Just because the weather is getting a bit chillier and the evenings are getting darker, it doesn’t mean your autumn days shouldn’t be full of excitement. Whilst some sporting seasons are coming to a close, others are only just kicking-off, so don’t go into hibernation just yet – there's a world of sport to enjoy this autumn, and we’ve picked 10 fantastic events to inspire you!
MLTT West Division: Santa Cruz (22-24 September 2023), Table Tennis
Kaiser Permanente Arena, Santa Cruz, USA
Major League Table Tennis (MLLT) is a new player on the American sports scene. Making its debut this September, the league hopes to bring table tennis to a wider audience, with teams based around the USA and events held all over the country. The 8 MLTT teams are split into East and West Divisions, and the West Division’s inaugural weekend will be held in Santa Cruz, California from 22-24 September. Featuring the Bay Area Blasters, Portland Paddlers, Seattle Spinners, and Texas Smash, this event will offer early insights into each team’s chances for the season, as well as giving fans a chance to get to know their local players. Tickets are available for single days or for the whole 3-day event, with daily passes priced at USD $32.
The Cambridgeshire Meeting (28-30 September 2023), Horse Racing
Newmarket Racecourse Rowley Mile, Newmarket, United Kingdom
Part of Newmarket’s “Gold Season” autumnal racing calendar, which also includes Cesarewitch Trial Day (23 September), Sun Chariot Day (7 October), the Future Champions Festival (13-14 October), Two-Year-Old Day (25 October), and The Final Meeting (3-4 November), the Cambridgeshire Meeting is a 3-day celebration of flat racing before jump racing takes over for the colder months. The feature race of the Cambridgeshire Meeting is Cambridgeshire Heritage Handicap which is the first leg of the Autumn Double (the second being The Cesarewitch at Future Championships Festival), and this year’s meeting will also feature Oktoberfest celebrations, with Bavarian food, drink, and entertainment accompanying the racing. Tickets are always in high demand for this fixture and start at just GBP £10!
Newcastle United v Paris Saint-Germain (4 October 2023), Football
St. James’ Park, Newcastle, UK
With the nights drawing in, there’s something extra special about UEFA Champions League football played under the lights on midweek autumn evenings. That will be especially true for Newcastle United this season, who have returned to club football’s most premier competition for the first time since the 2003/04 campaign. The atmosphere will be electric for this contest, amped up all the more by the hope of a sensational upset of illustrious visitors Paris Saint-Germain, led by Kylian Mbappe, so this game promises to be one of the highlights of the Champions League group stage. Official ticket information is yet to be released, but resale tickets are available starting at GBP £311.
Tour of Lombardy (7 October 2023), Cycling
Bergamo - Como Route, Italy
Known as “The Race of the Falling Leaves”, the Tour of Lombardy (Giro di Lombardia) is the last of the 5 Monument races of the road cycling season. First raced on 1905, the Tour’s route has changed a few times over the years but has generally always involved the mountains and lakes of Bergamo and Como, jewels in the north of Italy which exhibit the rich reds and golds of autumn. Although spectators can watch the race for free as it winds, climbs, and descends on public roads, there are also hospitality packages on sale for those looking for a more relaxed experience, with start area (GBP £80) and finish line (£160) hospitality available, as well as the opportunity to spend the day in an official car following the cyclists (£835)!
Round 1 of the Gallagher Premiership (13-15 October 2023), Rugby
AJ Bell Stadium, Salford, UK • Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol • Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester • The Recreation Ground, Bath • Sandy Park, Exeter
Whilst a lot of focus will justifiably be on the 2023 Rugby World Cup this autumn, the cooler weather and redder leaves also signal a return to English rugby union’s premier club competition: the Gallagher Premiership. Despite struggles off the pitch for some top-flight clubs, the on-pitch action never fails to impress and excite, with some of the most talented players in the game plying their trade in the competition every year. Bristol Bears and Leicester Tigers will get the 2023/24 season underway on 13 October, before 4 weekend ties, including Exeter Chiefs versus last season’s champions Saracens. Fans can grab a ticket to any of the 5 first round ties for under GBP £37.
KSI v Tommy Fury (14 October), Boxing
AO Arena, Manchester, UK
As the leaves fall from the trees this autumn, the season’s biggest boxing clash will take place inside Manchester's AO Arena. A fight long in the making, YouTuber, rapper, and boxer KSI is set to go one-on-one with Tommy Fury – half-brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury. The action won’t stop there though, as KSI’s sports drink business partner, and fellow media megastar Logan Paul steps out of the WWE ring for a night and pulls on the gloves to take on mixed martial artist Dillon Danis. Whilst tickets from the official seller sold out quickly, a wide range of reseller options are available for fans hoping to take in this clash of crossover stars in the “Prime” of their careers. Tickets are available from GBP £103.
Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers (24 October 2023), Basketball
Ball Arena, Denver, USA
For basketball fans, autumn can only mean one thing – the return of the NBA for a new season. The Denver Nuggets – who won their first championship last season – have the honour of launching the new campaign, and they’ll open the season with a mouth-watering home tie against the Los Angeles Lakers. Leading the charge for the Nuggets will be star centre Nikola Jokic, whose impressive display in the NBA Finals earned him the title of MVP, having averaged more points (30.2), rebounds (14), and blocks (1.4) per game than any other player. To witness Jokic and the Nuggets in action, tickets start from USD $282.
LSU v Florida (11 November 2023), American Football
Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, USA
Night games at Tiger Stadium are not for the faint-hearted. Death Valley after sunset is a bubbling cauldron, the passion of more than 100,000 fans heating the air like steam from a gumbo pot. The LSU Tigers play at the 7th largest stadium in the world, and every seat will be filled for the team’s upcoming Swamp Bowl clash with the Florida Gators. LSU won last year’s contest in Gainesville, so Florida will be looking for revenge when they head to Baton Rouge on 11 November 2023, in what will be the 70th meeting between these giants of the SEC. Tiger Stadium is an iconic college football venue, and games don’t get much bigger than this. Tickets are available from USD $104.
ATP Finals (12-19 November 2023), Tennis
Pala Alpitour, Turin, Italy
Unfortunately for tennis fans, the start of winter means an end to the professional tennis tour for another year, but that’s not before the sport goes out with a bang in late autumn, with a series of season-ending showdowns starring some of the year’s best players. One such event is the ATP Finals, which feature’s the 8 best men’s singles players and doubles pairs on the tour across the last 12 months going head-to-head in Turin. Whilst it can get a bit nippy in the Italian city in November, fans can hunker down inside the Pala Alpitour and enjoy the sort of world class tennis that gets temperatures rising, with single session tickets starting from just EUR €42 including fees.
Cazoo UK Championship (25 November – 3 December), Snooker
York Barbican, York, UK
Each year, the World Snooker Tour brings autumn to a close with the first Triple Crown event of the season – the UK Championship. In 2023, reigning champion Mark Allen will defend his title as the championship returns to the Barbican in York between 25 November and 3 December. At home in the ancient English city famous for its Roman walls and towering cathedral, the historic tournament will see another champion added to a prestigious roll of honour that includes legends of the game like Alex Higgins, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and Steve Davis. Tickets for this year’s UK Championship start at around GBP £30.
For more information on these events, including ticket prices, click the links below:
- MLTT West Division: Santa Cruz (22-24 September 2023), Table Tennis
- The Cambridgeshire Meeting (28-30 September 2023), Horse Racing
- Newcastle United v Paris Saint-Germain (4 October 2023), Football
- Tour of Lombardy (7 October 2023), Cycling
- Round 1 of the Gallagher Premiership (13-15 October 2023), Rugby
- KSI v Tommy Fury (14 October), Boxing
- Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers (24 October 2023), Basketball
- LSU v Florida (11 November 2023), American Football
- ATP Finals (12-19 November 2023), Tennis
- Cazoo UK Championship (25 November – 3 December), Snooker