Of course there's the game itself. The clash of skill, the butting of strategies, the indelible drama of man versus man or even man versus himself. It's all an integral part of the live sports experience. However, when you're not in your hometown watching your favorite team, another even more fascinating experience is revealed: the place itself.
Professional sports are big business in the United States, and every town and city has a different idea of how to prepare for, behave during, and celebrate after the big game. Some are more subdued – a homemade sign here, a full-body paint there. Others, like Nashville and Boston, are what you might call "Sports Cities". In these places, it's more than a game, it's a way of life, and for sports fans looking for a little action on their vacation, these cities should be on the top of the list.
Here we'll look at four cities to visit for high-quality sports entertainment, whether on the ground or in the stands. Hotel recommendations will also be included for each location.
Boston, Massachusetts
With Beantown's roster of story-making professional sports franchises, it's no wonder the fans have something to stand up about. Boston is home to the NBA's Boston Celtics, who hold the NBA record for most Championships with 17, the NHL's Boston Bruins, an Original Six team with five Stanley Cup wins, the NFL's New England Patriots, the new millennium's perennial team-to-beat with 3 Super Bowl victories since 2001, and of course the MLB's unflappable Boston Red Sox, who caused a riot of almost-revolutionary proportions when they ended an 86-year championship drought in 2004.
The most exciting story in Boston sports would have to be the Sox. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox got off to an explosive start bringing home five World Series titles from 1903 to 1918. In 1914, the team acquired a young talent known as Babe Ruth who displayed an immediate knack for pitching and hitting.
However, in1920 the Sox unwisely traded Ruth to the New York Yankees, marking the beginning their championship woes. Called the "Curse of the Bambino", it would be another 84 years before the Sox won their next World Series, between which times the New York Yankees went on to become the most successful sports franchise in North American history.
2004 was a watershed year for the Sox. After a remarkable four-in-a-row comeback against the Yankees in the American League Championship, the Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals to finally become World Series Champions once again. More than three million people rushed into the streets of Boston, damaging trees, buildings, signs, and each other in their celebration. Necessary arrests were made, but tales of the evening site police encounters that were decidedly "look the other way". In a city like Boston, a little carnage is expected in the wake of a massive championship victory.
You have to act early to get tickets to a Red Sox game, they've sold out every home event for the past five years, but it's more than worth the effort. Now that they've broken the curse (and followed it up with the 2007 championship), the team is experiencing a renewed energy that you'll feel the moment you step into historic Fenway Park.
For hotels near Boston Logan Airport, consider the Holiday Inn Boston at Beacon Hill.
Nashville, Tennessee
You might not expect a place that goes by "Music City" to have sports on the brain, but the last ten years have seen Nashville, Tennessee emerge as a sports city eager to make its name with high-octane celebrations, festive crowds, and plenty of heartfelt play. Nashville hosts two major league teams, the NFL's Tennessee Titans and the NHL's Nashville Predators.
Known as the Houston Oilers from 1960 to 1997, the Tennessee Titans got off to a grand start when they started hitting the field for Nashville. Launching a campaign from their newly-completed stadium, now called LP Field, the Titans made a championship run in 1999 at Super Bowl XXXIV, still argued by many to be the greatest Super Bowl of all time. In the sweat-dripping final moments, the Titans' Kevin Dyson was tackled only one yard from the goal line by the Rams' Mike Jones, ending a season of firsts literally inches from the Super Bowl. While the Titans haven't returned to the big game, the promise of that oft-cited run keeps the fans coming out in full force.
Hitting the ice at Sommet Center, the Nashville Predators haven't secured a championship either, but that hasn't stopped the fans from developing a distinction all their own. Section 303, known locally as "The Cellblock", hosts a group of such uproarious fans that they have begun to claim themselves "the loudest section of the loudest arena in the NHL." You haven't experienced true heckling until you've heard round after round of piercing shotgun taunts spewed forth from the billowing crowds of Section 303.
More weirdness abounds. Another occasional occurrence has the fans throwing one or two catfish onto the ice, not unlike the Detroit Red Wings' octopus-throwing. The Predators Mascot, a saber-tooth tiger named Gnash, is also known for going beyond to pump up the crowd, notably by performing over-the-top acrobatic stunts including zip-lining over the ice.
Discover the electric energy of a burgeoning sports city in Nashville, Tennessee.
Among hotels near Nashville Airport, consider the Holiday Inn Select Nashville / Opryland Airport.
San Diego, California
Sports success has consistently evaded San Diego, giving it the unfortunate distinction as the largest city in the U.S. to have never won a major league championship in any sport. Nevertheless, the sports-loving soul of San Diego is evident in their packed stadiums, their happy fans, and their world-class venues. San Diego hosts two major league franchises, the MLB's San Diego Padres and the NFL's San Diego Chargers.
Excitement over the San Diego Padres dwindled quickly in 1969 as lackluster seasons followed each other end-over-end, and rumors of the Padres sale and transfer became common place. Two pennant races in 1984 and 1998 were each followed by losing seasons. In 2004, however, things began to turn around for the Padres and their fans. With the move into the newly-finished PETCO Park, hailing a vibrant downtown location overlooking the bay, the spirit of San Diego was reenergized and not only did the Pads begin to win games, the fans began to show up in droves to see this exciting team and their fresh new stadium.
PETCO Park stands out from most Major League Baseball parks in use today for intentionally avoiding many "standards". Rather than the rote red brick/green seats of most new parks, the builders selected rich blues, whites, and sand tones to match the cool coastal colors of San Diego. In another popular choice, the architects built the 100 year-old Western Metal Supply Co. building into the stadium rather than having it demolished. It now houses restaurants, stores, and even park seating.
It took awhile to get there, but San Diego is finally beginning to show the fervent fandom of a true sports city. And, of course, being so close to the beach in stunning Southern California, a vacation in San Diego guarantees that a little sports entertainment is just the beginning.
For San Diego downtown hotels near PETCO Park, look into Holiday Inn San Diego on the Bay.
Dallas, Texas
Sports are to Texas what skiing is to Colorado or surfing is to Southern California. They like to play it, and they love to watch it. For the humongous North Texas metropolis of Dallas, this steadfast dedication to sports excellence has fueled the fire for several top-notch teams and the millions of fans that fill their stadiums every game. One of only seven cities in the U.S. to host a major league team in each of the five largest club sports, Dallas is home to the MLB's Texas Rangers, the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, the NHL's Dallas Stars, and Major League Soccer's FC Dallas.
With so many options open, no one franchise stands up as the herald of Dallas sports entertainment. One of the newer teams, the Dallas Stars, rose to quick acclaim in the late-nineties with an unexpected Stanley Cup victory in the 1998-1999 season (followed by a losing second attempt in 2000). Since then the Stars have been consistent division title contenders and have garnered an energetic fan base. During the singing of the national anthem, it's customary to scream "Stars!" when the word appears during the performance (i.e. "Whose broad stripes and bright STARS!"), so be prepared.
With 5 Super Bowl Championships, 8 Conference Championships, and the record for most consecutive winning seasons in league history, the Dallas Cowboys are one of the city's proudest success stories. Many sports historians hold that the Dallas Cowboys are the most successful team of the modern era, earning them the nickname "America's Team", and attracting fans in sold-out numbers game-after-game, season-after-season. In fact, another of the franchise's most cherished records (and perhaps one of its most telling) is the record for most consecutive sold-out games home or away, regular or post-season, with 160 games starting in 1990. Simply put, this is a team that people love to love.
In 2008, the Dallas Cowboys play their final season at Texas Stadium before moving on to a new state-of-the-art facility in Arlington, so don't miss your chance to see them in action on the historic field that brought them so much acclaim over the years.
For a smart choice of hotels near Texas Stadium, choose Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center Hotel.
So there you have it – four cities where fast-paced sports action is the name of the game. Some, like Dallas and Boston, have beloved legacies stretching back decades while others, like Nashville and San Diego, are just beginning to build theirs. Either way, visiting sports fans are in for a treat.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
No comments:
Post a Comment