The Champs Are Here Historic New England
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPORT_43.qxp_Layout 1 11/20/19 7:00 PM Page 43 2020NEWENGLANDGUIDE The Champs Are Here New England’s Winning Sports Events Historic New England Museums and Attractions to Explore Site InSpections of Event-Ready 8Destinations SPG A Premier Travel Media publication www.SportsPlanningGuide.com SPORT_44.qxp_Layout 1 11/20/19 6:58 PM Page 44 NNE We’d like to welcome you to the world of New England sports and to our uniquely beautiful corner of America. With deep roots in America and longstanding patriotic traditions, New England stages and supports thousands of sporting events each year. Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine all welcome you to venues large and small, indoor and outdoor. With 6,100 miles of coastline and hundreds of lakes, ponds and rivers, our natural wonderland is home to many of the world’s leading rowing and sailing competitions. Take for instance Boston’s Riverside Boat Club, which celebrated its 150th anniversary this year with its annual Cromwell Cup Regatta, the largest summer regatta held on the Charles River. Or Newport, Rhode Island, which hosts sailing events all summer long and celebrated the 35th Annual Newport Regatta this past July. Let’s not forget the world’s most famous outdoor running event, the Boston Marathon, which takes place each year on the streets of Boston, passing numerous historical landmarks along the way including the Old North Church and Freedom Trail. Throughout New England, facilities like the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford and Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence host thousands of basketball, gymnastics, dance, cheer and volleyball teams throughout the year in addition to hundreds of other sports and events. Hockey is the top dog of New England sports and is played on over 200 rinks throughout the region, including the incredible New England Sports Center in Marlborough, which boasts eight hockey rinks under one roof. Plus, with all that ice, we get a lot of love from the figure skating community as well. No matter what time of year you play, New England has facilities and people ready and willing to make your event a success. Call any of our destinations and discover that no matter where your event is in New England, you’re only a short drive from picturesque mountains, miles of seashore, excellent cuisine and rich historical landmarks that have endured since our country was founded. Sincerely, Your New England Sports Destinations 2 Sports Planning Guide @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG 2020 SPG INTROS.qxp_Layout 1 11/22/19 1:23 PM Page 39 he East Coast of the United States is the most populated of our country’s regions. It is also the locale of numerous sports-friendly communities that cater to all types of events. TNot only do these destinations feature impressive sports facilities, they have an abundance of amenities and attractions off the field that will keep the entire family entertained. With experienced staff members offering the dedication and expertise to make your tournament prosper, these destinations are ready to host you. 4 BEST IN SHOW NEW ENGLAND 10 REVOLUTIONARY ROAD 6 Mohegan Sun, CT 7 Connecticut Convention Center, CT 8 Rhode Island 12 Central Massachusetts, MA 13 Greater Merrimack Valley, MA 14 MetroWest, MA 16 Western Massachusetts, MA SI 18 North Central Massachusetts, MA Sports Planning Guide 3 SPORT_46-47, 52-53.qxp_Layout 1 11/20/19 7:12 PM Page 46 BEST IN SHOW New England has a full slate of can’t-miss sporting events and attractions coming in 2020 2020 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE t’s no secret that the New England area has wielded an elite hold WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT over the sporting landscape for much of the 21st century. The Boston IRed Sox, New England Patriots and University of Connecticut Annually held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, Women’s basketball program have all dominated their relative sports in the American Athletic Conference sees 12 teams vie for an automatic recent times, while the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics are two of the bid into the 2020 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament. most iconic teams represented within the NHL and NBA, respectively. With the competition at the Mohegan Sun taking place from March 6-9, The oldest professional ballpark and indoor ice hockey rink call the fans are usually treated to the University of Connecticut’s dominant New England area home. women’s basketball program putting on a show in their home state. With so many accolades awarded throughout the years, naturally the The tournament will be televised on the ESPN family of networks. area has become a hotbed for tournament action and sporting events, with BOSTON MARATHON tournament and sports planners drawn to the fantastic facilities the region has to offer. While 2020 could very likely see even more title games held Located southwest of Boston, the town of Hopkinton claims the in New England, here are nine great events, attractions and spectacles starting line for the Boston Marathon, which has been held annually on that definitely should be on your radar this year when visiting the area. Patriots’ Day since its inception in 1897. The starting point for this historic run is gorgeously framed thanks to the scenic beauty found throughout the town. Check out the Garden of Hope, explore the town’s shops and Boston Marathon find the best spot to witness the iconic start of the race, which will be held on Monday, April 20, in 2020. Then head over to catch the finish on Boylston Street in Boston’s spectacular Copley Square. CONNECTICUT GOLF SHOW Golf fans will be sure to flock to Hartford's Connecticut Convention Center for three days in March when the Connecticut Golf Show comes to town from March 20-22. A ticket to the show will ensure a free round of golf and access to more than 110 exhibitors from the local, regional and national golf industry, including golf club manufacturers, product inventors, golf courses, private clubs, destination resorts and more. Enjoy family-friendly contests and tests of skill, like the long drive, putting, chipping and closest-to-the-pin games, all the while getting a first look at the newest clubs, attending instructional seminars and enjoying free lessons. 4 Sports Planning Guide @SportsPlanGuide #SportsPG SPORT_46-47, 52-53.qxp_Layout 1 11/20/19 7:12 PM Page 47 HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS SPECIAL OLYMPICS MASSACHUSETTS WINTER GAMES The Original Harlem Globetrotters will return to the XL Center in Held by Special Olympics Massachusetts each March in Central Hartford, Connecticut on February 15, and then continue on to the Massachusetts and the Greater Worchester Area, the Winter Games are Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell on February a multi-weekend set of season-ending state tournaments. Competition 19 as part of the high-flying squad’s Pushing the Limits World Tour. will begin with a Juniors Basketball Tournament on March 1, 2020, for Experience these electrifying athletes in person and get as close to the ages 8-15 and will conclude with an alpine skiing competition held on action as possible with the Magic Pass, which lets fans learn tricks, March 14-15. The Games will also feature action in floor hockey and shoot hoops and take pictures directly on the court before the game. ten pin bowling, with play spread across three age groups: juniors, The crowd will also be treated to the gravity-defying feats of the Flying seniors (ages 16-21) and masters (ages 22-plus). Globies trampoline dunk team during breaks in game action. SPRINGFIELD SPORTSMEN’S SHOW NEW ENGLAND SALTWATER FISHING SHOW As the undisputed king of pure sportsman shows in the Northeast, The largest saltwater fishing show in the Northeast returns to the the Springfield Sportmen’s Show will take place February 21-23, 2020 Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence from March 27-29, at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. 2020. Event participants can register to win a free fishing charter trip The 37th annual edition of this prestigious event features the best from with B.J. Silvia through Flippin’ Out Charters, while the show features the realms of sports fishing, hunting, boating and adventure recreation. two free non-stop seminars with field experts throughout each of the Get hunting and fishing tips from the pros, including big game hunter three days, who’ll be on hand to present topics like lure-making, fluke and TV star Dick Scorzafava, author of Bowhunter, Radical Bear Hunter fishing tactics, how to fish from a kayak, the best spots to fish on Cape and Spies in the Deer Woods. Join the “Carp King” David Pickering or Cod and more. Stock up for the season with the latest innovations and top bass pro Sheron Brown. The show will provide hunting and fishing bring the family along, where kids will love learning at the Kids Casting seminars and plenty of opportunities to scoop the latest and greatest Area, available for the final two days of the show. gear for your next adventure. ROWING AT LAKE QUINSIGAMOND U.S. SYNCHRONIZED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS Worcester, Massachusetts’ Lake Quinsigamond is home to some of The national champions of the United States will be determined at the finest collegiate rowing events in the nation. The lake will play host to the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, held at the Dunkin’ both the New England Rowing Championships and the National Invitational Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island from February 26-29, 2020. Rowing Championships in early May 2020. Held annually since 1961, the Teams who qualify for the competition compete at one of eight levels New England Rowing Championships offer 14 events for men and women between juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior, senior, collegiate, adult from qualifying colleges throughout the entirety of New England’s six states.