5 Of America’s Best Cities (That Also Happen To Have Great Sports Teams)
Who isn't looking for a reason to get away?
Photo: Instagram/Nashvilletn - FirstBank Amphitheater
We’ve taken out the obvious choice for sports cities in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Chicago and given you a few new places to add to your must-see travel list.
*Books flights,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Denver
With over 300 days of sunshine, Denver is an obvious choice. Sure they have the Denver Broncos (NFL – National Football League), Denver Nuggets (NBA – National Basketball Association), Colorado Avalanche (NHL – National Hockey League) and Colorado Rockies (MLB – Major League Baseball) but did you know they have over 150 breweries in the metro area? You can take in a concert at the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre if you’re not into sports or venture into the mountains for some hiking, skiing or our favorite, après-ski. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
Seattle
If the Pike’s Place Market area, the original Starbucks or taking in the views from the top of the Space Needle isn’t enough to drive you to check out Seattle, how about a little sports action? Seattle is the home to the newest NHL team, the Seattle Kraken, that will begin their inaugural season this fall. If hockey isn’t your thing, they have the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Storm (WNBA - Women's National Basketball Association), Sounders (MLS – Major League Soccer), OL Reign (NWSL – National Women’s Soccer League) and the Mariners (MLB). The Mariners have the longest playoff drought in baseball, so maybe you can bring them some good luck (or at least enjoy the outdoors with a cold beer and some popcorn). HEY BATTER BATTER
Nashville
If Nashville is on your travel list, you’re not the only one. The music city ranks high on the list of most-desired domestic destinations in 2021. If you like football, food and music – you’re in luck. You can catch a Tennessee Titans (NFL) game and then wander over to the Country Music Hall of Fame or to Lower Broadway to take in some of the best live music you’ve ever heard. The city is booming, with over 22 new restaurants opening thus far in 2021, which will be great to grab a bite before a Nashville Predators (NHL) or Nashville SC (MLS) game. VOLUNTEER TO VISIT
Las Vegas
The newest blossoming sports city also happens to be the entertainment capital of the world. So if you’re not into catching a Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) or Aces (WNBA) game or checking out the Las Vegas Raiders (NFL) in their brand new stadium, there are plenty of options of things to do. While we all know the Las Vegas Strip is what keeps people coming back to Vegas, did you know that there’s excellent hiking at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and a world-class Mob Museum with a speakeasy in the basement? Oh, and they have 280 non-stop passenger flights scheduled to 152 destinations in nine countries, so it’s easy to get there. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Tampa Bay
While you may think of the beaches, Tampa Bay has cemented its status as an elite sports city over the past few years. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by Tom Brady, won the Super Bowl (NFL) in 2021. Not to be outdone, the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) won back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships. The Rays (MLB) were World Series runners-up in 2020, and the Toronto Raptors (NBA) called Tampa home during COVID because they were prohibited from traveling in and out of Canada. A PLACE TO CALL HOME
If I Can’t Have You
Who found their lobster, is there a new career on the horizon for a few senators and a Hall of Famer’s commercial that’s so bad you have to watch?
If we can’t get a Sunday reboot, might as well make this Monday worth it.
Let’s do this,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
The newest class of the MLB Hall of Fame was inducted this weekend. The New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera was the first player to receive an unanimous decision to be enshrined, but on his big weekend his awkward Toyota commercial is getting all the buzz. The wife of the late Roy Halladay, who died in a plane crash 2017 at age 40, delivered an emotional induction speech on behalf of the two-time Cy Young winner.
Elsewhere in baseball, Luke Voit of the New York Yankees took a 91-mph fastball to the face but stayed in the game. Later, he scored a run in his team’s rout of the Colorado Rockies. TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM
Overtime
Kevin Harvick won the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) race in New Hampshire and lucky him, as the winner he received a 22-lb. lobster. His young son promised to kiss the crustacean and was a man of his word. THAT’S A FIRST KISS HE WON’T FORGET
Sideline stat
Age ain’t nothing but a number to boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. On Saturday night, he beat Keith Thurman, who is 10 years his junior in a 12-round fight. A senator in his home country of the Philippines, Pacquiao not only took home a $10 million paycheck for his win but became the fifth oldest champion ever, regardless of weight class. FOR THAT PRICE, MAYBE SOME AMERICAN SENATORS WILL HOP INTO THE RING?
Coaches’ corner
The wind was howling and the weather was terrible at The Open in Ireland but the crowd was behind their countryman, Shane Lowry, as he claimed what some are calling the greatest Irish victory since the tournament began in 1860. NOTHING A LITTLE JAMESON CAN’T WARM UP
What to watch
The NFL (National Football League) season is around the corner with training camp starting this week. It’s essentially the spring training of football. Keep an eye on #1 draft pick, quarterback Kyler Murray in Arizona and wide receiver Antonio Brown at the Oakland Raiders camp. Brown is known for his outlandish arrivals at training camp. Last year it was a helicopter and previous years featured custom painted Rolls Royces.
Walk This Way
Don’t follow, lead the sports conversation right into the weekend.
Don’t follow, lead the sports conversation right into the weekend.
Channel that Friday feeling,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
Express yourself. It’s Players' Weekend this weekend and that means it’s a chance for the players to express themselves using their nicknames on the back of their specially designed jerseys, wear individualized custom cleats and hot glue thank you patches to someone who has impacted their career on their jerseys. (Okay we made up the hot glue part). Joey "Pico de" Gallo and Shane "Not Justin" Bieber are just two of the winners in the nickname department to look forward to this weekend. CREATE YOUR OWN MLB NICKNAME
Overtime
Oakland Raiders (NFL – National Football League) player Marshawn Lynch has long been obsessed with Skittles, eating them during games and even wearing custom Skittles cleats. This week, the candy company made Lynch the first athlete ever to be featured on a Skittles bag and subsequently shipped him a whole boatload of his special edition candy that he rolled around in gleefully. TASTE THE RAINBOW
Sideline stat
The prize money for the matchup between golfers Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods is set. The veteran golfers will play each other Thanksgiving weekend in Las Vegas for a cool $9 million. As expected, the two have begun trash talking on Twitter, which Mickelson recently joined. GRUMPY OLD MEN
Coaches’ corner
In a sweet story that we never want to see, 11-year-old Caleb Hammond has terminal cancer. The big NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) fan took to Twitter to ask for racing stickers so he can decorate his casket. Race car drivers everywhere, including a slew of NASCAR drivers, have stepped up, shipping him autographed items, stickers, and even taking him for a ride in a race car. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP
What to watch
This weekend is all about the Little League Baseball World Series. Saturday, the teams from Georgia and Hawaii will face off to determine the winner of the U.S. bracket. The winner of that game will play the winner of the international bracket (Japan or South Korea) on Sunday for the title of the best in the world. BREAK OUT THE CRACKER JACKS