City Event Guides

2012 ACC Championship- Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC -

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship is a single elimination College-Basketball tournament, which has been played annually since 1954.  The 2012 ACC Tournament will be held March 10^th- 13^th at Philips Arena, in Atlanta, GA.

Phillips Arena was completed in 1999 for a cost of $213.5 million.  It is home to the Atlanta Thrashers, of the National Hockey League, the Atlanta Hawks, of the National Basketball Association and the Atlanta Dream, of the Women's National Basketball Association. 

The tournament will then immediately return to Greensboro Coliseum in 2013.  

The Coliseum was built in 1959 and was originally the War Memorial Coliseum, but was renamed in the late 1960’s.  In 1993-1994, the coliseum went through a major reconstruction and now seats up to 23,500.  It also hosts many concerts and events as well as Broadway theatre events. 

Greensboro Coliseum also has been the host of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament since 2000.  It has also been the host for many NCAA Tournaments, high school basketball, and the Harlem Globetrotters.

The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXII Olympic Winter Games, will be the next Winter Olympics celebrated from February 7 to February 23, 2014 in Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia. .  This will be the first time that the Russian Federation will host the Winter Olympics, however, the Soviet Union hosted the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow.  The Games will be organized within two clusters, a coastal cluster in Sochi and a mountain cluster in Krasnaya Polyana.  Sochi is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, situated just north of Russia's border with the de facto independent republic of Abkhazia, on the Black Sea coast. Sochi is the largest Russian resort city.

It sprawls along the shores of the Black Sea and against the background of the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. At 145 km (90 mi), Greater Sochi claims to be the longest city in Europe.  As of the 2002 Census, it had a population of 328,809, down from 336,514 recorded in the 1989 Census. In 2006, the population was estimated to be 395,012.

The city has been selected to be the host of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games in 2014, as well as the Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix from 2014 until at least 2020.  It is also one of the host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Event Dates; June 13, 2014 – July 13, 2014

The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup to take place.  This prestigious international football tournament  is scheduled to take place in June and July 2014 in Brazil.  This will be the second time the country has hosted the competition.  The first time Brasil hosted the World Cup was the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Brazil will become the fifth country to have hosted the FIFA World Cup twice, after Mexico, Italy, France and Germany. It will also be the first World Cup to be held in South America since the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, and the first time two consecutive World Cups are staged outside Europe.

Allstate Arena --- Rosemont, IL

Aloha Stadium -- Honolulu, Hawaii

Aloha Stadium is home to the University of Hawaii Warriors Football Team.  Aloha Stadium also hosts the NFL’s Pro Bowl, and many large concerts and other events.  Also, every Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday, thousands come to the swap meet in the stadium’s parking lot.  Another popular event at this stadium is the Hawaii Bowl which is played at Aloha Stadium annually.

Honolulu means “sheltered bay” or “place of shelter.”  It is also the capital of Hawaii and has the biggest population.   Honolulu also draws many people to it because of its luxurious resorts and many tourist attractions. 

Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, Texas

The Dallas Cowboys now play at the new Cowboys Stadium, located in Arlington, Texas. Up to 80,000 fans can be accommodated, with the option for expanding to hold 100,000.

Texas Stadium had been home to the Cowboys since 1971 which was trademarked for the hole in the roof. Now, the Cowboys new home stadium has a retractable roof with glass doors allowing each end zone to be opened, and a center-hung video display board which is rumored to be the largest HDTV in the world. The construction cost of the new stadium is estimated at $1 Billion, which makes it one of the most expensive sporting venues ever built. Cowboys Stadium stadium also hosted Super Bowl XLV in 2011 when the Green Packers returned to glory by defeating the Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Cotton Bowl is also now held there annually. In addition to the Cotton Bowl, Cowboys Stadium has also been the host of the Cowboys Classic since 2009.  The Cowboys Classic is a college football game that takes place the opening weekend of the college football season and normally features two of the nation's top programs.

Choose where you want to stay with a Sports Traveler racing package, and see Atlanta for yourself. Take a walk through the Centennial Olympic Park, which was the cornerstone of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. Special events are hosted here throughout the year and the memorial to the Olympic bombings is a must-visit attraction. The King center is a tribute to legendary civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King, and it offers tours throughout the year, and still provides active community service in the Atlanta metro area. Atlanta also boasts one of the top aquariums in the world, and features numerous large sea mammals and exotic fish.

Before you get to the track, make sure to watch Smokey and the Bandit II, as the movie’s opening scene takes place at the speedway. So come on down to "Hotlanta" for some hot auto action, just in time for the racing season to kick into full gear.

Sports Traveler has Emory Healthcare 500 Tickets and Travel Package Trips available! Tours packages can include Emory Healthcare 500 Tickets, hotel lodging, event transfers plus VIP options.

The Australian Open is chronologically the first of the four annual Grand Slam tennis tournaments. The tournament is held in January, which is in the middle of the Australian summer and can lead to extreme temperatures. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1988, the tournament has been held on hard courts at Melbourne Park.  The two main courts used in the tournament are Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena and feature retractable roofs, which are shut during rain or extreme heat. The Australian Open and Wimbledon are the only Grand Slam tournaments with indoor play. In 2008, the Rebound Ace surface, which had been in place for the past 20 years at Melbourne Park, was replaced by a cushioned, medium-paced, acrylic surface known as Plexicushion Prestige. The main benefits of the new surface are better consistency and less retention of heat because of a thinner top layer. 

The singles winners in 2011 were Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic.  The Australian Open typically has very high attendance, with the 2010 Australian Open achieving the highest ever single-day day/night attendance record for any Grand Slam tournament of 77,043 and an overall attendance of 653,860.

Sports Traveler has Australian Open Tickets and Travel Package Trips available! Tours packages can include Australian Open Tickets, hotel lodging, event transfers plus VIP options.

Located in Baltimore, Maryland, M&T Bank Stadium is home to the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. M&T Bank Stadium is one of the newest and most state-of-the-art stadiums ever built. M&T Bank Stadium was originally known as Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards, until PSINet acquired the naming rights in 1999, naming it PSINet Stadium. It then reverted back to Ravens Stadium in 2002 when PSINet filed for bankruptcy.

In 2003, M&T Bank acquired naming rights to the stadium. Following the September 2002 death of Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, public sentiment leaned toward renaming the then-sponsor less stadium after the Baltimore icon. However, the Ravens and the Maryland Stadium Authority held firm in their right to negotiate naming rights fees. In the end, a plaza on the stadium's northwest corner was named "Unitas Plaza", complete with a bronze statue of the Hall of Famer. Located in downtown Baltimore, the stadium is immediately adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. The Hamburg Street station of the Baltimore Light Rail serves the stadium.

Boston has one of the greatest sports venue attractions, Fenway Park. Fenway is the oldest, most historic stadium in the United States that is still in use today. The stadium was built in 1912 and is home to the Boston Red Sox.  A greatly desired area of seating is known as the Green Monster as the seats are alongside the 37 foot tall green wall at left field. Right handed hitters are likely to hit near this target area. With the greatness of the Red Sox paired with the significance of the stadium, every Red Sox home game has been sold out since May 15, 2003.

The nearby suburb, Foxborough is the home location of the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.  The “Pats,” as the team is commonly referred to, changed their name from the Boston Patriots when they moved to Foxborough.  The stadium is shared with the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer.

TD Garden is the stadium for the Boston Celtics of the NBA and the Boston Bruins of the NHL. Celtics have won seventeen championships which is more than any other NBA team. The Bruins have been in existence since 1924 and are a part of the Original Six teams (with the others being the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Chicago Blackhawks).

A yearly event that is heavily attending and very popular is the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest marathon. On Patriot’s Day in April, this 26.2 mile marathon takes place from Hopkinton to Copley Square. Another major event held annually in the city is the Head of the Charles Regatta rowing competition on the Charles River.

Bristol Irwin Tools 500 --- Bristol Motor Speedway

As the Chase for the Championship begins to take shape the NASCAR season takes you to Bristol, Tennessee and one of the most exciting racetracks this country has to offer. Bristol Motor Speedway is one of the shortest tracks on the NASCAR circuit, checking in at only one half of a mile. Don’t be turned off by slower speeds, as Bristol’s bumper-to-bumper action makes this race possibly the most exciting of the NASCAR schedule.  With banked turns reaching up to 36 degrees, Bristol stakes its claim as the fastest of all of NASCARs short tracks.

Bristol straddles the state line between Tennessee and Virginia, and serves as a quaint home to 25,000 Volunteer state residents. Officially recognized as the “Birthplace of Country Music,” Bristol offers travelers the chance to visit the site where artists such as Jimmie Rodgers, Uncle Charlie Osborne, as well as the Carter family all got their start. Their work and the work of many others is showcased at the Cultural Heritage Center, which also holds musical performances throughout the year.

As you take in the race, impress your friends with this bit of trivia: Bristol Motor Speedway is the largest amphitheater in the world. The completely enclosed venue seats 165,000 fans, which creates an atmosphere that is recognized throughout the racing world as one of the most electric in the country.  Early in his career, Jeff Gordon dominated on this track, but recently Kurt Busch has been the man to catch, winning five races in all at this track since 2002. One thing is certain; a race at Bristol is a unique and unforgettable experience, see for yourself at this year’s Bristol Irwin Tools 500.

Bristol Food City 500 - Bristol Motor Speedway

About the Food City 500:
"Racin' the way it ought'a be" is the slogan that this 1/2 miles bull ring with 36 degree banking known as Bristol Motor Speedway uses. The shortest track with the highest banking makes for exciting racing. Join us for our Spring Bristol Bash at Bristol Motor Speedway to understand why it is the most popular racing facility.

Travel information to the Bristol, TN Area:

The Bristol Motor Speedway is located in the heart of the in the Appalachian foothills in eastern Tennessee, about six miles south of the Virginia border. The track is 115 miles east of Knoxville, and 160 miles west of Winston-Salem, NC.

Unless you are planning on camping, Sports Traveler recommends the purchase of a race ticket and hotel travel package as all available hotel room space in the Bristol area is sold out year's in advance. Hotel and travel packages include Bristol tickets, hotel accommodations in the area, track transfers (bus transportation to and from the hotel and track), as well as optional track tours and VIP hospitality.

California Auto Club 400 -- Fontana, California

Come down to sunny southern California to enjoy NASCAR’s west coast premiere. The Auto Club Speedway in Fontana is a modern super speedway which houses two NASCAR events annually as well as numerous other racing events. Located just 40 miles outside of Los Angeles, Fontana is perfectly nestled in California’s valley region and makes for the perfect end of February get-away.  The 2-mile oval shaped track provides fans with 200 laps of excitement on its low-banked corners. A seating capacity of nearly 92,000 allows this race to house racing fans from all over the west coast and beyond. Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson’s have fared well here, each has won multiple NASCAR races at the Auto Club Speedway.

If you’re worried about parking, have no fear as your Sports Traveler expedition will accommodate all of your needs. Included in your trip are Sprint Cup race tickets, a hotel stay of customizable length, transfers to and from all of the weekend’s activities, tickets to the Nationwide Cup race, commemorative ticket holders, programs, and more. Come discover the end of winter escape that you deserve by booking a trip to the Auto Club 400 today.

Chicagoland Speedway --- Joliet, IL

 Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, Paul Brown Stadium is the home of the Cincinnati Bengals.  The stadium is named after coaching legend, Paul Brown, who founded both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns.  Paul Brown stadium opened in 2000, and replaced the aging Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field. The new stadium has a seating capacity of 65,535.  Paul Brown Stadium also houses the Bengals' administrative offices and training facilities. In addition, there are three smaller practice fields nearby.  Bengals fans refer to Paul Brown Stadium as “The Jungle”.  Sports Traveler has tickets and travel packages to every home and away game for the Cincinnati Bengals. 

The Great American Ball Park has been the home of MLB’s Cincinnati Reds since 2002.  The ball park is located on Joe Nuxhall Way to honor the Reds’ late pitcher and broadcaster.  On the north side of the park, on the rear of the third base stands, is the phrase “Rounding third and heading for home,” Nuxhall’s traditional signoff phrase. 

Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Browns stadium is home to the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.  The stadium lies on the shores of Lake Erie.  Cleveland Browns Stadium has a maximum capacity of just over 73,000.  Although the stadium is primarily used for Cleveland Browns football games, the field is large enough to host international soccer games.  Cleveland Browns Stadium sits on the former site of Cleveland Municipal Stadium, which housed the Browns before the team moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens. As part of the deal that brought a "new" Browns team to Cleveland, the city of Cleveland tore down Cleveland Stadium after the 1996 NFL season to make room for the new facility.  Cleveland Browns stadium opened in the fall of 1999.  Sports Traveler has tickets and travel packages to every home and away Cleveland Browns game. 

Cleveland’s basketball team is the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The Cavaliers play at Quicken Loans Arena which seats over 20,500.  At the games, fans enjoy appearances from the team’s mascot, Moondog.  Moondog is named after the Cleveland disk jockey, Alan Freed, aka “Moondog”, who popularized the phrase “rock and roll.” 

Progressive Field, ranked as MLB’s best ballpark in 2008 by Sports Illustrated fan poll, is the home of the Cleveland Indians.  The Indians also have a popular mascot, Slider.  He was also inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.  The park features a make-your-own-mascot store, similar to the Build-a-bear Workshop, where fans make their own “Slider” and dress get to dress it up. 

Cotton Bowl --- Cowboys Stadium --- Arlington, TX

The home of Dallas Cowboys, Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX, is also the home of the Cotton Bowl Classic. The Cotton Bowl had been home to the Cotton Bowl Classic from 1937 until 2010. However, the game was then moved to Cowboys Stadium. Seems fitting that the Dallas Cowboys and the Cotton Bowl would continue a long relationship. The Cowboys once played all of their home games in the Cotton Bowl from 1960 to 1971. Now the Cowboys return the favor and host this clash between the SEC and Big XII every January.

The Cotton Bowl game has always been considered one of the premiere bowl games in college football. Now the game is played in one of the premiere stadiums in the world. Cowboys Stadium is a spectacle all by itself. There is not a better stadium to host the Cotton Bowl and so many other major events. This modern marvel of architecture can seat around 100,000 people and features one of the largest LED screens in the world.

Cowboys Classic --- Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, TX

A great attraction in Dallas, Texas is the sports teams.  The NBA Dallas Mavericks and NHL Dallas Stars play at the American Airlines Center near downtown Dallas.  The 2009/2010 season was the first season for the Dallas Cowboys to play at the new Cowboys Stadium. Up to 100,000 fans can be accommodated!  Since 2009, Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas A&M Aggies face off in an annual rivalry game at this new stadium. Additionally, the Cotton Bowl is held there annually.  The new stadium is also scheduled to host Super Bowl XLV in 2011.

Another venue in Arlington is the Rangers Ballpark which is home of the MLB’s Texas Rangers.  If you are interested in seeing a NASCAR race, travel over to Fort Worth, TX to visit the Texas Motor Speedway for the Dickies 500 and Samsung 500 races. 

Aside from all the sporting events, there is also a number of museums such as the Six Floor Museum (an exhibit of the life and death of John F. Kennedy) and the Dallas Museum of Art.  Six Flags over Texas and the Dallas Zoo are other locations for entertainment. 

Invesco Field at Mile High has been home to the Denver Broncos since 2001, after replacing Mile High Stadium. Invesco Field is also home to the Major League Lacrosse team, the Denver Outlaws. In 2008, Invesco Field was home to the Democratic National Convention. The stadium was opened in 2001, with a concert by the legendary rock group, The Eagles. The seating capacity is 76.125, and can be expanded to just over 77,000 for special events. Invesco Field is working to create its own legends, as the predecessor, Mile High Stadium had on of the greatest home field advantages in all of professional sports. The original Mile High Stadium opened in 1948, as the home to the minor league baseball team, the Denver Bears. It was the home to the Broncos from 1960-2000. In 2000, Broncos fans caused the world’s largest roar for 10 seconds, as it measured over 128 decibels. Mile High was demolished in 2002, some reminisce of Mile High Stadium was used in the foundation for the parking lot for

Named after the Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colorado, Coors Field is the home of the Colorado Rockies of the MLB.  The field had a reputation of being a “home run-friendly” park.  This is because of the dry air and the high elevation of the location of the field.  Even though the outfield fences have been placed at unusually far distances from home plate, in its early years, the field gave up the most home runs, doubles, and triples in baseball.  In 2002, studies found that baseballs stored in drier air are harder and therefore are more elastic to the impact of the bat.  To fix this problem, the park installed a room-sized humidor in which the baseballs are now stored.  Since this instillation, the number of homeruns has decreased tremendously, and is now almost the same as other parks.

Pepsi Center is home to Denver’s NHL team, the Colorado Avalanche, and it’s NBA team, the Denver Nuggets.  It features a suspended sculpture of various hockey and basketball athletes in action poses.  When the Center is not being used for a sporting event, it is used as a venue for many concerts.

To see some of the greatest professional sports teams, visit Detroit to watch the NFL’s Detroit Lions, NBA’s Detroit Pistons, MLB’s Detroit Tigers, and the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.

Located in downtown Detroit, Michigan, Ford Field is home to the NFL’s Detroit Lions, and has played host to some of the major sporting events in the world. Since its opening in 2002, Ford Field has hosted Super Bowl XL, the regional rounds of the 2008 NCAA College Basketball Tournament, and is the annual home to the Motor City Bowl. In addition, Ford Field hosted the 2009 NCAA Final Four and hosted the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four. Ford Field has a standard seating capacity of 65,000 and can be expanded up to 70,000 for football games and 80,000 for basketball games.

Located across the street from Ford Field is Comerica Park, home to the Detroit Tigers. Around the park are nine tiger statues. The two tigers on top of the scoreboard have eyes that light up after a Tigers home run or victory, along with the sound of tiger's roar. Inside the stadium concourse are statues of players whose numbers have been retired by the Tigers, and names of Hall of Fame players that spent most of their careers with the Tigers are on a wall in left center field. A special honor goes to Hall of Fame right fielder Al Kaline with "Kaline's Corner" seating area. For additional entertainment, there is a Ferris wheel behind the stands with baseball designed carts.

Another major venue for Detroit is Joe Louis Arena where Detroit Red Wings play.It is one of the oldest venues in the NHL. The Red Wings have won four Stanley Cup Championships at the Joe Louis Arena. Just outside of the city, the Pistons play in the suburb of Auburn Hills at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Just after the stadium opened, the Piston's ended their 1988-89 season with a NBA Championship victory.

Detroit is also know for being the headquarters of the auto industry with about four thousand factories in the area. The most notable companies based in Detroit include General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.

Everbank Field – Jacksonville, FL

Along side of the St. Johns River sits Everbank Field in downtown Jacksonville, FL. The primary use of the stadium is for the Jacksonville Jaguars with the capacity to hold nearly 77,000 fans. Portions of the stadium were constructed with parts of the historic Gator Bowl Stadium. After some renovations occurred, the stadium reopened and debuted as the home to the new Jaguars team in 1995. It was the first time that an expansion NFL team had played its first game in a new facility.

Ford Field --- Detroit, Michigan

Georgia Dome – Atlanta, Georgia

Located in Atlanta, GA, the Georgia Dome is home to the Atlanta Falcons and is one of the largest domed structures in the world. Built in 1992, the Georgia Dome was at the time, the largest domed structure in the world. It lost this title in 1999 when the Millennium Dome opened in London. The Georgia Dome has a maximum capacity of just over 71,000, and it can be expanded to over 75,000 for special events. In addition to serving as home to the Atlanta Falcons, the Georgia Dome is also the annual home to the SEC Championship, the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and hosts various concerts and other non-sporting events throughout the year.

Located in Houston, Texas, Reliant Stadium is home to the Houston Texans of the National Football League.  Reliant Stadium was the host of Super Bowl XXXVIII, and is the annual home to the Texas Bowl, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  Reliant Stadium is part of a collection of venues, which are collectively called Reliant Park. The entire complex is named for Reliant Energy.  Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500.  Reliant Stadium also hosts various concerts and entertainment acts throughout the year.  Reliant Stadium will also be the host of the 2011 Final Four.

Minute Made Park, home of the Houston Astros of the MLB, was Houston’s first stadium to get a retractable roof.  This allows fans to enjoy outdoor baseball when the weather is nice but it is also able to protect them during Houston’s humid weather.  What was once Houston’s Union Station is now the main entrance to the Park.  There is a train on the top of the length of the exterior wall behind left field that moves every time the Astros score a home run or win a game. 

The Houston Rockets of the NBA play at the Toyota Center.  There is a restaurant located in the arena where they try to make customers feel “warm and welcome.”  The president wants to “form relationships with the people that attend our venue. 

Indianapolis is the capital of the of Indiana, and is home to many great sports attractions. With a population is 829,718, it is Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2009 U.S. Census estimate, is the 14th largest city in the U.S., the third largest city in the Midwest.   Indianapolis is also one of the fastest growing regions in the United States.

Tourism is a vital part of the economy of Indianapolis, and the city plays host to numerous conventions and sporting events. Of these, perhaps the most well known is the annual Indianapolis 500. Other major sporting events include the Allstate Brickyard 400 and the Men's and Women's NCAA Basketball Tournaments.  Along with two major racing events and Final Four's the city is also home to 2 professional sports teams.  The Indianapolis Colts are a historical NFL franchise that moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984.  In 2006-07, Peyton Manning (QB) led the Indianapolis Colts to a thrilling Super Bowl XLI victory over the Chicago Bears in an ultimate mid-west showdown.  The Colts have experienced a solid decade of winning and are perennial 12 game winners.  The Indiana Pacers are the charter Indianapolis member of the NBA and have been in the league since 1976, however they originally began in the ABA in 1967.  The Pacers earned a trip to the 2000 NBA Finals but came up short against the Los Angeles Lakers.  Since that time they have struggled to make the playoffs.  In the 2010-11 campaign, the Indiana Pacers have recently experienced minor success with their new collection of young talent, and they are looking to return to playoffs and begin another streak of playoff appearances.

Sports Traveler offers travel package and tickets to all your favorite Indianapolis events!

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway located minutes outside of famous Las Vegas, Nevada is one of the largest sporting venues in the world as it holds over 142,000 people. You can be sure that all these seats will be filled for the Las Vegas Kobalt 400. Jimmie Johnson has dominated this race in recent years winning three times in a row between 2005 and 2007.

The speedway underwent massive redevelopment before the 2007 race adding many concourse amenities and providing fans with a faster track featuring “progressive banking,” a breakthrough in track engineering that allows for more exciting neck and neck racing action.

Sports Traveler offers packages placing fans along the Las Vegas strip in including marquee names such as The Bellagio, The Golden Nugget, The Luxor, and more. These packages include all of your transportation from these hotels to NASCAR’s Sprint and Nationwide series races. With customizable stays in Las Vegas and the option to add features such as driver appearances, Neon Garage passes, prime seating upgrades, and much more.

Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Angel Stadium of Anaheim, The Big A, has been the home of the Los Angeles Angels since 1966.  For three straight seasons, they were AL Western Divisions champions!  Angel Stadium was also the home of the Los Angeles Rams before they moved to St. Louis and became the St. Louis Rams.  After each Angels win, home or away, the park will “Light up the Halo,” in which the halo on the “Big A” sign is illuminated to signal the win.  LA is also home to another MLB team, the LA Dodgers.  In 1958, the Dodgers moved from NY to LA and have played at Dodger Stadium since 1962.  Dodger stadium has the largest seating capacity and is the third oldest ballpark in the US. 

LA is also home to two NBA teams, the Lakers and the Clippers.  Both teams play their home games at the Staples Center.  For the last few years, the Lakers have been the most valued franchise of the NBA.  The Staples Center is also home to the LA Kings of the NHL, and the LA Sparks of the WNBA.

 Soccer fan?  LA is home to LA Galaxy Soccer team.  The Galaxy play their home games at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.  In 2007, Galaxy signed soccer super star David Beckham from Real Madrid C.F.

Martinsville Speedway – Martinsville Tums Quikpak 500 ---

While touring in Augusta Georgia, be sure to visit the Augusta Museum of History and their exibit on past Masters Champions. Feel like playing golf instead of watching? With more than 10 major prestigious golf courses to visit, Augusta has become one of the most desired and exciting places for all golfers to vacation.Some include The River Golf Club, Persimmon Hill, Houndslake Country Club, Cedar Creek Golf Club, CoopersCreek and more.

Do sit in the bleachers at Amen Corner (11,12) where you can see both tee offs and putting or sit by 15, 16, 17. Right after the golfers finish up their rounds on Practice Rounds and Tournament Rounds, they usually head to the driving range behind the main clubhouse to hit a bucket of balls. Watch them tee it up and work on their swings with their coaches from the bleachers and rest your feet.

Remember ladies, measure your purse before going in (must be 10″W x 5″H x 5″D). If it’s too big, you will have to check it.

Banned items at the Course: No cell phones, no pagers. Remember camera’s are ok on practice round days.

Many of the major sports teams in Miami play at the stadium that has been recently renamed to Landshark Stadium, formerly Dolphin Stadium. In addition to serving as home to the Miami Dolphins, Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Marlins, Landshark Stadium has been the host of various Super Bowls and World Series. Both the 1997 and 2003 World Series, along with four Super Bowls took place at Landshark Stadium. The stadium also hosted the 2010 Pro Bowl. Additionally, it is the current location for the Orange Bowl of the Bowl Championship Series

The sports teams and events in Miami don't stop there. Other Miami sports teams include the Miami Heat and the Florida Panthers. The Miami Heat plays at the American Airlines Arena and was the winner of the 2006 NBA Finals. Home for the Panthers is the BankAtlantic Center, just outside of Miami in Sunrise, FL. Miami is also the location for the NASCAR Championship Weekend, the Ford 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. This race is relatively new, first taking place in 1999 and added to the Championship Weekend in 2002. The Chase for the Championship comes to an end during this race weekend. Another event that takes place in the Miami area is the Sony Ericsson Open. This is an annual tennis tournament for men and women held at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, FL.

Aside from sports, Miami has many great entertainment venues. The Florida Grand Opera is the second largest performing arts center in the United States where numerous operas, concerts, ballets, and musicals take place. The city is know for being very fashion forward with some of the top modeling agencies in the world and is host to many fashion shows. Downtown is home to several museums and parks as well.

Miller Park is the home of the Milwaukee Brewers of the MLB.  Miller Park is famous for it’s fan-shaped convertible roof that can be opened or closed in less than 10 minutes.  The park as a set of LED scoreboards along the left-field wall that displays scores and stats of other MLB games going on as well as a diagram of a field showing which bases have players on them.  The field also has a strikeout counter which illuminates a K when a Brewers’ pitcher notches a strikeout.  In 2005, based off of a Sports Illustrated fan survey, Miller Park was rated the best ballpark based on value per dollar spent. 

Bradley Center is home of the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA along with the Marquette University Men’s Basketball team.  Bradley Center is also a venue for concerts and has had performances such as Bruch Springsteen, AC/DC, ‘N Sync, Aerorsmith, and much more.

Target Field is a baseball park located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the home ballpark of the Minnesota Twins, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It is the franchise's sixth ballpark and third in Minnesota. The Twins moved to Target Field for the 2010 Major League Baseball season after 28 seasons at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. It is the first facility built specifically for the Twins, as Metropolitan Stadium was built for the Minneapolis Millers five years before the Twins came to Minnesota and the Metrodome was built as a multipurpose stadium for the Twins, Minnesota Vikings and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team - the 2010 season was the first since 1936 in which the franchise did not share their home stadium with an NFL team. The Twins received the certificate of occupancy from Mortenson Construction on December 22, 2009. Twins staff moved in on January 4, 2010.

The first baseball game at the ballpark took place on March 27, 2010, with a college baseball game between the University of Minnesota and Louisiana Tech. The Twins played two preseason games against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 2 and 3, and their inaugural regular season game was played on April 12, 2010 against the Boston Red Sox.

New Orleans is a city that has plenty to offer. It is home to the New Orleans Saints of the NFL and the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA. The Saints’ home stadium has been the Louisiana Superdome since 1975 except for during the 2005 season when the stadium could not be used due to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. Instead the team had to alternate between using the Alamodome and Tiger Stadium, but then returned to the Superdome in 2006 after a $185 million renovation.

The Louisiana Superdome has been host to many major events such as the Super Bowl (yet New Orleans is one of five NFL teams that have not played in the Super Bowl) and the Final Four. Also, the Sugar Bowl takes place there annually.

For the New Orleans Hornets basketball games, the New Orleans Arena is used. Other event in the area that have smaller crowd capacity also use this arena. This team is fairly new to New Orleans, after being relocated from North Carolina in the 2001/2002 season.

Entertainment can be found on the lively Bourbon Street. Also popular is the historic, famous French Quarter. There are also a number of art museums including the Contemporary Arts Center, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

Located in Oakland, California, Oakland-Alameda Coliseum plays host to many football, baseball and soccer games.  It is primarily known as the home of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and the Oakland Athletics of MLB.  The Coliseum also is home to larger games for the San Jose Earthquakes of MLS. 

 The stadium was opened in 1966, as it hosted its first Raider game.  The Athletics moved to Oakland in 1968, and began play in the Coliseum shortly after.  One of the most recognizable findings at an Oakland Raiders game is the creation of the Black Hole, a highly recognizable group of fans who occupy one end zone seating during football games.  The fans wear bizarre apparel, face paint and shoulder pads. 

Oracle Arena, the oldest facility still in use by the NBA, is home to the Golden State Warriors.  It also has the largest seating capacity of all the other NBA venues in the state of California, holding over 19,500 spectators!  The stadium has also broken many attendance records including one in April, 2008, where the arena hosted 20,737 fans at a Warriors vs. Nuggets game.

Wachovia Center is the home of the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL and the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.  After the Flyers’ appearance at the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, they are expected to have another great season.  They also have the most semifinal/conference final appearances.  Their big rivals are the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils. 

Lincoln Financial Field (also known as "The Linc") has been the home to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Temple Owls since it was built in 2003, replacing the previous, longtime home field, Veterans Stadium. Although the maximum seating capacity changed little from that of Veterans Stadium, the number of luxury seats was doubled at Lincoln Financial Field. In 2005, Lincoln Financial Field hosted the NFC Championship, as the Eagles defeated the Atlanta Falcons to advance to their first Super Bowl since 1980.

Citizens Bank Park has been home of the Philadelphia Phillies of the MLB since 2004.  The park features many “Philadelphia-style” food stands such as cheesesteaks, hoagies, and other specialties.  The park also features the Ashburn Alley, the team’s Hall of Fame, named after the Phillies Hall of Fame Center Fielder Richie Ashburn.  The park also has a Build-A-Bear workshop called Make-Your-Own-Phanatic in which fans buy and stuff a Phillie Phanatic doll and dress it up. 

Just about nine miles northwest of downtown Phoenix is Glendale AZ, where the University of Phoenix Stadium is located. This venue is home to several great sports teams and sporting events. The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals play their home games at this stadium, as well as the Fiesta Bowl taking place there annually. Events that were hosted at the University of Phoenix in past years include Super Bowl XLII and the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. The University of Phoenix Stadium is located next door to the Jobing.com Arena, the home of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes.

This stadium opened on August 1, 2006 after 3 years of construction. The seating capacity for University of Phoenix Stadium is 63,400 and it can be expandable to 73,719. University of Phoenix Stadium features some of the most recent developments in technology. Many stadiums built today feature retractable roofs, but University of Phoenix Stadium took this technology one step further. The stadium features a retractable field. This allows for the stadium to have a natural grass playing field that grows outside and is then moved into the stadium on game days. The retractable roof of the stadium is made out of translucent "Bird-Air" fabric and opens in twelve minutes. It is the first retractable roof ever built on an incline.

The home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns is the US Airways Center. Also, located close by is Chase Field where the MLB Arizona Diamondbacks play.  With such favorable weather conditions during the spring, fourteen major league teams conduct their spring training in the area.

The Phoenix International Raceway is the venue for the Phoenix Checker Auto Parts 500 race in November and for the Phoenix Subway Fresh Fit race in April.  Another raceway nearby is the Firebird International Raceway, a venue for boat racing, drag racing, and road course racing.  

The activities and entertainment in the Phoenix – Glendale area are endless. Aside from the  various sporting events, there are several music venues, the Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum, a developing downtown art scene, and the largest number of parks and recreation areas.  Another attraction highlighted by the Jobing.com Arena (across from University of Phoenix Stadium) is the Westgate City Center which is a great mixed-use development with shops and entertainment.  Take a Sports Traveler trip to Phoenix and experience all the area for yourself!

Pittsburgh, Penn.

Heinz Field is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Panthers college football team.  Heinz Field opened in 2001 to replace the teams’ previous stadium, Three Rivers Stadium.  Heinz Field is located on the Allegheny River, on the North-Side of Pittsburgh.  The Steelers historic traditions can be seen at the Coca-Cola Great Hall.  The Great Hall is located on the east side of the stadium, and features a collection of Steelers and Panthers memorabilia.  The Great Hall also features the actual lockers of several former Steelers, including Hall of Fame members Franco Harris, Joe Greene, and Bill Dudley.  In 2007 the great hall was named the best concourse at an NFL stadium. 

PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, was rated in the top 7 of ballparks in America by ABC News.  Each season, the Pirates pick games that will be finished off with a world-class fireworks display! The park also includes great scenery of the downtown skyline.

The CONSOL Energy Center will be the new home for the Pittsburgh Penguins in their 2010/2011 season.  The Penguins were the Stanley Cup Champions in 2009.  Pittsburgh also hosted the NHL Winter Classic in 2011.

Sports Traveler offers a variety of Travel Packages including hotel lodging, event tickets, and game day transfers.  

The Players Championship can be further distinguished from the "Majors" in that it is owned and administered by the PGA Tour.  This tournament is best known for what may be the single most recognizable par 3 in professional golf, the Stadium Course's 17th hole, known to golf fans worldwide as "the Island Green" and what has become TPC Sawgrass' signature hole. The final three holes are considered one of the toughest finishes in golf.

Sports Traveler has Ryder Cup Tickets and Travel Package Trips available! Tours packages can include Ryder Cup Tickets, hotel lodging, event transfers plus VIP options.

San Diego is home of the San Diego Padres of the MLB.  In 2004 Petco Park replaced Qualcomm Stadium and is now the home field for the Padres.  The main entrance of the stadium, behind home plate, is located just two blocks from the downtown terminal of the San Diego Trolley light rail system. 

Formerly known as San Diego Stadium, and Jack Murphy Stadium, Qualcomm Stadium has been the home to the San Diego Chargers since 1967.  In addition to serving as home to the Chargers, it has also been home to the San Diego State Aztecs football team since 1967.  Qualcomm Stadium is also the regular home to the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, as well as the Poinsettia Bowl, both games are held annually in December.  Until 2003, the San Diego Padres also called Qualcomm Stadium home.

In addition to the regularly scheduled events at Qualcomm Stadium, the venue has been host to three Super Bowls, and has hosted games in two World Series.  Qualcomm Stadium is the only venue in history to host both a Super Bowl and a World Series in the same year, with the feat occurring in 1998.

Being one of the oldest baseball teams in the MLB, the San Francisco Chargers have won more MLB games than any other team in the history of baseball!  AT&T Park is home of the San Francisco Chargers.  It was originally the Pacific Bell Park, the renamed SBC Park, and then again in 2006, was renamed AT&T Park.  Since the Park is located right on San Francisco Bay, temperatures are often a bit chilly so it is recommended to bring a jacket, even in the summer months. 

Candlestick Park has been the home to the San Francisco 49ers since 1971.  The park was originally built for the San Francisco Giants in 1960.  In remained the home of the Giants until 2000, when they moved into AT&T Park.  Candlestick has gone through a series of name changes in recent years, changing its name back to Candlestick Park in 2008.  The name ‘Candlestick Park” was given to the stadium because of its location in Candlestick Point, a small part of land in San Francisco Bay.  The ballpark was constructed when the New York Giants baseball team moved to San Francisco following the 1957 season.  Candlestick Park was the first modern baseball stadium, and is currently the only NFL stadium that was converted from a “baseball only” facility.  As a baseball stadium, Candlestick Park was known for its cold weather and strong winds. After a grandstand was built for the 49ers in the 1970s, which enclosed the ballpark, cutting down on the winds during football games.

Candlestick Park has played host to many other historic events.  In 1966, The Beatles played their final concert together at Candlestick Park. Candlestick Park has a maximum capacity of just over 70,000.  Although its future is unknown, Candlestick Park is now one of the older stadiums in the NFL.  Sports Traveler has tickets and travel packages available for all San Francisco 49ers games. 

Safeco Field is home to the Seattle Mariners of the MLB.  Safeco Field has a capacity of over 47,000 and has a retractable roof incase of bad weather.  The stadium is also used for the Washington State Championships as well as some college games.  The Park also has a large display of art featuring pieces like steel cut outs of the players, a chandelier made of 1,000 baseball bats, and much more. 

Opening in 2002, Quest Field is home to the Seattle Seahawks.  Since its opening, Quest Field has had one of the greatest home field advantages, as the stadium is typically one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL.  Since 2005, the visiting team has committed more false start penalties than that of any other stadium in the NFL.  One of the major attractions of Quest Field is its unique design.  “The Hawks Nest”, a 13-story tower with a scoreboard at the top, as well as bleacher seating for 3,000 fans sits behind the north end zone.  In addition to the Hawk’s Nest, the overhanging roof design is also unique to Quest Field, as it keeps 70 % of the seats dry during Seattle’s rainy climate.  The maximum capacity of Quest Field is 68,000, and can be expanded to 72,000 for special events.  Starting in 2009, Quest Field will also be home to the MLS Franchise in Seattle, The Seattle Sounders FC. 

Sun Life Stadium (formerly Dolphin Stadium) is one of the most prestigious venues in all of sports. The stadium was built in 1987, and was originally called Joe Robbie Stadium, after the primary private sponsor for the stadium. It was designed with the hopes to be used as a baseball stadium as well, for a possible expansion franchise to the Miami area. These hopes were realized in 1991 when Florida was awarded the expansion Marlins, who began play in 1993. 

The maximum seating capacity of Sun Life Stadium is just over 76,000 for football, and just over 38,000 for baseball, as a large number of seats are not used in the upper deck of the stadium.  However, in 2012 Sun Life Stadium will return to hosting only one professional franchise.  The Florida Marlins, now the Miami Marlins, have moved into a brand new ballpark which is aptly named Marlins Ballpark.

In addition to serving as home to the Miami Dolphins, Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Marlins, Sun Life Stadium has been the host of various Super Bowls and World Series. Both the 1997 and 2003 World Series, along with four Super Bowls took place at Sun Life Stadium. The stadium hosted the 2010 Super Bowl XLIV and 2010 Pro Bowl. Additionally, it is the current location for the Orange Bowl of the Bowl Championship Series.

Traveler's heading to New York can choose from various Super Bowl travel options to suit their budget's and tastes. Super Bowl Tickets are available for all levels of seating on the Sports Traveler ticket network. Most seating options are available and inventory changes daily.  In need of lodging and Super Bowl Tickets while in New Orleans? Interested in group activities with fellow football fans plus bus transfers and Super Bowl VIP hospitality? Then a Super Bowl Package is your best bet. Packages can range from 3 to 4 nights accommodations in hotels located in Queens or downtown New York City. All hotels are at least 3 to 5 star accommodations. When choosing this option, remember that you will be traveling with a group and will have set times for activities and travel.

A great option for traveler's not interested in packaged travel is purchasing just a Super Bowl Hotel Room separately. Sometimes choosing this option and then purchasing a Super Bowl ticket separately can save the traveler big dollars. Plus you are on your own and free to come and go as you please without the timetable of a package.

The home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the beautiful Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.  Seating can fit just under 68,000 sports fans.  The stadium was host to the 2009 Super Bowl XLIII. One of the most recognizable features of the stadium is a 103-foot, 43-ton steel-and-concrete replica pirate ship, which fires rubber footballs and confetti each time points are scored by the home town Buccaneers. Sports Traveler has your tickets and/or travel package to any game at the Raymond James Stadium. 

Tropicana Field is home to MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays.  It is the only stadium in history to host full seasons of professional baseball, football, hockey, and arena football.  The stadium roof was built on a slant to reduce cooling costs and also to protect it from hurricanes.  The dome is lit up with orange lights after the Rays win a home game.  Also, the Ted Williams Museum/Hitters Hall of Fame was moved to the facility in 2006.

The Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL plays at St. Pete Times Forum.  The Forum is often referred to as the Ice Palace and is also a venue for tennis, professional wrestling, NCAA tournament games, figure skating, and much more.

Rogers Centre is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of the MLB.  Rogers Centre is known for being the first stadium to have a fully-retractable motorized roof as well as its hotel attached to it with 70 rooms overlooking the field.  The idea of having an enclosed sports venue came after the horrible weather during the Grey Cup game in November 1982.  The following day, at a rally at Toronto City Hall, tens of thousands of people who were at the game began to chant, “We want a dome!”  The stadium officially opened in June 1989.

Air Canada Centre (ACC) is home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL as well as the Toronto Raptors of the NBA.  It is the 11^th busiest arena in the world and is 665,500 aware feet in size!  The venue provides easy access to public transportation since it is connected to Union Station and the underground pedestrian PATH system.  ACC also hosts many concerts and other events. 

The 2013 US Open will once again be held in Queens, New York from August 26 - September 8, 2013.  Since 1978, the tournament has been played on acrylic hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York City.  Last year the tournament was won by Rafael Nadal in four sets to capture his first U.S. Open title.  The U.S. Open is a tennis tournament which is of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world.  It was formally known as the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881. Since 1987, the US Open has been the fourth and final tennis major concluding the Grand Slam each year. It is held annually in August and September over the weeks before and after Labor Day weekend. The main tournament consists of five different event championships: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, with additional tournaments for senior, junior, and wheelchair players.  One interesting fact about the US Open that makes it unique is that there are final-set tiebreaks.  This is different than the other majors because normally the deciding set continues until it is won by two games.

FedEx Field, home to the Washington Redskins, is the largest stadium in the National Football League.  The stadium has a maximum capacity of 91,704.   FedEx Field opened in 1997 under the name Jack Cooke Stadium, in honor of former Redskins owner.  In 1999, after Daniel Snyder purchased the team, the stadium naming rights were sold to FedEx for an estimated $7.6 million per year. 

FedEx Field is located in Landover, Maryland, and was built to replace RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.  Although it is the largest stadium in the NFL, every game played at FedEx since its opening has been sold out, and the season ticket waiting list for the Washington Redskins is now over a 10 year wait.

The stadium has five levels - the Lower Level, the Club Level, the Lower and Upper Suite Levels, and the Upper Level. The Lower, Club, and Upper Levels are all named after important figures of the Redskins, NFL, and Washington, D.C. area. The Lower Level is officially named "George Preston Marshall Lower Level", The Club is named "Joe Gibbs Club Level, and The Upper Level is called "Pete Rozelle” Upper Level." The Suite Levels have over 200 suite, loge, and Owner's Club luxury boxes.

FedEx Field is about a 15-minute walk from the Morgan Boulevard Station on Metro's Blue Line.

The Verizon Center, aka the “Phone Booth,” is home to both the Washington Wizards of the NBA and the Washington Capitals of the NHL.  The Verizon Center sits on top of the Gallery Place-Chinatown station on the Red, Yellow, and Green lines of the Washington Metro.  The Center also hosts many other events such as Champions on Ice, the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus, and many concerts.