Sports in the United States
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
A sports game in the USA is more than just a regular sporting experience; it is part of American culture. In the USA, there are leagues at the highest level in the world in several branches: basketball, baseball, football, and ice hockey.
Actually, the soccer league in the USA is at a relatively low level, and soccer is much less popular than other sports, unlike in Israel and Europe, so it is not recommended to visit a soccer match in the USA. On the other hand, for sports fans who want to see basketball at a different level, it is recommended to watch an NBA game in the USA.
Basketball League - NBA
The NBA league is played between the months of November and April, and the playoffs are held in May-June.
Those interested in watching a game should check in advance if there is a team in the league at one of the travel destinations, and if it is playing at home at that time. In the NBA there are 30 teams, from all over the United States and also one team from Canada (Toronto).
Among the most popular tourist destinations where you can watch NBA games are: Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, and Orlando.
Tickets for NBA games:
On the aforementioned website, you can also see the game schedule and buy tickets for the date you choose.
It is advisable to book tickets in advance to avoid a situation where you are left without a ticket or the price becomes more expensive. You can order tickets and collect them from the box office on the day of the game. Prices for games are relatively expensive; usually, tickets for the furthest seats cost 40 dollars and prices soar as the seats get better, up to hundreds of dollars for a ticket for seats right on the court.
In addition to basketball, other sports branches are popular in the USA that are less known in Israel:
Baseball League - Baseball - MLB
The baseball league is played from March to September, and in October the playoffs. The league is very long and games are played almost every day, sometimes even 2 games in cases of game postponements due to rain. In the regular league, there are 162 games for each team in a period of about half a year! Baseball can look like a boring sport to a television viewer who does not know the rules of the game, but even those who are not at all familiar with the rules can enjoy visiting a game. Experiencing the atmosphere at the game is a special experience, in giant stadiums with tens of thousands of seats, together with Americans who sing songs from American life, with children, women, and the elderly without any violence at all, unlike sports in Israel. The first time I was at a baseball game I didn't know the game, but I enjoyed it very much and since then I've gone to many more games and learned more about the game. There are also 30 teams in the baseball league, from all over the USA and Canada.
Tickets for MLB Baseball League games:
Here too, similar to the NBA, you can order tickets in advance, and you can also buy tickets at the box office on the day of the game. Usually, there is room because the stadiums are huge. The prices are also much cheaper than in the NBA and you can sometimes buy a ticket for just a few dollars for seats far from the field. Often the ticket price also includes a souvenir gift such as a hat or a towel with the team's logo.
Football League - Football - NFL
A sport that is a bit more recognized in Israel is the football league - NFL. Football is a relatively violent game and there are many injuries and every team has many players. The football league is relatively short, from September to the beginning of January, and the playoffs from mid-January to mid-February. There is only one game a week for each team, and a total of 17 games for each team in the regular league season. Football stadiums are giant stadiums, with tens of thousands of seats and sometimes with 100,000 seats or more. Tickets for games are more expensive than for baseball games, and their price starts from around 50 dollars and up.
Tickets for NFL Football League games:
Ice Hockey League - NHL
Another popular sport in the USA is ice hockey. The American hockey league is the best in the world and hockey stars from all over the world play in it, most of them from northern and cold countries like Scandinavia, Russia, Canada, and of course also players from the USA. The hockey season is from October to the end of May, and in June the playoffs.
Tickets for NHL Ice Hockey League games:
Soccer
Those who are still interested in seeing soccer in the USA can go to a game in the American soccer league, MLS. The league has only 10 teams, 5 from the East and 5 from the West. The league is played in the months of April to October, one round a week.
Game times and ticket ordering at the following site:
Tennis
Many prestigious tennis tournaments are also held in the USA, many of which are held in the winter months in warm Florida. The largest and most important tournament of all is held in the state of New York at the end of August. This is the US OPEN tournament held in Queens at "Flushing Meadows".
US Open Tickets:
Tickets for additional sports events at the following recommended links:
♦ Wrestling:
♦ Boxing - Premier Boxing Champions Tickets
♦ Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC:
♦ Car Racing:
To order tickets for Nascar races: