With the end of February now in sight, winter is almost behind us and a springtime full of sport awaits. From golf to horse racing, tennis to football, here’s a selection of 8 top sporting events to help you emerge from hibernation and put a spring in your step!
Inter Miami vs Orlando City (2 March 2024), Football
DRV PNK Stadium, Miami, USA
Spring brings with it the return of Major League Soccer, and that means fans will once again get the chance to see the legendary Lionel Messi in action for Inter Miami as they take on Floridian rivals Orlando City on 2 March. The World Cup-winner may be 36, but he hit the ground running after joining Inter last summer, racking up 11 goals and 5 assists in 14 appearances. Injury unfortunately limited him to just 6 outings in MLS itself – many of his appearances were in the Leagues Cup – so he’ll be eager to showcase what he can do in the league and fire Miami into playoff contention. Tickets start at USD $113.
The Players Championship (11-17 March 2024), Golf
TPC Sawgrass, Jacksonville, USA
If you’re looking to get out into the fresh spring air, where better to do that than a lush, verdant golf course? Even better, an iconic course hosting a top-class event known for boasting “the strongest field in golf!” The Players Championship, considered golf’s unofficial “5th major,” has been one of the biggest highlights of the PGA Tour calendar since its inception in 1974. With a cool USD $25 million up for grabs including $4.5 million to the winner – the highest prize purse of any event in golf, including the majors – fans can expect to see the best of the best competing to have their name engraved into The Players trophy. Tickets start at USD $43 for the practice rounds and $101 for the tournament rounds.
Cheltenham Festival (12-15 March 2024), Horse Racing
Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, UK
The Cheltenham Festival has been a springtime staple for over a century and a half. In 2024, the popular 4-day event returns with its trademark combination of thrilling racing, live entertainment, tradition, fashion, and fun. Scheduled for 12–15 March, this year’s festival will be headlined by the 100th edition of the Cheltenham Gold Cup (15 March) – a race with a roll of honor that includes legendary horses like Arkle, Best Mate, Kauto Star, and Denman. Known for the “Cheltenham Roar” created by its crowds, and an atmosphere unmatched anywhere else in the sport, the Cheltenham Festival continues to wow racing fans from across the world. Standard single day tickets start at GBP £57 for this event, with hospitality offerings available from £415.
MLB Opening Day: Los Angeles Dodgers vs St. Louis Cardinals (28 March), Baseball
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
Along with blossoming trees and budding flowers, baseball is a sign of spring in the United States. With their sights set on the World Series, MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers will begin their season in South Korea this year, but stateside fans are already looking ahead to the team’s homecoming. Taking place on 28 March, the league’s official Opening Day, the Dodgers will take on the St. Louis Cardinals in a home opener that will provide US fans with their first chance to see Shohei Ohtani in Dodgers colors. Ohtani signed a record-breaking deal with the Dodgers in the summer and the Japanese superstar’s home debut is set to be a historic event for the franchise and the sport. Tickets for this game are highly sought-after, but available for around USD $246.
WrestleMania XL (6–7 April 2024), Wrestling
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
XL might be the Roman numeral for 40, but it is also an apt description of the size and scale of this year’s WrestleMania. Set to take place at Lincoln Financial Center in Philadelphia, WWE’s iconic “Show of Shows” will return for the 40th time with more than 90,000 fans in attendance across 2 nights. Alongside fan favorites like Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, and Roman Reigns, Hollywood star and WWE Hall of Famer The Rock will headline the action as the worlds of wrestling and entertainment collide on the “Grandest Stage of Them All”. Single day tickets for WrestleMania XL are available for around USD $214, while 2-Day event passes can be found for closer to $768.
Barcelona Open (13-21 April), Tennis
Real Club de Tenis Barcelona, Spain
Spring is an ideal time to visit Barcelona - with typically blue skies, warm sunshine, and before the huge summer influx of holidaymakers. The Barcelona Open provides the perfect excuse for a spring getaway to enjoy some top-tier men’s tennis at the historic Real Club de Tenis Barcelona, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. Home-grown favorites Rafa Nadal and defending-champion Carlos Alcaraz are already confirmed to attend and so there will be no shortage of talent on show for fans. With ticket prices starting from as low as EUR €12 for reserved seats, there are packages to suit all budgets.
Internazionali BNL d’Italia (6-19 May 2024), Tennis
Foro Italico Tennis Centre, Rome, Italy
Roland-Garros might be the pinnacle of the clay court tennis season, but the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, also known as the Italian Open, is a top-class tournament in its own right. A key fixture on both the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tours, the Italian Open turns 94 this year, so it’s a suitably historic event given its Roman surroundings. Daniil Medvedev is the defending men’s champion while Novak Djokovic has won an impressive 6 titles there, but all eyes will be on clay court specialist Rafael Nadal, who has won the competition a record 10 times as part of his French Open preparations. Grounds tickets are available from just EUR €4, while Central Court tickets start at €20.
Monaco Grand Prix (23-26 May), Motorsports
Circuit de Monaco, Monaco
In May each year, the playground of the rich and famous shuts down its roads and welcomes some of the fastest cars on the planet to race in the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix. As Formula 1’s original street circuit, Monaco continues to maintain its status as a bucket-list event. Red Bull have claimed victory for the last 3 years, and so rival teams will be hungrier than ever to knock them off the top of the podium. If you’re on a budget, you can still soak up the atmosphere on Friday practice from EUR €40 for an adult ticket. Tickets for Sunday’s race start at €140 for Rocher admission, grandstand tickets from €550, as well as plenty of hospitality terraces and yacht viewing starting from around €2,500 per person… well… it is Monaco after all.
For more information on these events, including ticket prices, click the links below:
- Inter Miami vs Orlando City (2 March 2024), Football
- The Players Championship (11-17 March 2024), Golf
- Cheltenham Festival (12-15 March 2024), Horse Racing
- MLB Opening Day: Los Angeles Dodgers vs St. Louis Cardinals (28 March), Baseball
- WrestleMania XL (6–7 April 2024), Wrestling
- Barcelona Open (13-21 April), Tennis
- Internazionali BNL d’Italia (6-19 May 2024), Tennis
- Monaco Grand Prix (23-26 May), Motorsports