Sports is not so much a hobby or pastime but a passion for people around the world, and this rings so true in the United States.
Millions of people all over the country will take part in amateur sports, children and adults, as well as tune in to all the biggest events across the country throughout the season in leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB.
While tuning in or streaming live matches, many people will be betting on the NFL playoff odds as well as all the other major events across the country this week.
Watching along on television is great for getting all the angles and the replays of all the biggest plays in the match, but nothing beats the experience of soaking in the atmosphere live in the stadium.
The United States is well-known for being the home of some of the most iconic sports stadiums in the world, hosting some of the most recognizable teams in their sports as well as being the home of some of the greatest events in sports history.
Madison Square Garden
No list of top sporting venues could ever be without Madison Square Garden. Located in the Big Apple, the Garden has seen some of the most iconic boxing fights in history, including “The Fight of the Century” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier back in 1971.
It is the home to the New York Knicks in the NBA, where they won the NBA Championship in 1970 and 1973; the NHL New York Rangers, who last won the Stanley Cup back in 1994 as well as the WNBA.
While being one of the most recognizable in the world, it is by no means the biggest, with just a 20,000 capacity, it ensures that the energy and excitement bellows around the arena whilst also ensuring every seat in the house has an incredible view.
The experience is unforgettable within one of the world’s greatest cities, it’s one to put on your bucket list, especially since its redevelopment in 2013, which ensures it will remain a key venue for sports in America for generations to come.
Staples Center (Crypto.com Arena)
While the East Coast has Madison Square Garden in New York, The West Coast has the Staples Center in Los Angeles. From coast to coast, there are iconic venues for sports events in incredible cities.
Its name change, to Crypto.com Arena, in 2021 is still hard for many to get their heads around, but that hasn’t changed the experience you’ll have there.
The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers both call the venue home, with the Lakers having arguably one of the greatest players to play the game, LeBron James taking to the court this season.
The Lakers have seen some incredible athletes play for them over the years, and the Staples Center was the place where Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in 2006 over the Toronto Raptors.
Fenway Park
Back over to the East Coast and into Massachusetts, where you’ll find history galore at Fenway Park. Having been opened in 1912, this stadium has seen it all as the home to the Boston Red Sox for over 100 years. It is so historic that in 2012 Fenway Park was added to the US National Register of Historic Places.
Seat 21 in row 37, section 42, surrounded by green seats, has been painted red, this is because it saw the Longest Fenway Park Home Run land there in 1946, hit by Ted Williams 502 feet from home plate.
Fenway Park even once hosted an NHL match in 2010 on New Year’s Day called the Winter Classic which featured the Boston Bruins against the Philadelphia Flyers in an extraordinary event.
Lambeau Field
Another historic venue in America is the home of the Green Bay Packers. It is the oldest continually operating stadium in the NFL and one that offers an incredible experience for anyone who can get a ticket.
Yes, it will be hard, with such a devoted following of “Cheeseheads” attending every game, but the sound and the passion in the frozen conditions going into the playoffs are something you cannot miss.
They are far from favorites in the NFL playoff odds but it’s renowned for being a tough place to go for visiting teams due to the atmosphere.
The stadium is almost partly frozen in time to give you a glimpse into the history of the NFL while enjoying the modern game in front of your eyes.
US Bank Stadium
For the ultra-modern enthusiasts, a trip to Minneapolis to see the Minnesota Vikings provides you with a stadium which will blow you away, even if the Vikings themselves aren’t doing so on the field as often as they’d like.
It opened in 2016 and saw 4.64 million visitors in its first three years and was voted the best venue in the NFL by The Athletic in 2023.
The stadium may not have historic events just yet, it hosted its first Super Bowl in 2018 which saw the Philadelphia Eagles win their first Super Bowl over the New England Patroits.