Tuesday, February 3Sports. Travel. Events. Play

Sports Business

‘Fan Experience Tester’: is this the best sports job in the world?
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 ...
‘Surf City USA’ Huntington Beach to host 2022 ISA World Surfing Games 
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...
Major League Baseball hits a home run for London’s sports tourism portfolio
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...
SweetSpot and Destination Sport announce joint venture for cycling events
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...
2026 Commonwealth Games to generate AU$3bn for Victoria’s economy
Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

2026 Commonwealth Games to generate AU$3bn for Victoria’s economy

Victoria has been confirmed as the host destination for the 2026 Commonwealth Games – and it’s estimated that the major sporting event will generate more than AU$3billion to the economy in the Australian state.  Victoria 2026 will be held across multiple regions, creating a new multi-city model for the Commonwealth Games. Four regional hubs will be established in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland, each with its own athletes’ village and sports program. The hubs will also host athletes, officials and fans following an opening ceremony at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, using Melbourne as the gateway to regional Victoria. Shepparton, in northern Victoria, will also host sporting and cultural events as part of Victoria 2026. There will also be a strong para-sports programme,...
Rugby World Cup and NFL: mark 12 May 2022 in your sports diary
Events, Sports Business

Rugby World Cup and NFL: mark 12 May 2022 in your sports diary

Here’s a date to mark in your 2022 sporting diary: Thursday 12 May. That’s the day when the World Rugby Council will select the host nations for every Rugby World Cup (men’s and women’s) between 2025 and 2033. The World Rugby Council will consider England (2025), Australia (2027 and 2029) and the USA (2031 and 2033) as hosts of the Rugby World Cup. A live show and media conference will be held at the Convention Centre Dublin in Ireland on 12 May (3pm British Summer Time) to present the Council’s decisions. NFL 2022 schedule announcement  Thursday 12 May is also the day when the NFL announces its schedule for the 2022-2023 season. At 8pm (Eastern Time), the 2022 NFL schedule will be released on NFL Network, NFL.com and the NFL app. But ahead of the release of the full 2022 ...
Las Vegas Grand Prix: F1 confirms night race for November 2023
Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Las Vegas Grand Prix: F1 confirms night race for November 2023

Formula 1 and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) have announced that the Las Vegas Grand Prix will join the FIA Formula One World Championship from 2023. The race is scheduled to take place at night on Saturday 18 November 2023 on the Las Vegas Strip with the track sweeping past some of the world’s most legendary landmarks, hotels and casinos. The neon lights of Las Vegas will be the backdrop for Formula 1’s third race in the US and highlights the huge enthusiasm and excitement in the US for Formula 1 as the sport continues to grow its global fan base. F1 and Liberty Media will work together to promote the race in partnership with Live Nation Entertainment and the LVCVA, as well as founding partners Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Las V...
2024 NFL Draft in Detroit ‘will deliver a powerful economic impact’
Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

2024 NFL Draft in Detroit ‘will deliver a powerful economic impact’

The NFL has announced that the 2024 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light will take place in downtown Detroit. The area around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza will serve as the event site for the Draft, which has become one of the most anticipated sports events of the year for the tens of thousands of fans who will attend the three-day event and millions more watching and engaging around the world.   The announcement was made at the Annual League Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida following a review of the proposal by the Fan Engagement & Major Events Advisory Committee and full ownership. "The Draft has become a prominent offseason event across the country, and we are excited to work with the Lions and their partners to bring the 2024 NFL Draft to the Motor City," said NFL Commissione...
Emma Raducanu named British Airways global brand ambassador
Sports Business

Emma Raducanu named British Airways global brand ambassador

Tennis superstar Emma Raducanu has been named as the new global brand ambassador of British Airways. The airline will support the British player and will fly her to tournaments and training around the world, including next year’s French Open and US Open and the Masters events in California and Rome. The UK’s flag carrier, which has a long-standing history in supporting national sporting events and teams, will be Raducanu’s first British brand partner.  Tom Stevens, British Airways’s director of brand and customer experience, said: “As we look ahead to the world opening up again, we’re excited to be supporting the very best of British talent, Emma Raducanu. We couldn’t have been prouder as a nation than when Emma won the US Open. Sport has the power to inspire and unite people al...
Formula 1 2022 race calendar: GP dates and venues
Events, Guides, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Formula 1 2022 race calendar: GP dates and venues

The 23-race calendar for the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship has been approved by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council. F1’s 2022 season, which starts in Bahrain on 20 March and finishes in Abu Dhabi on 20 November, will see the Miami Grand Prix make its debut, but China will not feature due to ongoing Covid-19 conditions. Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said: “We are excited to announce the 2022 calendar as we prepare to enter a new era for the sport with brand new regulations and cars for next year that are designed to create closer racing. We are very pleased with the interest in Formula 1 from places that want to host races and the growth of the sport and believe we have a fantastic calendar for 2022 with destinations like Miami joining famous and historic...
Accor Stadium: hotel group wins naming rights for Sydney’s Stadium Australia
Sports Business, Sports Travel, Venues & Stadiums

Accor Stadium: hotel group wins naming rights for Sydney’s Stadium Australia

Hotel and hospitality group Accor has signed a seven-year naming rights deal for Stadium Australia – the iconic venue in Sydney’s Olympic Park.   Now named the Accor Stadium, it was the centrepiece of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games and has a capacity of 100,000 spectators for concerts and more than 80,000 for seated sporting events. The stadium has previously hosted major sporting events such as rugby league’s State of Origin, National Rugby League Grand Finals, Fifa World Cup qualifiers, rugby union’s Bledisloe Cup, and British & Irish Lions rugby Test matches. Natalie Ward, minister for sport of the New South Wales (NSW) Government, said: “NSW is open for business and we are thrilled our local fans, along with interstate and international visitors, will be able to...
Founding the esports ecosystem in Iceland
Holidays & Trips, Sports Business, Sports Travel, Venues & Stadiums

Founding the esports ecosystem in Iceland

Sports Tourism Media jumped at the opportunity to interview Ólafur Steinarsson, founder of the Icelandic Esports Association. He has built the country’s esports industry from scratch in a sustainable and progressive way and Iceland has now become a global stage for world renowned esports events. This has been instrumental to Meet in Reykjavik’s growth strategy of attracting large scale global events to Iceland’s capital city. How do you aim to build esports sustainably, when your goal is for Iceland to be a top-five esports nation by 2025?When we talk about building a sustainable esports ecosystem in Iceland, we mean that it is self-sustained from a revenue standpoint and is able to generate talent and populate the local ecosystem with players willing and able to compete at the top...
Cayman Islands partner with British Canoeing to promote paddlesports
Sports Business, Sports Travel

Cayman Islands partner with British Canoeing to promote paddlesports

Visit Cayman Islands has announced a new partnership with British Canoeing, the governing body for paddlesports in the UK. The purpose of the partnership is to inspire people to pursue paddling for “health, enjoyment, friendship and achievement while creating and promoting opportunities for exploration, adventure and challenge”, a statement said.  It will raise awareness of the benefits of paddlesports, both in the UK and the Cayman Islands, while encouraging enthusiasts to consider the British Overseas Territory for their next paddlesports adventure.  Known for its pristine turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Cayman Islands is an ideal destination for all paddlesports, especially kayaking and paddleboarding. Average year-round temperatures of 28°C make it the perfect place to...
Premier League and EFL confirm 2022-2023 schedule to accommodate World Cup
Events, Sports Business

Premier League and EFL confirm 2022-2023 schedule to accommodate World Cup

The English Premier League (EPL) has announced the dates for its 2022-2023 season to accommodate the Fifa World Cup in Qatar which takes place in the middle of the domestic calendar. According to a news release, the EPL confirmed that the 2022-2023 season will start on 6 August 2022 and the final round of matches will be played on 28 May 2023, when all games will kick off simultaneously as usual. With the World Cup being held for the first time in the northern hemisphere’s winter months this means domestic leagues will take a break while the tournament is on.  Match round 16 of the EPL (12-13 November) will be the last set of fixtures played ahead of the call-up period for the tournament beginning on Monday 14 November. The EPL will then resume on Boxing Day (26 December) fol...
One Water Race: a ‘new era’ in endurance racing and climate activation
Events, Sports Business

One Water Race: a ‘new era’ in endurance racing and climate activation

Dates for the inaugural edition of the One Water Race, a concept that aims to establish the world's toughest endurance event, have been confirmed.  Taking place from 23-25 August 2022 in the Stockholm archipelago in Sweden, the event is described as "a new era within endurance racing and climate activation". It will see participants take on one of sport’s toughest challenges: a 250km race, the distance of six marathons, by running (200km) and swimming (50km).  The concept is straightforward; 30,000 islands, 250km. Starting at Arholma in the north of Sweden, the first to reach Landsort in the south is crowned the winner. Running and swimming are the only methods of movement. No track and free choice of route but with some mandatory unknown check points needed to pass along the way. Na...
Golf: European Tour rebranded as the DP World Tour from 2022
Events, Guides, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Golf: European Tour rebranded as the DP World Tour from 2022

DP World will become the new title sponsor of the European Tour group’s main men's golf tour from the start of the 2022 season. The new look tour will see total prize money break through the $200m mark for the first time, with a new minimum prize fund of $2m for all tournaments solely sanctioned by the DP World Tour.  In 2022, the tour will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments in 27 different countries, including new events in the UAE, Japan, South Africa and Belgium. The expanded Rolex Series will feature five events: the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, the Genesis Scottish Open, the BMW PGA Championship and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour group, said: “The launch of the DP World Tour ...
Destination Sport Experiences to offer cycling tours and hospitality at the 2022 Giro d’Italia
Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Destination Sport Experiences to offer cycling tours and hospitality at the 2022 Giro d’Italia

Recently-launched sports travel company Destination Sport Experiences has secured a partnership with RCS Sport to become an official premium tour operator for the 2022 Giro d’Italia cycling grand tour and associated events. The Giro d’Italia is an annual multi-stage cycle race primarily held in Italy, while also starting in, or passing through, other countries along the way. In 2022, Giro d’Italia will begin in Budapest on 6 May and see more than 150 cyclists take on this legendary race over the period of three weeks. As part of the long-term agreement, Destination Sport Experiences will offer unforgettable tours and hospitality experiences, together with the opportunity to ride on the roads of the events at Giro d’Italia, Strade Bianche, Milan San Remo, Il Lombardia and more. ...
Man City and DreamSetGo announce regional partnership for India
Sports Business, Sports Travel

Man City and DreamSetGo announce regional partnership for India

Manchester City has announced a new regional partnership with India-based sports travel and experiences platform DreamSetGo. The partnership will see DreamSetGo become City’s official football hospitality experiences partner in India.  Founded in 2019 by Monish Shah, DreamSetGo curates premium, end-to-end, authentic sports travel packages across football, cricket, tennis, motorsport, golf among other sports. DreamSetGo is a part of Dream Sports, India’s leading sports technology company. Building on City’s growing presence within the region, the partnership will utilise DreamSetGo’s expertise and knowledge to exclusively provide fans in India with bespoke, tailored travel and matchday hospitality experiences at the Etihad Stadium from the new year. The partnership will also prov...
Football tourism: a £1.4bn economic impact for the UK
Sports Business, Sports Travel

Football tourism: a £1.4bn economic impact for the UK

VisitBritain research has revealed the importance of football in driving inbound tourism to the UK and in boosting visitor spending. The tourism body’s Football Tourism in the UK report published on 20 October found that overseas visitors who went to a football match spent £1.4bn across the UK in total during their trip in 2019, up 84% on the £742m spent in 2011 when the research was last conducted. There were 1.5 million visits to the UK in 2019 that included watching a live football match, up 66% compared to 2011 when there were 909,000 visits. Visitors who attended a football match also spent more and stayed longer, spending £909 per visit on average, 31% more than the global visitor average of £696 in 2019, and staying ten nights compared to seven. It is not just leisure visit...
Ambassador Cruise Line adds Cricketing Legends cruise for 2022
Holidays & Trips, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Ambassador Cruise Line adds Cricketing Legends cruise for 2022

If you like cruises, cricket and Christmas markets then you’re in luck - Ambassador Cruise Line has added a five-night cricket-themed cruise to next year’s schedule.  Departing on Sunday 11 December 2022, Ambassador’s Ambience ship will sail from London Tilbury and call into Hamburg, Germany, and Antwerp, Belgium.  Hosted by BBC broadcaster Garry Richardson, Ambassador’s Cricketing Legends cruise will bring you up close and personal with some of the finest players ever to play the game. Legends joining guests on board the Ambience include David Gower, Graham Gooch, Mike Gatting, Devon Malcolm, Ray East and John (JK) Lever.  A number of events will be held during the five days. The legends will discuss their cricketing experiences as well as take part in quizzes such as A Ques...

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