Two years removed from the restrictions of Covid-19, there has never been a better time for sports fans to travel the world. Better still, BCW have once again compiled a list of the globe’s very best sporting destinations to help fans plan their next trip. From Manchester to Madrid, London to Los Angeles, here is BCW’s Ranking of Sports Cities 2023, with a sample of what to look out for in each:
10.
Budapest, Hungary
The Danube River snakes through the city of Budapest, a natural reminder that until 1873 the towns of Buda and Pest were separate entities, held apart by the winding waterway. Now they are one major European capital, and the annual Budapest Marathon takes runners back and forth across the river as if to emphasize this unification. The city’s biggest sporting event is held just northeast of the old towns, at the Hungaroring circuit. Almost 300,000 people flock to the village of Mogyoród each year for the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix (19–21 July 2024), a fixture on the championship calendar since 1986. Football fans also have plenty to enjoy here, with 3 separate clubs representing Budapest in the top flight of Hungarian football: Újpest FC, Ferencvárosi TC, and MTK Budapest FC.
9.
Lausanne, Switzerland
Lausanne is renowned for its natural beauty. Nestled on the shore of Lake Geneva, tucked between the Jura Mountains and the Alps, the Swiss city is a postcard designer’s dream – but Lausanne does not rest on its picturesque laurels. Home of the International Olympic Committee since 1915, the city has a longstanding status as a top sports destination. In 2024, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise will once again welcome the Diamond League for Athletissima (22 August 2024), an annual track and field meet featuring some of the sport’s most elite competitors. Lausanne also hosts the Tour de Romandie road cycling race, and the city is home to Swiss Super League football club FC Lausanne-Sport. Ice hockey is a popular pastime too, with Lausanne HC representing the region in the National League.
8.
Tokyo, Japan
The Japanese capital and bustling metropolis of Tokyo topped BCW’s Ranking of Sports Cities in 2022, and continues to host a diverse range of exciting events. The Tokyo Dome is generally at the centre of the action and will host all games in 2023’s Asia Professional Baseball Championship (16–19 November), as well as a number of matches in next year’s Premier12 baseball tournament (10–24 November 2024). Annual favorites like Tennis’s Japan Open (14–22 October 2023) and golf’s ZOZO Championship (16–22 October 2023) will return to the city this month, with horse racing’s prestigious Japan Cup (26 November 2023) galloping up swiftly behind. In true Tokyo style, the city balances these longstanding traditional tournaments with new age excitement, and will host the latest edition of esports Evo Japan (27–29 April 2024) early next year.
7.
Barcelona, Spain
Come for the Catalan sunshine – or the tapas, or the history, or the culture – stay for the sensational sport in Barcelona. FC Barcelona proved there’s life after Lionel Messi by winning La Liga’s title last season, and they’re battling to defend it this season at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys while renovations are carried out at Camp Nou. Tennis fans in Spain have been enjoying the Barcelona Open ATP 500 (13–21 April 2024) event since 1953 – making it the oldest tennis tournament in the country. If you prefer your sport with a bit more vroom vroom though, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host an exciting motorsport double-header in 2024, with the Catalan Motorcycle Grand Prix (24–26 May) and the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix (21–23 June) hitting the track.
6.
Madrid, Spain
There’s more than one Palacio Real to enjoy in the Spanish capital – if you’re a football fan and find yourself in Madrid, it’s hard to pass up the chance to witness Real Madrid run out at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu stadium in person. Unless you’re an Atletico Madrid fan, that is! If you like your football a bit further off the beaten path, Getafe and Rayo Vallecano are also in town, so there’s no shortage of options there. There’s still time to grab tickets for the Open de Espana golf event (12–15 October 2023) if you’d like to see 2-time major-winner and Ryder Cup star Jon Rahm attempt to win a 4th title in the competition. Likewise, Wimbledon and US Open winner Carlos Alcaraz will be bidding to win his 3rd title running at the ever-popular Madrid Open (22 April – 5 May 2024) tennis tournament.
5.
Manchester, UK
When it comes to sheer breadth of top-class sport on offer, few cities in the United Kingdom – let alone the world – can hold a candle to Manchester. If you’re a football fan, you’ve got the red half or the sky-blue half of the city to choose from, with Manchester United men and women battling for supremacy against Manchester City men and women. Cricket options include Lancashire CCC or The Hundred outfits Manchester Originals men and women, and there’s a wealth of rugby union and rugby league options in the area from the Sale Sharks to the Salford Red Devils. If ice hockey or netball are your jam, Manchester Storm and Manchester Thunder are ready to rock you like a hurricane. Speaking of tempestuous clashes, YouTube star KSI will soon take on local boy Tommy Fury at AO Arena in one of the year’s biggest boxing events (14 October 2023).
4.
New York, USA
Any sports fans hoping to take a bite out of “The Big Apple” will need quite the appetite, such is the range of teams, leagues, cups, and competitions which call New York City home. MLB’s Yankees and Mets, NBA’s Knicks and Nets, NHL’s Rangers and Islanders, NFL’s Jets and Giants, and MLS’s Red Bulls and City franchises all hail from New York. High-profile annual events include the New York City Marathon (5 November 2023), the world’s largest marathon by attendance, The Millrose Games (11 February 2024), a historic indoor athletics event, the Belmont Stakes Festival horse racing meeting (7–8 June 2024), and the US Open tennis Grand Slam (September 2024), hosted at the USTA National Tennis Center. With so much sporting action on offer, it’s no wonder the city never sleeps!
3.
London, UK
Sport is as much a part of London’s cultural identity as Big Ben, pie and mash, and the Underground, providing residents and tourists alike with no shortage of options when it comes to cheering on a local team or marvelling at an international sports star. Many football teams and rugby clubs call the British capital home, and annual events at The All England Club, Lord’s, The Oval, Twickenham, and Wembley attract thousands of spectators every year. London will also host many one-off events in the next 12 months, including NFL games (October 2023), Pool’s Mosconi Cup (6–9 December 2023), the Champions and Challenge Cup Finals (May 2024), and MLB’s London Series (8–9 June 2024).
2.
Los Angeles, USA
The city might be most famous for its film industry, but sport also plays a starring role in Los Angeles. Alongside New York, LA is one of only 2 American cities with more than one team in each of the USA’s top 5 professional sports leagues, meaning fans can catch MLB’s Dodgers or Angels, NFL’s Rams or Chargers, NBA’s Clippers or Lakers, NHL’s Kings or Ducks, and even MLS’s LA Galaxy or LA FC without ever leaving Greater Los Angeles. On LA evenings, historic indoor venues like the Kia Forum regularly host some of the world’s best boxing and wrestling events. When the California sun is shining, sports fans can be found walking the fairways of Riviera Country Club for tournaments like the Genesis Invitational (15–18 February 2024) or willing on a raceday winner at Santa Anita Park.
1.
Paris, France
A popular tourist destination boasting some of the world’s top cultural hotspots, Paris is now not only being recognised for its museums and fashion shows, but also for its stadiums and sports events. On the football pitch, European giants Paris Saint-Germain lead the way thanks to superstar players like Kylian Mbappe, while tennis fans flock annually to Roland-Garros (20 May – 9 June 2024) for the sport’s most famous clay court tournament. In 2024, the likes of Le Golf National, the unique Accor Arena, and the enormous Stade de France will play a key role as the city welcomes back the Summer Olympics (24 July – 11 August 2024) for the first time in 80 years. However, before that, the latter will prepare by hosting the biggest game in rugby – the Rugby World Cup Final (28 October 2023). With so much sport within the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, the City of Light deservedly lights the way atop BCW’s Ranking of Sports Cities in 2023!
For more information on these cities and the events they are hosting, click the links below: