look at the major UK horse races and events taking place in 2020. Newsletter: sign up for the latest updates from Sports Tourism Media 2020 sports calendar: UK and global major sporting events and ticket details Major UK horse races and festivals in 2020 Editor's note: events and dates are subject to change because of the Covid-19 pandemic Sprint Cup Festival What: the Group 1 Sprint Cup is the feature race of the Flat season at Haydock Park When: 3-5 September 2020 Where: Haydock Park Website: The Jockey Club St Leger Festival Doncaster ...

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25Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

F1 2020 GP calendar: 17 race dates and circuits are confirmed

Formula 1 and the FIA have confirmed the dates and circuits for the 17-race 2020 season.  Turkey returns to the F1 schedule with a grand prix in Istanbul on 15 November and there’s a double header in Bahrain before the season concludes in Abu Dhabi on 13 December.  A statement from Formula 1 said: “We can confirm that Turkey, Bahrain [hosting two races], and Abu Dhabi will be part of the revised season and want to express our thanks to the hard work of all our promoters and partners in making this 17-race season possible.  “Sadly, we will not be racing in China this season and want to thank our partner Juss Sports for their support and engagement in recent months and hugely look forward to returning to Shanghai next year.” The shorter season also sees grands prix...

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13Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Sports Business, Sports Travel

2020 #SportsBiz conferences: sports tourism and travel industry events

Sports business and sports tourism conferences are a huge driver for the travel industry. However, the sector has been hit hard this year by the coronavirus pandemic with many events cancelled, postponed or rescheduled. Here we look at the #SportsBiz events, conferences, exhibitions and awards scheduled to take place in 2020. All events are subject to change due to Covid-19. Sport + Travel Magazine: sign up for the free monthly digital publication 2020 sports calendar: major sporting events 2020 sports business calendar  December 2020 Business of Sport Summit When: 1-2 December 2020 Where: RACV City Club in Melbourne, Australia and delivered digitally Website: sportsleaders.com.au The Stadium Business Summit When: 1-3 December 2020 Where: online Website: stadiumbusinesssummit.com Maj...

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23May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Sports Travel, Venues & Stadiums

Review: Fifa World Football Museum in Zurich

Switzerland is home to the headquarters for two of the biggest sporting organisations in the world – the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa).  Both support their own museums, which provide Lausanne and Zurich with two of the most incredible sports attractions anywhere in the world.  Sports Tourism Media's co-editor Ramy James Salameh visited the Fifa World Football Museum in Zurich and picks out the best things to see. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Up for the cup Without doubt a spine-tingling moment is getting up close and personal with the Fifa World Cup trophy, which is a global “celebrity” in its own right.  Introduced in 1974, the Fifa World Cup trophy is made of 1...

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11May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Europe, Events, Other sports, Outdoor & Adventure

Vendée Globe 2020: an epic sailing race with a wave of tourism opportunities

By Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh At 12.02pm GMT on 8 November 2020, 34 competitors of the Vendée Globe race will sail non-stop, unassisted, around the world via three capes and three oceans in an effort to complete one of the most demanding and prestigious events within the sailing and sporting calendar.  The procession of race boats will pass thousands of fans lining the legendary “Vendée Globe” channel in Les Sables-d’Olonne, western France, initiating the start of a gruelling race that will test the physical and mental endurance of those courageous and talented enough to take part. It is so demanding that over the last 30 years and eight editions of the race, 167 sailors have set off but only 89 have crossed the finish line. To further put this into perspective, ...

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11May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Europe, Outdoor & Adventure, Trips & Experiences

Licence to thrill-seek in Austria: extreme sports tourism at AREA 47

By Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh A study has calculated how far James Bond 007 has travelled to save the world - an enormous 276,745.2 miles across 24 movies, with Austria having been the location on three separate films.  It is a country known for its epic Alpine surroundings and tailor-made for adventure sport junkies.  In 2015, the world’s most famous film franchise used the Gaislachkogl Mountain to shoot key action scenes of Spectre. This Bond movie granted the town of Soelden, located in the Alpine valley of Oetztal-Tirol, a unique and lasting legacy.  Key action scenes from the film have now been honoured through the creation of 007 Elements a stunning cinematic installation at more than 3,000m which opened in 2018. Inside, a series of bunker-like concre...

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6May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events, Sports Business

UCI WorldTour 2020 calendar: what dates are the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España and Tour de France?

Cycling’s world governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has revealed details of its revised 2020 calendars for the UCI WorldTour and UCI Women’s WorldTour. The 2020 season has been suspended since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic and major events such as the Tour de France have been rescheduled. In a news release the UCI has confirmed that the men’s cycling WorldTour will start with the Strade Bianche in Italy on 1 August and finish at the Vuelta a España on 8 November. The series will include 25 events.  The Tour de France is scheduled to take place from 29 August to 20 September while the two other grand tours - the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España - will overlap in October. The Giro d’Italia is scheduled for 3-25 October while the Vuelta a España is scheduled f...

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28Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events, Sports Business

British Touring Car Championship: revised 2020 provisional calendar announced

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTTC) series organisers TOCA has published a revised provisional calendar for 2020.  This year’s championship will feature nine events and a total of 27 races. The 2020 season is now scheduled to start on 1-2 August at Donington Park and will conclude at Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on 14-15 November. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Alan Gow, BTCC chief executive, said: “These are incredibly challenging times for the whole nation. Through it all, we have seen the importance of being both adaptable and pragmatic… and the BTCC is no different. So it’s entirely logical to draft plans and lock-in our provisional dates, with the ability to amend those if circumstances dictate.  “Obviously this calendar presents a hectic...

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1Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

MLB London Series 2020 cancelled: St Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs matches are off

The 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) London Series has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.  St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs were scheduled to go head-to-head at the London Stadium in June but the two matches are now off.  MLB has confirmed that ticket holders will receive a full refund.  A statement said: “As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mitel & MLB Present London Series 2020 has been cancelled.  “The decision has been taken in line with the UK Government’s actions stopping public gatherings and the need to focus emergency services resources on combating the pandemic.  “While we understand that this news is disappointing, we are faced with an unprecedented situation worldwide and nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our players, e...

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28Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

Chestertons Polo in the Park 2020 London: new dates, event guide, tickets, hospitality, hotels

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the dates for the 2020 Chestertons Polo in the Park have been amended. The London event will now take place at Hurlingham Park in Fulham from 4-6 September and tickets are on sale.  This year’s three-day spectacular will feature International Friday, Ladies Day and Finals Day. A firm fixture in the social calendar, the world-class polo event is not just about the sport, but also fashion, food, fun and family.  Here we look at the event details, travel information and the ticket and hospitality options. 2020 sports calendar: UK and global major sporting events and ticket details Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Friday 4 September: International Friday An action-packed day to kick-start the tournament, including the Frasers Engl...

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8Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events, Football, The Americas

2020: a huge year for football in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires

With Copa America fixtures at River Plate's stadium and two major milestones for Boca Juniors on the calendar, 2020 promises to be a huge year for football fans in Argentina’s capital city Buenos Aires. Argentina and Colombia co-host the 47th edition of the Copa America, the equivalent of Europe’s Uefa European Championship, and Buenos Aires will be the location for four matches.   On 12 June the iconic El Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, home of River Plate, will host the opening match of the tournament between Argentina and Chile in group A. As well as the opening match, the 70,000-capacity El Monumental will also host Argentina’s group A fixtures against Paraguay and Australia and a quarter-final on 5 July.  Players such as Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Manchester City’s Sergio Aguer...

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2Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

2020 Grand National Festival: event guide, tickets and hospitality options, travel details  

The sporting world will be watching Aintree as the famous Liverpool racecourse hosts the 2020 Randox Health Grand National Festival for three days in April.  Starting with Liverpool’s Day on Thursday 2 April, the opening day of the festival is described as “one of the region’s best kept secrets” and a popular choice for racing fans and couples alike.  Day two at Aintree, #FabulousFriday (3 April), is Ladies Day. As well as four Grade One races on the track, fashion and style is the order of the day off the track. The final day of the festival, Saturday 4 April, is the big one as the Grand National is held at 5.15pm (UK time). Millions around the world will be watching the £1m Grade 3 handicap steeplechase as the horses jump 30 fences around the 4-mile-2.5-furlong circuit.   Here we loo...

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1Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

March 2020 sports events and ticket info: Cheltenham Festival, Carabao Cup final, Boat Race and more

A popular sporting event on the March 2020 calendar is horse racing's Cheltenham Festival. Taking place from 10-13 March, the festival is known as the "most prestigious jump racing event of the year" and includes races such as the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, World Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Other major sporting events in March 2020 include the Six Nations rugby championship, the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Aston Villa, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia, British Basketball League (BBL) Trophy Final in Glasgow, Six Day Manchester cycling and F1's first grand prix of the season in Australia. Here we look at what's on in March... 2020 sports calendar: UK and global major sporting events and ticket details Newsletter: sign up for update...

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2Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

February 2020 sports events: F1 pre-season testing, Wilder vs. Fury II, Women’s T20 cricket

The sporting year ramps up in February with Six Nations rugby union, a world heavyweight boxing title contest and the ICC Women’s Twenty20 Cricket World Cup on the schedule.  It’s also a big month for motor sport. NASCAR’s Daytona 500 takes place at Daytona International Speedway in Florida while Formula 1 returns with two pre-season testing sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain. Here we look at the February 2020 sports events calendar. 2020 sports calendar: UK and global major sporting events and ticket details February 2020 sports events   2020 Ladbrokes Masters  What: PDC darts event featuring the world’s top 16 players  When: 31 January-2 February 2020 Where: Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes Tickets: See Tickets Australian Open 2020 What: first tennis gr...

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1Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Europe, Events

Italy sports events in 2020: Giro D’Italia, F1 Italian GP, Euro 2020 and more

As a travel destination Italy is one of the most popular in the world. It may be famous for its culture, architecture, fast cars and food, but Italy is also a big favourite for sports fans.   The European nation has a thriving sports industry with major events held throughout the year. Events to look forward to in Italy in 2020 include the Rome Marathon, Giro D’Italia cycling race and of course the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix.  Also this year, football’s European Championship kicks off with the opening match between Italy and Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Here we look at the top sporting events in Italy in 2020... Newsletter: sign up for the latest updates from Sports Tourism Media Italy sports events in 2020 Rome Marathon When: 29 March 2020 Website: maratonadiroma.it Abou...

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4Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

Rugby union in England 2020: international fixtures, Twickenham events, tickets

After finishing runners-up in the Rugby World Cup in Japan Eddie Jones’s England team will go into 2020 hoping to impress in the Six Nations championship.  Featuring England, Wales, France, Italy, Ireland and Scotland, the 2020 Six Nations starts on 1 February and finishes on 14 March.  It’s not just the Six Nations England rugby fans have to look forward to this year, there’s also the women’s Six Nations, autumn international fixtures, London Sevens, The Clash and the Premiership final.   Here we take a look at the major rugby union events taking place in England in the next 12 months.  2020 sports calendar: UK and global major sporting events and ticket details Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Guinness Six Nations 2020  What: international rugby union cha...

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4Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London: 2020 sports events and venue guide

London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) is gearing up for a huge 2020 with many national and international sporting events on the agenda.  Home to venues such as the London Stadium, Copper Box Arena and London Aquatics Centre, QEOP’s 2020 sports calendar includes Premier League football, Tokyo 2020 qualifiers and Major League Baseball.     Peter Tudor, director of visitor services at QEOP, said: “In 2020 we will have a fantastic array of sport on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with something to inspire everyone. Not only do we have four different Olympic qualifying events but fans can also watch the world’s best athletes play netball, hockey and baseball – all in fantastic venues set in over 500 acres of wonderful parkland.” QEOP factfile Opened: April 201...

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14Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

Formula 1 2020 season calendar to feature 22 races

Formula 1 has revealed the draft calendar for the 2020 FIA F1 World Championship - and it will feature a record-breaking 22 races.  The 2020 season, which marks F1’s 70th anniversary, starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 15 March and finishes with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 29 November. There’s no German Grand Prix on the schedule but F1 will go to two new destinations in 2020. The Vietnam Grand Prix will be held on the streets of Hanoi on 5 April then on 3 May the Dutch Grand Prix returns with the race at the Zandvoort circuit. Formula 1 2020 provisional calendar  15 March: Australia  22 March: Bahrain 5 April: Vietnam 19 April: China 3 May: Netherlands 10 May: Spain 24 May: Monaco 7 June: Azerbaijan 14 June: Canada 28 June: France ...

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