Melbourne’s Top Sporting Events.

We are looking into our next leg of the trip and it looks like we’ll be headed over to Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia! I’ve been doing a bit of research on Australia and found out that Melbourne is a huge sporting area. Randy loves sports and wanted to catch a game in Europe but we were never able to fit it in. Looks like we can make up for that when we visit Melbourne.

Melbourne is often heralded as the ‘cultural capital’ of Australia, but it’s also the home to some of Australia’s most popular, celebrated and longstanding sporting events. While there are many reasons to visit Melbourne, planning your trip around one of these sporting events can be a fun excuse to book a weekend away.  In 2009, Melbourne was given the ‘Best Sports City’ award at the Sport Business Sports Event Management Awards in London for its year round calendar of major events and unrivaled sports precinct and infrastructure. If you’re in Melbourne for one of its award winning sporting events, then you’re sure to see Melbourne at its finest as it pulls out all the stops to cater to its international and interstate visitors.

If you’re planning a trip to Melbourne, or are a sports fanatic who likes to see the action live, then consider a Melbourne getaway when the city hosts these famed Australian sporting events.

The San Diego Sockers take on Stars of Mexico.

–        The Australian Open. The tennis Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific region is held in Melbourne every January. In 2010, a record crowd of 653,860 attended the Australian Open. Attracting the world’s best tennis players and tennis fans from around the world, tennis-mania envelopes the city for the duration of the event. There are extra events, entertainment and a festive atmosphere in the city. If you can’t secure tickets to the game, the join the crowds that gather at the open air screens around the sporting precinct. The excitement and tension in the air at these viewing sites is palpable! Book Cheap flights to Melbourne early to enjoy this international event.

–        The Boxing Day Test/4^th Test of the Ashes Series. On Boxing Day, Melburnians and visitors flock to the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground to watch the Boxing Day Cricket Test, which is often also the 4^th Test of the Ashes Series between Australia and England. The Australian-England cricket rivalry is longstanding and taken very seriously, and the MCG is jam-packed on Boxing Day with fans that have come to support their team. While the Test runs for 5 days, 1 day tickets are also available, and there is lots of extra entertainment and attractions in the ‘outfield’ regions and Yarra Park.

Signing autographs after the game.

–        AFL Grand Final Series. 22 weeks of Australian Football League competition culminates in the Grand Final Series, held at the MCG at the end of the season in September or October. AFL is a unique Australian sport, and the nation stops to partake in the sheer atmosphere and excitement as two teams battle it out for the premiership title. Keep your eye out for holiday packages and deals to Melbourne at this time, and book your tickets early!

–        The Melbourne Cup Carnival. The Melbourne Cup Carnival is more than just a horseracing carnival. It’s also one of Australia’s – and racing’s – biggest fashion events. The carnival is comprised of four race days, with the legendary Melbourne Cup Day being held on the first Tuesday of November every year. The $6 million 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup is in its 150^th year running and is a social and cultural tradition that literally brings Australia to a standstill. If you can make a trip to Flemington Racecourse for this carnival, it promises to be an exciting, unforgettable experience!

Whether you’re a sporting fan or not, Melbourne knows how to put on a sporting event. When these big games, series and carnivals roll around annually, Melbourne comes alive, making it a good idea to time your Melbourne getaway with these celebrated sporting festivities. Whether you’re traveling with your family, or are a student, flights to Melbourne operate from all other Australian destinations.

What Melbourne sporting event would you like to attend?

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*The photos in this sponsored post have nothing to do with Australia because I haven’t been there yet. They are photos from a San Diego Sockers soccer game I took for a paper last year.

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*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me to ask first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!