Anyone who has visited the U.S., or even watched a Hollywood movie, will know just how much the Americans love their sports, and from baseball to American football and basketball to ice hockey, there are many ways to get involved in the exciting events taking place on the field, court, pitch and the like.
Stadiums and arenas are regularly seen full to the brim with locals and visitors alike gearing up for an afternoon or evening of pure thrills and action from big name sports stars and it seems that there’s always something going on if you happen to be visiting and fancy taking in a game on your travels.
If, however, you’re more the type of traveller who seeks out the best games and tournaments to take in and builds your holiday around this, then you’re not alone as sports tourism has become hugely popular in recent years with almost 180 million people reported to have travelled to the U.S. for a sports event to either spectate or take part in during 2019 alone. With travel restrictions being lifted all the time, it looks like those figures will get a lot healthier once again, with the big teams from California to New York and Illinois to Texas likely to be wowing international crowds again in full swing very soon.
With so much sporting action to take in across the vast country, it can be tricky to know where to start, unless you’re a die-hard fan and you know exactly who you want to see live that is, and it’s for this reason that we got the lowdown from SBO, the online betting hub that knows exactly what it’s talking about when it comes to filtering through the noise and finding the best options for your sporting and betting needs. Here are their top picks for the best sporting states to visit in the U.S.
California
We’ll start with one of the most prominent states when it comes to sports in the U.S. and that’s California, the place where there is a plethora of professional sports teams that have places in North America’s ‘big four’ sports leagues. San Francisco and Los Angeles are great places to visit for sports fans as whatever you’re a fan of, there’ll be a game for you. The LA Lakers, Dodgers, Clippers, Rams, The San Francisco Giants, 49ers, the Golden State Warriors and more, whatever your sport, you’re sure to be enthralled.
New York
It won’t come as a surprise to learn that New York is a place where plenty of sporting action takes place, as the likes of the New York Giants, Mets, Yankees, Knicks, Rangers and more are based here. Of course, the Big Apple is host to much of the excitement, which is perfect as the city provides so much more in addition to a game or two. From shopping to historical sites and world renowned cultural hot spots, it’s impossible to be bored here.
Illinois
This midwestern state is, of course, home to the Windy City and it’s in Chicago that you’ll find some of the country’s biggest sports teams ready to impress any keen spectator. There are few who haven’t heard of famed baseball team the Chicago Cubs, while the Chicago Bulls are revered for their excellent run in the nineties where Michael Jordan and co snapped up six NBA championships. The Bears are the team to see for American football fans, while the Blackhawks will thrill on the ice, no doubt for those looking to catch an NHL team in action.
Texas
Take in a bit of the famous southern charm while you travel around this expansive state and enjoy a range of sights and activities, fantastic food and, of course, some top sports too. Big teams like the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys who play at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium and the Houston Texans; baseball’s Texas Rangers and Houston Astros; the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs are just of the teams ready and waiting to wow.
Indiana
It would be remiss to draw up a list of sporting states and not include Indiana as basketball, baseball, football and motorsport fans are well catered to in this state that shines with its love for basketball. Considering it’s the 38th largest state, it has managed to produce the fifth-highest number of professional basketball stars per capita. Fans will love to see the pacers in action as well as women’s NBA team Indiana Fever, while the Indianapolis Colts represent the state in the NFL. Motorsport fans will be headed to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to take in a race, such as the famed Indianapolis 500 (Indy 500) or the NASCAR Cup Series.
