Category: Latest Events

Get your decorations out of the loft and crank up the Christmas tunes because the most wonderful time of the year is almost upon us. While we all love getting presents and indulging in one too many mince pies, everybody knows that the best thing about the festive period is the jam-packed calendar of sporting events to look forward to.

Thankfully, there’s plenty to enjoy this year, including football, tennis and darts.

Festive football in the Premier League

The Christmas period is always one of the busiest parts of the football calendar and this year is no different, with a bumper Premier League schedule on the horizon. As we edge towards the halfway point in the campaign, the league table is starting to take shape and some clubs are counting down the days until the transfer window reopens.

Defending champions Manchester City currently lead the way but the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham are hot on their tail. Jurgen Klopp’s side face a testing festive fixture list, with clashes against Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle all within the space of two weeks.

Spurs take on Everton two days before Christmas, which could be a huge contest at both ends of the table following the Merseyside club’s recent points deduction. Meanwhile, Chelsea face a trip to Wolves on Christmas Eve and Man United host surprise package Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

Elsewhere, following their Champions League win City have a mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Club World Cup.

Key festive football matches:

●    Arsenal v Brighton – 17th December

●    Liverpool v Manchester United – 17th December

●    Tottenham v Everton – 23rd December

●    Liverpool v Arsenal – 23rd December

●    Wolves v Chelsea – 24th December

●    Manchester United v Aston Villa – 26th December

●    Liverpool v Newcastle – 1st January

The Ultimate Tennis Showdown heads to London

After three showpiece tournaments throughout 2023, the Ultimate Tennis Showdown is on its way to London for the competition’s inaugural Grand Final. For three days in mid-December, eight of the top ranking players will go head-to-head at the ExCel in a bid to become the ultimate champion.

The UTS gives tennis a modern twist. Instead of your usual scoring format, players face off during quarters of eight minutes. Second serves are a thing of the past and players get just one added to their total each time they score a point.

The Grand Final takes place following UTS tournaments in Los Angeles, Frankfurt and Seoul this year. Andrey Rublev and Holger Rune, who are both ranked in the top 10, are set to compete, along with Casper Rudd, Jack Draper and Gael Monfils.

The event runs from Friday 15th to Sunday 17th December and you can watch the action from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages.

The World Darts Championships returns to Ally Pally

Christmas wouldn’t quite be the same without a daily darts extravaganza from Alexandra Palace. The World Darts Championship moved to north London in 2008 and it returns in December, with Michael Smith looking to defend his title

After losing the 2022 final, Smith bounced back last year to edge Michael van Gerwen 7-4 to claim the Championship for the first time. Van Gerwen will be seeking revenge as he looks to win the competition for a fourth time.

This year’s tournament gets underway on 15th December, with the final taking place on 2nd January. 32 players will lock horns at the famous oche, with a whopping £2.5 million prize pot to be won.

The best in music and comedy

It’s not just sport that’s on the agenda this winter, with plenty of music and comedy to look forward to. Dust off your santa hat and get your dancing shoes on because the Jingle Bell Ball is back at the O2 on 9th and 10th December, where Alicia Keys, Busted, Take That, Rita Ora and loads more will be taking to the stage for a blockbuster weekend.

They’re not the only superstars gigging at the O2 as Madonna, Tom Jones and Madness are all performing over the festive period. And if you’re in the mood for a Christmas giggle, Peter Kay’s monthly residency at the O2 takes place on 16th December.

Engage Christmas gifts

Christmas is all about giving but as we all know, finding our loved ones the perfect gift isn’t always easy. Luckily for you, we’ve got you covered. Treat your friends and family to a hospitality experience, with the biggest sports and entertainment events on offer.

With packages ranging from bronze to platinum, take a look at our Christmas gifts and get in touch to secure an unforgettable experience.

The UK is renowned for its passion towards live sport and entertainment. From prestigious finals at Wembley to the glamour of a match on the famous Centre Court at Wimbledon, here is your breakdown of the major sporting events happening in London in 2024…

Take in the spine-tingling atmosphere at Twickenham

Found in it’s traditional February and March slot in the sporting calendar, Six Nations rugby will be hosted at Twickenham Stadium again in 2024.

Located in West London, the ‘Home of Rugby’ is one of the capitals most historical venues having hosted some of the sport’s most iconic matches, including the World Cup final as recently as 2015.

At the start of spring Twickenham will host England’s two home fixtures in the 2024 edition of the Six Nations, starting with a crunch match with Wales whom they narrowly beat in London during the build up to the World Cup. Following that they will then go head-to-head with reigning champions Ireland who completed a historic Grand Slam in 2023.

Secure your place at Twickenham in February with ICON hospitality, the best way to enjoy the action and soak up the unique atmosphere before, during and after the game.

Indulge in the tradition of Test Cricket

Sit back, soak up the sun and enjoy the action unfolding as West Indies and Sri Lanka tour England over the summer for two captivating Test series.

London boasts having two of the most iconic cricket venues in the world. Arguably the most recognisable ground in the world, Lord’s Cricket Ground is steeped in history, having hosted a number of famous finals and matches dating back to the 19th century. Every aspiring cricketer dreams of scribing their name on to the famous Honours Boards in each dressing room, establishing the venue as the pinnacle of international cricket.

Across the River Thames, the Kia Oval has also stood the test of time and history to become one of England’s headline venues each summer. Best known for being the birthplace of the Ashes, the ground in South London offers a more raucous atmosphere in comparison to the sense of traditional at Lord’s. Having both gone through redevelopment work in recent years, the two grounds offer a unique cricketing experience in their own distinct ways.

West Indies will be England’s first test opponents in 2024 following the T20 World Cup, with Lord’s hosting the first of three test matches. The last time the two teams faced off West Indies held the edge between the two sides, but England have since discovered a winning formula under the captaincy of Ben Stokes. England will then host Sri Lanka at both venues in London, so don’t miss out on the chance to see ‘Bazball’ up close next summer.

Attend a showpiece final at Wembley Stadium

Every season, fans across the country are itching for their team to make it to Wembley, with the campaign reaching an epic crescendo in May.

In 2024 the excitement for British football fans is taken up a notch with the UEFA Champions League Final being hosted in London. Competed for by the best teams across Europe, the Champions League is the pinnacle of European football with teams such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and reigning champions Manchester City competing to lift the prestigious trophy.

The final of the historic FA Cup will also be held at Wembley Stadium once again in 2024. Manchester City are also defending their title in the oldest cup competition in the world after defeating their rivals Manchester United in the final in 2023.

The format of the FA Cup creates magical stories every year as teams across all levels of the English footballing pyramid dream of stepping out at Wembley for the final, making it a special occasion when the last two remaining teams face off at the end of the season.

If you are in London then don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to witness the climax to the football season by attending the glamorous Champions League and FA Cup finals in May.

The Championships, Wimbledon: The perfect summer day out in London

Not many events are more quintessentially British than Wimbledon.

Located on the beautiful grounds at SW19, The Championships are the highlight of the UK grass court season. In 2023, Carlos Alcaraz marked the changing of the guard on the men’s tour when he won his first ever title in a thrilling five-set final.

The action in 2024 looks to be just as exciting with tennis legend Novak Djokovic going for more records, while the next generations of stars such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannick Sinner and US Open champion Coco Gauff look to make their mark at the most prestigious tournament on the tour.

For tennis fans looking for something a bit different, The Boodles is the hidden gem of the tennis summer season. The event is a five-day long exhibition tournament in the build up to Wimbledon, offering guests a relaxed atmosphere where fans can mingle with star players of the tennis tour.

The stunning grounds at Stoke Park are just 35 minutes away from central London, making it easily accessible and a brilliant summer day out for visitors to the capital.

The London Stadium hosts an authentic baseball experience

Every year Major League Baseball (MLB) heads to London to give fans in the UK a taste of what it’s like to attend a baseball event across the pond.

2024 promises to be another unmissable showdown in East London when NL East rivals New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies go head-to-head in a two-game series.

Built for the London Olympic Games in 2012, the multi-purpose London Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford has been the perfect venue for the games in the capital. The 60,000 capacity stadium offers an incredible backdrop to the baseball action and has been a key part of the MLB’s global strategy to promote the league across the world.

With the MLB London games taking place during the second weekend in June 2024, this is a unique event that transports fans in London to the United States with American inspired stalls, street food and entertainment to give everyone involved an unforgettable sporting day out.

2023 has been a remarkable year of live events. During the height of the summer season we witnessed an Ashes series for the ages, saw the dawn of a new era in men’s tennis at Wimbledon and created electric atmospheres during headline concerts at Wembley Stadium.

Now while the summer months are behind us, there is still plenty to look forward to before the year is out and heading into 2024…

Festive winter football in the Premier League

After taking its annual backseat during the summer, the Premier League season is back underway and gathering steam.

Champions Manchester City will be wanting to lead from the front once again this season as they look to win their fourth straight title. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United will be amongst the usual suspects fighting for that top spot during the winter, while Chelsea will be wanting a vast improvement on what was a disappointing season by their standards last time out.

When the schedule is released for the new season one of the first dates that immediately draws attention is the iconic Boxing Day fixtures in the Premier League. This year Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all play fixtures in front of their own fans on Boxing Day in what promises to be a festive schedule full of twists and turns.

Here are just some of the other unmissable fixtures over winter period to pencil into your diary…

Weekend of 4 November – Tottenham v Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Weekend of 11 November – Chelsea v Manchester City, Stamford Bridge

Wednesday 6 December – Manchester United v Chelsea, Old Trafford

Weekend of 16 December – Liverpool v Manchester United, Anfield

Weekend of 23 December – Liverpool v Arsenal, Anfield

NFL touches down in London

The end of the summer also marks the start of the National Football League (NFL) season. This year fans in the UK have three games to look forward to when NFL teams comes to London once again to entertain fans.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will kick off the NFL London Games 2023 when they take on Atlanta Falcons in front of over 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. The next two fixtures – involving the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens – will both be held at the newly built Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where fans will be immersed in an authentic NFL experience involving pre-game activities, stalls and American themed food and drink options.

Following the international series, all roads will then lead to the Allegiant Stadum, Paradise, Nevada for Super Bowl LVIII. Scheduled for Sunday 11 February, the championship deciding showdown is one of the key dates on the global sporting calendar and without doubt will be an unmissable show again in 2024.

Sunday 1 October – Jaguars v Falcons, Wembley Stadium

Sunday 8 October – Bills v Jaguars, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Sunday 15 October – Titans v Ravens, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Sunday 11 February – Super Bowl LVIII, Allegiant Stadium

England head to India to defend their Cricket World Cup title

If you were hooked on thrills of The Ashes and The Hundred this summer, then you are in luck! The next major cricket event is just around the corner with the best 10 teams in the world all heading to India for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in October.

Running all the way from 5 October through to 19 November, the tournament takes place in a round robin set up where every team will play each other once, resulting in the top four placed teams heading to the semi-finals before the winners make it through to the final hosted at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad – the largest cricket venue in the world.

Led by Jos Buttler, England will be one of the favourites again but will be met by the fierce challenge of India on home soil, Australia and Pakistan in their quest to retain the World Cup trophy for another four years.

Tennis season concludes for the winter in Turin

Previously hosted at The O2 Arena, the Nitto ATP Finals offer a compelling conclusion to the tennis season this winter.

The best eight players in the world get invited to compete in Turin for the final piece of silverware of the season. Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have dominated the scene so far this year, picking up several major honours between them and locking horns in a final on Centre Court at Wimbledon that will live long in the memory.

With the end of year number one spot also up for grabs between the world’s best players, the Nitto ATP Finals will be a truly compelling way to end what has been a fantastic year of tennis in 2023.

Following the end of the season, we can also begin to turn our attention to tennis coming up in 2024. Here are some of the key dates in the UK grass court season next summer…

June 17-23 – cinch Championships

June 25-29 – The Boodles

July 1-14 – The Championships, Wimbledon

Crunch time in the Formula 1 season

The Formula 1 season enters the decisive part of the season in the winter with plenty of historic venues set to stage races before the season is out.

Following trips to Mexico City and São Paulo, the race heads stateside for the Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix on a brand new street circuit. Expect famous faces, incredible landmarks and thrilling speeds on the Las Vegas strip.

The season will then conclude in Abu Dhabi on 26 November – the setting of Max Verstappen’s first ever Championship victory over Lewis Hamilton.

Since that famous race in 2021 the Dutch driver has looked unstoppable. He will be hoping to arrive at the Yas Marina Circuit unharmed to secure what will be a third title in a row, while the likes of Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc and George Russell will be looking to rain on his parade during the final few months of the season.

November 16-18 – Las Vegas Grand Prix

November 24-26 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Darts fans descend on Alexandra Palace this winter

All eyes will be on Ally Pally once again for the Worlds Dart Championship, where spectators marvel at the best players in the world within an atmosphere unlike any other.

Since moving to North London, the World Championships has been an iconic event on the UK sporting schedule each winter and will take place this year between 15 December – 3 January.

Last year Michael Smith beat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen in an incredible final which produced some unforgettable moments that got everyone engulfed in the drama and excitement of the sport, and we should expect more of the same when the darts arrives in London again this December.

NBA Paris Game to take place in January

Since 1990, the NBA has been taking regular season matches outside the United States and Canada as part of the leagues Global Games series.

Having successfully hosted several games in Mexico City and London, the league will now return to Europe to play it’s third regular season game at the Accor Arena in Paris. The Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls won the first NBA Paris Games in 2020 and 2023, showcasing the world class talent within the NBA to the rest of the world.

On 11 January, the NBA Paris Game will feature a must-see clash between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets, pitching together some of the best players in the world for fans in the French capital.

With the Olympic Games, European Championships, T20 Cricket World Cup and many more events scheduled for 2024, the biggest sporting events of next year look sure to be memorable…

Paris 2024: Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games

Undoubtedly one of the headline events of next summer, Paris has the luxury of hosting the 2024 Olympic Games.

Starting on 26th July, there will be a total of 35 venues hosting the Games, with several of them located inside 10km of the Olympic Village and the city’s iconic landmarks.

There will be one new sport on the schedule too. Breaking, a competitive form of breakdancing, gained popularity at the Youth Games in 2018 and athletes will now be given their first shot at a place on the legendary Olympic podium at Paris 2024.

Twelve years on from London 2012, Great Britain’s most successful athletes will be back on the bike, in the pool and on the track as they look to keep their sporting legacy alive during an unmissable summer of Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Euro 2024 to be held in Germany

All eyes will be on Germany next summer as they host the 2024 European Championships. The last edition of the Euros was one of the most memorable tournaments in recent history as Italy won their second title, leaving England heartbroken at Wembley in the final after extra time and penalties.

Knockout and group stage matches will be held across 10 different cities, including at Dortmund’s Signal-Iduna-Park, Munich’s Allianz Arena and the Olympiastadion in Berlin where the final will be held.

Can England finally get their hands on a major trophy for the first time in 58 years or will Mbappe be able to captain France to glory?

As the competition draws closer, England will also be facing Brazil and Belgium at Wembley, as Gareth Southgate will look to nail down his best eleven going into the summer.

All roads lead to Wembley for the UEFA Champions League Final

The biggest competition in Europe is heading for an epic climax at Wembley Stadium in 2024.

Manchester City are currently European Champions after their historic treble winning campaign last season and they will be hoping to do the same again. They qualified easily from their group and will be going into the knockout stages confident of another deep run.

Pep Guardiola’s side are the favourites to retain their trophy but 13-time winners Real Madrid will also be standing in their way, as well as Spanish giants Barcelona, domestic rivals Arsenal and Ligue 1 champions PSG despite the departure of Lionel Messi in the summer.

German champions Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund in an all-German affair last time the final was held at Wembley thanks to a dramatic late winner – and they will both be looking to make it to London again in 2024 for a final that promises to be a showstopping conclusion to the season.

West Indies and USA host the T20 World Cup

Fresh off the hype of an Ashes series for the ages and a World Cup to follow in India this year, the relentless cricket calendar will roll on again next year with the 2024 T20 World Cup the standout event of the summer.

For the first time ever World Cup matches will be played in the USA who will be hosting the tournament next June after they were successful in a joint bid with the West Indies.

The usual suspects India, Australia and Pakistan will all be well placed with their star-studded line-ups, while England will go into the tournament as defending champions after Jos Buttler’s side won a thrilling final in 2022.

Taking place in June, the world’s best players will converge on the West Indies and USA straight from the conclusion of the IPL. Then following the events of the final at the end of the month, England’s stars will quickly turn their attention to red ball series’ against West Indies and Sri Lanka back at home.

Cricket fans will be spoilt for choice yet again in 2024, here are key dates for your diary…

22-30 May – England v Pakistan four-match T20 Series

4-30 June – T20 World Cup (West Indies and USA)

10-30 July – England v West Indies three-match Test Series

21 Aug – 10 Sept – England v Sri Lanka three-match Test Series

11-15 Sept – England v Australia three-match T20 Series

19-29 Sept – England v Australia five-match ODI Series

NFL returns to London again

Once again, NFL London was a huge success in 2023, with memorable matches taking place at both Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Jacksonville Jaguars made London their home once again, with two victories in their two matches in the capital.

In 2024, NFL is confirmed to be coming to London yet again. In 2022, Jacksnville Jaguars confirmed they will be using Wembley as their home ground for at least three more years, meaning 2024 is the last year of this deal, with the potential of more to come.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a brilliant ground made for NFL and it will also continue to host at least two regular season matches a seaason for the forseeable future.

Enquire now and you can secure your place for NFL London 2024.

Can a Brit win at the British Grand Prix in 2024?

When the Formula 1 calendar gets released, there are a select few events that jump off the page – the British Grand Prix is one of those. With an atmosphere unlike any other, the Grand Prix at Silverstone always promises to be an incredible and unpredictable weekend of racing.

Max Verstappen stamped his dominance on the race in 2023 and extended his lead within the drivers’ championship with his eighth win of the season at Silverstone – ahead of British stars Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.

Sticking with tradition, the British GP will take place within the first weekend of July in 2024 despite some changes to the schedule in Formula 1’s attempt to make the season more regionalised and cut down on unnecessary travelling to events.

Did you know at Engage we cover all the overseas Grand Prix? Join us at our world-class ICON hospitality at Silverstone or travel to see the racing in Monaco, Singapore, Las Vegas and more in 2024!

A new era is dawning at Wimbledon

In 2023, 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz put an end to Novak Djokovic’s reign as Wimbledon champion in a trilling five set victory on centre court. Along with Federer’s retirement in 2022 and Rafael Nadal now in the twilight of his career, the guard is beginning to change in the race for Grand Slam titles on the tour.

The Australian Open will kick start the events on the tour in 2024 with Djokovic aiming to win his fifth title at Melbourne Park within the space of six years.

Then following the French Open in May, the grass court season get underway at the cinch Championships and The Boodles, before the best players in the world try to get their hands on the famous Wimbledon trophy.

Reigning champions Carlos Alcaraz and Markéta Vondroušová will enter the tournament full of confidence, but Djokovic will be after revenge and the next generation will be chasing them down too as they look to prove they have what it takes to make their mark at one of the most prestigious events on the tour. 

Baseball is very much riding along the coattails of the NFL in this country, following a surge in popularity in the UK in recent years.

In June, St Louis Cardinals will play the Chicago Cubs at the London Stadium in a two-game series in Stratford.

The MLB London series has become a regular fixture on the London sporting calendar since its launch in 2019, when the New York Yankees faced the Boston Red Sox, in the first official MLB game in Europe.

Now it’s the turn of the Cardinals and the Cubs who have 11 and three World Series Championships respectively. The two will compete at the former Olympic Stadium which will transform into an authentic ballpark.

The Cardinals and the Cubs

This isn’t just any old matchup either, the Cardinals vs Cubs is a 130-year-old rivalry owing to the proximity of the two cities and the fact they are divisional rivals in the National League Central.

The division was created in 1994, by moving two teams from the National League West (the Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros) and three teams from the National League East (the Chicago Cubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the St. Louis Cardinals).

Since then the Cardinals have dominated, winning 12 of the last 26 division championships, plus three wild card wins. The Cubs have the second most division championships with six, as well as three wild card wins.

However, the ultimate prize, i.e. the World Series Championships, was claimed by the Houston Astros in 2022 (now of the American League West), defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in a best-of-seven series.

The 2023 regular season begins on March 30 and both the Cardinals and the Cubs will be hoping to reach the postseason. Last year only the Cardinals made it to the playoffs, losing in the wild card round to eventual runners-up the Philadelphia Phillies.

Players to look out for

Both teams boast some of the league’s best players including third baseman Nolan Arenado, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (both Cardinals) and outfielder Ian Happ (Cubs), all of whom were selected for the 2022 All-Star Game.

For context, Nolan Arenado of the Cardinals is the 9th best player on the MLB The Show video game (baseball’s equivalent to FIFA) with a 95 overall rating.

All the ingredients are there for a fiery matchup between two of baseball’s most respected teams. The Cardinals are second only to the New York Yankees with 11 World Series titles, their last coming in 2011 against the Texas Rangers.

As for the Chicago Cubs their last World Series title came in 2016, a historic occasion which saw the ‘North Siders’ end their 108-year World Series drought.

The MLB London Series

Although still in its infancy, the London Series is already starting to make its own history. In 2019, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox contested a two-game series and the first regular season game ever to be played in Europe. The Yankees won the first game 17–13, and the second 12–8. Such was the success of that game, the partnership has been extended to 2025 so you can expect more MLB action in Europe in the years to come.

What to expect at the London Stadium

Ahead of the series, the London Stadium will have a new baseball field overlay fitted onto the existing field and running track, as it did in 2019, with a seating configuration that will emulate the intimate feel of a classic American ballpark.

Fans can also expect the very best of baseball cuisine, with dishes inspired by the home cities of the two clubs – St. Louis and Chicago.

Special guests and musical entertainment are yet to be announced but in 2019, the ceremonial first pitches were thrown by participants of the Invictus Games with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in attendance.

We suspect they won’t be returning for this year’s iteration, which is a shame because they are going to miss one hell of a show. Be sure to avoid disappointment and book your seats now.