Historic Sports Venues That Have Stood the Test of Time
In today’s age of new, high-tech venues and stadiums, there remain a few historic sports facilities that stand the test of time. Some of them are so old that they are recognized as a National Historic Place, like Fenway Park. Boasting a rich history and classic architecture, these sports venues have seen some big wins and losses, have helped fans form lasting memories, and have remained beloved to all who have gotten the chance to experience a game within their walls.
To honor their lengthy legacy, we’ve researched the oldest sports facilities out there, ranging from basketball to golf to boxing. Check out our breakdown below for a closer look at the history behind these classic venues.
Baseball
Fenway Park - Tickets
Known as America’s Most Beloved Ballpark, Fenway Park in Boston is rich in baseball history, having been the site of the very first All-Star Game in 1946. Though generations have come and gone, this 106-year-old venue has remained, becoming the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball and a National Historic Place. Fenway has hosted the World Series ten times, with its home team the Boston Red Sox winning five of them. Because of its age, the park has been renovated and expanded many times, resulting in a series of quirky features including "The Triangle", "Pesky's Pole", and the Green Monster.
Want to learn more about Fenway Park and its traditions? Check out Fenway Traditions for Real Fans.
Wrigley Field - Tickets
Located in the North Side of Chicago is an iconic red marquee that marks the home entrance to Wrigley Field, which first opened its doors in 1914 as Weeghman Park. It was named Cubs Park from 1920 to 1926 after their home Major League Baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. Wrigley Field is known for the unusual wind patterns felt off Lake Michigan, its hand-turned scoreboard, and for being the last Major League park to have lights installed for play after dark, in 1988. With its ivy-covered brick outfield wall, it is the oldest park in the National League and the second-oldest in MLB after Fenway.
Basketball
Madison Square Garden - Tickets
Madison Square Garden in the New York City borough of Manhattan is used for much more than just basketball – including hockey, boxing, concerts, ice shows, wrestling and other categories of entertainment and sports. With an opening year of 1968, MSG is the oldest major sporting facility in New York and has been home to the New York Knicks of the NBA and the New York Rangers of the NHL since then. The Garden was one of the first of its kind to be built above the platforms of an active railroad station, an impressive engineering feat. It’s also one of the only remaining NBA and NHL arenas to not be named after a corporate sponsor, preserving its historic name.
Ready to snag your tickets? We've got them right here.
Cameron Indoor Stadium - Tickets
Cameron Indoor Stadium stands on the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. This indoor arena is primarily used as an athletic facility for the Duke Blue Devils, which includes Duke’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and the women’s volleyball team. This 78-year-old stadium opened in 1940 as the Duke Indoor Stadium but was renamed after Eddie Cameron, the men’s basketball coach from 1928 to 1942. Cameron also drew up the plans for the stadium which at the time made it the largest gymnasium in the country. Sports Illustrated ranked it fourth on its list of the top 20 sporting venues of the 20th century, and USA Today referred to it as "the toughest road game in the ACC.”
Racing
Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Tickets
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is home to the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400, two major U.S. motor sports races, and used to host the U.S. Grand Prix. Constructed in 1909, the track was the second of its kind and the first to be called a “speedway.” With a seating capacity of 400,000, it is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world. The course is about 2 miles with 13 turns and was originally made up of brick before it was renovated and paved over with asphalt in 1961. Today, a distinct three-foot-wide line of bricks remains, marking the start-finish line and serving as a reminder of the speedway’s lengthy history.
Churchill Downs - Horse Racing Tickets
The historic Churchill Downs racetrack is the home of the famous Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, located in Louisville. It officially opened its doors in 1875 and held its first horse racing championship that same year. The Oaks race, which features 3-year-old Thoroughbred fillies, occurs right before the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the American Triple Crown and “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.” With the infield open for the Kentucky Derby, the capacity of Churchill Downs is roughly 170,000. It is ranked number 22 in the Horseplayers Association of North America Track Ratings.
Read more about the Churchill Downs with our extensive venue guide.
Golf
Augusta National - PGA Golf Tickets
Known as the location for the U.S. Masters professional golf tournament, the Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most recognized golf clubs in the world. This beautiful private course, located in Augusta, GA, opened for play in 1933 and has been the site of the major golf competition every year since 1934. The club recently announced plans to expand the course by lengthening the par-4 5th hole, with the redesign beginning in May after this year’s Masters. The Augusta National features 18 holes and a mix of bentgrass and ryegrass on its greens and fairways.
If you’re planning a visit to this prestigious golf course, make sure you consult our detailed insider’s guide for all the ins and outs!
Football
Lambeau Field - Tickets
Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Lambeau Field is an outdoor athletic stadium that opened in 1957 as City Stadium. The 61-year-old venue is home to the Green Bay Packers of the NFL and was renamed in 1965 in memory of the team’s founder, player, and longtime head coach, Curly Lambeau, after his passing. On top of that, the street that the field is located on was also renamed after the coach. With a capacity of 81,441, Lambeau Field is the fifth-largest stadium in the NFL and the largest venue in the state of Wisconsin. It is also the oldest operating NFL stadium and the third-oldest professional sports facility behind Wrigley Field and Fenway Park.
Rose Bowl - Tickets
One of the most famous stadiums in sports history, the Rose Bowl opened in 1922 in Pasadena, California, making it a National Historic Landmark and a California Historic Civil Engineering landmark. This 90,888-seat outdoor facility is the 17th-largest stadium in the world, the 11th-largest stadium in the United States, and the 11th largest NCAA stadium. The Rose Bowl is unique in that it is one of the only college football stadiums to have seats instead of benches. It hosts the annual Rose Bowl Game in college football, and has held five Super Bowl games, the second-highest of all venues. The Rose Bowl is also used as a soccer venue, having hosted FIFA World Cups, the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal Match, as well as numerous CONCACAF and United States Soccer Federation matches.
If you'd like to know more about The Rose Bowl, be sure to check out our Insider’s Guide to The Rose Bowl.
Boxing
Caesar’s Palace - Tickets
The grandiose Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino and one of Las Vegas’s largest and most iconic landmarks. Established in 1966 on the Las Vegas Strip, this stately building wears elements of Roman architecture upon its face, featuring many statues, columns, and iconography typical of Hollywood Roman productions. An Augustus Caesar statue stands proudly near its entrance and replicas of ancient Roman, Greek and Renaissance art line the walls. Throughout its history, the hotel has acted as a host venue for live music and sports entertainment, including boxing matches that have been held in its Outdoor Arena since the late 1970s.
