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
May The Force Be With You
A new professional sport now has a home in the U.S., star-studded soccer playoffs and the family-friendly golf tourney with a $1M purse.
As curfews go into effect across the country, that means your masked conversation while dining outdoors should be interesting and thought-provoking. What better way to relate to everyone than where sports meets pop culture?
No need for a curfew if your bedtime is 10 pm,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLS (Major League Soccer)
Tonight’s Friday night lights bring us a different kind of football tonight with the start of the MLS playoffs in a COVID world. With a compressed schedule, MLS will do everything in their power to reschedule a game where one or both teams is suffering from a COVID outbreak but it could result in a forfeit of the game and therefore the team would exit the postseason (it’s a single-elimination tournament). The Sporting Kansas City and Philadelphia Union are both ranked No. 1 in their respective conferences but it’s anyone’s guess who will end up in the finals on December 12. Kevin Durant (Phil. Union) is one of the star-studded athletes and celebrities to have an ownership stake in an MLS team. SIDE HUSTLE
Overtime
Don’t get us wrong, we all wish COVID would go away but the wife of Detroit Lions (NFL - National Football League) quarterback Matt Stafford took to social media to share her displeasure with the rules in place. In Kelly Stafford’s Instagram life story she said “I'm over living in a dictatorship we call Michigan.” The rant comes days after Michigan implemented new rules including taking school and work virtual. She later apologized for the use of the word dictatorship and praised healthcare workers. RUBBED PEOPLE THE WRONG WAY
Sideline stat
There’s nothing like quality family time on the golf course but how about doing it for your share of $1M? Tiger Woods announced that he and his son Charlie, 11, will be battling it out against John Daly and 18 other legendary golfers (think Greg Norman, David Duval and Jim Furyk) and a member of their family in the PNC Championship on December 17. While the tourney is for fun and won’t go against anyone’s records there is a total purse of $1M on the line. FAMILY FUN
Coaches’ corner
Wednesday night was a big night for the Ball family. First, the youngest of the three basketball brothers, LaMelo Ball was the third selection in the NBA (National Basketball Association) Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. (Michael Jordan is an owner and chairman of the Hornets). And SPOILER ALERT older brother, Lonzo Ball who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans, was unveiled as the whatchamacallit on the “Masked Singer.” Like a man to man defense, actor Ken Jeong nailed it when he said it was Ball, who is also a rapper on the side. SO LITTLE TIME FOR THAT MUCH TALENT
Your Moment In The Sun
All the BBQ fodder including too many hot dogs, a new meaning to "long drive” and athletes’ sad meals inside the bubble.
Happy 244th Birthday America. Here’s everything you need for your holiday weekend small talk.
Sunscreen required,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
Saturday brings us fireworks, cocktails and binge eating. Well maybe not you but the participants in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest will be attempting to break the record of 74 hot dogs (and buns) in 10 minutes set by 12-time champion Joey “Jaws” Chestnut. In a move no one saw coming, yesterday it was announced that New Jersey, Colorado and New Hampshire have legalized betting on this competitive eating contest. The new indoor, air-conditioned environment is conducive to Chestnut beating his record but will he “chipmunk” or have a reverse of fortune? You can bet on it.
Want to be the hit of your BBQ, check out the five things you need to know about this Fourth of July tradition that might make you vomit. (Also, we explain chipmunking, etc. – don’t try this at home).
Overtime
The call for the Washington Redskins (NFL - National Football League) to change their team name, which has long been considered derogatory toward Native Americans, has been happening for as long as we can remember. Now the movement has more traction than ever with stadium naming rights sponsor FedEx and PepsiCo joining the long list of companies rallying for the team to change its name. Yesterday, Nike pulled all of its Redskins gear off its site. The team has also been in talks to relocate its stadium to a piece of federal land, which doesn’t look likely unless they change their name. IT’S A MATTER OF TIME
Sideline stat
Many Americans are hitting the road this holiday weekend because they felt flying commercial was a bit too risky. Due to COVID, the PGA Tour (Professional Golfers Association) has made private jets available for players to get from tournament to tournament, but then there’s golfer Viktor Hovland who is giving a new meaning to long drive. Fueled by as many as six Red Bulls and heavy metal music, Hovland has opted to drive between tournaments vs. fly – logging 3,000 miles over four different PGA Tour stops. PUT THE PEDDLE TO THE (HEAVY) METAL
Coaches’ corner
If they say a man’s stomach is the way to his heart, there’s about to be mutiny in Disney World. Ahead of the MLS is Back Tournament (Major League Soccer), the players’ have taken to social media to share their less than desirable and expensive meals from their Disney World bubble, comparing them to something from the Frye Festival. The NBA (National Basketball Association) will join MLS and finish their season on Disney World properties starting at the end of the month. YOUR KID’S CAFETERIA WANTS ITS FOOD BACK
What to watch
Drivers start your engines because F1 (Formula One) season begins on Sunday in picturesque Austria after the global sport was put on hold due to COVID. Team Mercedes, led by six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton - the only Black driver on the circuit - made a surprise announcement this week, announcing that it will debut an inclusive paint scheme. Also arriving this week ahead of the race, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, 89, welcomed his fourth child, Ace. WATCH FOR THE EUROPEAN SCENERY, STAY FOR THE RACING