If you are looking for a sporting attraction to visit in York this winter or in spring, you don’t need to travel far. The city has a rich history of hosting major sporting events, and also a number of professional sports teams. Here is a look at three sporting venues which should be at the top of your list.
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre in York is a fantastic arena which is perfect for sports such as darts and snooker. The crowd inside have a fantastic view of the action, regardless of where they are sat. New events are added each year so keep an eye out for latest listings, while if you enjoy a flutter on the action, the darts betting will be of interest as it will make what is happening on the stage even more interesting.
One event which takes place annually at the Barbican Centre is the UK Championship in snooker. It is the first major of the season and is part of the Triple Crown in the sport. The Barbican Centre first held the tournament in 2001 and the venue provides a fantastic home for the competition which is loved by the players and fans alike.
Ronnie O’Sullivan remains the biggest name in snooker and he landed the UK Championship a record seven times when he lifted the trophy in 2018. The Rocket is still playing some of the best snooker of his career so it will be no surprise if he extended that number before he retires.
Bootham Crescent
Bootham Crescent is home to York City Football Club. The Minstermen dropped out of the Football League in 2004 and have struggled on and off the field since then. They currently sit in the National League North which is the sixth tier of English football.
York are having one of their best seasons for a long time this year. They are currently second in the table behind King’s Lynn Town as they have lost just one of their opening 18 matches in the league.
The club, formed in 1908, is now managed by former Newcastle United defender Steve Watson and has been lauded for the quality of football they are playing this season.
The stadium, which holds 8,256, is also the home of York City Knights rugby league team. The Knights play in the Championship which is the step below the Super League in the sport.
York Racecourse
York Racecourse is one of the leading tracks in the UK for Flat racing. The sport dates back to Roman times in the city and today the ‘Knavesmire’ course features some of the best thoroughbreds from around the world.
The biggest meeting of the year at York is the Ebor Festival. This features three Group One races, including the Juddmonte International, which is a one-mile-and-two-furlongs contest and is one of the richest on the Flat calendar.
The Sprint Festival in May kicks off the season in 2020 and that meeting features a number of trials, including the Dante Stakes where a number of the leading three-year-old colts feature before going onto Epsom a month later for the Derby.
Racing runs all the way through to October, with the final meeting, which includes the Sprint Trophy, bringing the season to a close at the racecourse.
As ever with sporting events, visit the respective official websites to access ticketing information and details on how to get to the venues.
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