The greatest. The best. The first. The most prestigious. The richest. The oldest. The biggest. The longest. The daddy. The daddy of the daddy (which is, of course, the GRAND DADDY). And finally the MOTHER of all Sports Bucket Lists.
The list is incomplete... more to come later! Feedback is appreciated, comments welcome.
http://www.ranker.com/list/the-bucket-list-of-u-s-sports-destinations/jimmy_reynolds_jr, sports, other,
AL: Rickwood Field - The Rickwood Classic
"The home of the Birmingham Barons from 1910-1987, Rickwood Field is America's oldest in-use ballpark. The Friends of Rickwood, a non-profit organization, have helped preserve the timeless relic and part of the proceeds from each year's Classic goes towards improvements and upkeep on the stadium.
The Rickwood Classic has annually been one of the most popular events for baseball fans both in Alabama and across the country."
* http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20080201&content_id=41116566&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t247&sid=t247
CA: Staples Center - Lakers/Clippers/Kings/Sparks
"STAPLES Center, has clearly established itself as the sports and entertainment center of the world. As the home of four professional sports franchises — the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL's 2012 Stanley Cup Champions Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks — STAPLES Center has proven to be a home court advantage for the local teams."
* http://www.staplescenter.com/about/about-staples-center
CO: Pikes Peak - Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
"The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region.
The race is run on a 12.42 mile course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of America’s Mountain; Pikes Peak! As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength. The thin air also robs engines of 30% of their power at the summit. Competitors and vehicles must be in top shape simply to finish…let alone win!"
* http://www.ppihc.com/info/
KS: Allen Fieldhouse - Kansas Jayhawks Basketball
"Named in honor the late Dr. F.C. "Phog" Allen, the Jayhawks' head coach for 39 years, Allen Fieldhouse is labeled by many as one of the best places in America to watch a college basketball game.
The Fieldhouse was dedicated on March 1, 1955, as the Jayhawks defeated Kansas State, 77-66, before an overflow throng of 17,228. Since the 1964-65 season, more than five million people have attended Kansas games at Allen Fieldhouse.
Noted sportswriter Mark Whicker of the Orange County Register calls Allen Fieldhouse "the best place in America to watch college basketball."
* http://www.kuathletics.com/facilities/kan-allen-fieldhouse.html
AZ: Cactus League, Phoenix Metro Area - MLB Spring Training
"Spring training baseball under the warm Arizona sun has been a tradition for devoted fans since 1947, when just two teams, the Cleveland Indians and the New York Giants, came here to prepare for the rigors of the long regular season. Today, 15 teams train in the Phoenix metropolitan area in the greatest concentration of professional baseball facilities found anywhere in the United States. For visitors, the Cactus League couldn't be more convenient, with short drive times between ballparks and a full range of hotel, dining and shopping amenities. Truly, the Cactus League is the premier destination for baseball lovers."
* http://www.cactusleague.com/
AK: The Iditarod Great Sled Race
"Sixty-six mushers, ITC staff & hundreds of volunteers work around the clock to bring the Iditarod to fans around the world. The complexity of dogs, people, planes, supplies and a endless details boggle the mind. So why do we do it?
We do it to because it’s important.
Because we love the dogs, the race, Alaska and this sport.
We do it because there is history and this is the Last Great Race On Earth."
* http://iditarod.com/why-we-do-it-behind-the-iditarod/
IL: Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs
"Wrigley Field, nicknamed the "Friendly Confines," is the second oldest ballpark in the major leagues and the oldest standing National League ballpark. It has been the home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916, and served as the longtime playing field for the Chicago Bears, a major league football team that first gained prominence in the 1920s."
* http://www.nps.gov/nhl/DOE_dedesignations/wrigley.htm
GA: Augusta National Golf Club - The Masters
FL: Daytona International Speedway - the Daytona 500
"It’s called “The Great American Race” but it’s the race the entire world bears witness to. Because no race has the guaranteed power to elevate careers and change lives, generation after generation, like the DAYTONA 500 does.
It doesn’t matter if it’s from the driver’s seat or a grandstand seat – being a part of the DAYTONA 500 is the thrill of a lifetime."
* http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Tickets-Events/Events/2013/Daytona-500/DAYTONA-500.aspx
CT: The Yale Bowl - Harvard vs Yale
"The Yale Bowl, home to the Yale football team, is the second oldest active college stadium in the country and one of four National Historic Landmarks on Yale's campus. Designed by Charles A. Ferry (Yale 1871), it has hosted hundreds of college football games over the years, as well as the 1995 Special Olympics, rock concerts, and—for two seasons—the New York Giants. The Bowl seats 61,446 spectators and has 30 entrance tunnels."
* http://www.buildings.yale.edu/property.aspx?id=21