Attendance at sporting events might be on hold due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but when fans are allowed back in the stadium, perhaps you should set your sights high on the sporting events you would like to attend.
You don’t need to be a massive sports fan to appreciate the pleasure of the planet’s biggest games and competitions. The following are some of the most thrilling sporting events that even non-sports enthusiasts should try and see once in their life.
The Super Bowl
This incredible game is the highlight of the NFL season, as the best football teams in North America battle it out for the sport’s biggest prize. Even people who don’t fully understand the rules and the tactics will get blown away by the noise, the passion and the legendary half-time show.
It is played in a different, neutral venue each season. For example, the 2020 Super Bowl took place in Miami Gardens, Florida with The Kansas City Chiefs from the AFC beating the NFC champions the San Francisco 49ers. The 2021 game is scheduled for Tampa, Florida on February 7, provided that the regular season is completed successfully.
Getting hold of a ticket can be difficult, as they are highly sought after. Therefore, it is a good idea to make an early decision on whether you will be going, before you even know which teams will be taking part.
Take a look at the latest NFL odds 2020 to find out who the favourites to qualify are: https://extra.betamerica.com/nfl/odds/
The Champions League Final
The best football teams in Europe covet this hugely prestigious trophy. The current tournament was delayed due to the lockdown restrictions put in place due to Covid-19, but the final should be played out on August 23 in Lisbon, Portugal.
It still isn’t known if this will be behind closed doors with no spectators in place. You can check here the details on how the final stage of Champions League is happening next month.
Next year, the event will take place in Istanbul, Turkey in 2021 – the last time it was held there current holders Liverpool staged the most remarkable comeback in the history of the event –before heading to Saint Petersburg in Russia in 2022. Hopefully, by then it will be possible to attend the match and enjoy the atmosphere that only a Champions League final can bring.
Like the Super Bowl, a neutral venue is selected in advance. If you can’t make it to a final then a group stage match or a knock-out game will let you sample the unique atmosphere of a Champion’s League game and hear the famous music.
Iconic stadiums such as Barcelona’s Camp Nou and Real Madrid’s Bernabeu are among the best choices for visiting a game with a great atmosphere that is in a city every traveller should visit.
The Stanley Cup Finals
Ice hockey’s greatest games see the winners of the two NHL conferences come together for a best of seven series, with the games alternating between the home arenas of the teams taking part. It is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, dating back even further than the NHL itself.
The 2020 version of the Stanley Cup will be unique, as the play-offs are set to take place over two locations in Canada, with the finals being played at Rogers Place in Edmonton. It is hoped that the format then goes back to normal from next season onwards, meaning that you can choose from two different venues if you want to see the finals.
The Olympic Games
If you can dedicate more time to watching a variety of sports then the Summer Olympic Games is perfect. This is when athletes from all around the world come together to create historic moments. If you are lucky, you could be in the right place at the right time see a world record being broken, an underdog claiming a gold medal, or some other memorable feat.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been put back to a start date of July 23, 2021 although there is still some doubt as to whether this will be possible. Among the most interesting venues in the near future is Paris, where the 2024 Summer Olympics will be held. As for the winter version of the Olympics, the 2022 event will be held in Beijing.
