Hagler vs. Hearns. Mayweather vs. De La Hoya. Canelo vs. GGG. There are always historic showdowns that just make too much sense to not book. When big fights are announced, the only thing better than catching it live on pay-per-view is having a seat in the house.
Fight weekends have been synonymous with celebrity sightings, time at the casino, and major after-parties. Regardless of what draws you to the fights, you need a strategy for getting there so that you can enjoy the show in person. Here are the guidelines that you need to keep in mind.
Book Your Hotel as Soon as the Fight Is Announced (...or Before!)
The biggest mistake people make is waiting too long to book their hotels. Fights at or near casino hotels are quick to book up because they offer proximity to shows and entertainment.
However, the fight game is changing a bit, to where major fights are being booked outside of Las Vegas. Many of the biggest fights in recent memory have taken place in destinations like Abu Dabi, the United Kingdom, and New York City.
For fights in casino cities, consider whether or not access to gambling is a dealbreaker for your trip. People today can play blackjack, poker, roulette, and the usual casino offerings from a laptop or mobile device. With sites like bonus.ca’s offering different payment options, people can play for real money using Visa, Apple Pay, and other methods. As a result, the option of online casinos may mean you can be more flexible when considering your hotel options.
Know Why You Want to See the Fight
Pay special attention to the fight itself – knowing why you want to see the fight will dictate how much you're willing to spend, and what kind of seats you need.
Keep in mind whether it's a hometown fight for one of the fighters, or an up-and-comer with star power. For instance, there may be an up-and-coming Canadian heavyweight following in the footsteps of Sports Nerd's all-time great ranked Lennox Lewis, or a New York fighter reminiscent of Mike Tyson or Riddick Bowe.
If the fight is mainly about the pop culture and the spectacle, you might just be happy to be in the building. If it's about two technicians squaring off, you'll want closer seats that let you truly take in the blow-by-blow. The key is to figure it out so that you know where you stand and what you want.
Show Up for the Undercard
Do yourself a favor and get everything that you can to get the absolute most out of this fight weekend. If you've ever seen a fight broadcast, you know that the arena fills in the closer it gets to the main event.
If you want to really get the most value out of your tickets, hotel, and flight, show up early for the preliminary undercard fights. Enjoy the experience, rather than worrying about how much time you're committing. For context, The Canadian Encyclopedia explains that it was common for fights in the early 1900s to go 40 rounds.
When you show up for the undercard, you'll get to see some good young talent that might just steal the show. You may even get to discover a star before they burst onto the scene. Before Gervonta Davis became a must-see boxing star, he fought on the undercard of Mayweather vs. McGregor.
Start with these tips so that you have a game plan for your fight weekend. Look around for the best deals and lock something in so that you can enjoy the next big fight in styl