Sports Event Bucket List

[rmackman]

The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live

Here are the full list of top 100 sporting events you must see live, as listed by Robert Tuchman in his book "The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live: An Insider's Guide to Creating the Sports Experience of a Lifetime". I put the major events I've been to below in blue. I've also crossed off stuff on the list that I have been to. What major events have you attended? (Please don't put some random regular season baseball game...that doesn't count).

1. The Masters

2. FIFA World Cup

3. Super Bowl

4. Summer Olympics

5. Army vs. Navy Football Game

6. New York City Marathon

7. Baseball World Series

8. Winter Olympics

9. Red Sox vs. Yankees at Yankee Stadium

10. UNC vs. Duke Basketball Game at Cameron Indoor Stadium

11. Wimbledon

12. Stanley Cup Finals

13. Tour de France

14. Cubs Game at Wrigley

15. BCS National Championship Game

16. Liverpool vs. Manchester United at Old Trafford

17. Michigan vs. Ohio State at The Big House

18. NFL Conference Championships

19. Daytona 500

20. Final Four – NCAA Men’s Basketball

21. Ryder Cup

22. Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend

23. Harvard vs. Yale at Yale

24. Kentucky Derby

25. UEFA Champions League

26. Rose Bowl

27. British Open

28. Horse Racing at Saratoga

29. Late Season Green Bay Packers Game at Lambeau Field

30. Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs in Toronto

31. Indy 500

32. Professional Bull Riders World Finals

33. Dubai World Cup

34. Hong Kong Sevens

35. Monaco Grand Prix

36. Running of the Bulls

37. Rugby World Cup

38. Red River Shootout

39. Notre Dame Football Game

40. MLB All-Star Game

41. Iron Bowl at Alabama

42. Epsom Derby

43. Calgary Stampede

44. Koshien Baseball Tournament

45. Special Olympics

46. Soccer Game at Macarana Stadium in Rio

47. Texas Football Friday Night Lights in Odessa

48. U.S. Open Tennis Tournament

49. UCS vs. UCLA Basketball Game at Pauley Pavilion

50. Le Mans 24

51. Ironman World Championship

52. Iowa vs. Iowa State Wrestling Meet at Iowa

53. Golden Gloves at Madison Square Garden

54. French Open

55. Baseball Game at Fenway Park

56. Belmont Stakes

57. Kangaroos Australian Football Game

58. Heavyweight Title Fight at Madison Square Garden

59. All Blacks Rugby Game

60. ACC Basketball Tournament

61. Caribbean World Series

62. FA Cup

63. Indiana High School Basketball Tournament Finals

64. U.S. Open Golf Tournament

65. Midnight Madness at University of Kentucky

66. Preakness Stakes

67. NFL Draft

68. National Finals Rodeo

69. Basketball Game at Phog Allen Fieldhouse

70. Basketball Game at Madison Square Garden

71. Prefontaine Classic

72. MLB Opening Day in Cincinnati

73. Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

74. Iditarod

75. Little 500

76. Basketball Game at Rucker Park, Harlem, NY

77. Boston Marathon

78. Cowboys Monday Night Football Game in Dallas

79. Head of Charles Regatta

80. Florida vs. Georgia Football Game

81. Lady Vols Basketball Game

82. NBA All-Star Game

83. Pipeline Surfing

84. Australian Open Tennis Tournament

85. Baseball Game at Rickwood Field in Alabama

86. Harlem Globetrotters Performance

87. Spring Training Game at Tigertown

88. Backyard Brawl in Morgantown

89. London Marathon

90. Penn Relays

91. President’s Cup

92. World Junior Hockey Championship

93. Westminster Dog Show

94. NFL Hall of Fame Induction

95. NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship

96. College Baseball World Series

97. Beanpot Hockey Tournament

98. Bayou Classic

99. Little League World Series

100. UFC Title Fight

Honorable Mentions

• Frozen Four

• World Figure Skating Championships

• X Games

• Cheerleading Nationals

• Gym Dogs

• Japan Series

What I Have Completed

1. Spring Training Baseball
   
2. 1996 & 2002 Orange Bowls
   
3. 1996 Stanley Cup Finals
   
4. 1996 Lipton Players Championship
   
5. 1997 & 2003 World Series
   
6. 2000 Ericsson Open
   
7. 2000 NCAA Final Four
   
8. 2003 NHL All-Star Game
   
9. 2004 Outback Bowl
   
10. 2005 Nasdaq 100 Open
    
11. 2006 NBA Finals
    
12. 2007 WGC CA Championship at Doral
    
13. 2008 SEC Championship
    
14. 2007 NFC Championship Game
    
15. 2008 BCS National Championship
    
16. 2010 Pro Bowl
    
17. Several MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL playoff games
    
18. Several Florida-Georgia Football Classics
    

[infrared41]

I want to renovate an arena by blowing it up and starting over. Does that count?

[RAIDERNATION]

Does seeing a World Series team in the same year they won the W.S count? (Philadelphia Philles - 2008.)

[loogodude90]

I haven't been to any of those, nor do I plan to/want to.

EDIT: Never mind, I've been to the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament. But that's the only one.

[infrared41]

Does seeing a World Series team in the same year they won the W.S count? (Philadelphia Philles - 2008.)

No. Not even close.

[RAIDERNATION]

Does seeing a World Series team in the same year they won the W.S count? (Philadelphia Philles - 2008.)

No. Not even close.

Aww. Still counts to me!

[GriffinM6]

Mine is to see all of my favorite teams play atleast once in my life.

[CubsFanBudMan]

The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live

Here are the full list ... (Please don't put some random regular season baseball game...that doesn't count.

9. Red Sox vs. Yankees at Yankee Stadium

14. Cubs Game at Wrigley

55. Baseball Game at Fenway Park

72. MLB Opening Day in Cincinnati

Looks like it depends on when and where you see that regular season baseball game.

Don't care much for "some random" author telling me what I must see before I die, and there is no way I'd waste my time on some of these events. (And some I've done.) To each his own. I completed my own baseball "bucket list" last year, and I've come up with a few less ambitious ones for the NBA, NFL and college football.

Of course, I'd settle for this one before I die: See a World Series game in Wrigley Field.

[MDC]

#14: See a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. CHECK!

Almost done!

[RyanMcD29]

LOL at the ACC Tournament coming it at 60 on that list and the Big East Tournament isn't. Hell, UNC and Duke rarely even play each other in that anymore

As for me, on the list of 100 I only got basketball at MSG. I might be seeing the Harlem Globetrotters next week, though. You can add in going to the 2010 Pinstripe Bowl, the NCAA basketball record crowd for Syracuse-Villanova last year (plus Syracuse-Georgetown, of course), and the first event at New Meadowlands Stadium, I guess, but other than that I haven't been to many marquee events. The NCAA Lacrosse Championship would've been crossed off if the NCAA ever wised up and put one at the Meadowlands, but I guess giving Johns Hopkins home field advantage every year in Baltimore's more important than having the Long Island and New Jersey hotbeds right there. I'm gonna try to do the Belmont Stakes one of these summers. Also, once I'm out of college I'm definitely going to go to the US Open in Flushing

[dfwabel]

The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live

Here are the full list ... (Please don't put some random regular season baseball game...that doesn't count.

9. Red Sox vs. Yankees at Yankee Stadium

14. Cubs Game at Wrigley

55. Baseball Game at Fenway Park

72. MLB Opening Day in Cincinnati

Looks like it depends on when and where you see that regular season baseball game.

Don't care much for "some random" author telling me what I must see before I die, and there is no way I'd waste my time on some of these events. (And some I've done.) To each his own. I completed my own baseball "bucket list" last year, and I've come up with a few less ambitious ones for the NBA, NFL and college football.

Of course, I'd settle for this one before I die: See a World Series game in Wrigley Field.

But part of such a list is for you ($$$/time willing) to make a sacrifice to do it. Family and work can come in the way, but personally we all have "want to" sporting events.

However, his list has some repeats and is very ethnocentric to US events. It also does not help him that is profession is that of a Manhattan-based company that organizes VIP group packages for corporate clients to major sports events.

6/77/89: These are events (marathons) you want to train to participate in...not just go and watch as a destination.

32/68: Both Rodeos in Las Vegas; pick one not both.

46: Maracana is being rebuilt on the same site (think Soldier Field), so does it "count" if you go after it is rebuilt?

47: Only there for his love of the book or movie. They are not the team they once were.

53/58: The Golden Gloves are not even held in the arena anymore; they are held on "The Theatre". The last HWT title fight of consequence in the Garden was in 1999 (Lewis/Holyfield 1).

63: After the 1997 season, it is no longer an Open tournament, thus it loses the aura as it has four divisions now.

73/86/93: All are bits. If they are on, then WrestleMania should have been for the show business factor.

91: The Presidents Cup is a made for TV event. Then again look at this guy's company and recognize that golf is a major player. The should have taken it off and jut put in the PGA Championship or even the Women's US Open as they are the two most hotly contested majors on each circuit. The PGA is consistent with drama/playoffs.

No Milan or Roma Derby, no "El Clasico", no Moto GP race, no Grand National Steeplechase, no Talladega. He does get some credit to have The Masters as #1, but it is the toughest ticket in US sports to get.

From his list, I have the following off: 2,3,4,9,15,17,18,19,20,26,31,38,39,40,45,49,78,80,86 and two Hon. Mention in Frozen Four and ISU Worlds.

[crashcarson15]

Here's what I've done...

14. Cubs Game at Wrigley

20. Final Four ? NCAA Men?s Basketball

31. Indy 500

39. Notre Dame Football Game

48. U.S. Open Tennis Tournament

55. Baseball Game at Fenway Park

63. Indiana High School Basketball Tournament Finals

86. Harlem Globetrotters Performance

And the honorable mention of two Frozen Fours. Guess I've got a lot of catching up to do!

[LocalVulture]

Major sporting events I have attended:

-1989 World Series (Game 4): A's beat Giants 9-6 to sweep series

-1994 World Cup (Group Play): Brazil beats Russia 2-0 at Stanford Stadium

-1994 World Cup (Group Play): Brazil beats Cameroon 3-0 at Stanford Stadium

-1994 World Cup (Round of 16): Brazil beats USA 1-0 at Stanford Stadium

-1997 NFC Divisional Playoffs: 49ers beat Vikings 38-22

-2000 AFC Championship Game: Raiders lose to Ravens 16-3

-2001 AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Raiders beat Jets 38-24

-2002 NHL Western Conference Semifinals (Game 6): Avalanche beat Sharks 2-1 (OT)

-2002 World Series (Game 3): Angels beat Giants 10-4

-2002 AFC Championship Game: Raiders beat Titans 41-24

-2004 NHL Western Conference Finals (Game 2): Flames beat Sharks 4-1

-2006 NL Division Series (Game 2): Padres lose to Cardinals 2-0

-2007 AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Chargers beat Titans 17-6

Note: I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area most of my life but moved to the San Diego area in 2005

[Mings]

Well I suck.

Indy 500 and IHSAA Finals back when it was a one class system. Also World Cup if being in Germany during this past WC counts, as it was pretty nuts. Outdoor viewing areas everywhere. I also went to the 1994 NBA Eastern Conference finals Pacers vs Knicks during the Miller/Ewing feud.

Oh, and Wrestlemania 8 bitches.

[dfwabel]

Well I suck.

Indy 500 and IHSAA Finals back when it was a one class system. Also World Cup if being in Germany during this past WC counts, as it was pretty nuts. Outdoor viewing areas everywhere. I also went to the 1994 NBA Eastern Conference finals Pacers vs Knicks during the Miller/Ewing feud.

Oh, and Wrestlemania 8 bitches.

Do not question what you did. I question the list since the guy is in business to make the list happen to those who pay him. That list is also very NYC-centric. It is all for his company.

Two of his top ten are NYC based:

#22 is in NY State

#23 is at Yale

#40 was just in Yankee Stadium and could still be at CitiField

#48 is always at the USTA Tennis Center

#53 and 56 are NYC "events"

After #71 he has a lot of gimmick and spare events.

Le Tour de France is so doped up that how does it really have a piece now. One can just visit the French Alps.

[Alphabet Man]

Have been to:

4. Summer Olympics

57. Kangaroos Australian Football Game (not sure what this refers to, the North Melbourne AFL team or the Kangaroos national Rugby League team. If its the North Melbourne FC then its nothing special)

84. Australian Open Tennis Tournament (someone gave me a ground pass once)

Want to do/see:

6. New York City Marathon (as an athlete)

13. Tour de France

16. Liverpool vs. Manchester United at Old Trafford

51. Ironman World Championship (as an athlete, or some other Ironman)

71. Prefontaine Classic (will never get a start)

77. Boston Marathon (as an athlete)

89. London Marathon (as an athlete)

90. Penn Relays (will never get a start)

Pretty crap list really.

[Camden Crazy]

86. Harlem Globetrotters Performance

Wow...I need to get to work.

[scooter13]

12. Stanley Cup Finals

17. Michigan vs. Ohio State at The Big House

Two down, 98 to go! Though there is only about a dozen or so that I would want to attend at the most.

[Shumway]

The only one on the list I've done is the Harlem Globetrotters game. However, I've gone to the Frozen Four (2010) and saw a Backyard Brawl (in Pittsburgh, not WV).

A lot of the things on this list I really have no desire to see.

[rmackman]

Well, why don't we create our own CCSLC Top 100 Sports Bucket List? We can nominate events, and then order them after.

I would nominate:

Super Bowl

Stanley Cup Finals

NBA Finals

World Series

Opening Day Baseball Game

NCAA Final Four

BCS National Championship

NCAA Frozen Four

College World Series at Omaha

FIFA World Cup Soccer Game

UEFA Champions League Game

Winter Olympics

Summer Olympics

Game at Wrigley Field

Game at Lambeau Field

Game at Fenway Park

Basketball, Boxing, or Hockey at Madison Square Garden

Title Bout in Las Vegas

Kentucky Derby

Rose Bowl

Orange Bowl

Sugar Bowl

Fiesta Bowl

ALCS or NLCS

AFC/NFC Championship

Any Hall of Fame Induction