Americana Slides

2010

#1 Premium Seat in Sports USA Today asked Ticketsnow CEO Mike Domek to rank the 10 most spectacular vantage points in sports in the U.S.

1. Main Straight Suite at the Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis

Motor Speedway

2. ‘Green Monster’ section, Fenway Park

3. 13th Green ‘Amen corner’ at the Masters

4. Wrigley Filed bleachers for a game vs. the rival White Sox

5. 50-yard line at the Texas-Oklahoma game at the Cotton Bowl

6. Courtside seats at a Lakers playoff game, Staples Center

7. Clubhouse Suite at the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs

8. Mid-court for the Duke vs. North Carolina game, Cameron

Indoor Stadium

9. 50-yard line at the Packers-Bears game, Lambeau Field

10. Corner box at the US Open, Arthur Ashe Stadium

Bucket ListMSN published it’s “390 Things to Do Before You Die” and Spike TV published their “Top TenThings Every Guy Should Experience”. The Indianapolis 500 is the only common “must do” on these two demographically diverse lists.

“390 Things to Do Before You Die”

1. Wrigley Field 2. Golden Gate Bridge 3. Mardi Gras 4. Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic 5. Tournament of Roses Rose Parade 6. Empire State Building 7. Pat’s King of Steaks 8. Pike Place Market 9. Indianapolis 50010. Wayne Newton

“Top Ten Things Every Guy Should Experience”

1. NBA Finals2. Indianapolis 5003. Kentucky Derby4. WrestleMania5. Super Bowl6. NCAA Final Four7. Running with the Bulls8. PGA Championship9. U.S. Open10. MLB World Series

Coolest Prize in Sports Sports Illustrated listed the “Sports World’s Top Ten Coolest Prizes”. The presentation of milk in Victory Circle for the Indianapolis 500 winner was #1.

1. Milk for the Indy 500 winner2. Stanley Cup3. Heisman Trophy4. Green Jacket (Masters)5. Old Oaken Bucket (Indiana – Purdue football game)6. Venus Rosewater Dish (Wimbledon women’s singles

champion)7. Blanket of Roses (Kentucky Derby)8. Gibson guitar (Nashville Superspeedway)9. Floyd of Rosedale (Minnesota – Iowa football game)10. Olympic Gold Medal

Prestigious Sporting EventTurnkey Sports polled 800 senior sports executives and asked them to list the 10 most prestigious U.S. sporting events.

1. Masters

2. Super Bowl

3. World Series

4. Final Four

5. Kentucky Derby

6. Stanley Cup Finals

7. Indianapolis 500

8. Daytona 500

9. NBA Finals

10. U.S. Open Tennis

Source: Sports Business Journal

Most Important Sports VenuesJim Caple of ESPN composed “America’s 100 Most Important Sports Venues”. Caple rated the venues based on places that have had a profound influence on American sports and places that have enjoyed multiple historic moments.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway ranked # 7 on the top 100 list.

America’s 100 Most Important Sports Venues1. Yankee Stadium2. Camden Yards3. Madison Square Garden4. The Astrodome5. Augusta National Golf Club6. The National Baseball Hall of Fame7. Indianapolis Motor Speedway8. Nike Headquarters9. The Rose Bowl10. ESPN Headquarters11. Fenway Park12. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum13. Wrigley Field14. Churchill Downs15. The U.S. Olympic Training Center

Must See Motorsports EventsTony Borroz from Wired.Com ranked “The Top 10 Motorsports Events You Must See”. The Indy 500 was #1!

1. Indy 5002. Monaco Grand Prix

3. 24 Hours of Le Mans

4. Daytona 500

5. Isle of Man TT

6. Rally Finland

7. Reno Air Races

8. Grand Prix of Belgium at Spa

9. 24 Hours Nurburgring

10. Italian Grand Prix at Monza

“Some 400,000 people plus 33 cars lapping the most storied track in racing at speeds well in excess of 220 mph. Rubbing might be racin’ for the NASCAR boys, but one touch here and it’s harp music for the drivers involved.”

- Tony Borroz, Wired.Com

True AmericanaAuthor Gary McKechnie searched for places and events that remain rooted in the heart and soul of America. His f indings were published in the recent National Geographic book t it led “ USA 101: A Guide to America’s Iconic Places, Events and Festivals” . McKechnie shared ten of his favorites w ith Larry Olmsted for the USA TODAY.

1. Little League World Series, Williamsport, PA

2. Mark Twain’s America, Hannibal, MO

3. All-American Soap Box Derby, Akron, OH

4. Miss America Pageant, Las Vegas, NV

5. Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis, IN6. Rock City, Lookout Mountain, GA

7. Tournament of Roses, Pasadena, CA

8. Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney, PA

9. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, NM

10. Grand Old Opry, Nashville, TN

“It is the Mother of ALL races, but many do not realize that the Indy 500 is the culmination of the three-week 500 Festival, including the world’s largest half-marathon run on the famous oval. It’s like a small town celebration and the largest single-day sporting event in the world in one. Yet unlike other top sports events, tickets are available and affordable.”

- Gary McKechnie

Top 125 Places to have a beerAll About Beer Magazine searched the world for great watering holes for the past three decades. They compiled their findings in “The Growler List: 125 Places to Have a Beer Before You Die.” Having a beer at the Indianapolis 500 ranked #31 on the top 125 list.

125 Places to Have a Beer Before You Die

1. Great American Beer Festival, Denver, CO

5. Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany

8. The Gravity Bar, Guinness St. James Gate Brewery, Dublin, Ireland

11. Hogbrauhaus, Munich, Germany

24. The Hopeleaf, Chicago, IL

26. French Quarter during Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA

31. Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis, IN42. SandLot Brewery, Coors Field, Denver, CO

44. Tailgating at a Southeastern Conference Football Game

50. Beach Bar at the Atlantis Hotel, Paradise Island, Bahamas

62. Sapporo Beer Garden, Higashi-ku, Japan

85. Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

96. Heineken Brewery, Amsterdam, Holland

120. The Golf Tavern, Edinburgh, Scotland

125. The Happy Gnome, St. Paul, MN

Largest Permanent Sports Venue in the CountryWith the 2 ½ mile oval race track and 18 hole championship Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the largest permanent sports venue in the country. How big is it? Look what would fit inside the oval!

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