Selecting a vacation spot can be a tricky business, but whether you’re looking for a trip centred on sport or a one-off event to add into the holiday mix, there is no shortage of enticing places to consider. From Australia to Mexico via Spain and Germany, here are 10 great sporting events to plan a holiday around!
Gold Coast Suns Home Matches (15 July – 19 August 2023), Australian Rules Football
Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast, Australia
As one of the Australian Football League’s (AFL) newest teams, the Gold Coast Suns may not boast the bulging trophy cabinet or storied heritage of some of their rivals. What they lack in honours and history, they make up for in sunny skies and beautiful beaches, which are located just 9 km from the Heritage Bank Stadium. The Suns’ home city is renowned the world over as a must-visit destination among surfers and more sedate holidaymakers alike, with its seemingly endless stretches of picture-perfect sand and sea helping the locale live up to its name. Ticket prices for Suns home matches typically start at AUD $30 (USD $20).
Ireland v Italy & Ireland v England (5 August & 19 August 2023), Rugby
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
In August, Ireland’s men’s rugby union team will welcome Italy and England to Dublin as part of the Summer Series, with bragging rights at stake and the approaching Rugby World Cup coming into view. Those who choose to travel over the Irish Sea can enjoy a bona fide cultural capital, with plenty on offer beyond the iconic, curved façade of the Aviva Stadium. Dublin is a hugely historic destination, and today combines modern urbanity with quaint seaside suburbs. Though a relatively small city, there are countless things to see and do — nearly all of which can be enjoyed alongside a fine pint of stout. Adult tickets for Ireland’s Summer Series fixtures start at EUR €46 versus Italy, and €76 versus England.
FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships (6-15 August), Volleyball
Jorge “El Ranchero” Aguilar Bullring, Tlaxcala, Mexico · Plaza de Toros “La Taurina”, Huamantla, Mexico · Monumental Plaza de Toros Apizaco Rodolfo Rodríguez "El Pana", Apizaco, Mexico
The summer of 2023 is the perfect time to visit Mexico, and specifically the region of Tlaxcala to the east of Mexico City. Traditional bullrings in Tlaxcala, Huamantla, and Apizaco will play host to a very different sport when the Beach Volleyball World Championships come to town from 6-15 August. After successfully hosting a Beach Pro Tour event in 2022, the Jorge “El Ranchero” Aguilar Bullring in Tlaxcala is the main stage of the championships, where the world’s best national teams will battle it out to claim the title. Huamantla and Apizaco will also host several games. You can absorb the vibrant culture and enjoy thrilling competition from as little as MXN $180 (USD $11)!
Artur Beterbiev v Callum Smith (19 August 2023), Boxing
Centre Vidéotron, Québec City, Canada
Capital of the Canadian province of Québec, Québec City rises from the banks of the St. Lawrence River with a skyline dominated by soaring towers and ancient ramparts. The predominantly French-speaking city is one of the oldest European settlements in North America, and along its cobbled streets, visitors can find some of Canada's best museums, galleries, restaurants, and bars. Sport has always been a part of life in Québec City too, and though the city’s NHL team left for Colorado in 1995, fans still flock to Centre Vidéotron for anything from junior hockey to pro-wrestling. On 19 August, boxing will take centre stage at the venue as Montreal’s Artur Beterbiev takes on Callum Smith for the Unified Light Heavyweight Championship. Tickets for the event start at CAD $66 (USD $51).
France Sail Grand Prix: Saint-Tropez (9-10 September 2023), Sailing
Port of Saint-Tropez, Saint-Tropez, France
If the French Riviera is a glittering treasure chest, Saint-Tropez is one of its finest jewels. The iconic coastal town has welcomed the world’s most glamorous jet setters for more than a century, offering art galleries, fine dining, and exquisite beach clubs. Yachts are a common sight in the sunny port, but in September a different breed of boat will take centre-stage, when SailGP brings its elite racing catamarans to town. The France Sail Grand Prix has seen great success in the Golfe de Saint-Tropez, and holidaymakers looking for beachside entertainment can enjoy watching the crews glide through the waves at incredible speed. Parts of the racecourse are visible for free all along the sea wall, but for the best views, grandstand seating is available from EUR €48.
Savannah Bananas: Cooperstown (16 September 2023), Baseball
Doubleday Field, Cooperstown, USA
A visit to Cooperstown is like a trip back in time. Located at the southern tip of New York State’s picturesque Otsego Lake, the village is full of old-world charm and boasts a nostalgic Main Street, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and Doubleday Field – a retro ballpark in operation for over 100 years. On 16 September, tradition will meet modernity as Doubleday welcomes the Savannah Bananas for the final game of their Banana Ball World Tour. It might not be how baseball used to be played, but the Bananas will put on a show that is sure to please fans young and old. Official tickets for this game are now sold out, but resale tickets are available from USD $683.
Solheim Cup (18-24 September 2023), Golf
Finca Cortesin Golf Resort, Málaga, Spain
You can soak up the Spanish sunshine at the Solheim Cup this September when the biggest team event in women’s golf returns. Team Europe and Team USA will be turning the Costa del Sol into the Costa del Solheim when they battle it out for transatlantic supremacy in the female counterpart to the Ryder Cup at the picturesque Finca Cortesin Golf Resort, located halfway between Algeciras/Gibraltar and Marbella. Europe will be aiming to make it 3 wins in a row for the first time in front of a home crowd, so if you want to inject some unmissable drama and excitement into a weekend away then look no further! Tickets start at EUR €28, and you can already grab tickets to next year’s edition in Gainesville, Virginia from USD $50 as well!
Bayern Munich v VfL Bochum (22 September), Football Soccer
Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
It may not seem like the most significant game of the 2023/24 Bundesliga season, but champions Bayern take on VfL Bochum slap-bang in the middle of Munich’s Oktoberfest celebrations! The world-famous beer festival will take place from 16 September to 3 October in 2023 and the perfect accompaniment to a cold stein is football (and maybe even a Bavarian bratwurst from one of the stadium’s kiosks). Last season, Bayern beat Bochum 7-0 away and 3-0 at home so fans can certainly expect goals! Will Bayern get off to a flying start again this season? Bayern are yet to release their official tickets for the game but there are already secondary seller tickets on sale starting at EUR €182.
Clemson Tigers v Florida State Seminoles (23 September 2023), American Football
Clemson Memorial Stadium, Clemson, USA
For groups struggling with different vacation priorities, Clemson could be the perfect spot to please sports fans and nature lovers alike. The South Carolina town is most famous for Clemson University and its wildly successful football team, which has won 2 national titles in the last decade. On 23 September, the Clemson Tigers will face another giant of the sport in Florida State, setting the stage for a hugely exciting game. While a high-stakes matchup in a passionate college town should entertain even the football-sceptics in the group, there is plenty more to enjoy in the area when the final whistle is blown. From hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains to kayaking trips on Lake Issaqueena, outdoors enthusiasts will find endless inspiration in Clemson. Tickets for Clemson-Florida State start at USD $139.
Inter Miami v FC Cincinnati (7 October 2023), Football Soccer
DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, USA
Sun, sea, surf, soccer, Miami has it all – and now, it has global superstar Lionel Messi too. The football icon is set to take Major League Soccer by storm this summer following his sensational move to Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain. As if there weren’t enough reasons to flock to this coastal paradise, fans will now get the chance to see arguably the greatest player in the history of the beautiful game in action, and he’ll be trying to secure Inter a playoff place after a tricky start to their MLS campaign. Their final home game of the season comes against Cincinnati, who are top of the Eastern Conference at the time of writing, so it could be a make-or-break game. For fans who want to party in the city where the heat is on and bid Messi bienvenido a Miami, tickets start from USD $229.
For more information on these events, including ticket prices, click the links below:
- Gold Coast Suns Home Matches (15 July – 19 August 2023), Australian Rules Football
- Ireland v Italy & Ireland v England (5 August & 19 August 2023), Rugby
- FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships (6-15 August), Volleyball
- Artur Beterbiev v Callum Smith (19 August 2023), Boxing
- France Sail Grand Prix: Saint-Tropez (9-10 September 2023), Sailing
- Savannah Bananas: Cooperstown (16 September 2023), Baseball
- Solheim Cup (18-24 September 2023), Golf
- Bayern Munich v VfL Bochum (22 September), Football Soccer
- Clemson Tigers v Florida State Seminoles (23 September 2023), American Football
- Inter Miami v FC Cincinnati (7 October 2023), Football Soccer