Page 3 - Sports Traveler Blog

A sea of red was all I could see as I shuffled into the Intercontinental Ballroom of the Hilton Chicago, the excitement growing as the fans waited for the opening ceremonies of the 2015 Chicago Blackhawks convention. I decided to make the trip this year to get a more personal glimpse of my favorite team in a more casual setting. The weekend began with a red carpet arrival of Blackhawks stars and alumni from years past, all of which greeted fans lining the runaway. At this point I could tell this was not going to be your typical team convention.

The rest of the weekend was a mix of autograph signings, photo ops, and panels among Blackhawks teammates and staff. A few of my personal favorites included the “Showtime” panel which included hockey legend Denis Savard, and current NHL All-Star Patrick Kane. Both players discussed their style of play and NHL careers, including the one year Savard coached Kane on the Blackhawks. The highlight of the panel was Savard explaining how he personally

We are hosting some very cool football trips coming up in the fall. We love football and for the past 15 years we have hosted great football trips for fans all over the USA. Here are some of our coolest football trips we have running this season!

Arlington, Texas:
The original Cowboys Football Package is back again and better than ever. We stay in hotels close to AT&T Stadium and our VIP Tailgate Party right across the street from the stadium. Inside our big tent is a non-stop party with a new menu of food this year - the Texas BBQ will be there along with some other chef favorites. Our DJ will be cranking the tunes and we WILL be dancing. Former Cowboys player Bill Bates will be back again to sign autographs and take pictures. View our YouTube Videowith last year's highlights!
View our Dallas Cowboys Weekend Packages

Green Bay, Wisconsin:
We are heading to Green Bay where we will start the pre-game festivities with a tailgate that heads inside when

The history, the hats, the spectacle of the Kentucky Derby... There really isn't another sporting event in the world that combines all of this together into a weekend fit for nearly any type of sports fan. Let's talk about how we can get you to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, and maybe not even have to break your piggy bank.

There are a few ways to plan your trip, depending on what type of experience you want to have. Let's go through a few of the options.

The Budget Minded Fan: Kentucky Derby tickets, ala carte hotel room, rental car
Choose Kentucky Derby Tickets in one of the 1st Floor Grandstand Sections. You won't be able to see the entire track but you will be close to the horses and that view is actually pretty cool. TV's are stationed throughout Churchill Downs so you won't miss a minute of the races. Booking your hotel room during the Derby weekend can be tricky, but opting for something in the Louisville East area is a good budget option. Prepare of a bit of a

Ok ladies, one week to go before the 2015 Kentucky Derby and many of you are in "Hat Panic". There is only one thing more important that your Kentucky Derby Ticket  if you are a lady and that is your Kentucky Derby Hat. But finding the right kind of hat can be impossible, especially if you don't live in the state of Kentucky. Below are my top picks for Derby Worthy Hats that can be bought online - and are available for Rush Delivery!

Uno Alla Volta: Unoallavolta.com/carole

I love these simple designs that will look good on nearly every lady. These are my fav's:

"The Minetta": $180.00 USD
I think this is the ultimate in Derby Hat Glamor. It's elegant and a true show-stopper hat.

"The Leslie" of New York: $120.00 USD
It's simple, red, black, and white. Plus who doesn't love the red roses on the side? This is the perfect Run for the Roses hat!

"The Marina": $180.00 USD
This one is for the brave! A beautiful straw sunhat with one big pink flower!

Are you sitting at home watching the 2015 Masters on TV and wondering - How did all those people get tickets? How much does a ticket to the Masters cost? How can I plan my trip to the 2016 Masters?  Let's talk about how to get YOU to the Masters in 2016.

Step 1: Choose Practice Round or Tournament Round Ticket

There are two types of Masters Tickets at Augusta National: Practice Rounds Tickets are available for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and allow patrons to walk the entire course, take pictures of the players, and in some cases get autographs, all in a very relaxed atmosphere. The tickets are the cheapest Masters Ticket of the entire Masters Week and if you want to take your own pictures of the course, attending on one of these days is a must. If you have children, consider attending Wednesday for Kids Day when most players are very willing to sign autographs. Also, many of the Masters most memorable past champions often play in the Par-3 Tournament.

The official Masters tournament

This month’s Sports Traveler blog takes us to the “Windy City” in which I reside, Chicago! The city has its fair share of amazing sports venues, and this month’s blog highlights “The Madhouse on Madison.”

The United Center hosts both the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, two teams always competitive in their respective divisions. And it was last Friday I attended a Blackhawks game right at the United Center. From the moment you pull unto Madison Avenue on the West side of Chicago you can feel the energy radiate from the fans on the street all marching towards the United Center! Half of the fun of the night was interacting with other fans, including fans of the opponents at the game.

I was just getting into the arena a few minutes late, side note always leave early to guarantee stress-free parking, and walked into a guttural rendition of O-Canada. One of the most famous traditions at the United Center came next, the cheering of the national anthem! The UC literally was

The following is an except from an interview with Kenneth Sherwin for the book Sports Traveler – Chicago. Sadly, the world lost Kenny this week. Thanks Kenny for the great stories and support of our company.

Kenny Sherwin – Your Beer Man

If you attend any games at the U.S. Cellular Field, United Center, or Wrigley Field you may recognize Kenny Sherwin as your “Beer Man”. Kenny has been a beer vendor in Chicago’s top sports arenas since 1981. He’s served tens of thousands of beers to fans from all over the world with a smile and his trademark saying, “that will be $7, including shipping and handling”. While serving up brews to us fans, Kenny has also been witness to some of Chicago’s greatest sports moments.

He was there in the old Chicago Stadium when Michael Jordan first joined the team and was in the house to watch Jordan and the Bulls play for many of their Championship years. And when the team moved into the United Center, he watched the Bulls win three more titles, all while juggling

Before we get into the heart of this month’s travel blog I feel it would be best to introduce myself to you all. My name is Jake Alleruzzo, the newest addition to the Sports Traveler staff. I myself have a very deep passion for sports travel and thought writing our latest blog entry would be a great way to share my experiences with you fellow sports travelers.

About a month ago I took a trip to Missouri to a beautiful region called Lake of the Ozarks, located just a few miles south of Kansas City. Being in the far western edge of Missouri is quite a unique experience, considering the mixed fandom between Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals fans. While we were in the western tip of Missouri I could have sworn I was in the heart of Kansas City as I drove through town and saw Royals flags hanging about. This goes to show you that you never know what kind of fans you can find as you travel through any given town.

Now going through this town you would figure there is not much to do besides

washingtonpost.com

I love London and I love the Dallas Cowboys so when the opportunity came to host this years NFL International Series in London when the Dallas Cowboys play the Jacksonville Jaguars in November I was in!

I’ve hosted tours all over the world during the past 14 years at Sports Traveler and this trip is one that I am really looking forward to.

From Westminster Abbey to Big Ben to St. Paul’s Cathedral, the city is filled with history and amazing architecture at every turn. I love the fish and chips and taking a walk on the River Thames. I love the cool air on my face. And then there is the game at the incredible Wembley Stadium. I can hardly wait to show you everything while we are in this amazing city!

On November 6^th, we’ll start out at Heathrow Airport where our guides will meet and greet you after your arrival and transfer you to our host hotel. We will be staying at the Copthorne Tara Hotel, located right in the heart of everything you’ll want to see in the city center.

I now follow a horse on Twitter and Facebook. But this isn’t just any horse, he is the great Little Silver Charm. I met him for the first time on the farm where he is spending his “retirement years”, Old Friends, an equine retirement center home located in Georgetown, Kentucky, just outside of Lexington.

Old Friends is home to many past Derby winners and race horses, but the real star is Little Silver Charm or 'Charmie' as he's known to his thousands of followers and fans (follow him on Twitter or his Facebook page). He was a rescue show pony who today considers himself an entertainer.

He’s a blonde, loves kids, carrots, and plays soccer in YouTube videos.  He often talks about his crush, a horse named Zenyatta, and he seems to enjoy posing for quite a few pictures that are auctioned off to benefit Old Friends. He even has his own miniature replica toy available on Ebay.