January is traditionally a time of renewal, but new year's resolutions can be hard to keep, and more importantly, not much fun. In 2023, why not combine your passion for live sport with your desire for something new?
From horse racing to darts, table tennis to esports, we cover 10 events you may never have come across before. Who knows, your new favourite sport might be just a ticket away!
Chris Eubank Jr. v Liam Smith, (21 January 2023), Boxing
AO Arena, Manchester, UK
Although they’ve become increasingly mainstream over the decades, combat sports can still be somewhat unfamiliar to many event-going spectators. There’s a unique draw in seeing 2 rivals face off in the ring – no team-mates to help, no barrier between them, just their power, speed, guile, and skill. Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Smith will do just that on 21 January in a mouth-watering middleweight bout with both fighters hoping to put themselves in world title contention with a convincing win. The experienced pair bring plenty of momentum into the contest, with Eubank enjoying a 6-fight winning streak and Smith impressing in the Madison Square Garden spotlight last year with a knockout win over 2-time world champion Jessie Vargas. Tickets start at GBP £48.
Call of Duty League: Boston Breach Major II (2-5 February 2023), Esports
MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Boston, USA
Watching top-class sport at Fenway Park may not immediately sound like a niche way to start 2023 – just ask the nearly 40,000 Red Sox fans who regularly pack out Boston’s famous ballpark – but what if that sport was in fact an esport, and the venue was actually the adjacent MGM Music Hall? That’s more like it. The esport in question is the Call of Duty League (CDL), a breathless, ultra-competitive incarnation of the hit video game, in which teams of professional players compete to no-scope and head-shot their way to victory. In February, the CDL will be hosted by Boston Breach, with the second major of the season up for grabs in front of a live crowd. Day tickets start from USD $47, including fees.
Premier League Darts (2 February – 25 May 2023), Darts
Venues across UK, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands
There’s never been a better time to get into darts than the 2023 season. In the wake of one of the best World Darts Championship finals ever, in which Michael Smith defeated Michael van Gerwen, the PDC Order of Merit – the de facto world rankings – is as stacked as it’s ever been, meaning high quality dartistry and drama aplenty is guaranteed on oches around the globe this year. For prospective fans looking to dip their toes into the darting world, Premier League Darts is the place to start; the season consists of 17 nights of action, with players competing to win individual events, as well as ascend the overall Premier League table. Ticket prices differ city-by-city, but in the UK they start at around GBP £30, and at about EUR €40 outside the UK.
White Turf (5/12/19 February 2023), Horse Racing
Rennverein St. Moritz, St. Moritz, Switzerland
The White Turf is a one-of-a-kind event that features a variety of racing disciplines contested on a frozen lake beneath the shadow of St. Moritz's snow-capped Alps. Along with the sporting spectacle, racegoers can enjoy tasty food, upbeat music, and a variety of exhibits. On the glacial lake of St. Moritz, noble and powerful thoroughbreds from every region of Europe and jockeys from across the world captivate spectators. More than 30,000 fans assemble on 3 Sundays in February (5 Feb, 12 Feb, and 19 Feb) to take in the thrills of the races with tickets starting at CHF 26 (USD $28). Will your new horizons in the new year have a breathtaking mountainous silhouette?
Players Championship (20-26 February 2023), Snooker
Aldersley Leisure Village, Wolverhampton, UK
Whenever you see a sports event live for the first time, it always helps to recognise a few names and faces. The Players Championship features only the top 16 snooker players on the one-year money list, meaning the field will be packed to the brim with the game’s most famous. In 2023, the tournament will take place at Wolverhampton’s Aldersley Leisure Village, with reigning champion Neil Robertson likely to be in attendance to defend his crown. Other top players stepping up to the baize in February include Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, and Mark Allen. Tickets for this star-studded affair begin at GBP £22 for adults, making it a great-value option for first-time fans.
Houston Roughnecks v San Antonio Brahmas (5 March 2023), American Football
TDECU Stadium, Houston, USA
For football fans looking to keep the party going beyond the Super Bowl, the relaunch of the XFL offers an action-packed spring schedule. The league is ready for a first full competitive season under the new ownership of Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia, and several recently created teams will make their professional debuts when games get underway in February. One of the new franchises is the San Antonio Brahmas, who have become the third XFL team to be based in the Lone Star State. The Brahmas’ first taste of Texas rivalry play is set for 5 March, when they will travel to Houston to face the Roughnecks at TDECU Stadium. Tickets are available from USD $87.
WTT Singapore Smash (7-19 March 2023), Table Tennis
OCBC Arena, Kallang, Singapore
The Smashes are the table tennis equivalent of the Grand Slams. Designed to expand the sport’s fanbase and to promote the extraordinary skills of the world’s top players, these events showcase the very best of ping pong. Singapore became the first city to host a Smash contest in 2022, and the inaugural tournament was a great success. Chen Meng and Fan Zhendong took home the top singles prizes after almost 2 weeks of elite table tennis, and they will hope to repeat the feat when the Singapore Smash returns to the OCBC Arena in March 2023. Session tickets are available in several pricing categories, while the Singapore Smash Park offers an exciting general admission area with live entertainment. Daily tickets start at SGD $18 (USD $14).
World Baseball Classic (8-21 March 2023), Baseball
Chase Field, Phoenix, USA · LoanDepot Park, Miami, USA · Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan · Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Taichung City, Taiwan
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is the perfect introduction for anyone who has ever been curious about baseball, but never attended a game. Held in 4 cities across the world (Miami, Phoenix, Tokyo, and Taichung) the World-Cup-style tournament gives international fans affordable access to games featuring some of the world’s top stars, including Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. The competition, which will be taking place for the first time since 2017, will not only be a chance to watch baseball at the highest level, but also to enjoy the famous ballpark experience that makes baseball one of the more laid-back, inclusive, and family-friendly sports to see live. For those wanting to cheer their country on to victory, tickets start as low as USD $8.
FEI World Cup Finals (4-8 April 2023), Equestrian
CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Why not jump into the new year by discovering showjumping?! The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final was first held in 1978 and is the final of the season-long World Cup – which consists of 14 leagues – making it the main event. The 5-day event also features the finals of the dressage and vaulting series. The FEI Dressage World Cup Final and the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final, with their captivating components and demands of elegance, balance, and accuracy, fittingly round out the event. Ticket prices start at USD $20 (plus fees) for a single session, but you can also purchase tickets that cover all the sessions in jumping, dressage, or vaulting.
Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown (4-7 May 2023), Golf
TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, USA
If you’re eager to try something new in 2023, then the LPGA Tour has you covered with the International Crown. This unique event sees 8 international teams battle it out in a World Cup-esque match-play format over 4 thrilling days of top-class golf. If you’re new to women’s golf, then what better way to experience it for the first time than by seeing the world’s best go head-to-head? And if you’re already a fan of the LPGA Tour, it will be your first chance to witness the International Crown in 5 years! Normally held biennially, it was last staged in 2018 due to the 2020 edition being cancelled during the pandemic. Tickets for this event are not yet on sale, but you can save it to your interests to be notified when they do.
For more information on these events, including ticket prices, click the links below:
- Chris Eubank Jr. v Liam Smith, (21 January 2023), Boxing
- Call of Duty League: Boston Breach Major II (2-5 February 2023), Esports
- Premier League Darts (2 February - 25 May), Darts
- White Turf (5/12/19 February 2023), Horse Racing
- Players Championship (20-26 February 2023), Snooker
- Houston Roughnecks v San Antonio Brahmas (5 March 2023), American Football
- WTT Singapore Smash (7-19 March 2023), Table Tennis
- World Baseball Classic (8-21 March 2023), Baseball
- FEI World Cup Finals (4-8 April 2023), Equestrian
- Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown (4-7 May 2023), Golf