Must‑see sports landmarks to visit across the United States
The history of the United States is interwoven with sports, from legendary athletes and iconic moments to cultural shifts that have shaped stories and aspirations for future generations. At the heart of that Americana, locations across the U.S. have provided a backdrop or set the stage for all the epic home runs, buzzer-beaters, touchdowns, perfect waves and championship glory.
In celebration of these grand cathedrals and milestones, several USA TODAY Network editors and writers reviewed the historic roadmap and highlighted the 50 best sports landmarks every sports fan should visit in the U.S. The "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" takes place on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.
Thirty-three drivers have made it through qualifying and are set up in 11 rows when the green flag is waved. The race winner gets the Borg-Warner Trophy and famously downs a bottle of milk in victory lane, a tradition that began in 1936 when race winner Louis Meyer sought buttermilk to refresh himself.
Hinkle Fieldhouse Location: Indianapolis, IN The hoops are still 10 feet high and the free-throw lines 15 feet away in the home of the Butler Bulldogs , immortalized as a basketball palace in the movie "Hoosiers." Flanked by the charming Butler-Tarkington neighborhood, Hinkle Fieldhouse is a worthy pilgrimage for any hoops junkie.
The Indiana Hoosiers call this home. They have played in the 17,222-seat venue since 1971 in the Big Ten Conference. Legends have made their names in the arena, and coach Bob Knight's legacy still echoes. Opened in 1915, this baseball stadium has a capacity of only 5,181.
It was the first municipally owned sports stadium, and only Fenway Park and Wrigley Field have been around longer. Home to the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League, high school and American Legion games, many Hall of Famers played here before making it to the big leagues.
An all-time underdog story! The Hickory Huskers' home court, where the movie “Hoosiers” was shot, has become a must-see spot for sports and film fans. "Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa." One of the most iconic settings across the map that sports fans should visit, the site of the 1988 Kevin Costner film, "Field of Dreams," has become as synonymous with baseball as hot dogs and apple pie.
Penn's campus is home to a few historic sports landmarks, including Franklin Field, the oldest "two-tiered stadium" in the nation. Named after Benjamin Franklin, taking in a football game or watching relays from the stands is to be part of a history that dates back to the late 1800s.
One of the hallowed temples of college basketball is home to the Penn Quakers. It will turn 100 on Jan. 1, 2027. There have been incredible Big Five games and nationally ranked teams upset on the court throughout the years. Walk (run, sprint, if you can) up the iconic steps leading to the east entrance, where the famous statue awaits.
It has been a must-see place to go for a baseball game since 1914. The Friendly Confines is the home to the Chicago Cubs and fans of many generations. The ambiance includes ivy-covered walls, bleachers, and a hand-operated scoreboard. Add a location in a residential neighborhood, and you have the hometown feel.
What was once used for the eponymous bowl game on Jan. 1 is now also the home for UCLA football. Teams from the Big Ten and Pac-8, 10, 12 faced each other in the vaunted venue through the years. Now, between 89,000 and 92,000 fill the stadium for the postseason classic—a great place to watch a football game.
The University of Kansas men's and women's basketball teams play in the space named for the late Dr. F.C. "Phog" Allen, who coached the Jayhawks for 39 years. Sportswriter Mark Whicker calls it "the best place in America to watch college basketball." Duke Blue Devils basketball and those attending the university have turned this into one of the pillars of college basketball.
Students wait in tents for weeks to get tickets to prime games at the venue with a capacity of onl…