Things are heating up – and it’s not just the weather! Across the sporting world, athletes and fans are preparing for some of the biggest events of the year, from World Cup Finals to much-loved institutions like Ascot. With summer just beginning to burst into life, these 10 summer sports events are the perfect answer for those warmer days and longer evenings.
Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix (16-18 June 2023), Motorsports
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada
Summer in Montreal means picnics in Parc Lafontaine, bike rides along the Lachine Canals, and motorsports fans showing up in their excited thousands for the Canadian Grand Prix. June is prime festival season in the Quebec capital, and the Formula 1 championship brings a unique brand of live entertainment and party atmosphere. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has hosted Grand Prix racing for more than 40 years, making the event a summer fixture in the city. A wide range of tickets is still available, from single-day passes for those who want a taste of the racing to 3-day passes for the fans who won’t miss a moment. Weekend grandstand tickets can be found from CAD $373 (USD $274), while 3-day general admission starts at CAD $218 (USD $160).
The Ashes (16 June - 31 July 2023), Cricket
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham, UK • Lord’s Cricket Ground, London • Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds • Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester • The Kia Oval, London
The Ashes is a sports event synonymous with summer. For over 140 years, England and Australia have sweated it out in this high-pressure Test series with pride, bragging rights, and the historic Ashes urn on the line. Cricket’s longest-standing tradition returns on 16 June this year, with England hosting the 5-match series in stadiums from London to Leeds. While most official tickets sold out upon release, a good selection of seats is still available from resellers, meaning it’s not too late to join the Barmy Army for cricket’s biggest party of the summer. Tickets for Days 1–4 of all Tests begin at around GBP £140, while Day 5 tickets are still available for some games for just £25.
Royal Ascot (20-24 June 2023), Horse Racing
Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Berkshire, UK
For those who think of picnics, cocktails, and beautiful dresses as the perfect summer, look no further than Royal Ascot. It is one of the most esteemed horse racing fixtures in the world, having been held since 1768, and this quintessentially British event epitomizes summer in the UK. As the first Royal Ascot since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Procession before the races will be a little different; however, we can expect Ascot Racecourse will put on the same spectacle it always does. The 5 days of festivities draw over 300,000 visitors, the highlight being the Gold Cup endurance race for the best-of-the-best horses. Dress to impress, as there will be a stunning variety of high-fashion and hats as well as horses! Tickets start from GBP £39 for standard admission, and for those who truly want to enjoy the summer, there are spectacular hospitality packages on offer too!
MLB All-Star Week (7-11 July 2023), Baseball
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, USA • Lumen Field, Seattle
Over 2 decades since it last landed in Seattle, MLB All-Star Week is returning to the Emerald City! Set to take place between 7-11 July, this baseball celebration marks the midpoint of the MLB season, and gives fans a chance to catch a glimpse of some of the top stars in the sport. Starting at just USD $13, fans can take in the Futures Game for upcoming stars, or the ever-popular Celebrity Softball Game. Alternatively, for those who want to see living legends like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge in action, tickets for the annual All-Star Game and Home Run Derby start at $315 and $430 respectively. Still not your thing? Head over to Lumen Field for baseball’s biggest fan fest, complete with games, music, food, and photo opportunities for just $10!
FIFA Women’s World Cup (20 July - 20 August 2023), Football
Venues across Australia and New Zealand
After the novelty of a winter World Cup for the men’s tournament in Qatar last year, normal service resumes as the FIFA Women’s World Cup heads down under to Australia and New Zealand this summer (albeit actually winter in Australasia). The world’s best will be going head-to-head for the biggest prize of all, with 2-time defending champions the United States looking for an unprecedented 3-peat, and European champions England among those looking to challenge after winning their first major honor last year. Prices for standard tickets start at AUD $40 (USD $26) for adults and AUD $20 (USD $13) for children, while single-match hospitality begins at AUD $264 (USD $172) and AUD $236 (USD $154), respectively.
The Rugby Championship: Australia v New Zealand (29 July 2023), Rugby
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
Whilst July is technically in the middle of the Australasian winter, things are sure to heat up considerably in the vicinity of Melbourne Cricket Ground, when the All Blacks come to town during the final round of this year’s reformatted Rugby Championship. This trans-Tasman clash is likely to have a big impact on the final tournament standings, but that won’t be the only thing at stake: this massive derby match will also serve as one half of 2023’s Bledisloe Cup, and is the final fixture for both teams before the Summer Series, which is this year serving as a Rugby World Cup warm-up period. Adult ticket prices start at AUD $30 (USD $19).
La Liga Summer Tour (2-6 Aug 2023), Football
Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico · Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Mexico · Oracle Park, San Francisco, California, United States
Consider the beauty of Spanish football set in the sunny and spectacular landscapes of Mexico and California. That is exactly what the La Liga Summer Tour offers as well as the delight of being able to watch some of the greatest teams and players in Europe competing in the off-season summer months. There will be 4 matches taking place on 2 days at 3 different venues featuring 4 of the Spanish top tier's talented teams! On 2 August, Atlético Madrid play Real Sociedad at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico and Sevilla play Real Betis at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico. On 5 August, all 4 teams play in a double-header: Atlético Madrid v Sevilla followed by Real Betis v Real Sociedad at Oracle Park, San Francisco, USA. The most affordable tickets start at MXN $397 (USD $22).
Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (3 August 2023), American Football
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, United States
Despite the summer heat, August in the United States sees athletes across the nation pulling on heavy pads and helmets for the start of football season. This momentous annual occasion is marked with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, played every year at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Before the year’s new inductees are awarded their golden jackets at the Hall of Fame Enshrinement, 2 NFL teams go head-to-head on the field to kick off the league’s preseason. This year, the Cleveland Browns will face the New York Jets in Canton, and tickets are still available for the summer showdown. Standard seats are on sale from USD $151, while club seats can be yours from $436.
National Bank Open Men & Women (5-13 August 2023), Tennis
Sobeys Stadium, Toronto, Canada • Stade IGA, Montréal
Having been a staple of the Canadian summer since July 1881, the National Bank Open is the second-oldest active tennis tournament in the world, pre-dated only by Wimbledon. Since 1981, the event has been held in a unique dual-venue format, with the men’s and women’s tournaments staged simultaneously, but in different, alternating Canadian cities. In 2023, Toronto will host the men’s competition, whilst Montréal hosts the women's competition. As a joint-ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event, a summer trip to the National Bank Open is an appealing prospect regardless of whether you’re eyeing-up Ontario or want to see the world’s best compete in Quebec. Single session ticket prices at the men’s event start at CAD $20 (USD $15), and at CAD $15 (USD $12) for the women’s event.
BMW Championship (14-20 August 2023), Golf
Olympia Fields Country Club, Illinois, USA
The BMW Championship is among the PGA Tour’s most popular and historic events. Although it became the BMW Championship in 2007, it originated as the Western Open back in 1899, making it the Tour’s longest-running event outside of the majors. As the season’s penultimate event, it sees the top 70 players on the FedEx Cup points list going head-to-head, so only the top performers will be on show – meaning spectators are treated to the best of the best. US Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup star Patrick Cantlay will be bidding to become the first player to win the tournament 3 times in a row since 1938, so fans could see history being made this summer. General admission Grounds tickets start at USD $35, while premium tickets start at $55.
For more information on these events, including ticket prices, click the links below:
- Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix (16-18 June 2023), Motorsports
- The Ashes (16 June - 31 July 2023), Cricket
- Royal Ascot (20-24 June 2023), Horse Racing
- MLB All-Star Week (7-11 July 2023), Baseball
- FIFA Women’s World Cup (20 July - 20 August 2023), Football
- The Rugby Championship: Australia v New Zealand (29 July 2023), Rugby
- La Liga Summer Tour (2-6 Aug 2023), Football
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (3 August 2023), American Football
- National Bank Open Men & Women (5-13 August 2023), Tennis
- BMW Championship (14-20 August 2023), Golf
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