When sport becomes much, much more…

Photo/Getty Images.

Kiwis believe we know a lot about sporting passion – but you don’t see it until you experience the full energy and dynamism of a major event in the US.

Winston Aldworth will happily admit he’s had not one, but two dream jobs. First as a travel editor and now as sports director for NZME, he hit the jackpot – he got paid to travel all over the world while pursuing two great passions.

“When you travel and have the opportunity to see sports fans abroad at the games they love, you see people actually playing,” he says.

And one destination stands out. “Americans do major events better than anyone else in the world, and a day at the ballpark or an evening on the sidelines is a wonderful glimpse into their world.” Plunge into a sport you don’t understand and ask people around You around what’s going on.

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“I met a great local family at a Rangers baseball game in Texas. The son explained to me the dramas and characters of the team. There was great craft beer, great food, and the gentle rhythm of a baseball stadium at dusk. Good times with people playing.”

Photo/Visit the USA.

US sports used to be little known or followed outside of the 50 states. The rest of the world was more happy with soccer than American football, cricket instead of baseball, Formula 1 instead of IndyCars or Nascar.

In just a few years that has changed. If you walk down any main street from Levin to London you will see basketball singlets and baseball caps. Walk into any sports bar from Rotorua to Reykjavik and the big screens will be tuned to the action at Soldier Field or Fenway Park. The February 2023 Superbowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles was shown in 200 territories worldwide.

While New Zealand sports fans may think they know a thing or two about devotion to their favorite teams, those who have experienced US sports’ unique combination of competition, entertainment and the fan experience on home turf know it is other level acts.

“It’s so much more than just going to a game,” says Emile Palmer, a long-time professional sports coach and personal trainer from Auckland who has played and watched dozens of codes around the world.

One of his fondest sporting memories is a New York Jets NFL game at their stadium in New Jersey. “Everyone wears their colors, they crowd out the bars and restaurants around the stadium, there’s the pregame entertainment and the halftime show, the hot dogs and beer in the stadium. And the fans all have a lot of fun together.”

The Razzamatazz is deeply rooted in American sports culture, far beyond the major franchises in major cities. For a traveler to the US, the best way to experience it is at college sporting events in smaller centers.

Americans are emotionally attached to college sports and their passion is unmatched. Whether it’s a Friday evening or a Saturday afternoon, they flock to huge stadiums that often hold 100,000 fans, bellowing their fight songs and war chants, beefing up their marching bands and cheering groups, practicing their hand signals, cheered on by team mascots on the stadium’s sidelines. Sometimes there is a football or baseball game.

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One of the great traditions is tailgating, which has nothing to do with hitting the ground. It is a pre- and post-game party, usually in the stadium parking lot, where barbecue, beer and more food and drinks are served in the backs of pickup trucks and trunks of limousines. Above all, it is a place where camaraderie takes precedence over competition.

Another pleasant surprise for visiting sports fans: the quality of most U.S. stadiums. They are bigger; they are newer; They are cleaner than we are used to and were designed specifically for the fan. Expect great views, huge screens with instant replays and referees explaining their decisions, as well as expert commentary on every play.

Photo/Visit the USA.

Most have a wide range of family restaurants, bars and takeaways. Many venues have concierges who will bring your choice to your seat. The food offering goes far beyond the fabled hot dogs and sodas.

An evening at the Denver Nuggets arena offers much more than just Nikola Jokić and the NBA championship team. Their state-of-the-art stadium in the heart of the Mile-High City is a testament to the team’s importance and Denver’s love for the sport. With comfortable seating, exceptional sightlines and top-notch acoustics, it heightens the thrill of watching live basketball.

There are fan engagement activities around the stadium before every game; Halftime shows are legendary for high-energy performances from dance troupes to acrobatic acts; You can eat hot dogs – or gourmet options.

As U.S. sports have spread around the world, global competitions are now claiming a place among the stars and stripes.

Take the entertainment capital of the world and combine it with the greatest show on earth and you have the Las Vegas GP November 16-18 on a high-speed route on and around the Strip. On a Saturday evening, cars race past the city’s landmarks at speeds of up to 210 mph (340 km/h), backlit by Sin City’s neon skyline. 170,000 petrolheads are expected for the weekend.

On the other side of the country, soccer fans travel to Miami, where the local club has signed a minor Argentine player who is reportedly pretty good.

And you can get tickets to see him, which was almost impossible in Barcelona. Only in America…