The USA's sporting events you don't want to miss

Australia is widely considered to be a nation of sports lovers. For enthusiasts, the USA is a gold-medal destination.

They struck me as a friendly bunch. Enjoying the dual pleasures of sundowners and música tropical, the group of orange-clad Texans were the last such gathering on my route towards the turnstiles of UFCU Disch–Falk Field in Austin, Texas.

Ticket in hand, I was about to experience American college baseball by way of the University of Texas Longhorns. A baseball tragic I may be, but I am also partial to a detour if there’s a cultural experience to be enjoyed. No sooner had I approached a trio of revellers to confirm whether they were, indeed, ‘tailgating’, I was offered a beer.

No sooner had I finished said beer, I was partaking – somewhat nervously – in a round of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky shots. It’s compulsory, I am told, at the conclusion of the national anthem. What is it they say about Texan hospitality?

Bevo, the Texas Longhorns mascot, keeping spirits high. (Credit: Hunter Long)

As I learnt outside the UFCU, this car park party takes place around the open tailgate in the stadium car park. It’s an inclusive space where die-hard fans happily mingle with bandwagon supporters. Guilty! The pre-game tailgating tradition means before there are winners, before there are losers, there is unified revelry as fans gather in an act of team loyalty and a celebration of community.

a country musician performing at the UFCU tailgating party — Live music forms part of the ‘tailgating’ party outside the UFCU stadium. (Credit: Hunter Long)

Meanwhile, looming large over my right shoulder is the famed arena, home to the Longhorns of the American football variety, where sellout crowds of 100,000-plus are standard and tailgating is super-sized. The venue is larger than any in Australia. In fact, by capacity (100,119), it is one of the biggest in the world. Let me remind you, this is ‘only’ college sport.

A level of sports fandom that rivals our own

a performance by The University of Texas Longhorn Band — The iconic Texas Longhorn Band. (Credit: Hunter Long)

College sport in America is a cultural phenomenon and a microcosm (if something this colossal can be given such a definition) of sport and sports fandom across the nation.

Some of the world’s most esteemed sporting events are held on American soil: the Super Bowl, World Series baseball, the Masters, the Kentucky Derby, the NBA Playoffs, the US Open (tennis and golf) among them.

While scoring a ticket to any of the above is a worthy feat, the pageantry and peculiarities to be found on the outskirts (literal and metaphorical) of such blue-ribbon events provide an incredible richness.

the Texas Longhorns mascot — And mascot. (Credit: Hunter Long)

Expect outrageous food offerings at every sporting event

Texas-style food offerings — Bold Texas flavours. (Credit: Hunter Long)

Once you find yourself in the arena, seduced by the colour, the volume, the unbridled passion, take a moment to appreciate the menu. Yep, you’ll find your hot dogs, Cracker Jack popcorn and pretzels, just like Hollywood suggests. But you’ll also find a veritable smorgasbord of game-day eats that will either whet the appetite or pique your curiosity. Oftentimes both.

Many venues demonstrate a loyalty to local names and flavours – think Rocky Mountain Oysters at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, which are not oysters but fried bull testicles; Giordano’s authentic deep-dish pizza found at Chicago’s Wrigley Field; Chesapeake crab cakes at Nationals Park in Washington, DC.

a night baseball game at Maimonides Park — Watch the Brooklyn Cyclones bat. (Credit: Jen Davis/NYC & Company)

At Daikin Park in Houston, home to the Houston Astros, I devour AstroNautchos, because I cannot go past a pun, but not before walking a lap of the venue to admire the selection. There are more than 50 permanent food and beverage locations here and another 60-plus portable concession stands.

Unfortunately, The Simpsons’ reference to the edible nacho sombrero (circa 1994) is a myth. A structural integrity issue, one suspects.

Even eating is a competitive sport in the USA

You might put competitive hot dog eating in the same category as a wide-brim hat made of corn chips, but you’d be wrong. Competitive hot dog eating – in fact, competitive eating of all types – is a very real thing in the United States and another, albeit left-of-centre, reason this is a destination to be devoured.

Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest is… well, the most famous. Held in New York on Independence Day (4 July), the event attracts around 40,000 spectators each year, not to mention the million-plus viewers that tune in on ESPN. It is hosted by the International Federation of Competitive Eating (yes, really), which oversees more than 50 Major League Eating events across the nation each year. Catch the Ultimate Bologna Showdown in Knoxville, Tennessee; the USA Chicken Wing Eating Championship in Buffalo, New York State; or the World Pancake Eating Championship in Williamsburg, Virginia.

While you’re in Michigan, why not check out the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League? In Indiana, the Fever eagerly awaits the return of injured Women’s National Basketball sensation Caitlin Clark – a once-in-a-generation talent you won’t want to miss.

When are you off to Texas? Because you’ve got to see the NCA All-Star National Cheerleading Championship in Dallas. Now you’re just a short drive from Fort Worth, where the world’s only year-round rodeo takes place every weekend. You’ve got to get a ticket. Yee-haw!

The sense of community is palpable

Texas Longhorns jacket — Join in the ‘tailgating’ at UFCU. (Credit: Hunter Long)

I did eventually take my purchased seat in the stands at UFCU Disch–Falk Field, but not until the seventh inning. The beauty of this particular tailgating experience was its position behind a wide-gap fence, with views of the game from deep, deep left field.

It turns out, the friendly faces I had approached earlier that evening go by the name Occupy Left Field.

crowds gather at UFCU — Where big crowds gather. (Credit: Hunter Long)

Not just tailgaters, these Texans have expanded their social gatherings to become a social enterprise, engaging in non-profit work as the Occupy Left Field Foundation which supports University of Texas baseball players through name, image and likeness opportunities.

They are all ticketholders – one was even the pitcher’s mum – but they’re happy on the periphery, contributing to the atmosphere, and their community. What good sports.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Four stadiums you simply can’t miss

Yankee Stadium

Batter up! Arguably the world’s most famous sports venue, thanks to the success of its star tenant (the New York Yankees) and its prevalence in pop culture.

AT&T Stadium

Home to the Dallas Cowboys (football) and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, AT&T boasts the world’s largest dome structure and video board (49 x 22 metres).

Madison Square Garden

Both the New York Knicks (basketball) and the New York Rangers (hockey) play home games at this famed Midtown Manhattan venue.

Fenway Park

The oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball, Boston’s Fenway Park is a testament to the USA’s ‘favourite pastime’.

Ticketing tips for first-timers

Source tickets to US sporting events through a trusted resale platform like StubHub. Never pay cash or buy tickets off social media, advises StubHub’s Joseph Bocanegra. Protect ticket security; don’t share barcodes on social media.

Save by buying during off-peak hours (prices peak immediately after tickets go on sale, as well as the couple of days leading into the event) and searching single tickets rather than groups.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

From tailgates to hot dog showdowns: inside America’s wild sports culture