Attention sports fans:
If you knew you had one more year left on this planet, what sporting events would you like to experience before you move on to the next world?
I recently had the opportunity to sit in the front row for a Chicago Blackhawks playoff game. I am a pretty big Blackhawks fan, although not living in Chicago and not having the financial means to attend a playoff game, I had never done so before this season.
Through the generosity of a business colleague I was given free tickets on the glass for a recent Chicago playoff game. The experience was nothing short of amazing. As someone who spends most of his time at sporting events in the upper deck, sitting mere inches from the ice was like sitting in a different world. Outside of the amazing sights and sounds one encounters sitting in row one at a hockey game, the playoff atmosphere in Chicago is surreal. From the singing of the National Anthem where the crowd roars in homage through the entire song to the historic organ played throughout the game, it is an experience any sports fan would enjoy.
Not to mention, my Blackhawks came back from down a goal in the third period to win with little over a minute left in regulation sending the sellout crowd streaming out of the United Center dancing to the unofficial team song ("Chelsea Dagger" by The Fratelis).
The entire experience is one I will remember the rest of my life. It got me thinking that this is something every sports fan should be able to enjoy. With that in mind, I have begun to think about all of the great sporting events I have attended in my life and those that I wish to attend in the future. Of course, there are many events that I may have heard of but have no idea why they are so special and there are surely many events I have never thought of that would be a dream for any sports fan to witness.
This is where I need help. I need to hear about experiences at various sporting events around the world and what makes them so great (i.e. seeing a game at Fenway, going to the Rose Bowl, etc.). I want to find out all of the little things that every sports fan should try in their lifetime (i.e. tailgaiting at an Ole Miss football game, a Primanti Brothers sandwich at PNC Park in Pittsburgh). My goal is to find the best of the best events and experiences - some may be obvious, some not so obivious - and compile a book for sports fans of all ages as sort of a reference or starting point of things to see and do in the world of sports before you "kick the bucket."
Please send me your best sports experiences and why they should make the list. If they make the cut, you and your story will be in the book. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to throw a little money your way once everything is published!
Thanks for reading!