Winter is upon us, bringing chilly mornings and snowy skies to much of the northern hemisphere. Luckily for sports fans, the colder months also feature some of the most exciting events on the calendar. Whether you’re into ice hockey, snooker, American football, or golf, there is top level competition to enjoy throughout December and into the New Year – and the southern hemisphere summer offers its own great entertainment.
Brooklyn Nets v New York Knicks (20 December 2023), Basketball
Barclays Center, New York, USA
If you’re looking to escape the cold winter nights, let the stars of the NBA bring the heat when the Brooklyn Nets face off against local rivals the New York Knicks. As 1 of just 2 intra-city derbies in the league, it’s sure to be a fiery clash when this pair meet. The Nets were on a 9-game winning streak in their head-to-head meetings until the Knicks pulled out 2 wins in February and March, but both of those victories came at Madison Square Garden; the Knicks haven’t come away from the Barclays Center with the W since 2019. If you want to see if they can pull it off or if Brooklyn can get back to winning ways, tickets start from USD $105.
United Cup (29 December 2023 - 7 January 2024), Tennis
Perth Arena, Perth, Australia • Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, Sydney
As the northern hemisphere braces for winter, south of the equator things are warming up as summer comes into view. Where better for some of the world’s best male and female tennis players to reignite the heat of competition after Christmas, and serve up the start of the 2024 season, than “Down Under”? The United Cup will take tennis fans into the new year for the second time, following its hugely entertaining inaugural edition last year. Group stage ties will be hosted between Perth and Sydney, before the semifinals and grand final take place in the latter city. Adult ticket prices in Perth start from AUD $41 (USD $28), and from AUD $40 (USD $27) in Sydney, with concessions available in both cities.
NHL Winter Classic: Seattle Kraken v Vegas Golden Knights (1 January 2024), Ice Hockey
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, USA
The Winter Classic is one of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) annual outdoor events, showcasing all that North America’s most wintry major league has to offer in a large open-air venue that does not usually host ice hockey. In 2024 this venue will be T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, which typically serves as the home of Major League Baseball side the Seattle Mariners. With the Mariners enjoying their off-season, however, the Seattle Kraken will surface on New Year’s Day to take on the Vegas Golden Knights – which team will start the year with a win, and which side will be left feeling the January blues? Official tickets start from USD $184 in the View Deck, but tickets from secondary resellers are also available for less.
The Masters (7–14 January 2024), Snooker
Alexandra Palace, London, UK
The world’s top 16 snooker players will all have the same resolution this New Year – to win the 2024 Masters. Taking place between 7–14 January, the invitation-only tournament has a history dating back to 1975 and features an exclusive field of elite stars. The Masters, which has been held at London’s Alexandra Palace 11 times since 2012, is also part of snooker’s Triple Crown, making it one of the sport’s most prestigious titles. Reigning champion Judd Trump will be back to defend the trophy in 2024, but will face stiff competition from former champions like Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Allen. Standard tickets for the 2024 Masters begin at around GBP £34, while luxury hospitality packages are on offer from £315.
College Football Playoff National Championship (8 January 2024), American Football
NRG Stadium, Houston, USA
The new year will start with a bang in Texas, as the eyes of every college football fan turn to the NRG Stadium in Houston. The College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship is the biggest game of the season, and one team will end the night as the newly crowned champions of collegiate football’s most elite competition. Last time around, the Georgia Bulldogs crushed the TCU Horned Frogs 65-7, in the most lopsided result ever recorded in a major bowl game. The Dawgs are heavy favourites to make the playoffs again this year, but they will face tough competition from the likes of Michigan, Washington, and Florida State as they look to defend their national title. Tickets for the CFP National Championship are available from USD $978.
Call of Duty League: Boston Breach Major I (25-28 January 2024), Esports
MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Boston, USA
You could be forgiven for thinking that Fenway will be pretty quiet this winter, as the Major League Baseball season is over and the Red Sox will be heading to Florida for spring training, but with the 2024 Call of Duty League (CDL) season set to get underway at the MGM Music Hall, the Boston neighbourhood will be anything but. The Boston Breach Major I will see all 12 CDL teams, including the relocated Carolina Royal Ravens and rebranded Miami Heretics, fight it out in front of a live crowd across 4 action-packed days. Thankfully, fans will not have to endure Massachusetts’s famously cold January weather, as all the drama will unfold within the Music Hall; ticket prices start at USD $156 for a 4-day pass in Loge seating.
Royal Rumble (27 January 2024), Wrestling
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, USA
In 2024, the Royal Rumble is sure to help sports lovers wrestle away those stubborn winter chills when the event heads to Tropicana Field in sunny Florida. After serving as a home for WWE at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, The Trop will finally welcome wrestling fans under the dome when it hosts the Rumble on 27 January. The popular annual event will feature the likes of CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch as they battle for title shots and the chance to make history at WrestleMania. While high demand meant many seats sold quickly, tickets for this showdown in the Sunshine State remain available from USD $140.
New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (3 February 2024), Athletics
The TRACK at New Balance, Boston, USA
With an average February temperature of just 32°F (0°C), Boston in winter can offer visitors a chilly welcome. Fortunately, the competitors at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix will be protected from the elements as they battle for some of the most prestigious awards in athletics. This event is a Gold level competition in the annual World Athletics Indoor Tour, and numerous world records have been set at previous editions of the Grand Prix. Most recently, Dutch runner Femke Bol set a new world record in the 500 m race in 2023. Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 event, with prices starting at just USD $30.
Waste Management Phoenix Open (5-11 February 2024), Golf
TPC Scottsdale, Phoenix, USA
Winter is here, and that means “The Greatest Show on Grass” is on the horizon once again. The PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, which routinely tops the charts as the most well-attended event in all of golf, will return to TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course and the iconic par-3 16th hole, better known as “The Coliseum.” There, Scottie Scheffler will be bidding to become the first player since Arnold Palmer in 1963 to win this event for 3 consecutive years. Tickets start at just USD $10 for the practice rounds and $58 for the tournament rounds.
Daytona 500 (18 February 2024), Motorsports
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona, USA
“The Great American Race” returns to Daytona International Speedway on 18 February, kicking off the new NASCAR Cup Series season in style. This is the most famous and prestigious event in stock car racing, and it comes with the biggest prize money as well – in 2023, the total purse was almost USD $27 million. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. triumphed at the most recent edition of the race, beating Joey Lugano by the finest margins to claim his first ever Daytona victory. Ryan Blaney came 8th in 2023, but he will return to Florida as the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion. Tickets are available for the 2024 race, with prices starting at $140.
For more information on these events, including ticket prices, click the links below:
- Brooklyn Nets v New York Knicks (20 December 2023), Basketball
- United Cup (29 December 2023 - 7 January 2024), Tennis
- NHL Winter Classic: Seattle Kraken v Vegas Golden Knights (1 January 2024), Ice Hockey
- The Masters (7–14 January 2024), Snooker
- College Football Playoff National Championship (8 January 2024), American Football
- Call of Duty League: Boston Breach Major I (25-28 January 2024), Esports
- Royal Rumble (27 January 2024), Wrestling
- New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (3 February 2024), Athletics
- Waste Management Phoenix Open (5-11 February 2024), Golf
- Daytona 500 (18 February 2024), Motorsports