Catching a sports game in a new city is always a great experience. Seeing how different countries and cultures engage with their favourite teams is always an interesting spectacle and a fun one to be involved with. So if you are checking out a new city on a weekend break, and you fancy taking in some top-quality sports action, where should be on your list?
Barcelona is currently home to the best footballing team on the planet, as Barcelona secured the Club World Cup in Japan in December 2015. Their home is the Camp Nou, which is the biggest football stadium in Europe. Packing in just under 100,000 spectators for every game, it is no wonder their atmosphere is so highly rated. The experience isn’t just confined to the game though, and with a museum and group tours on offer for tourists and visitors there are many ways to immerse yourself in the history of the club. As an internationally renowned city, Barcelona also has a lot to offer outside of what games you might get to see, with outstanding architecture everywhere you go, the famous Antoni Gaudi having left his stamp all over the city.
If football is not your thing, don’t worry, because in Dublin there are many popular different sports that don’t get the same coverage anywhere else. Gaelic football is the most popular sport, with hurling following close behind. These two sports may share similarities with other contests but the levels of interest definitely make them worth a visit. According to some reports, attendances for Gaelic football account for over a third of all visitors to sporting events in the country. Not forgetting rugby either; with the Irish national rugby team often faring well. Dublin vacation apartment accommodation can be found easily around the city, catering to all tastes and budgets. There are lots of other tours you can join in Dublin, like the famous Guinness and Jameson whiskey factories that allow you to sample the wares as well as show you how it is all made.
For our final choice in Europe, it is hard to ignore Paris. With the European football championship coming this summer, France is sure to be awash with football fans from all over Europe coming to see their teams play. The final is set to be held at the famous Stade de France in northern Paris and the tournament is sure to bring the capital alive. If that isn’t enough sport to tempt you over, the final stage of the Tour de France is also held in the city, coming just two weeks after the final of the football it promises to be a busy sporting calendar for this romantic capital. Certainly, you would struggle to run out of things to do in Paris, with so many well-known landmarks to spot for the photo album.
Another city with a packed sporting schedule this year is of course Rio de Janeiro. With the Olympics this summer following on the back of a successful World Cup held in Brazil in 2014, hundreds of thousands will yet again descend on this majestic city to see if the likes of Usain Bolt can hold onto their titles. The other side of Rio is definitely worth checking out whilst you are there. Home of the biggest carnival in the world and with huge stretches of sandy beaches there are loads of cool aspects of Rio de Janeiro to keep you occupied.
Finally, onto the USA. How do you choose just one city in a gigantic country that goes mad for sport? New York is home to several famous sports teams, so whatever your predilection, there should be something for you. With soccer, basketball, football, baseball and ice hockey all offering high-level teams in a fantastic location, this could be the city for you. As for your choice of sport, well, the New York Yankees are regarded as the best team in history, having won the World Series 27 times, way ahead of their rivals. The New York Giants are also one of the biggest football teams in America, racking up two titles in the last ten years alone. As for New York itself, I’m sure it needs no introduction with so many blockbuster films being shot there, and it is of course the home of the popular sitcom Friends. Not forgetting Central Park, a popular destination for tourists, and the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and those unbeatable portions of food.
With so many big sporting events happening worldwide, and so many great locations to choose from, combining the two into an unforgettable experience is something that is rising up the bucket list for many people. So, what will you see next?
