Events

11May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides

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

Events, Guides

The Sports Tourism Blog: places and events on my sport bucket list

By Sports Tourism Media co-editor Mike Starling The coronavirus has seen any plans for 2020 put on hold, but sports travellers will still be dreaming of visiting a new destination or event. Sports Tourism News & Events co-editor Mike Starling picks out some of the the sporting events and destinations he would like to visit. Sport travel bucket list Watch Messi play for Barca at the Camp NouWith hundreds of goals and a cabinet full of personal and team trophies, Lionel Messi is regarded as one of the best ever footballers. Turning 33-years-old in June, the brilliant Barcelona forward won’t be playing football forever, so watching him in action at the iconic Camp Nou is definitely on my sporting bucket list for the new year.  See the Olympic sights in TokyoI haven’t made plans to attend...

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11May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

The Sports Tourism Blog: can esports be the ‘virtual’ saviour for major sport?

The Sports Events Blog by co-editor Ramy Salameh The Covid-19 pandemic will reignite the many questions around the “risk vs. return-on-investment” when hosting major sporting events and whether destinations will be reticent to bid in the future. Tokyo’s Olympics and Paralympics have now announced a postponement until July 2021 and the economic implications for Japan are yet to be fully realised based on this deferment.  However, could the esports industry provide some form of safety net and a major new opportunity to help balance the books of major sporting festivals of the future? The discussion has been on the table for a few years now. So much so, that esports may well be on track to be included as a demonstration event, to run prior to and in conjunction with the 2024 Olympic Ga...

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11May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

The Sports Tourism Blog: ‘Dear NFL, please bring the Atlanta Falcons to London in 2021’

by Sports Tourism Media co-editor Mike Starling | @mikejstarling The NFL has confirmed that the 2020 London games will not be going ahead. As a fan of the Atlanta Falcons this is really disappointing news.  The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged this year’s sporting schedule and the NFL’s popular UK events have become the latest to fall victim to Covid-19.  NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood said: "The NFL's London Games have become a major part of the NFL season and the UK sports calendar. But the uncertainty in the current sporting landscape and the tremendous amount of long-term travel and planning required to stage successful London games mean this is the sensible decision to make." Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Bitter blow for the FA, Spurs and ...

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7May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

UFC returns: Dana White on UFC 249, Fight Island and 23 May event in Las Vegas

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White had already confirmed three events for this month and now he has revealed plans for a fight night in Las Vegas on 23 May.  Due to the coronavirus measures the mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation was forced to suspend its calendar. However, UFC 249 is now rescheduled for this Saturday (9 May) while cards are also planned for 13 May and 16 May.  The three events will be held behind closed doors in Jacksonville, Florida.  In a pre-UFC 249 interview with Sports Illustrated, White also revealed plans for Vegas later this month.  He said: “While everybody was f------ lying out by the pool, hanging out and doing whatever the f--- they're doing in quarantine, we were in here f------ grinding, man. Fighting crazy wars every day to put ...

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6May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides, 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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5May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Swimming: Fina World Championships in Fukuoka moved to 13-29 May 2022

Swimming’s governing body Fina has moved the World Championships and World Masters Championships in Japan to 2022 following the rescheduling of the Tokyo Olympics Games.   The postponement of this year’s Olympics in the Japanese capital means the mega-event will now take place from 23 July to 8 August 2021. This would have caused a clash with Fina’s two events.  Fina’s swimming World Championships in Fukuoka, which had originally been scheduled for 16 July to 1 August 2021, will now be held from 13-29 May 2022. The World Masters Championships in Kyushu have been moved to 31 May to 9 June 2022, having originally been scheduled for 3-12 August 2021. Fina president Julio Maglione said: “After liaising with the relevant stakeholders and receiving feedback from them, we have no doubt that th...

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5May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

SailGP: season two to now take place in 2021

SailGP will remain suspended for the rest of this year and its second season has now been rescheduled for 2021. In a news release sailing’s global racing championship announced that two of the four impacted events have been allocated new dates for 2021. The event in San Francisco will be held on 17-18 April and New York will be on 4-5 June.  Season two will be expanded from five events to a minimum of seven during the year-long period beginning in April 2021. Results from 2020 Sydney SailGP – the first and only completed event of the year – will be null and void. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts said: “This terrible pandemic has led to the tragic and ongoing loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, and first and foremost, our though...

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3May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Cycling: UEC reschedules European Road Championships for September 2021 

The 2020 European Road Championships in Trentino, Italy, has been postponed and the cycling event will now take place in September next year.  Due to the coronavirus pandemic the Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) announced that the 2020 edition - which was due to be held from 9-13 September - will be delayed by 12 months and remain in Trentino.  The exact dates for next year’s event will be confirmed by the UEC within the next few months and options include 1-5 September or 8-12 September.  Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media In a statement the UEC said: “This decision was taken in full agreement and co-operation with the parties concerned, namely the Union Européenne de Cyclisme, APT Trento, Monte Bondone, Valle dei Laghi and Trentino Marketing, the city of Tren...

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1May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

The Hundred postponed: 2021 launch will be ‘critical’ for future of English cricket 

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) CEO Tom Harrison admits the decision to postpone the launch of The Hundred is a disappointing one, but the event in 2021 will play a “critical” role in the sport’s revival and long-term future.  The ECB’s new 100-ball tournament was due to start this summer. However, like many sporting events in the UK, it has been called off due to Covid-19. The Hundred’s inaugural season will now happen in 2021.  Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media In a statement ECB chief Harrison said: “The situation we find ourselves in as a country means that delivery of The Hundred will not be possible this summer.  “Whilst we are naturally disappointed that we won’t get to realise our ambitions this year, The Hundred will go ahead in 2021 when we are s...

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1May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

‘Stay at Home Slam’: virtual tennis with Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and… Super Mario

There’s no majors on the schedule until the US Open in August due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but tennis fans can enjoy a grand slam with a difference this weekend. On Sunday 3 May eight of IMG’s top tennis clients - including Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Kei Nishikori and Maria Sharapova - will participate alongside other celebrities in a live virtual tennis tournament titled the “Stay at Home Slam”.  Played on Mario Tennis Aces for Nintendo Switch, the Stay at Home Slam will see stars compete from their homes and each will receive $25,000 donated to the charity of their choice. The winner of the tournament will also receive an additional $1m in donation. As well as the all-star line-up on the virtual court, legendary tennis player John McEnroe and popular YouTube personality iJustine (...

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1May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Scottish Highlands up first on Rally the Globe’s updated events calendar 

Rally the Globe, a not-for-profit members’ club for owners of pre-1976 vintage and classic cars, has announced a revised events calendar for 2020, 2021 and 2022. With the coronavirus causing major travel restrictions, many of the club’s events – including the Round the World circumnavigation – have had to be cancelled.  Anticipating the likelihood of international travel regulations being gradually relaxed, the amended calendar commences this autumn with the first of two events set entirely in the UK. First up on the revised schedule – government advice permitting – is the spectacular Highland Thistle Rally in the Scottish Highlands from 4-9 October. The rally will begin and finish at a five-star hotel in St Andrews and the five-day route is open to all pre-1977 models. The second UK-b...

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29Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Women’s golf: LPGA Tour targets 2020 season restart in mid-July 

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has published a revised event calendar for 2020 with a target of restarting the season in mid-July.  Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in Michigan will be the first event on the revised 2020 LPGA Tour calendar followed by the Marathon LPGA Classic in Ohio and ShopRite LPGA Classic in New Jersey.  The Women’s PGA Championship major, which was meant to be held in June, has now been rescheduled for 8-11 October.  In a statement LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said: “One thing that has become clear is that there will be no ‘opening bell’ regarding a return to safe play in this new normal of the Covid-19 pandemic.  “To be honest, being ‘first’ has never been the goal when it comes to returning to play in this new normal. We have built a schedule th...

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28Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Cleveland aims to make the 2021 NFL Draft the ‘best event yet’

The spotlight will be on downtown Cleveland in 2021 when the home city of the Browns hosts the 86th NFL Draft.  It was announced this week by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Destination Cleveland and the Cleveland Browns that the 2021 NFL Draft will be held from 29 April to 1 May at locations around FirstEnergy Stadium and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. David Gilbert, president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Destination Cleveland, revealed that the Ohio city is busy preparing for next year's huge American football festival.  Gilbert said: “We’re excited for Cleveland to ‘Rock The Clock’ as the host of next year’s NFL Draft and NFL Draft Experience – assuming large gatherings can take place without compromising the well-being of participants. “We, along w...

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28Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides, 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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28Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Sports events news 28 April: Ligue 1, Tokyo Olympics, Tour de France

Ligue 1 season is over French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has announced that sport in the country will not resume until September, including behind closed doors.  France has banned sporting events gathering more than 5,000 people until September and this means the end of the 2019-20 Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 football seasons.  Phillipe said: “The big sporting affairs cannot occur before September. The 2019-2020 season of professional sports, including football, will not be able to resume.  “It will be possible, on sunny days, to practice an individual sporting activity outdoors, obviously respecting the rules of social distancing. It will not be possible, neither to practice sport in covered places, nor team or contact sports.” Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media T...

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27Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Chase Carey is ‘confident’ the F1 2020 season will start in Austria on 5 July 

Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey has announced that the F1 2020 season is scheduled to start with the Austrian Grand Prix in July.  It has been confirmed the French GP will not go ahead - the tenth race to be cancelled or postponed - and plans are in place for the championship to begin in Austria from 3-5 July.  In a statement F1 boss Carey said: “Although it was announced that the French Grand Prix will not be going ahead, we are now increasingly confident with the progress of our plans to begin our season this summer.  “We’re targeting a start to racing in Europe through July, August and beginning of September, with the first race taking place in Austria on 3-5 July weekend.  “September, October and November, would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the G...

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26Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

2022 NFL Draft: Las Vegas confirmed as host city  

Las Vegas may have missed out on hosting the 2020 NFL Draft due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the Nevada city has been awarded the event in 2022.  Confirming the news NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said: “I’m pleased to announce that Las Vegas will host the 2022 NFL Draft, where we look forward to holding an even bigger and better event.” Steve Hill, CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), added: “We’re thrilled the NFL has given us the opportunity to host the Draft in Las Vegas in 2022. We plan to make the 87th annual NFL Draft an ‘Only Vegas’ experience football fans will never forget.” Caesars Entertainment will host the NFL Draft Main Stage, which will be constructed next to the Caesars Forum Conference Centre. Caesars Forum will be th...

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26Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Covid-19 impact study: only 53% of sports events in 2020 will be held and industry to lose $61.6bn in revenue

A study by international sports marketing firm Two Circles has predicted that only 53% of sports events in 2020 will now take place due to Covid-19. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing the cancellation or postponement of many events Two Circles also estimates that the interruption to live sports will see revenues drop from $135.3bn to $73.7bn - a $61.6bn deficit. Commenting on the study Gareth Balch, Two Circles CEO, said: “Sports properties are keen to return as soon as possible as the longer the sports calendar is on hiatus, the worse the financial impact will be. “However, sports should – and will – only return when it is deemed safe to do so, and with the support of all relevant government and medical authorities. Even hosting sports without crowds poses a complex challenge. “Com...

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16Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

PGA Tour adjusts 2020 schedule and plans to resume season on 11 June

Golf’s PGA Tour is planning to resume the 2020 season on 11 June at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. The Charles Schwab Challenge will be the first tournament on the revised schedule and will be one of four events that will be played behind closed doors. The Tour will follow the recommendations of local and state authorities and continually review available Covid-19-related protocols. Jay Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner, said: “The health and safety of all associated with the PGA Tour and our global community continues to be our No.1 priority, and our hope is to play a role – responsibly – in the world’s return to enjoying the things we love.  “Today’s announcement is another positive step for our fans and players as we look toward the future, but as we’ve stressed on s...

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