Sports on in the USA in May
It does seem like we’re saying this about every month, but it’s GREAT to be in the USA in May as a sports fan. Not only are NBA and NHL playoffs in full swing, the action in the MLS and the MLB is just getting started. Throw in a few warm-weather events (such as motor racing and horse racing), and you’ve got plenty on the sports calendar to choose from in the Land of the Free in May.
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NBA Playoffs
As the schedule for the NBA Playoffs is formed (basically) on the run, it’s hard to predict dates, times and locations too far in advance. Make sure you check the fixtures and jump onto the SWIAM website for ticket details. We’ve picked three of the best series for travellers.
Golden State Warriors vs New Orleans Pelicans
Two fun teams in two travel-friendly cities. Whether you’re in San Francisco, Oakland or New Orleans, this Series is one you can’t miss if you’re in the area. Anthony Davis is doing magical things with Benjamin Button (sorry, Rajon Rondo) in the Big Easy, while KD and Klay Thompson have stepped up for the Dubs in Steph Curry’s absence. Keep an eye out for dates… and get your tickets quickly!
Houston Rockets vs Utah Jazz
In terms of basketball bang-for-buck, you can’t really go past the Houston Rockets at the moment. The No. 1 seed in the West, they are stocked full of talent, with James Harden, Chris Paul, Clint Capela and Trevor Ariza all playing slick basketball at the right time of the year. On the other hand, the Utah Jazz are proving to be a surprise packet, with rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell and Aussie Joe Ingles leading the way. Salt Lake City is also one of the United States’ more picturesque cities, so if you’re nearby, this series is definitely worth checking out.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston
What a story the 76ers are in 2017/18. “The Process”, Joel Embiid, Brett Brown, Meek Mill and… of course Aussie Ben Simmons are just SOME of the reasons to get to Philadelphia to watch this young and exciting team play. The city of Philly is sports mad, and after the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, it’s a city full of belief. Make sure you also check out some of the best things to do in one of the United States’ oldest and most historically significant cities.
Top sports picks for the USA in May
- Boston Bruins vs Tampa Bay Lightning: Boston, MA, May 4
It’s already the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Boston is once again set to feature heavily in the postseason. Admittedly, this matchup is early in the month, but it’s only Game 4 of a seven-game series. It’s likely to go the distance, too, so make sure you keep an eye out to see if hockey returns to the TD Garden later in the month. Get tickets here.
NY Red Bulls vs NYC FC: Newark, NJ, May 5
Known as the Hudson River Derby, this football rivalry is more heated than you may expect. Think foul-mouthed tifos and foul-mouthed New Yorkers. NY Red Bulls were the only team in the New York Area for many years, but the City Group (which owns Melbourne City and Manchester City) decided to set up shop in the Bronx a few years ago. If you need your football fix near the Big Apple, this should tide you over nicely. Get tickets here.
Game day! Who scores to set off the smoke stacks tonight??? @nycfc #nycfc
- NY Yankees vs Boston Red Sox: New York, NY, May 8-10
A full Yankee Stadium to watch the Bronx Bombers take on the Red Sox is the stuff dreams are made of. Ask any rusted-on New Yorker or Bostonian, and they’ll tell you there’s something special about watching these two old teams have at it on the field. Get in quick, ticket prices can skyrocket close to game-time. Get tickets for the series here.
- World Championship Boxing: Linares vs Lomachenko: New York, NY, May 12
The trash talk has already begun between these two fighters ahead of their May 12 bout at Madison Square Garden. Lomachenko is an up-and-coming fighter with a 10-1 (8 KOs) record, while Linares is a more experienced veteran boasting a record of 44-3 (27 KOs). Tickets for a fight at the Garden won’t get any cheaper. Get them here.
- LA Dodgers vs San Diego Padres: Los Angeles, CA, May 25-27
Dodger Stadium on a balmy Spring night in Southern California? What more could one ask for while embarking on the great American escapade? The Padres play just down the highway in San Diego, so no doubt there’ll be a decent crowd in for this series, while the banter should also be great fun. Get tickets for the three-game series here.
The MLB regular season starts in March and runs through September. ⚾️
Our tips for anyone attending LA Dodgers games during that time:
— Sports Where I Am (@sportswhereiam) February 23, 2018
- Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR: Charlotte, NC, May 27
In the same way there’s something comforting about fried chicken and sweet tea, there’s something comforting about the South and NASCAR. They just… go together! So if you’re having a trundle through the South in late May, make sure you get along to the track in Charlotte, crack a beer and inhale those deadly, beautiful fumes. Get tickets here.
Best value games
- LA Galaxy vs San Jose Earthquakes: Los Angeles, CA, May 25
Two words: Zlatan Ibrahimović. Fortunately for soccer fans, it isn’t too hard to find inexpensive tickets to MLS games in the States, so when you have the opportunity to see one of the world’s most enigmatic players strut his stuff, you don’t say no. Get tickets here.
- NY Yankees vs Houston Astros: New York, NY, May 28-30
Cast your minds back to October last year, when these two young, exciting teams played one of the best seven-game ALCS series in recent memory. Big hitters Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve went toe-to-toe, and the home team won in each of the seven games. Well, there’s a three-game series set to be played in the Bronx in late May, so get your tickets (which start at $31) quickly. Get tickets for the series here.
Something different
- Kentucky Derby: Louisville, KY, May 5
Known to some as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”, the Kentucky Derby is one of the world’s most famous horse races, and it’s held at Churchill Downs racecourse in Louisville, Kentucky. The American equivalent of the Melbourne Cup (though we prefer the tag line “The Race That Stops a Nation”), derby week is one of the biggest in the State of Kentucky. Grab yourself a Kentucky Derby ticket and a bourbon, and hit the tracks!
- Indy 500: Indianapolis, IN, May 27
We’re not entirely sure who comes up with these taglines, but the Indy 500 – the crown jewel of the Indy Car season – is referred to by some (we’re not exactly sure who) as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. What we are sure about, is that the Indy 500 is the event to be at over the Labor Day weekend in the States. Get tickets here.
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Header image taken from the Utah Jazz official Twitter account.
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