Study reveals top bucket list experiences American sports fans dream of

Rather catch a baseball than a beach ball on vacation? With summer slowly creeping in, deadspin.com surveyed 2,000 sports fans across the country: What’s your ultimate bucket list experience?

Time to cancel that dream trip to a tropical island, or that family getaway to a theme park. Because according to American sports lovers, these are the real bucket list destinations that top them all:

• Wrigley Field in Chicago takes the top spot as the ultimate bucket list destination for American sports fans. The home of the Chicago Cubs beats out big names like Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, which come in second and third.
• Fans are keeping it domestic: all of the top five sports bucket list destinations are located within the United States.
• Wimbledon’s iconic Centre Court is the highest-ranked international pick, landing at number six on the list.
• When it comes to once-in-a-lifetime events, the Super Bowl tops the list: it’s the number one sporting event fans want to experience at least once in their lives.

Life’s too short to cheer from the couch forever, right? For many sports fans, there’s nothing like that once-in-a-lifetime trip — standing on the sacred ground of a legendary stadium, or finally witnessing that iconic sporting event you’ve only ever watched on TV. And while sweepstakes casinos offer exciting chances to win big from home, nothing beats the thrill of being there in person. But if you could choose from all the world’s most famous venues and events… which ones are truly bucket list-worthy? In other words: where do American sports fans dream of going, at least once in their lives?

1. Wrigley Field, Chicago

The iconic Wrigley Field in Chicago tops the list as the number one dream destination for sports fans in America. Home of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field is far more than just a baseball stadium. Opened in 1914, it’s the second-oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball. And to this day, the traditional scoreboard is still operated by hand.

2. Fenway Park, Boston

Coming in at number two is Boston. Fenway Park, to be exact. The oldest active ballpark in the U.S., this historic venue is home to the Red Sox, where fans belt out “Sweet Caroline” and pay homage to the legendary “lone red seat” — marking the longest home run ever hit at the stadium. Fenway may rank second nationally, but it’s the number one pick for fans in California, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

3. Yankee Stadium, New York

New York, New York — the city so nice, it made the top five twice! Both Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden earned dream destination status, landing at spots 3 and 4. And with good reason. Yankee Stadium isn’t just home to the New York Yankees; it’s also home to Monument Park, a hallowed area that honors the greatest legends in the game’s history.

4. Madison Square Garden, New York

Madison Square Garden is the highest-ranked indoor arena, and its walls are steeped in sports history — from legendary moments by the Knicks and the Rangers to iconic boxing matches featuring Muhammad Ali. The Garden is also a music mecca, having hosted everyone from Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones to Billy Joel, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift.

5. Lambeau Field, Green Bay

Rounding out the top five is Green Bay’s pride and joy: Lambeau Field. It’s the longest continuously used stadium in the NFL — a true cathedral of football. Catching a game at Lambeau means braving the “frozen tundra” and soaking up the sight of thousands of proud fans rocking their signature cheesehead hats.

England takes top spot for international dream destinations

When it comes to international dream destinations, England is in a league of its own. The ultimate soccer nation grabs 7 spots in the top 25, making it the top-scoring country outside of the States.

Wimbledon’s iconic Centre Court serves up a solid sixth place, while Wembley Stadium isn’t far behind at number 8. Footie fans also have their eyes on Manchester United’s Old Trafford (9), Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in North London (11), the historic Anfield in Liverpool (13), Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge (19), and the Etihad Stadium in Manchester (23) — all must-visits on any sports fan’s bucket list.

From Tokyo to Madrid: top-ranked dream destinations beyond the U.S.

England may top the international list, but it’s not the only country American sports fans are dreaming about. Coming in at number 12 is the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Home to the Yomiuri Giants, this stadium is affectionately nicknamed “The Big Egg” thanks to its shape, and it holds the title as Japan’s first fully covered baseball stadium.

Four spots down, at number 16, is the legendary Camp Nou, the sacred home turf of FC Barcelona. With a capacity of 99,000, it’s not just Europe’s largest stadium, it’s a true football temple. Speaking of which… Just two spots lower, at number 18, is Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, where fans get to witness the iconic “El Clásico” clash against rivals FC Barcelona — a match that also appears in the top 10 of dream sporting events fans want to experience live.

At number 24, we find the world-renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground. With space for 100,000 spectators, it’s no small fry. But its history is just as massive: from Cricket World Cup finals to AFL Grand Finals and the 1956 Summer Olympics, this place has seen it all. Fittingly, it also houses a museum celebrating Australia’s rich sports heritage.

And closing out the top 25 is Germany’s Allianz Arena in Munich. Home to FC Bayern, the stadium stands out thanks to its impressive facade made up of 2,874 panels that light up at night with over 300,000 LEDs. Add in the top-notch views and the FC Bayern Museum, and it’s no wonder this one made the cut.

Number 1 bucket list sports destination by state:

• Alabama: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
• Arizona: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
• Arkansas: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
• California: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
• Colorado: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Connecticut: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
• Delaware: Wembley Stadium, London, England
• Florida: Wimbledon, London, England
• Georgia: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
• Idaho: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
• Illinois: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
• Indiana: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
• Iowa: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Kansas: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
• Kentucky: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
• Louisiana: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
• Maine: Wembley Stadium, London, England
• Maryland: Wimbledon, London, England
• Massachusetts: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
• Michigan: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
• Minnesota: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
• Mississippi: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Missouri: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
• Nebraska: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
• Nevada: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
• New Hampshire: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
• New Jersey: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
• New York: Wembley Stadium, London, England
• North Carolina: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
• Ohio: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
• Oklahoma: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
• Oregon: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
• Pennsylvania: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
• South Carolina: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
• South Dakota: Wimbledon, London, England
• Tennessee: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Texas: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
• Utah: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
• Virginia: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
• Washington: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
• West Virginia: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
• Wisconsin: Wimbledon, London, England *

Which sporting events top our bucket lists?

We didn’t just ask our respondents about the dream stadiums they want to visit someday, we also wanted to know which sporting events they absolutely have to experience at least once in their lives. And by a landslide, the Super Bowl takes the crown. This world-famous event isn’t just the thrilling grand finale of the NFL season, it’s also a massive music spectacle thanks to the legendary halftime shows, featuring icons like Prince, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, and Bruce Springsteen.

Coming in second on the national bucket list is the FIFA Men’s World Cup. Every four years, the best footballers on the planet give it their all to bring home that coveted trophy for their country. Since the host country changes each tournament, this iconic event isn’t tied to one location — but soccer fans from all over the world know it guarantees top-tier action wherever it’s held.

At number three, we find the annual finale of the American baseball season: the World Series. The ultimate climax of the MLB season, it’s no surprise this huge event ranks in the top three bucket list experiences. It edges out the Olympics and the College Football Playoff National Championship, which come in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Methodology

Deadspin’s 2025 Sports Fans Bucket List Study surveyed 2,000 U.S. sports fans between May 15 and 17, 2025, to identify America’s ultimate bucket list sports experiences. Respondents self-identified as sports fans, with 69% male, 30% female, and 1% non-binary participants. The survey was carried out online and aimed to find out which sports destinations people most want to visit in their lifetime, as well as which sporting events top their bucket list. The average age of respondents was 43.4 years.

* Due to insufficient data, the following states were excluded from the results: Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wyoming.

Want to know more about sports betting in the U.S.? Read more:

• Best online sportsbooks
• Favorite sites for live betting
• Best sportsbooks apps
• Best daily fantasy sports sites
• Best social sportsbooks