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We all have places that we either fondly remember, or would come close to re-financing the house for, just to take in a sporting event.  I too, have my bucket list of places to visit to see feats of athletic endeavors.  I must admit that some I have already been to and been added to my penny jar (thus not really allowed in a bucket list), while others are places that I just want to experience through word of mouth or images that I have seen.  Please keep in mind that this is merely my opinion and not slights on those that you may talk to folks about at the water cooler.  Without further ado, we shall begin at ten, and count down:

10.  Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA- Baseball in the beautiful weather of Southern California while eating a Dodger Dog.  That in combination with seeing a beautiful stadium that is re-painted every year is worth the trip.  I have a habit of going to warm climates during the winter.  I am going to have to change that routine a bit in the coming years to hit the boys of summer in Dodger Blue.

9.  Soldier Field- Chicago, Illinois- Quick, what NFL team has the highest winning percentage of all time?  The Packers..Nope.  The Cowboys...NO.  Okay, it certainly has to be the Steelers then, right?  Wrong.  Of all of the NFL franchises, Da Bears actually have the highest winning percentage.  Growing up, I fondly remember the '85 Bears playing in the wind and cold of Soldier Field.  Those helmets lining up in those uniforms, with both teams' cold breath bellowing through facemasks.  I do not enjoy the cold weather, but I would endure it to be in that setting and watching the "Monsters of the Midway."

8.  The 'New" Yankee Stadium- The Bronx, NY- Don't scoff at me for turning my nose up at tradition.  I am still kicking myself for never making it to the original Yankee Stadium, but there is also something to behold of a shiny new ballpark.  Say what you will about the "Evil Empire," but with all of the money that gets flushed down the toilets in the Bronx, there is no doubt that this stadium is going to be immaculate and over the top.  I want to see it.

As I made this list, I found it hard to cut down to ten and I am sure that you can think of several omissions without blinking an eye.

7.  The LA Coliseum- Los Angeles, CA- Just any event will not do here.  I want to see the USC Trojans play a meaningful game amidst the smog.  Okay, so it’s not really the smog that I care about, it is the timeless tradition and athletes that has blown through this program and setting.  It pains me to say it being an Ohio State fan, but it is one of the few college football venues that may have it on us.  Oh yeah, have I mentioned that it is in Southern California?

6.  Wrigley Field- Chicago, IL- When I married my lovely wife, we tried to think of what we could get that was different for the Bridal Party gift.  We came up with the idea of taking everyone to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs and Reds play.  What I realized a couple of innings in is that a baseball game was going on.  Though it has changed a little in years past, it is really one big social event.  There is the traditional Old Style Beer, a classic stadium, a great city, and people watching the game on freakin' roofs for God's sake.

5.  Fenway Park- Boston, MA- The Green Monster, awkward seats that make you have to turn your head to see the action, and a baseball stadium that is so ugly, it is classic.  The bottom line here is that I have haven't been and I so desperately want to go to see one of the great old one's that are still left.  Memo to Yankee fans: Boston will probably not tear down their historic landmark anytime soon.

4.  Madison Square Garden, NY, NY- If you like basketball at all, this has to be on your list.  It is the Mecca of basketball and will always be as long as it stands.  Yes it is home to a recently pathetic Knicks franchise, but the building is much more than that.  The walls of this arena have seen countless college and professional championships, played host to more big-time tournaments than anywhere else, and has had many NBA Hall of Famers grace its presence.  NBA stars nearly pee their knickers when they play here because it is almost a Broadway show in the big lights itself.

3.  Augusta Country Club, Augusta, GA- Most specifically, the Masters Tournament.  There are many beautiful and history laden golf courses in this country, but they all pale in comparison to spring time at Augusta.  The flowers are in full bloom, the pine trees sway gently in the wind, and oh yeah, the play a pretty important golf tournament.  I have not made it yet, but I always look forward to annual right of spring:  A lazy afternoon on the couch with the first hint of spring in the air as the Masters plays out on TV.  I imagine the ambiance is better in person.

2.  Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC- Many venues on this list revolve a particular contest.  I will continue the trend here and give you one guess (but blindfolded).  If I am mentioning Cameron Indoor, it must be Duke vs. North Carolina.  I consider myself a lucky sports fan because I am a big Ohio State fan, but I also have roots in North Carolina and follow Tar Heel basketball closely as well.  I know it is sac religious to want to go to Cameron Indoor when I follow the lighter shade of blue, but I have already visited the Dean Dome, and want to experience my first Duke/UNC game at Cameron.  Many of the basketball chants started here, and any other basketball fan groups in other arenas are merely trying to copy what they see in this little arena in the Triangle area of North Carolina.  By the way, I hope everyone took note that UNC demolished Duke at Cameron on Wednesday night.

Drum roll please..........and my number one venue:

1.  The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA- So, I really need to get to the Los Angeles area apparently as this is the third venue from the LA area on my list, and I have yet to visit any of them.  College Football is king in this household, and the Rose Bowl is the "Granddaddy of them All."  In case you are not familiar, the Rose Bowl always starts in the bright sunshine, and ends shortly after sunset.  The ingredients listed in this little feast include the great ambiance and weather of Southern California to start the game, the sunset and resulting hues of light shading on the San Gabriel Mountains sometime in the fourth quarter, to a night time finish.  I hear that it is a setting like none other in College Football.  It has been sometime since Ohio State has had their silver helmets sparkle in the Southern California sunshine on January 1st, but when it happens again, I hope to have my family there.

Well, that should do it: Roll the credits.....As I made this list, I found it hard to cut down to ten and I am sure that you can think of several omissions without blinking an eye.  I have been to the Horseshoe a lot so I decided to keep it off of my top ten because I have been spoiled to the point of the ambiance wearing off.  I could have said Daytona, or the British Open, yah da yah da yah da, but that is the great thing about sports and travel:  There are a lot of great places and contests to see.  I could have even include the Michigan's infamous "Big House" on here, but that might be a list for next time.  In fact, coming soon: Top Ten Places to go potty at.

Tags: lists