Fall into Sport in the Great Lakes USA

Sports-related tourism is now one of the fastest growing sectors of the travel industry. On average 12 million international trips are made annually for the purpose of watching or taking part in a sporting event. The Great Lakes USA is focusing on this market in 2012/2013, following on from the very successful Ryder Cup in Medinah, Illinois.

Destinations throughout the Great Lakes will benefit from the economic impact sporting events generate, as visitors book accommodation, food and drink and frequently experience other activities during their stay.

Boasting a range of sports that would make even Bradley Wiggins green with envy, Chicago, Illinois, is one of the few US cities that claims all five American professional team sports (baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer) and has been repeatedly named at the USA’s Best Sporting City. 

Sports kick off this autumn in the city in spectacular style!  Catch the Chicago Blackhawks hit the ice, Chicago Bears American Football team battle it out on the field, Chicago Fire team demonstrate their British football skills or the Chicago Bulls knock it out on the basketball court.

Wisconsin is particularly famous for cycling and it was one of the first states to convert railways to cycle paths. Today, Wisconsin has more than 1,000 miles of these trails so you can take to the open road and enjoy a scenic adventure on bicycle-friendly roadway or go off-road with mountain biking in the many parks and forests.

There are three cycle festivals coming up this autumn – the 30^th Annual Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, the 5^th Annual Kickapoo Brave Ride and the Fat Tire Memorial Tour around Lake Geneva and Lake Como.

For the even more athletic, there is the Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon or the Rockman Challenge for adventure sports enthusiasts.

Michigan is home to a wide range of recreational sports and sporting events and the state’s four seasons attract athletes with diverse interests. The hot summers are perfect for water sports, biking, running, walking and golfing whilst the snowy winters set the perfect conditions for snowmobiling, skiing, snowboard, skating and ice hockey.

Upcoming sporting events include the Annual 5 mile Trek across the mighty Mackinac Bridge, the Detroit Free Press Talmer Bank Marathon through Detroit and Windsor in Canada and the Detroit Lions (NFL) Annual Thanksgiving Day Football Game.

Seventeen Ohio-born athletes took part in the London Olympic Games and Ohio has a long history of famous Olympians. Amongst the many sports played there are archery, baseball, basketball, cycling, equestrian, NFL football, golf, hockey, lacrosse, shooting and soccer.

The Ohio Cavaliers are broaching themselves for a busy season coming up with a full schedule of NBA games where they will face some of the toughest teams in the league throughout November.  Catch them in action against the Dallas Mavericks, Chicago, Phoenix and Philadelphia.

Minnesota is a haven for winter sport.  As the temperatures decrease, the excitement builds as residents and visitors alike await the first snowfall to pull out the snowmobiles, sleds and snowshoes.  Mille Lacs Lake is famed for its ice fishing and ranges from DIY to full packages where guests can rent a fish house complete with soft furnishings, heaters and full electric appliances. 

For those brave enough sign up for the Duluth National Snocross in November, where the world’s best snowmobilers take part in the largest race of its kind.  Alternatively wrap up warm and join the 36,000 spectators to cheer on the participants.