Friday, March 27Sports. Travel. Events. Play

Sports Business

Sydney Marathon enters race to join Abbott World Marathon Majors 
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...
Chicago to host Nascar Cup Series street race in July 2023 
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...
Free tickets released for golf’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai 
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...
Rebrands and acquisitions: a huge month for Destination Sport Group
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...
Mamaka by Ovolo partners with Quiksilver Bali Surf Academy
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...
‘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...

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