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
Batter Up! Why This World Series Is More Interesting Than Most
Diamond jewelry, a few firsts and free tacos.
The World Series starts tonight and let’s be honest with the amount of COVID outbreaks in a shortened 60-game season, we weren’t sure we’d ever get here but we made it.
Now sit back, relax and enjoy,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. The Tampa Bay Rays are the underdogs in this series but not by much as both teams were the best in their league coming into the playoffs. Interestingly enough the Rays entered into the postseason with the third lowest payroll in the league. The cost of the prorated salaries for their entire team is $28.3 million, while the prorated salaries for only four of the Dodgers’ biggest players are $32.3 million total. WORTH IT?
2. The Rays are just one of five teams in the league to never win the World Series and the franchise itself has only been to the World Series one other time in 2008. Even though the Dodgers are playing in their third World Series in four years, they haven’t won it all since 1988. OVERDUE
3. There will be around 11,000 fans at the games. The Dodgers had fans during the League Championship Series in Rangers Stadium in Arlington, TX (home to the World Series) but this will be the first time the Rays have played in front of fans for the entire season. (They played their postseason games in Southern California, not Texas). BUT WILL THEY DO THE WAVE?
4. Los Angeles and Tampa Bay have been hotbeds for COVID-era championships with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA (National Basketball Association) Championship and the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the NHL (National Hockey League) Championship. This is the first time we’ve seen this happen with the two league champions battling it out for a World Series title. FIGHTING OVER THE KEYS TO THE CITY
5. While the teams are playing for the coveted World Series ring, that’s not the jewelry that will be stirring up the conversation in the broadcast booth. The trend of players wearing big chains as part of their unis is something that has social media and the broadcast buzzing. Keep an eye on the blinged out Mookie Betts (Dodgers) and Randy Arozarena (Rays) sporting this fashion trend. (If you want to see why diamonds on the diamond are a bad idea, check out this video of Yoenis Céspedes’ chain break while he was sliding into second that became a scavenger hunt for gems on the infield). HARDBALL HEIST
Honorable mention - The “steal a base, get a taco” promotion is back. If a player successfully steals a base during the series, fans across the country will get a free taco from Taco Bell. And in last night’s Game One, Mookie Betts made that a reality with a stolen base. Finally, something we can all agree on. FREE FOOD
Friday Night Lights
The Rock is back, who’s taking a voyage to India and uniforms fit for a superhero.
Be the bright spot this Friday by enlightening your friends with the always exciting world of sports.
Shine bright like a diamond,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION)
The Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers are in Mumbai, India for the first ever NBA game in that country. The teams will play two preseason games in the city as part of the league’s continued efforts to take the NBA global. The league also hosted youth clinics, including one hosted by WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) legend Ebony Hoffman for girls. Expect to see more than 3,000 children at the game as part of the Reliance Junior NBA school program. SLAM DUNK
OVERTIME
WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) makes its “SmackDown” debut on FOX tonight and they’re bringing out the big guns. Former football player and wrestler turned actor, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson will re-enter the ring for the first time in six years. CAN YOU SMELL WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKING? A GIANT PAYDAY
SIDELINE STAT
The Tampa Bay Rays (MLB - Major League Baseball) landed a spot in the playoffs with the lowest payroll in the league. The players’ salaries slide in at $60 million in a league where the highest payroll is $200 million. The team is an underdog for so many other reasons besides payroll. They have a terrible stadium, the worst attendance in the league and yet still they thrive. They’ll play the Houston Astros in the first round of the playoffs this afternoon. THRIFTY AND THRIVING
COACHES' CORNER
A college football game to watch this weekend is Georgia Tech as they take on North Carolina. Saturday is “Cape Day” for Georgia Tech, a special day where the football team will wear uniforms that pay tribute to the brave children who battle illnesses every day at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The tradition has been around since 2014 and fans are encouraged to wear capes to celebrate the superhero patients at the hospital. IT’S A BIRD, A PLANE
What to watch
We’re in the midst of the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) finals and the series between the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun is tied 1-1. (Series is best of five). Keep an eye on the Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas in game three on Sunday. The all-star is so dedicated to her team and determined to win the overall title that she’s playing with a torn labrum in each shoulder. DEDICATED DAME