Sports Business

5Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Video: Rafa Nadal visits his tennis centre at Sani Resort in Greece 

Spanish tennis icon Rafa Nadal, who holds the joint-record of 22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, has been in Greece to visit the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center at Sani Resort in Halkidiki.  A collaboration between the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in Mallorca and the Sani/Ikos Group, the tennis centre features eight clay courts and since 2018 has held tennis training programs for players of all ages and all levels. During his visit to the five-star Sani Resort, Nadal revealed that he has been impressed by the “spectacular” facilities.  “The truth is that I was really looking forward to finally come to Greece, but my schedule and Covid had had made it impossible,” he said. “Toni [Nadal], Carlos Moya, Carlos Costa and the whole team had told me wonderful things about the c...

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24May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Venues & Stadiums

49ers’ Levi’s Stadium to host NFL Super Bowl LX in 2026 

Levi's Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers, will host Super Bowl LX in 2026, the NFL has confirmed. Located in Santa Clara, in the San Francisco Bay Area, the stadium opened in 2014 and previously hosted Super Bowl 50 in 2016.  According to an independent study, Super Bowl 50 generated almost $250m for the Bay Area economy and the NFL is “thrilled to bring the Super Bowl back”, said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “We look forward to working with the 49ers and the Bay Area Host Committee to create an impactful Super Bowl LX in 2026 that showcases all the great things the region has to offer.” Al Guido, president of the San Francisco 49ers, added: “We are honoured to host the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium once again, and to be stewards of one of the biggest sporting event...

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21May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

F1 FanZone added to 2023 Silverstone Festival line-up

An all-new F1 FanZone will a major highlight at this summer’s Silverstone Festival. This year marks the 75th anniversary of motorsport at the circuit in England, and celebrations over the 25-27 August bank holiday weekend will be enhanced by the addition of this exciting feature which builds on the highly popular modern Formula 1 content that was introduced for the first time at the event last year. Reliving all the excitement of the British Grand Prix that takes place from 7-9 July, the F1 FanZone at Silverstone Festival will provide visitors with the opportunity to get up close to see a grid of current grand prix cars. Formula 1 teams already confirmed for the showcase include Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant, BWT Alpine, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS, Oracle Red Bull Racing and William...

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14May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel, Venues & Stadiums

Wrexham to welcome new Football Museum for Wales in 2026

Football fans in Wrexham have been celebrating the team’s promotion back to the Football League – and soon they will be celebrating a major new football attraction in the north Wales city. Currently in its development stage and scheduled to open in 2026, the Football Museum for Wales (Amgueddfa Bêl-droed Cymru in the Welsh language) will be located in Wrexham and will “celebrate Welsh football, past and present, in all its diversity”, said VisitWales.com. From grassroots clubs to the national teams, it will also highlight Wrexham’s “historic achievements in the sport”.  ‘Museum of Two Halves’ Nicknamed the “Museum of Two Halves”, the project won’t just see the development of the Football Museum for Wales, but also a new Wrexham Museum in the current museum building on Regent ...

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11May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

EFL 2023-2024 season: key dates for leagues, cups and play-off finals

Key dates for supporter’s diaries have been released by the English Football League (EFL) ahead of the 2023-2024 season. Fixture release day kicks things off on Thursday 22 June, with all 72 EFL clubs releasing their 2023-2024 schedules from 9am (BST). The opening round of league fixtures will take place across the opening weekend of 4-6 August with round one of the Carabao Cup following shortly after, week commencing 7 August. Wembley Stadium will play host to the 2024 Carabao Cup Final on Sunday 25 February, in what will be the first of five showpiece finals in the EFL calendar, with the 2024 EFL Trophy Final taking place on Sunday 7 April. The season-ending Sky Bet EFL play-offs will once again be staged at Wembley, this time across two weekends in May 2024. The League One F...

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5May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

The Ocean Race Europe 2025: cities invited to express hosting interest

As the current edition of The Ocean Race heads back into the northern hemisphere, race organisers are looking ahead to the next major event in the ten-year planning cycle – The Ocean Race Europe 2025. Following the success of the inaugural event in 2021, The Ocean Race Europe was among the first major international sporting events to resume following Covid lockdowns. Featuring ten teams racing across two classes, the event combined world-class sport with a purpose-driven agenda. The 2025 edition has even larger ambitions. Under the banner of “Connecting Europe: Racing to restore our ocean and waters” The Ocean Race Europe is scheduled to begin in the late summer of 2025, and will start in the Baltic Sea and finish in the Mediterranean, with up to five stops along the way. The IMOC...

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5May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

WXV: the new international competition for elite women’s rugby

World Rugby has announced the first host locations and dates for WXV – the new international competition for elite women’s rugby. Starting in October 2023, WXV has a mission to raise the profile and competitiveness of women’s 15s by providing the global platform between Rugby World Cups to increase the reach, impact and value of the sport, growing the game as a whole. It will also double the number of annual international fixtures for most competing teams, combining with World Rugby’s “Accelerate” programme to raise standards at Rugby World Cup 2025 and beyond. Host locations Fresh off the back of hosting a record-breaking Rugby World Cup where the Black Ferns were crowned champions, New Zealand will welcome the world’s best women's teams in the six-nation top level WXV 1 across ...

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4May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

2022 NFL Munich Game had €70.2m economic impact for the German city 

The National Football League’s (NFL) first-ever regular season international game in Germany was a success beyond the stadium in both economic and social impact. According to the 2022 NFL Munich Game Impact Assessment report, compiled by The Sports Consultancy Group, the event generated a total economic impact of €70.2m for the city of Munich, with €32.2m in direct spending. Played on 13 November 2022 at the Allianz Arena, home of German football giants FC Bayern Munich, the game saw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-16. "The Munich game was a significant moment for the NFL in Germany and one that will live in the minds of those in the stadium and those who watched the game from around the world for many years to come,” said Dr. Alexander Steinforth, GM NFL Germany. ...

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29Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

UNWTO: collaboration is key to maximise sport tourism’s potential 

Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has called upon the public and private sectors to “collaborate” to fully maximise sports tourism’s potential – and to achieve the goals of economic diversification, growth and sustainable development for destinations worldwide. Speaking at the World Sports Tourism Congress (WSTC) in Zadar, Croatia, Pololikashvili said: “Sports tourism plays a key role in enhancing economic growth and social development in many destinations. It creates jobs and supports businesses in cities and rural communities alike. In order to maximise its potential, public and private sector actors must collaborate, and that’s where UNWTO steps in.” The second edition of the WSTC, held from 26-27 April 2023, was organised by UNW...

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28Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Venues & Stadiums

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to host EPCR rugby finals in 2024

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has confirmed that the 2024 Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals will be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. The 2024 EPCR Finals Weekend will take place on Friday 24 May and Saturday 25 May. Home to Premier League football club Spurs, the multi-purpose venue, which was opened in April 2019, has become a prime destination for a wide range of major events including NFL, boxing and music concerts. The stadium has previously hosted major rugby fixtures including two Saracens Gallagher Premiership ties and a Barbarian FC vs. All Blacks XV match.  Dominic McKay, EPCR chairman, said: “It is quite simply one of the most exciting venues in the world and an incredibly appropriate stage for next year’s showpiece...

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23Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Bassmaster Classic fishing event nets $35.5m for Knoxville

The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic not only shattered attendance and viewership records, but it also generated an economic windfall of more than $35.5m for the local community, according to numbers released by the Visit Knoxville tourism board. Regarded as the “Super Bowl of bass fishing”, the Classic Week activities in Knoxville, Tennessee, attracted a huge crowd of 163,914.  “Knoxville as a destination is the perfect fit for events like the Bassmaster Classic,” said Kim Bumpas, president of Visit Knoxville. “From natural resources like the Tennessee River and surrounding lakes to the multiple venues hosting various events throughout the weekend, fans from all over the world enjoy an experience like no other here in Knoxville.” Fans travelling from across the US a...

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19Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel, Venues & Stadiums

‘Entertainment destination’: Man City’s big plans for the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City FC have submitted a planning application to create a year-round “entertainment and leisure destination” at the Etihad Stadium. The Premier League club’s proposals would see their home ground’s capacity increase to more than 60,000 as well as new facilities including a covered fan zone, club shop and museum, and 400-room hotel.  The planning application submitted to Manchester City Council comes after the club held a consultation with fans and the local community over the concepts and designs.  In a statement Man City said that the proposals represent more than “£300m investment into east Manchester through a major construction project that would take up to three years to complete, offering 2,600 jobs prioritised for people from Greater Manchester”. What’s incl...

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16Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

World Nineball Tour: new global pool event series launched by Matchroom 

Hailed as “a benchmark” for the global game of professional pool, Matchroom Pool has launched the World Nineball Tour with a minimum of 40 ranking events and a prize fund of at least US$3m.  Matchroom is looking to emulate the model that has seen the growth of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and the World Snooker Tour, both of which have more than £15m in prize money for the forthcoming season. The World Nineball Tour will “accelerate at pace” to provide a “commercial platform for professional pool and change players’ lives”. In 2023, ten major events will form the backbone of the pool calendar promoted by Matchroom with a new signature 256-player field Spanish Open Pool Championship recently announced as part of a wider partnership in Spain. Similarly, the Southeast Asia te...

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16Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Uefa Euro 2028: UK and Ireland submit final bid and reveal stadiums list 

The football associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have formally submitted their bid to co-host the men’s 2028 Uefa European Championship. As part of the UK and Ireland’s joint candidacy, the host cities and ten stadiums have also been proposed for the 18th edition of the tournament. According to a statement issued by the five associations, almost three million tournament tickets will be made available and the average stadium capacity will be 58,000. Turkey is set to be the UK and Ireland’s only rival to host Euro 2028 after European football’s governing body Uefa confirmed that the Turkish Football Federation has submitted its bid dossier to host the tournament in either 2028 or 2032. The Italian Football Federation has also submitted...

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13Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Discover South Carolina becomes an official tourism sponsor of golf’s PGA Tour

The PGA Tour and Discover South Carolina have announced a five-year marketing partnership that will see the state become an official tourism sponsor of golf’s elite tour. As part of the agreement, through to 2027, Discover South Carolina will engage across the PGA Tour landscape, including through digital activations and creative content as well as at PGA Tour and DP World Tour tournaments. The partnership will further solidify the state as a world-class destination for recreation and golf. The RBC Heritage returns to Hilton Head Island this week for its 55th edition, established in South Carolina in 1969 when Arnold Palmer took home the inaugural event. Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina, also hosted events in both 2021 and 2022 as the PGA Tour navigated the pandemic, a...

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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

Sports Business

Rebrands and acquisitions: a huge month for Destination Sport Group

It’s been a busy few weeks for the team at Manchester-based sports travel group Destination Sport.  Earlier this month it was revealed that Clarity Sports had officially rebranded to Destination Sport Travel. And the company grew even bigger with Destination Sport Experiences acquiring US-based running travel specialists Marathon Tours & Travel. Destination Sport Group also expanded its partnership with Manchester United FC, with SportsBreaks.com marketing official ticket and hotel packages to fans in the US and Canada. While Inspiresport launched new partnerships with FC Bayern Munich and Lancashire Cricket.  https://twitter.com/Dest_Sport/status/1543926317908992000 Clarity Sports rebranded as Destination Sport Travel Elite sports travel provider Clarity Spo...

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2Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Mamaka by Ovolo partners with Quiksilver Bali Surf Academy

Mamaka by Ovolo, an urban resort located on Bali’s Kuta Beach, has announced a partnership with the Quiksilver Bali Surf Academy – the island's most renowned surfing school. As official partners, the Academy will be nestled within the resort and provide the finest surfing lessons to those keen on learning the sport.   Quiksilver Bali Surf Academy's proven track record and ISA-certified instructors will complement Mamaka's prime location, as Kuta Beach’s long stretch of golden sand and phenomenal sunsets has become a globally recognised surfer's paradise.  “Kuta has long been known as a surfing hotspot, and to be in partnership with Mamaka and be a part of the Ovolo family is exciting,” said Made Switra, co-founder of Quiksilver Bali Surf Academy. “It will certainly attract surfe...

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