USA Sports Guide: 10 Must-Do Events for Die-Hard Fans
USA’s Best of the Best Sporting Action
US sporting events are a staple of live feeds at sports bars and pubs worldwide. Home to many weird and wonderful things, the country doesn’t fall short on the sporting front; it’s big with so many different environments and climates that all sorts of sports come forth to the podium.
From surfing and race car driving to football, basketball, and golf, USA hosts a wide range of sports. With some of the world’s top athletes and prestigious tournaments, planning a trip to the USA for live sports action is a thrilling alternative to watching it on a big screen. Below are some of the best US sporting events that people travel from far and wide to experience firsthand.
1. US Open of Surfing
Watching the world’s top surfers along Huntington Beach
Good for: Adventure, Families
Down along the glorious Huntington Beach, surfers and surf-lovers gather every year at US Open of Surfing to catch some of the world’s top surfers ride impossible waves. The crowds come up to the hundreds and thousands, and everyone partakes in a bit of California-style fun with music, vendors, and a bit of sun-basking. Stretching across the 14 acres (6 hectares) of beachfront, you’ll find crowds cheering on as they sip on crisp drinks and toss about some surf lingo.
Professional men and women surfers from across the world come to experience the love and get a shot at winning a sizeable prize. The tournament has also expanded with competitions for skateboarders and BMX riders over the years.
Location: Huntington Beach Pier, CA 92648, USA
US Open of Surfing
2. The Super Bowl
The most celebrated one-game professional championship in the USA
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Families
The Super Bowl needs no introduction. With its increasing presence in pop culture, Super Bowl Sunday has become a national celebration of sorts that sees millions tune in to cheer on two teams battling for the Vince Lombardi Cup and watch in awe (or dismay) of the prestigious Halftime Show.
The National Football League (NFL) event concludes a 17-game regular season and postseason playoff rounds, pitting the top team from the American Conference against the top of the National Football Conference. It’s safe to say this event is as extravagant as it comes, with fans far and wide partaking in two weeks of partying as a bit of pre-game fun.
The Super Bowl
3. The NBA Finals
An iconic showdown of stars and teams for the ages
Good for: Couples, Families
The NBA Finals are legendary in every sense. The finals have seen countless sports icons grace the court hoping to make their team proud and snatch the coveted title… but it isn’t easy to get there. It takes four games to win in a best-of-seven series, and at least 98 games to actually get there.
One thing is for sure; whatever team makes it, the finals promise glitz and glam with Hollywood stars cheering front-row and talented cheerleaders adding to the vibrant atmosphere. A chance to see this in action, as well as the swift moves of pro basketballers, should be enough to convince you.
The NBA Finals
4. The Masters Golf Tournament
A legendary tournament in the lush scenery of Augusta, Georgia
Good for: Families, History
At the Augusta National Golf Club, among the rich Southern green, pro golfers battle it out for the iconic Green Jacket at The Masters Golf Tournament. As the brainchild of legends Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, this tournament prides itself in its tradition and continuity, having first being held in 1934.
The four-day stroke playing of 18 holes each day varies from the normal 36 holes, raising the stakes even higher and putting the pressure on the competing golfers. The tournament usually lands in the month of April, with the gentle warm breeze of spring settling in.
Location: 2604 Washington Road, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
Phone: +1 706-667-6000
The Masters Golf Tournament
5. MLB World Series
The nostalgic baseball tournament
Good for: Families, History
The MLB World Series has seen a century’s worth of illustrious home runs and harsh pitching duels, which solidifies its iconic status in the sports world. The Fall Classic (the end of the Series) has exceeded the title of the sporting event and marked itself important in America’s cultural landscape. Generations of families tell stories of Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956 and fabled tales of the Mets and the Yankees.
To get to the series, each of the 30 teams in the major leagues must survive a 162-game season, followed by three playoff rounds. With the baseball season lasting from spring to fall, and the World Series taking place in October, it’s a part of hopeful American’s everyday life.
MLB World Series
6. The US Open
The final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the season
Good for: Couples, Families
The two-week US Open is held at the end of August/beginning of September at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Labor Day Weekend also happens to fall in the middle of the tournament, calling for a much-loved mixture of sun and tennis. The hard-court tournament sees the world’s best women and men tennis players battle it out for the final title of the Grand Slam season.
The finals take place on the central court, named Arthur Ashe Stadium, after the American tennis legend. For your best chance to see the tennis stars, book matches early in the tournament when matches are played in the multiple, more intimate courts.
Location: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY 11368, USA
Phone: +1 718-760-6200
The US Open
7. Daytona 500
A must-visit for NASCAR fans
Good for: Adventure, Families
Every year in February, car fanatics from all over flurry over to Daytona International Speedway, where the world’s most prestigious stock car race takes place. This exhilarating (and extremely noisy) race lasts 500 miles (805 km), which requires 200 laps around the Daytona International Speedway loop.
The Daytona 500 is such a spectacular event that an entire tourism industry has developed around it. Hosted in Florida every February, it’s the perfect time to visit, with comfortable and pleasant weather. Be sure to pack earplugs, sunscreen, and stylish sunglasses to fully enjoy the experience.
Location: 1801 West International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA
Phone: +1 800-748-7467
Daytona 500
8. New York City Marathon
One of the world’s most popular running races
Good for: Couples, Families
The New York City Marathon takes runners past icons of the Manhattan cityscape and through all five boroughs. Plus it gets you into pretty good shape. Starting in 1970 and held typically in the cooler months of the year, the marathon welcomes approximately 35,000 eager (or at least brave) runners each year.
Parts of bustling NYC get shut down to make way for cheering crowds and runners who valiantly complete the roughly 26-mile (42-km) route. Make sure to get some water out and spray it at runners to help them along.
New York City Marathon
9. Triple Crown Horse Racing
The king of kings for horse racers
Good for: Adventure, Families
Triple Crown Horse Racing involves three races called The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and The Belmont Stakes. To snatch that prestigious “Triple Crown,” a horse must win all three races. This has only happened 13 times in history, most recently in 2018. The Kentucky Derby is the first and most illustrious of the races and is held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The next race is The Preakness Stakes, which happens on the third Saturday in May at the Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland. The final race, The Belmont Stakes, takes place three weeks after the Preakness at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Get ready for a trip across America.
Triple Crown Horse Racing
10. Boston Marathon
The world’s oldest annual marathon race
Good for: Families, History
Boston Marathon is held every year on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday of April, since 1897, making it the oldest of its kind. With an air of history and unity, this marathon is as much a symbol of American patriotism as it is about fitness and bragging rights.
The race attracts all sorts, from top runners from across the globe to amateurs just looking to fulfill a milestone in their life. With roughly 30,000 registered participants a year and as many as 500,000 spectators applauding them, the marathon is a heart-warming sight to behold.
Boston Marathon
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