Events

28Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Aqua Rugby Festival: a ‘sporting phenomenon’ in Sydney, Australia 

With “big hits” and even “bigger splashes”, Aqua Rugby has been described as Australia’s newest “sporting phenomenon”. Taking place at Manly Cove in Sydney, Australia from 10-12 November 2022, the three-day Aqua Rugby Festival will see matches played on a 30m x 30m floating pontoon pitch with tries scored by jumping into the ocean. Think of it as rugby’s full contact and fast pace combined with Olympic-style dives and NFL-inspired celebrations.    The teams, professional and amateur, feature five players plus reserves and games are played for ten minutes – five-minute halves with two minutes for half time. Over the weekend there will be men’s and women’s knockout competitions as well as a number of exhibition matches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_QNk0NRI2o Fans will be able...

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22Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Dates confirmed for 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games 

The International Surfing Association (ISA) has confirmed that the 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games will be held in El Sunzal / La Bocana from 30 May to 7 June 2023.  The games will serve as the second event in the Olympic Qualification process, with four slots up for grabs for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games (to be held in Tahiti). In El Salvador, the four top ranked surfers by continent for each gender will qualify one place each by name. Fernando Aguerre, ISA president, said: “El Salvador continues to solidify itself as an essential part of the pathway to Olympic Surfing. We are grateful to President Bukele and Minister Valdez for their understanding of the ISA’s mission, but also for their strong commitment to surfing. We are happy to continue to expand and st...

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22Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Cardinals to play Cubs in 2023 Major League Baseball London Series

Major League Baseball (MLB) will return to London in 2023 with St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs facing off for a two-game series in the UK’s capital city. Taking place at the baseball-configured London Stadium, the games will be held on 24 and 25 June.  In 2019 MLB held its first regular-season games in Europe with the Yankees playing the Red Sox at London Stadium. The Cardinals and Cubs were due to play in London in 2020, but the series was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The 2023 London Series is part of the MLB World Tour, which will also see regular-season and exhibition games played in Asia, Mexico, Latin America and Europe through to the 2026 season. When asked about the London Series, Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman said: “Sick. Unreal. Honestly, London i...

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1Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Venues & Stadiums

Watching the Lionesses win at Wembley: ‘the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced’

In this blog post, Sports Tourism Media co-editor Mike Starling looks back on a glorious day out at Wembley Stadium for the Uefa Women’s Euro final between England and Germany... Just before she scored her winning goal, England hero Chloe Kelly looked towards us in the stands and urged the fans to roar the Lionesses on for the last minutes of the Uefa Women’s Euro final.  There was 110 minutes on the clock and seconds later Lauren Hemp swung in a corner which, after a goalmouth scramble, found Kelly who toe poked the ball home from close range. It may have been scrappy, but like Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick strike in 1966 and Gazza’s stunner against Scotland in 1996, Kelly’s Wembley goal is one that will go down in English football folklore. The forward’s now-iconic “taking-her-sh...

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30Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Sydney Marathon enters race to join Abbott World Marathon Majors 

Sydney is on track to join the most high-profile marathon cities in the world, with the Blackmores Sydney Marathon officially announced as a candidate for the Abbott World Marathon Majors series – the first marathon in Oceania to be nominated. To become a major, the Sydney Marathon will be required to meet “strict criteria over a three-year period”, said worldmarathonmajors.com. If successful, it will join an esteemed group of races – Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW-Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and TCS New York City Marathon – as a new member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025. Stuart Ayres, the New South Wales minister for tourism and sport, said the candidacy acknowledges the Sydney Marathon as a world-class event with one of...

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30Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Chicago to host Nascar Cup Series street race in July 2023 

For the first time ever, the sights, sounds, and speed of Nascar are coming to downtown Chicago in July 2023. One of the world’s top sports cities, Chicago will add another chapter to its illustrious sports history when a Nascar Cup Series street race debuts against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park.  The first-ever Nascar Cup Series street course race will take place on Sunday 2 July, and will be preceded by an IMSA-sanctioned series race, which will run on Saturday 1 July. The specific IMSA series joining the Nascar Cup Series in Chicago will be announced at a later date. Both races will be surrounded by music and entertainment options for all ages, truly making it one of the signature sporting and entertainment events of the year.   Lakeshore Drive, Michigan Avenue, Col...

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30Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Free tickets released for golf’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai 

As with previous years, general admission tickets will be free for golf fans eager to watch the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The DP World Tour’s season-ending Rolex Series event will be held from 17-20 November at Jumeirah Golf Estates.  The Earth course will once again welcome the top 50 players on the DP World Tour Rankings presented by Rolex. Some of the hottest names in the game are expected to make the trip to Dubai for the prestigious tournament, including the likes of former champions and major winners Matthew Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm.  This year’s tournament will also boast a record US$10m prize fund, making the season finale the first DP World Tour event in history outside the Majors and WGCs to feature an eight-figure prize fund. As...

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30Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

Event in focus: The Islands of Guernsey Autumn Walking Festival

Autumn in Guernsey provides the perfect backdrop for a walking retreat. With the deep red of its falling leaves and bronzed late light, is there a better time to go rambling? Here we take a look at The Islands of Guernsey Autumn Walking Festival 2022. About the event  Taking place from 17 September to 2 October, the Autumn Walking Festival will offer visitors a choice of more than 40 morning, afternoon, and evening guided walks to explore the stunning islands of Guernsey, Herm and Sark. Walkers can also learn from local experts about the islands’ history and attractions. Organised by the Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides, the walks range from rambles through the island’s interior scenic landscape to exploring the rugged coastal paths. The walks vary in difficulty an...

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30Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Sports event in focus: 2022 Aruba Open Beach Tennis Championships

The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba, the birthplace of beach tennis, is expected to attract hundreds of professional and amateur players and spectators for the Aruba Open Beach Tennis Championships from 13-20 November 2022. With a prize purse of US$60,000, it is the world's premier beach tennis tournament and, with its associated parties and other social events, makes a much-anticipated return after previous pandemic cancellations. Beach tennis is similar to its bigger sister lawn version, with a smattering of volleyball and badminton thrown in. Players volley a pressureless tennis ball back and forth over the net without letting it hit the sand. It is the number one beach sport in Aruba and holidaymakers can easily make their debut with lessons with a local pro readily available. Su...

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30Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Usyk vs. Joshua rematch confirmed for 20 August in Saudi Arabia  

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO world heavyweight titles against Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia on Saturday 20 August 2022. Billed as the “Rage on the Red Sea”, the rematch will be held in the coastal city of Jeddah.  In their first clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in September 2021, Ukrainian pound-for-pound star Usyk claimed the belts after winning by a unanimous decision against British fighter Joshua.  Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s sports and entertainment agency Skill Challenge Entertainment (SCEE), said it was a “proud moment” for the kingdom to be hosting the huge rematch. He added: “Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua are both brilliant champions with different stories, skills and styles and the whole world will wat...

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11Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Event in focus: 2022 Italian Bike Festival, Emilia Romagna 

The northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna is gearing up to host a new edition of the annual Italian Bike Festival. It will take place from 9-11 September 2022 for the first time at the Misano World Circuit, in the city of Rimini on the Adriatic coast. Emilia Romagna – which recently hosted the F1 Grand Prix, the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini MotoGP, and the Motor Valley Fest – will welcome sports fans and holidaymakers for the biking extravaganza. Since 2018, the Italian Bike Festival has been attracting cycling enthusiasts from all over Europe. And over the course of three days, visitors will be able to interact with more than 500 cycling brands, including Trek, Cannondale, Orbea and Kona. Visitors will also be invited to experience live events such as th...

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11Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

An ace for British tennis: Glasgow to host 2022 Billie Jean King Cup finals

Glasgow in Scotland has been selected as the host city of the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup finals. The international women’s tennis team tournament returns to Great Britain for the first time since 1991 and fourth time in total.  Taking place from 8-13 November 2022 at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, 12 teams will compete for the rose bowl trophy, including GB as the host nation.  Scott Lloyd, chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), hopes the event will “create special memories” and will “inspire the next generation of players”. He added: “We have said that we were ambitious to bring more major events to Great Britain and raise the profile of tennis across the whole year, and I’m delighted that Glasgow will be hosting the Billie Jean King Cup Finals as well as the Davis Cup...

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31May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

‘Fan Experience Tester’: is this the best sports job in the world?

Sportsbreaks.com is looking for an official ‘Fan Experience Tester’ – a role that may just be the best sports job in the world. According to the sports travel and experience provider, one lucky applicant will attend and report on the biggest sporting events in the calendar. Once selected, the recruit will have a choice of marquee sporting events and will help Sportsbreaks.com ensure it is providing the best experience possible at these once-in-a-lifetime events.   Trips will include:   Formula 1: tickets, travel and hotel to a European race in 2023  Football match break including tickets and hotel Tickets to an NFL London Games match  Tickets to a UK darts tournament Tickets to an England cricket international at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester with access ...

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31May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

‘Surf City USA’ Huntington Beach to host 2022 ISA World Surfing Games 

The International Surfing Association (ISA) has announced that Huntington Beach in California, USA, will be the host of the 2022 ISA World Surfing Games from 17-24 September.  In a significant innovation to the Olympic Surfing Qualification System, the winning men’s and women’s national teams at these World Surfing Games will be allocated one Olympic slot each for their respective country/National Olympic Committee (NOC). This qualification slot will be in addition to the maximum quota of two athletes per country for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.  The ISA’s premier event, presented by Visit Huntington Beach, returns to “Surf City USA” for the first time since 2006. Huntington Beach has played a historic role for the sport of surfing, having hosted top-tier global events. The 202...

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31May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides, Sports Travel

2023 BTCC calendar unveiled: Donington Park GP makes return

The 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTTC) calendar has been announced by series organisers TOCA. After completing just three events of the 2022 campaign so far, the motorsport series has already locked down its dates for next year, with a return to the Donington Park GP circuit arguably producing the most significant headline. Next season commences on the Donington Park National circuit in late April, before the Brands Hatch Indy circuit event in May, and an earlier-than-usual slot for Snetterton.  The summer months are occupied by trips to Thruxton, Oulton Park, Croft and Knockhill, before the return to the Donington Park Grand Prix circuit – for the first time in more than 20 years – takes place in late August As is often the case, the campaign concludes ...

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29May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Major League Baseball hits a home run for London’s sports tourism portfolio

London’s position as a leading international sports city has been strengthened after a new long-term partnership was agreed with Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been confirmed that regular-season MLB matches will return to the UK capital in 2023, 2024 and 2026.  The first MLB London Series match to be played in the UK was in 2019 when the Boston Red Sox took on the New York Yankees in two games at the London Stadium. More than 60,000 fans were in attendance in both games.  As well as the upcoming regular-season matches, London’s Crystal Palace Park will also host the MLB Home Run Derby X on 9 July 2022. The competition will feature four historic franchises: the Red Sox, Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. According to MLB, each team will include a former player (L...

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16May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Rugby World Cup host nations confirmed from 2025 to 2033

Rugby union's global governing body World Rugby has confirmed the locations for the next three women’s and two men’s Rugby World Cups. At its annual meeting in Dublin, Ireland, on 12 May the World Rugby Council unanimously approved the staging of the Rugby World Cup in the following countries: England to host Rugby World Cup 2025 (women’s)Australia to host Rugby World Cup 2027 (men’s) and 2029 (women’s)USA to host Rugby World Cup 2031 (men’s) and 2033 (women’s) World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “We have approved three exceptional Rugby World Cup host nations – England, Australia and USA – providing unprecedented certainty and an unparalleled opportunity to accelerate the growth and impact of rugby globally. It is great for rugby, for fans and for the host nations. “The conf...

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5May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides

Sports event guide: The Hundred 2022

2022 sports event guide CRICKET: THE HUNDRED Cricket fans in England and Wales will welcome the return of The Hundred in the summer of 2022. Featuring eight teams from seven cities, and tournaments for both men and women, the 100-ball cricket competition starts on Wednesday 3 August and ends with a double-header finals day at Lord’s on Saturday 3 September. The Hundred 2022 Dates: Wednesday 3 August to Saturday 3 September 2022 Teams: Welsh Fire (Cardiff), Southern Brave (Southampton), Northern Superchargers (Leeds), London Spirit (London), Trent Rockets (Nottingham), Oval Invincibles (London), Manchester Originals (Manchester), Birmingham Phoenix (Birmingham) Fixtures,...

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5May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

NFL 2022 International Games: London, Munich and Mexico City

The NFL’s 2022 International Games were confirmed on 4 May. The schedule will kick off with back-to-back weekends at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London (2 October and 9 October), followed by one match at Wembley Stadium in London (30 October), one in Munich, Germany (13 November), and one in Mexico City (21 November).  The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings will each play in the UK for the third time.  Both teams have won on two previous occasions in the UK and will make their debut at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 2 October.      The following Sunday, 9 October, the Green Bay Packers, NFC North champions for the third consecutive year, will face the New York Giants in their first international trip, becoming the 32nd NFL team to pl...

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17Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

SweetSpot and Destination Sport announce joint venture for cycling events

SweetSpot Group, the sports events and marketing company behind cycling's Tour of Britain, Women’s Tour and Tour Series, and Destination Sport Group, a sports travel provider, have launched a new joint venture to create hospitality packages, accommodation and transport logistics, and experiences at major cycling events. Following previous collaborations at the Tour of Britain, the new enterprise will be positioned in the Destination Sport Group portfolio and focus on building further hospitality experiences, provide hotel and logistical support for participating teams and developing opportunities for cycling enthusiasts to experience the thrill of riding stages of the Tour of Britain, the Women’s Tour and the Tour Series, which all get underway later this year. Under the new agreemen...

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