Sports Business

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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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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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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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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16Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

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,...

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8Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

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 ...

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31Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

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...

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29Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

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...

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21Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

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...

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