Sports can often provide intrepid adventurers with plenty of excuses to travel, experiencing different countries and cultures, plus a wide array of intriguing venues. This also presents an exciting opportunity to explore some of the most fabulous locations where sports are hosted, whether for a specific global tournament or surprisingly unique events.
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Watching top soccer Down Under
Although some people might prefer scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, swimming alongside sharks and all manner of exotic aquatic life, others prefer to enjoy the typically Australian passion for sports. This year and just south of the natural wonder, Brisbane will be hosting numerous matches during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Australia is co-hosting the tournament with New Zealand, although focusing specifically on Lang Park, the Brisbane stadium is one of the most impressive venues. Boasting an impressive capacity of 52,500 people, the playing surface here is used for a variety of sports, including both rugby codes and now soccer with increased frequency.
Based upon sports betting odds checked at the end of June, the United States are valued as +275 moneyline favorites to win the tournament, having won the last two editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Next is England at +450 odds, who play their opening Group D match against Haiti, scheduled for July 22 at Lang Park in Brisbane.
The English Women’s team are expected to enjoy the backing of many travelling fans, alongside plenty of expat Brits who are settled in the Brisbane area. They will certainly add to the spectacular atmosphere at Lang Park, which is already famous for vibrant atmospheres and superb sporting experiences.
Sporting vertigo in Dubai
For those who find going on a desert safari appealing, then riding camels in the vast Arabian sands will certainly scratch that particular travel itch, especially given such trips are within easy striking distance of the Dubai metropolitan area. But for anyone who prefers an urban adventure, the city itself will undoubtedly provide visitors with enough attractions to explore.
This includes the impressive Burj Al Arab hotel, designed and built to resemble the spinnaker sail of a yacht, which is quite intriguing due to its prominent oceanside location. Indeed, these waters have become a racing paradise for sailors in Dubai, which is also home to some of the most competitive yacht racing fleets in the Gulf region.
But if we turn our attention back towards the towering Burj Al Arab, this luxury hotel has also earned worldwide fame for some rather vertiginous publicity stunts, particularly those of a sporting nature on the helipad over 1,000 feet up in the air. The first such publicity stunt featured tennis icons Andre Agassi and Roger Federer, on a specially created court.
After that event grabbed widespread global attention, others inevitably followed. This includes one featuring top golfer Rory McIlroy, who enjoyed some wonderful views from the iconic helipad, specially converted into a pitch-and-put facility. This even included a small bunker and an ample green, complete with a hole to aim for and flag.
Enjoying top hockey action outdoors
The sport of ice hockey has certainly evolved over the years, since first emerging among European colonists that settled in North America during the 18th and 19th centuries, influenced primarily by the game of bandy that originated in England. According to historical references, British soldiers based in Canada established the rules that would lead to modern ice hockey.
During the summer months, Canada is famed as one of the best fishing destinations in the world. But during the winter and when the lakes and waterways are frozen, the home of ice hockey is a familiar scene for the sport being played outdoors. This included the formative years of the Stanley Cup and the National Hockey League.
These days NHL games are mostly played inside huge indoor arenas, although the competition remains keen to keep in touch with the sporting roots of ice hockey. Over the last two decades, the NHL has actually staged 37 regular season outdoor games, mostly at converted football or baseball stadiums to allow entry for spectators.
But in 2021, two games were hosted at Lake Tahoe, just the flick of a puck away from Carson City in Nevada. Through the 2023-24 NHL season, four games are already scheduled to be held outdoors. Edmonton Oilers vs, Calgary Flames at the Commonwealth Stadium, Seattle Kraken vs. Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park, plus two games at MetLife Stadium including New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders. They will be unmissable experiences.
