The 50 Coolest Shrines in Sports
If you are anything like me, and I am guessing you are since you are reading this, chances are you have been keeping a mental list of sports-related places you'd like to see.
Further chances are you are not quite as obsessive as me or stuck with as much time on your hands, so I'm going to share my list with you.
The following are the greatest sports sites in the world. These are the places you may like to visit or just learn about, and they have all been made famous in one way or another by sports.
No. 50: Franklin Field (Philadelphia, PA)
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Franklin Field is the current home for Penn Athletics, which—let's face it—is not all that notable. Opened in 1895, it does have history on its side, though. Penn Field is the oldest operating football stadium in America and was the site of the first scoreboard.
Among other things, Franklin Field has been the home for the Penn Relays, the largest track and field meet in America, for over 100 years. It was also home to the Philadelphia Eagles for 12 years, and the 1960 NFL championship game was played there.
No. 49: TPC Sawgrass (Point Vedra Beach, FL)
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Ah, the island green—it is one of golf's signature holes. It also happens to be on of the most gorgeous courses around.
It is the headquarters for the PGA Tour and the annual host for the Player's Championship.
No. 48: Boston Marathon Course (Boston, MA)
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My eyes get tired just trying to see the whole line on the map.
The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest running marathon and the most famous. At some point, I want to see the course from start to finish as the runners see it. Well, except maybe I'll be taking in the sights from behind a windshield...
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No. 47: Cowboys Stadium (Arlington TX)
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Cowboys Stadium certainly doesn't have any history on its side (unless you count one season of crappy football), but it has got the spectacle on its side.
This stadium is big enough to house an airport, small countries and Louie Anderson. It has a TV so big that it almost seems silly to actually watch the game on the field, which in turn makes it seem silly to be paying to go to a game.
No. 46: Los Angeles Coliseum
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The L.A. Coliseum is the only stadium in the world to host the Olympic games twice (1932, 1984). The '84 Olympics are of a particular historical note, because with Russia passing and Germany still split, America collected some serious hardware.
Some other notable coliseum facts:
- First home of the L.A. Dodgers
- Home field for the USC Trojans football team
- Site of JFK's 1960 Democratic Convention speech (not sports, but awesome)
- Evel Knievel jumped 50 stacked cars
No. 45: Caesars Palace (Las Vegas, NV)
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Caesars Palace has been home to some of the most memorable matches in boxing history. In the 1980s, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Haggler, Thomas "The Hit-Man" Hearns and Roberto Duran all took turns fighting each other there.
Caesars was also the home for some memorable stunts. Evel Knievel tried unsuccessfully to kill himself there.
There are plenty of other reasons a trip to Caesars is cool, but if I have to tell you about them, you probably wouldn't care.
No. 44: Arthur Ashe Stadium (Queens, NY)
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Arthur Ashe Stadium is the home for the court that determines the U.S. Open Champion. It is by far the largest tennis only venue on the planet.
The stadium also holds the unique distinction of being the first venue for an outdoor professional basketball game.
No. 43: Hinkle Field House, Field of Dreams and Durham Stadium
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These three landmarks are the holy trinity for any sports movie junkie like me. That would be the home of the championship game from Hoosiers, the field from Field of Dreams and the stadium for the Durham Bulls from Bull Durham.
If you want to go to the Field of Dreams, you better hurry—the place is for sale. I guess the owners figure they built it and everybody already came.
No. 42: San Siro Stadium (Milan, Italy)
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This stadium has been the home for A.C. Milan since it opened in 1926. It also serves as the home for F.C. Internazionale Milano and the Italian National team. It was the main stadium for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
The stadium has undergone numerous renovations throughout its history, and it now stands as a marvel of modern engineering.
No. 41: Ted Williams Museum (St. Petersburg, FL)
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Housed in the Tampa Bay Rays' Tropicana Field (I know, I thought it was weird, too), the Ted Williams Museum is about more than Ted Williams. Hence the added "Hitters Hall of Fame" onto the name.
It didn't need to be. Williams is one of the coolest men to ever walk the planet, and any museum dedicated to him is a must-see in my book.
No. 40: Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory (Louisville, KY)
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Come on, it's worth the trip just to see Babe Ruth's bat leaning against the side of the building.
Okay, that isn't actually Ruth's bat, but they have some of his inside and other historical pieces of lumber and cool baseball stuff. It's also the factory so you get to watch the most famous bat makers in the world at work.
No. 39: Pauley Pavillion (Los Angeles, California)
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Any place the John Wooden called home is worth checking out. The Bruins won every game played there under Coach Wooden by 150 points. That's not quite correct, but it was their home court for all but two of their championships.
Besides the basketball greatness, Pauley was where Mary Lou Retton became a household name in the 1984 Olympics. This is about sports, so I won't mention that musical icons like Bob Marley and Frank Sinatra played concerts there.
No. 38: Herb Brooks Arena (Lake Placid, New York)
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Do you believe in miracles? Well, you'd have to in order to believe that a hockey game is one of America's most cherished sports memories.
Along with the 1980 Olympics, this arena was also the home for hockey and figure skating in the 1932 games.
No. 37: Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum
14 of 50I didn't know this museum existed. I just thought it would be cool to see where the original sports superstar was born. Apparently, I am not alone in this thought, because there is already a museum on location.
Babe Ruth is not that special—there's a big building that admits people where I was born, too. It's called a hospital.
No. 36: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, KS)
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Allen Fieldhouse isn't the birthplace of basketball, but it is as close as you are going to get. The Building that hosted Dr. James Naismith's inaugural game of hoops is no longer standing.
Instead, we have the Fieldhouse, which is the home to the James Naismith Court. The Jayhawks have managed to create their own history while playing their, but it is the connection to the origins that makes this place special.
No. 35: Watkins Glen (Watkins Glen, NY)
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The Glen is the most famous and storied road track in America. It was the longtime home for the United States Grand Prix.
It is the only site that has hosted both a Formula One and NASCAR races. It has seen more racing legends on its pavement than any other track in America.
No. 34: The Hall of Fames You Don't Know About
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This one is dedicated to the lesser known Hall of Fames. The ones for sports like boxing, tennis, swimming, bowling and pinball (yeah, I just called that a sport).
Name a sport and it probably has a Hall of Fame. Each one is going to house at least one thing or tidbit of info that makes it worth visiting.
No. 33: Anfield Stadium (Liverpool, England)
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All this talk of history has the English blowing tea through their noses.
Anfield Stadium is one of the oldest operating stadiums. It began hosting soccer matches in 1884. It has been the home to Liverpool F.C. since its creation in 1892.
Fans entering Anfield are greeted by the above pictured statue of coaching great, Bill Shankly.
No. 32: Rucker Park (Harlem, NY)
19 of 50Rucker Park may be the most famous playground in the world. This is the court that is famous for helping people learn the skills that went on to make them famous.
It would take up too much time and enrage my carpal tunnel to list all the players who balled at Rucker before they hit the big-time. Here are just some of the names: Lew Alcindor, Wilt Chamberlain, Dr. J, Vince Carter, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Tyreke Evans.
No. 31: Nike of Samothrace (Paris, France)
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The new Nike Samothrace's are sweet! Oh wait, it's not a shoe. This beautiful sculpture is also called "Winged Victory."
While it is believed it was originally created to commemorate a naval victory around 250 B.C., it has since been used and associated with many sporting events around the world. There is a bronze cast of the original in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, but I want to see the real deal at the Louvre.
No. 30: Montreal Forum (Montreal, Canada)
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Sporting News dubbed the Montreal Forum "the most storied building in hockey history." Most of the history came via the Montreal Canadiens.
In 1972, the Forum also hosted Game 1 of the famous Summit Series between Canada and the USSR.
No. 29: Michael Jordan Statue (Chicago, IL)
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It's a statue of "His Airness." What else needs to be said. Except this: You know you've done something right when there is a statue of you and you get to see it.
No. 28: Staples Center Statues (Los Angeles, CA)
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One statue is not enough for the Staples Center. Besides, Magic has to have someone to pass to.
Along with the above-pictured Magic Johnson statue, Staples has statues of Wayne Gretzky, Oscar De La Hoya and Chick Hearn. They are also unveiling a Jerry West statue later this year.
No. 27: Pebble Beach Golf Links (Pebble Beach, CA)
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Pebble Beach has hosted the U.S. Open five times. The Champs of Pebble Beach Opens include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite and Tiger Woods.
It is easily one of the most beautiful courses in the world and it is open to the public. Well, as long as you make your tee times a year ahead and have a wad of cash to spend on a golf round.
No. 26: Monaco Grand Prix Course (Monaco)
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The Monaco Grand Prix has been held since 1929. It is the highlight of the Formula One racing season.
The track may feature the most gorgeous layout in racing. The streets are alive with sporting history and anyone can drive on it. You think they have a lot of cops waiting for speeders?
No. 25: Soldier Field (Chicago IL)
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Da Bears! Soldier Field occupies ground so sacred, they don't move when they build a new stadium. They put it right where the old one was.
No. 24: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI)
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Lambeau Field screams football more than the word football. Stepping into the stadium is like taking a cycle or two of steroids.
No. 23: Iditarod Course (Alaska)
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I hear you can see Russia from the Iditarod course? I don't recommend touring the course its entirity. It covers approximately the entire state of Alaska.
I'd love to go just to get a taste of the conditions of this crazy Iron Dog race.
No. 22: Banzai Pipeline (Oahu, HI)
29 of 50We need to warm up from our last slide. This is probably the most famous and one of the more dangerous surfing spots around, and what's more cool than that? Plus any excuse to go to Hawaii is a good one.
No. 21: Augusta National (Augusta, GA)
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Just looking at this picture is an exercise in relaxation. I can hear the soothing CBS music of The Masters, birds chirping and I can smell the azaleas, which are in full bloom.
Augusta is the home of some of golf's greatest moments. This may be the hardest place to see on the list. I wanted to make a tee time there the other day, but the number wasn't listed. Maybe I can do it online.
No. 20: Olympic Stadium (Berlin, Germany)
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The stadium has hosted its fair share of soccer matches over the years, but that is not what makes this place brimming over with cool.
This stadium is a must see, because this is where Jesse Owens kicked the crap out of the German Track and Field athletes while Hitler fumed on.
No. 19: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
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Did you know that Wrigley Field is just big enough to hold a full-sized football field?
Wrigley Field or the Haunted House is the home of the Cubs and one of baseballs last great old-time stadiums. Every inch of that place oozes with history.
No. 18: The Palestra (Philadelphia, PA)
33 of 50The Palestra's nicknames are "The Cathedral of College Basketball" and "The Birthplace of College Basketball." Both are pretty cool.
Basketball's popularity may have outgrown the Palestra, but it saw some of its finest moments inside its walls.
No. 17: Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
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If the Madison Square Garden was in any other city it'd just be a square garden, and that's not all that cool. As it is, it is the longest continually operating sporting arena in the city.
The Garden contains most of the Knicks' and Rangers' history, and it's played a role in countless movies, TV shows and music.
No. 16: Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, Florida)
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Daytona—it's where NASCAR legends and overnight sensations are made. It is easily one of the most famous racing ovals in the world. It is the home for NASCAR's most prestigious race, the Daytona 500.
No. 15: Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, IN)
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Anything Knute Rockne helped design is probably an OK place for sports fans. Notre Dame Stadium has been the home field for the Fighting Irish since 1930.
Like some of our other sporting venues, this one has a monument outside, too: Touchdown Jesus.
No. 14: The Negro Leagues Baseball Musuem (Kansas City, MO)
37 of 50The Negro Leagues may be the single most interesting aspect of professional baseball. This museum contains all the artifacts that should probably be in the Hall of Fame.
Instead they have their own museum, and that is pretty damn cool.
No. 13: Chuchhill Downs (Louisville, KY)
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This place is so cool that when Mint Juleps go to a bar, they order a Churchill Downs (insert rim shot and laugh track here).
Since 1875, The Downs has been home to the Kentucky Derby and the very high and very low society. Any place that prompts women to wear hats as big as the room I am sitting in has something going for it.
No. 12: Tour De France (France and Friends)
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Any man-powered race course that would take me roughly four days of serious driving to complete is two things: absolutely insane and absolutely awesome.
How cool would it be to DRIVE this course and see what these athletes are able to do? Plus, you get a tour of the entire continent of Europe in the process.
No. 11: The Running of the Bulls (Pamplona, Spain)
40 of 50When I try to organize events, after seven days of partying, like The Running of the Bulls with my friends, people—usually the cops—use words like "dumb," "stupid" and "illegal."
In Spain it's a great tradition. I guess that is the value of having done something since the 14th Century. This seven-day festival and activity finds Pamplona as one of the great shrines in sports.
No. 10: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (London, England)
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When this club was founded in 1868, it was primarily the croquet part of the club—hence all the grass. It has since shifted its priorities to tennis.
The club has been the only home the prestigious Wimbledon Tournament has ever known, and it is arguably the nicest tennis facility in existence. This club also takes great pride in preserving its history and has memorabilia and statues throughout its grounds.
No. 9: Old Trafford Stadium (Greater Manchester, England)
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Old Trafford has been the home of Manchester United since 1910. Well, they did have to take an eight-year break when it was bombed in WWII, but that's understandable.
It is known as the Theatre of Dreams for a good reason as it is the home to some of soccer's greatest moments. Arriving fans are greeted by a statue of Sir Matt Busby.
No. 8: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Indiana)
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The Brickyard has been operating since 1909, and in that span it gave birth to one of the world's most famous races and has documented the history of open-wheeled racing.
No. 7: Rose Bowl (Pasedena, CA)
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The "Granddaddy" of all stadiums. Take a look at the resume:
The Rose Bowl has hosted the Rose Bowl every year (duh) and consequently the BCS championship game every four years, the home to the Super Bowl five times and Olympic events in '32 and '84. It is also one of only two stadiums to have hosted the men's and women's FIFA World Cup.
No. 6: Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
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Fenway is the oldest operating MLB park. It houses a monster more famous than the Loch Ness.
Along with all the Red Sox history, Fenway has hosted football and hockey games, figure skating, concerts and more. Fenway has been in countless movies and mentioned in all areas of pop culture.
No. 5: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York)
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Now is the part of my list where I lose every Red Sox fan. Yankee Stadium was recently rebuilt, which loses some of the magic.
They did everything they could to preserve their link to history, however, as Monument Park moved with it. Sorry, Sox fans—you just can't compete with that.
No. 4: The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (Fife, Scotland)
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St. Andrews is not the oldest golf course, but it's close. St. Andrews has rightfully been coined "The Home of Golf."
It has hosted the British Open more than any other course and has been home to some of the more memorable shots, victories and collapses in the history of golf.
No. 3: Olympia, Greece (Olympia, Greece)
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Olympia, Greece, is the birthplace for all of the places that went onto to be sports birthplaces. This is the site of the first-ever Olympics, and, as you see above, some of the structures are still standing.
No. 2: The Hall of Fames
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Yeah, I did it. I combined all of the major sports Halls of Fame into one.
It was impossible to seperate them in terms of ranking them, and that ranking largely depends on if you prefer baseball, football, basketball or hockey.
If memorabilia is your thing, then the Halls of Fame are your places. Do like I did—don't separate them, just visit them all.
No. 1: The Colosseum (Rome, Italy)
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This is the place that essentially created the sports landscapes we have come to love. It is one of the most well-known landmarks on the planet.
Completed in 80 B.C., It was the first structure of its type and the first place to hold sporting events designed for a mass public viewing. Rome may have fallen, but the Colosseum stands on.
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