Why Are Stadiums The Best Tourist Attractions?
The global sports tourism industry is worth around the $600 billion mark every year. Included in those figures are match tickets to games, along with the associated revenue that they bring such as merchandise, travel costs and accommodation.
Sports fans also love to visit a stadium when it’s not in use. It may seem strange to others to see throngs of tourists heading to an empty venue, but stadium tours are big business.
Theaters of Dreams
Those visitors may have different reasons for visiting a sports venue. Most of the bigger locations will offer tours, and they will often become part of a tourist’s itinerary.
It’s easy to imagine the atmosphere when you walk around the facility. Some tours will even let you step out onto the field of play, and that’s something you couldn’t possibly do when there’s a game on.
Trophy cabinets, press rooms, locker rooms and other memorabilia add to the appeal. Once again, all of these factors are off-limits on match days, so these stadium tours will actually provide access to areas that you wouldn’t otherwise see.
Some examples of top venues around the world will underline just why stadiums are the best tourist attractions.
The SoFi Stadium
Situated in Inglewood, California, the SoFi Stadium is considered by many to be the best sporting venue of all. It’s home to both of Los Angeles’ NFL teams, so throughout the regular season, there’s a busy schedule involving either the Chargers or the Rams. Historically, both have been strong teams, and likely to receive attention in the NFL odds markets.
Opened in 2020, the stadium has won a number of industry awards, and the architecture is stunning. Tours of the venue are widely available outside of match days, and the organizers aim to give visitors a true behind-the-scenes experience.
Stadium tourists can get into the locker rooms and they can even imagine the atmosphere of waiting in the player tunnel. There are plenty of photo opportunities and it may even be possible to take some shots while you’re holding a trophy.
SoFi Stadium may be considered as the top sporting venue in the world, but the tour it provides is typical of what you might expect from others.
Camp Nou: Barcelona
Most major soccer stadiums offer tours, but the experience at Camp Nou is widely considered to be the best. Barcelona is a historic Spanish side with a huge global fanbase and no visit to the city would be complete without a trip to Camp Nou.
The official tour of the stadium takes fans into the very heart of Barcelona FC. There are opportunities to visit locker rooms, press rooms and unlike certain other soccer clubs, there will be plenty of trophies to admire.
One key advantage over similar tours is that the Barcelona experience takes visitors down to pitch level. There’s even the option to sit in the dugout and imagine what it’s like for players eagerly waiting to get onto the famous pitch.
Madison Square Garden: New York
Many arenas are famous for hosting multiple sports, but few can boast as many tenants as Madison Square Garden. The venue has hosted some of the most memorable boxing bouts in history, and it’s now home to top NBA and NHL entertainment.
The MSG is known for being the most Instagrammed sports venue in the world, and the official tour will focus on all the key moments in its history.
Lambeau Field: Green Bay
While its great to see modern stadiums, it’s nice to tour a location with a little more history. Lambeau Field is home to the Green Bay Packers, and it’s the ground with the longest running association with the NFL.
The tour of Lambeau Field focuses on that proud history, and while there have been some modern upgrades, this is a fine old venue.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: London
The primary tenants at this North London venue are English Premier League soccer side Tottenham Hotspur. Their impressive stadium has, however, gained global attention as a main overseas venue for regular season NFL games.
Like many other tours, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium trip takes you behind the scenes, and lets you experience a game from an athlete’s point of view. Meanwhile, the highlight for many visitors is the Skywalk. For the more intrepid traveler, this add-on provides a birds-eye look at the ground, while also offering some spectacular views across the whole of London and beyond.
Each stadium tour offers something different, but each will tend to follow a pattern. The organizers know that their visitors want to get as close as possible to the players and to experience what it must be like to be a professional athlete.
Each of the tours on this list underlines why they are great tourist attractions. If you’re traveling specifically as a sports tourist, they should all be on your bucket list. As a general traveler, each venue would provide an entertaining addition to your itinerary.