When travelling to a new place, many of us are keen to embrace as many aspects of the chosen destination as possible in order to enjoy the very best experience. This may include attending a theatre show in London’s West End, surfing on Australia’s Gold Coast or taking in a sporting fixture in the U.S.
Along with dining on local fare, it’s a great way to immerse yourself in any given culture and have a glimpse of what it’s like to be a local in that country, even if just for a short time. One of the greatest things about a visit to the U.S is there is an abundance of sporting fixtures and events to attend at any given time, you don’t have to be the biggest fan either as the electric atmosphere will be enough to afford you an enjoyable experience to remember.
So, if you’re planning a vacation when things have settled and travel is more widely available, then why not incorporate a little of America’s most popular sport into your trip?
American Football is undoubtedly the more prominent sport, being the most watched live show each year since 2011 and garnering the most participants in any sport at both college and high school level. The culmination of the league sees over 100 million people from the country tune in to see who will lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the Super Bowl Sunday – the biggest annual sporting event.
With 32 teams in the league spread across the expanse of the country it could be difficult to know where to start, so we’ve taken a look at some of the NFL futures to give us a little insight on where might be a good bet for some top-notch action.
The season is due to start up again in September, so if you love to combine travel with sport then try one of these great cities to take in a game across the season and also explore the impressive things each place has to offer.
Kansas City
The Kansas City Chiefs are being tipped to raise the trophy in the coming season with current odds at 6.5 to 1. If you fancy combining a game at Arrowhead Stadium with a trip to the biggest city in Missouri, then you won’t be disappointed. Known for its jazz heritage, housing the American Jazz Museum, the city also boasts many fountains, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and is also big on its barbecue. The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection is the place to stay and for the best barbecue food try Q-39 Midtown.
Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens come in closely behind with odds at 7 to 1 and if you like to be near the water, you’ll love Marlyland’s harbour-side city. As well as being the birthplace of the country’s national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, Baltimore boasts some crab shacks worth heading to in order to sample the state’s most noted food and the National Aquarium to spot some of the thousands of marine creatures that reside there.
San Francisco
Head over to the West Coast and to one of California’s most noted cities to view the San Francisco 49ers in action. Take in the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz tour, Fisherman’s Wharf, hop on a cable car to beat the hills and soak up the culture in this popular city. With odds of 9 to 1 you could very well be seeing the future Super Bowl winners in action!
New Orleans
A city that is not to be missed, New Orleans is famed for its live music, vibrant nightlife and fantastic cuisine, blending African, French and American cultures. The ‘Big Easy’ sits on the Mississippi River and offers a range of ways to soak up the spirit of the city, whether you are more moved by music, art, history or all three. A visit to a New Orleans Saints game will be a great way to join in with fans and soak up some more of that Louisiana atmosphere.
Tampa Bay
Sitting on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the natural harbour of Tampa Bay encompasses a number of cities including Tampa, Clearwater and St Petersburg and is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lifted the trophy in the 2002 season. Combining a visit to the Raymond James Stadium to take in some sporting action alongside plenty of beach trips and visits to the major theme parks will make for a varied and exciting trip. The Godfrey Hotel and Cabanas offers a chic play to reside and there are a great selection of restaurants to indulge in that serve up great seafood, Cuban delights, Asian cuisine and more.
Please gamble responsibly (18+ UK) – check age restrictions before participating
