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Author: Duncan Hughes

Olympic Games Paris 2024: Tennis

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the season of Spring in full swing and Summer fast approaching, we can start looking forward to what will be an enthralling year of sport. The big event of the Summer for sports fans will be the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Team GB expected to enter teams in most events.

It is a chance for fans of all sports to come together and watch the best athletes in the world go head-to-head to win what is arguably the most historic title on the planet in their respective sports. Here at Engage we will be doing a mini series of what to expect as the Olympics approach. 

Can Team GB find success in tennis on Parisian turf? Britain will be looking to regain their medal success from London 2012 and Rio 2016 after a medal drought in Tokyo. Britain boasts the earliest of success in Olympic tennis with John Pius Boland’s victory in the men’s singles and doubles events back in 1896, when the sport was introduced to the Olympics.

After a break from the Olympic programme between 1924 and 1984, the sport was reintroduced for the Seoul Olympics in 1988 with Team GB picking up four medals (2 gold and 2 silver) since it was brought back.

Perhaps more successful in the earlier Olympics, picking up 33 medals before 1924, Team GB do have work to do to match the form of previous team members. With that said, Scotsman Andy Murray has revitalised British men’s tennis, winning gold at London 2012 before defending his Olympic title in Rio in 2016. Murray hasn’t ruled out one more shot at Olympic Gold revealing he wants to play in one more Olympic Games before he retires from tennis.

The former Wimbledon Champion will have to face the clay courts of Roland-Garros while competing against a new era of up and coming stars in the tennis world. The World Rankings will determine 56 of the 64 players selected for the singles competitions, with a maximum of 4 players from each National Olympic Committee. Players Andy Murray will face may include Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and reigning champion Alexander Zverev.

It’s hard to call at the moment. The younger generation are beginning to turn heads but as World Number 1, many believe it is Djokovic’s gold medal to lose. With only one bronze medal in his career, is a gold medal what the Serbian needs to cement his position as the greatest ever? Or can Andy Murray find one more world-beating performance?

Fellow Briton Cameron Norrie may also be involved in Paris as well as Jack Draper. They will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Murray and spur Britain towards more Olympic success.

What about the women? Can any of the Brits repeat the incredible achievements of Charlotte Cooper back in 1900? In Paris back at the 1900 Olympics she became the first female Olympic tennis champion as well as the first individual female Olympic champion, not to mention, five Wimbledon single’s titles.

Medals have been few and far between for British women in tennis in recent years with Laura Robson winning a medal in the mixed doubles in 2012, with the previous woman’s medal in 1924. Katie Boulter will be Britain’s best hope of a medal, currently ranked 28th in the world. Emma Raducanu will also look to book her place in the Olympic team. The 21 year old burst onto the scene in 2021 winning the US Open but has been plagued by injuries since.

World Number One Iga Swiatek will be gunning for another title to add to her honours, while Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will be hoping to bring medals home for the US. However, there won’t be a title defence this year; reigning champion Belinda Bencic will not be in Paris to defend her title after she announced her pregnancy 5 months ago. The opportunity opens up for a new Olympic Champion, but who will take it?

How do you think Britain’s tennis team will get on in Paris? Can Andy Murray pull it out of the bag one more time? There is plenty of excitement in the tennis world at the moment with some sensational young talents emerging, making the competition for the top spot some of the fiercest it has been in years. It is no doubt that Paris 2024 will be an exhibition of world class tennis as well as a great advert for the game.

Want to watch the Olympians in action? Check out Engage Hospitality’s range of world class events where you can watch your favourite players from the best seats in the house.

The Premier League Run-In

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

It’s April and it’s crunch-time in the Premier League. After Liverpool and Arsenal suffered defeats at the weekend, was that the final twist in the title race? Are Spurs going to crumble under the pressure in the hunt for a Champions League spot? Will Luton defy all odds and maintain their place in the ‘big time’?

It’s going to be a nervy end to the season and fans all over the country will be fixed on the edge of their seats until that final ball has been kicked on the 19th May. With only 6 games to go for most teams, who will keep their cool?

A 5-1 win over Luton for Manchester City on Saturday saw them top the table with Liverpool and Arsenal still to play. City’s position at the top was precarious as wins for Arsenal and Liverpool would see them drop back down to third. But home defeats for both sides see Pep Guardiola’s team 2 points clear against all odds.

Poor performances for Liverpool and Arsenal might have seen their hopes of a title scuppered with the pair now relying on a City error if they are to have any chance of stopping the title defence.

All three sides are still in contention for European glory as well with Arsenal and City hopeful of victory against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid this week. On the other hand, Liverpool were serious favourites for the Europa League until they suffered a heavy defeat to Atalanta in the first leg of their quarter final. They have a mountain to climb in the second leg if they are to build on their League Cup victory.

City remain the only side out of the top 3 in the FA Cup. Guardiola’s side will face Chelsea in the semi-final of the competition. Can they do the unthinkable and win the treble for the second consecutive year?

What about the battle for Europe? Aston Villa’s win didn’t just have an impact on the title race, it also strengthened their hopes of a Champions League place at the end of the season. After Spurs were beaten 4-0 away at Newcastle, Unai Emery’s men capitalised at the Emirates to go three points clear of the North London side in 5th place, albeit having played a game more.

Also, still in the Europa Conference League, Villa have the chance of silverware this campaign as well as the opportunity to take on Europe’s elite for the first time since 1983.

A tough run-in for Spurs may dent their hopes of Champions League football, however, European football will almost definitely be on the cards for Postecoglou’s men. Newcastle, Manchester United and Chelsea will also join them in the hunt for European football next season after below-par terms for each side.

West Ham also find themselves in with a sniff of European football next year, however, some poor performances of late put their chances at risk. They are still in the Europa League but face a 2-0 deficit going into the quarter final second leg against unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen who are on an astonishing run.

At the other end of the table, there’s a relegation scrap. With Sheffield United all but relegated and Burnley heading in the same direction, who will be joining them in the Championship next season?

Luton currently hold the final relegation spot. It’s the Hatters’ first time in the Premier League since its inception and everyone had written them off before the season had begun.

However, Rob Edwards has done a magnificent job with the resources he has got and they find themselves 1 point from safety. It was just 10 years ago Luton found themselves in what is today known as the National League. A brilliant rise through the divisions, can they retain their Premier League status?

It won’t be easy but they have their eyes set on a Nottingham Forest and Everton side who have been struck by points deductions. Tough campaigns for both teams see the pair balanced precariously above the drop zone. After Everton’s 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Monday night, and one win in 2024, it’s hard to see where Sean Dyche’s team will regain their fighting spirit again.

Forest, on the other hand, face 2 out of the bottom 5 teams in their remaining fixtures. Defeat for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men was a kick in teeth but a much needed 3 points for Everton, especially with Liverpool and Arsenal still to play for the Toffees. Everton do have a game in hand, which could prove vital come the end of the campaign.

So how do you think the season will finish? Who will win the league? Who will go down? Who will secure European football? With everything to play for, find out who will finish where with Engage Hospitality from the best seats in the house. 

Olympic Games Paris 2024: Team GB Rowing Chances

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the season of Spring in full swing and Summer fast approaching, we can start looking forward to what will be an enthralling year of sport. The big event of the Summer for sports fans will be the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with Team GB expected to enter teams in most events.

It is a chance for fans of all sports to come together and watch the best athletes in the world go head-to-head to win what is arguably the most historic title on the planet in their respective sports. We continue our mini series of what to expect as the Olympics approach.

Can Team GB row their way to victory? Great Britain have had huge success in recent history courtesy of the Olympic rowing and they will be eager to repeat the same feat when they arrive in Paris. The first major rowing race began in the UK in 1829, which is now the UK’s annual Cambridge and Oxford boat race.

In Olympic rowing there are two disciplines and a number of events. The two disciplines are sweep rowing, which is when competitors hold one oar with both hands and double scull, when competitors hold an oar in each hand on each side of the boat. Races can be contested alone or in teams of 2, 4 and 8 with races spanning over 2000m.

Rowing events have been involved in the Olympic games since the first modern Olympiad in 1896 in Athens. Since then, the USA initially dominated until Germany took the place as the country to beat.

In recent years, Team GB have also had their success in the sport, with Briton Steve Redgrave hailed as the greatest rower ever with five gold medals and one bronze medal across six Olympic Games. For three Olympics in a row, 2008, 2012 and 2016, Great Britain topped the rowing medal tables as the best nation with their most impressive haul on home waters.

At London 2012, Team GB took home 4 gold medals with the men winning the coxless fours while the women took home the double sculls, coxless pairs and the lightweight double sculls. They were roared on by a 30,000 capacity crowd at Dorney Lake as the UK enjoyed hosting its first Olympics since 1948. Britain took home medals in 9 out of the 14 events, an incredible achievement, and the sixth biggest medal haul in Olympic rowing history.

So what could the GB team look like in 2024? With no team announcement just yet, it’s hard to say who could be on the plane to Paris at the moment, however, after disappointment in Tokyo 3 years ago, they will be keen to improve.

The rowing team only brought home two medals in 2021, none of which were gold. Team GB will be determined to make amends this year as the men will try to better their silver and bronze medals in the quadruple sculls and coxed eight respectively.

While for the women, they will be hoping to retain the success of Heather Stanning and Helen Glover in the coxless pairs after the duo won gold in 2012 and 2016. Stanning announced her retirement after 2016, however, Glover continued her rowing career, competing in Tokyo alongside Polly Swann where they finished in 4th place. They will both be determined to turn 4th place into a medal in Paris.

Athletes will make their way to the French capital and will be greeted by a state of the art, brand new facility built especially for the games, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, but who will come out on top?

Team GB will be met by fierce competition from a strong New Zealand team who finished on top at Tokyo 2020 with 5 medals across the events. Rivals Australia weren’t far behind with four medals, with only one gold medal less than their neighbours. Team GB will have their work cut out if they are to battle for the top of the medal table especially as the Netherlands and Germany will also be licking their lips at the possibility of Olympic honours.

With plenty of events in the Olympic rowing, fans will not be short of entertainment and as the competition draws ever nearer, anticipation for Paris 2024 is creeping up. How do you think Team GB will get on? Will they be back to winning ways after Tokyo?

Fancy watching rowing from the banks of the River Thames in preparation for the Olympics? Check out Engage’s range of hospitality options for the Henley Regatta at the start of July as athletes prepare for the big event of the summer.

Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Team GB go for Golf Gold

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the season of Spring in full swing and Summer fast approaching, we can start looking forward to what will be an enthralling year of sport. The big event of the Summer for sports fans will be the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with Team GB expected to enter teams in most events.

It is a chance for fans of all sports to come together and watch the best athletes in the world go head-to-head to win what is arguably the most historic title on the planet in their respective sports. Here at Engage we will be doing a mini series of what to expect as the Olympics approach.

Will Team GB be swinging for gold in golf? Golf is a relatively new addition to the Olympics as far as our generation is concerned. It was introduced to the games in the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics, it wasn’t recognised as part of the games. Golf wasn’t reinstated in the Olympics until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. So with only the 3rd official Olympic showing of the sport, who will take part?

Qualification will be based on the world rankings and the top 15 men and women golfers in the world will automatically be selected. From then, it will be the highest ranked players from countries that have not already had 2 people qualified. Each competition is limited to 60 competitors and a maximum of four people from each country can take part. Players will compete in an individual stroke play format in the hope of grasping a famous medal.

The event will be held at Le Golf National outside of Paris, a venue that hosted the Ryder Cup in 2018. There is expected to be big crowds eager to see the world’s best in action.

So who can we expect to see playing for Team GB? For the men, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are expected to take part, with no Rory McIlroy for Great Britain as he opted to represent Ireland in 2021.

As of the 3rd April, Tyrell Hatton sits outside of the top 15 in the world, so will not be included as it stands in the GB team. It was Justin Rose who brought the gold medal home for Great Britain in 2016, but is also unlikely to be selected for 2024.

Competition for Team GB includes defending champion from Tokyo 2020 Xander Schauffle who is expected to make a return in the hope of repeating his success from 2021 as he sits 5th in the World Rankings currently. Others hoping for a chance at Olympic glory include Spaniard Jon Rahm, Norwegian Viktor Hovland, and the three other Americans Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay. The men’s competition will be a scintillating contest and there will be plenty of big names on show in the battle for Olympic Champion.

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - JULY 23: Jordan Spieth of the United States and Matt Kuchar of the United States on the 18th green during the final round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 23, 2017 in Southport, England. (Photo by Warren Little/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

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In the women’s contest, Charley Hull will lead the way for Great Britain alongside Georgia Hall. Hull finds herself ranked 7th in the world while Georgia Hall sits in the 28th rank. Hull, who was 7th in 2016, will be one of the favourites to medal in Paris but she will have to be on the top of her game if she wants to come out with a gold.

Defending champion and world number one Nelly Korda is expected to take part and is the strong favourite for the competition while Lydia Ko of New Zealand, bronze in 2021 and silver in 2016, will be looking to get the better of the rest of the field. Lilia Vu will also be looking for Olympic victory and hoping to cause an upset for her American counterpart as she sits behind Korda in second on the World Rankings.

Just as the men’s competition, the women’s stroke play could be anyone’s game, could there be an upset and perhaps a chance of a medal for Team GB?

So, there you have it, the 2024 Olympics are just around the corner and many of these athletes will be gearing up to the biggest competition on the planet. Fancy watching some of the world’s best prepare for Paris 2024 in some of the most iconic golf competitions? Check out Engage’s range of hospitality options for the best seats in the house.

Euro 2024: Will Southgate finally deliver?

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the Premier League on pause, the International break gives us the chance to take a look ahead at this year’s major tournament: Euro 2024. Gareth Southgate and his England side will once again look to make a major international tournament count after coming so close to a trophy in recent years. After agony in 2021 when beaten by Italy in the final on home turf and a narrow defeat to France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final, will it finally be England’s year?

The appointment of Gareth Southgate brought with it a great amount of uncertainty in 2016. Limited managerial experience and disappointment from England in previous tournaments, many greeted his arrival with a lack of optimism. However, consistently good results in major tournaments have seen hope revitalised in England fans across the country. Euro 2024 will be no different, with the influx of young talent as well as the experience of the more senior players, England may have the perfect ingredients to end that 58-year wait for a trophy.

With that said, in what many describe as England’s ‘Golden Generation’, they still don’t have any titles to show for it bringing much criticism to Southgate’s ‘boring’ tactics. Add to that a scrappy defeat to Brazil on Saturday courtesy of a late Endrick goal and a last gasp draw to Belgium on Tuesday, the critics have only become worse.

The Squad

So, what is it exactly that makes everyone excited about this England squad? For the fixtures against Brazil and Belgium a stellar 25-man team was picked with the introduction of Anthony Gordon, Jarrad Branthwaite, Kobbie Manoo, James Trafford and Ezri Konsa all in the senior squad for the first time.

The squad also starred Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Declan Rice who have all impressed for their respective club’s this season, particularly Bellingham. The former Birmingham City and Borussia Dortmund has set the footballing world alight this campaign starring for Real Madrid in the battle for the LaLiga title with many terming him as the ‘best footballer in the world’ at the moment. The youngster will certainly be a key part of Southgate’s midfield in Germany this summer, especially after his important last-minute equaliser on Tuesday evening.

Although the strength of the England squad has been highlighted, they are a country plagued with injuries including Kane, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka. It gives Southgate a huge selection dilemma but also the opportunity to experiment as he awarded Mainoo and Konsa their first international starts, as well as Ivan Toney, in his aim to act as Harry Kane’s understudy, against Belgium.

Questions on the manager’s selection of certain individuals have been asked with the likes of Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire continually picked despite poor form at club level. With that said, the experience of the long-time England servants will definitely have an impact on the younger players in the group. If their quality is not still there, perhaps, they can inspire the newer faces in the camp.

Will England do it?

What are England’s chances of winning the tournament? They are the favourites for the trophy, but they will be met by some fierce competition.

France will once again be the ones to watch out for as Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal amongst other European giants will be aiming for glory. Underdogs for the trophy may include Denmark and Croatia while Georgia are involved in their first major finals. Whatever happens, winning this trophy will not be a walk in the park for Southgate’s side.

Will Southgate silence his critics and finally bring home the trophy that England fans have been longing for? Germany 2024 has all the hallmarks of another special tournament, and you won’t want to miss it, especially if England perform. Watch international football and England’s Euro 2024 warmup game against Iceland with Engage Hospitality from the best seats in the house.

Premier League 2023/24: 10 matches to go

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

We’re approaching the crunch stage of the Premier League season. With only 10 games to go for most sides, the final international break of the season gives us a chance to take a look at how the league table is shaping up.

A title, a relegation battle and the European spots are all still to play for, there are very few teams who are not wound up in an exciting battle. With fatigue, nerves and pressure all starting to set in, the end of the Premier League 2023/24 season promises to be a thrilling encounter.

The Title Race

Starting with the title race. Three teams, ten games, one trophy. At this stage it’s far too close to call. Arsenal lead the way only on goal difference to Liverpool with both sides on 64 points while Manchester City breathe down their necks on 63 points.

Arsenal have arguably the hardest remaining fixtures as they face four of the current Premier League top 6 including what could be a title-defining moment as they travel to the Etihad on the 31st March.

With no title challengers still to play and only three of the top six do Liverpool have the better of the run-ins? With Jurgen Klopp’s final games with Liverpool approaching, the German will be determined he can deliver one last league title to Anfield before his summer departure. However, Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola will be just as eager to rain on his parade as Arteta chases Arsenal’s first league win since 2004 while Guardiola will want to repeat City’s incredible treble winning season last year.

This title race has all the chance to go right down to the wire with all three teams set to push each other until the final game. Who’s your money on?

Battle for Europe

In terms of the battle for European spots, all the places are up for grabs. Spurs and Aston Villa will battle it out for the final guaranteed Champions League place. An excellent season for Unai Emery’s men sees them in an unexpected battle for Europe’s most prestigious competition as Ange Postecoglou looks to have Spurs returning to European competition after a one year absence.

Champions League will be a tough ask for Erik Tenn Haag’s Manchester United side, however, they are still in with a shout trailing Aston Villa by 9 points with a game in hand.

In any case, they lead the way for the race to the Europa League while West Ham currently sit in the European Conference League spot (7th place), the competition they famously won last year. They will be keen to stay in Europe this season and whether that’s by winning the Europa League or through the automatic league spots, David Moyes’ men will want to do both.

With that said, neither is guaranteed for the Irons as four teams stalk the only Conference League place. Brighton, Wolves, Newcastle and Chelsea are all within reach of the European spot.

A strong mid-season run from Wolves has seen Gary O’Neil’s debut campaign become a successful one after a rocky start. A brilliant feat for the West Midlands side would be to qualify for Europe once again after being relegation candidates back in August.

Relegation Fight

Speaking of relegation candidates, the race to avoid the drop is hotting up with injuries, point deductions and shock results, it’s tough to call. Sheffield United look to be cut adrift from the rest of the pack as a poor campaign sees Chris Wilder’s side 8 points from safety with 10 games to play; survival looks an impossible task. Burnley aren’t much better off as they stare a return to the Championship in the face 5 points from safety.

After the announcement of Nottingham Forest’s points deduction at the weekend, they drop into the bottom three as Luton Town, favourites to go down, find themselves hanging on by the skin of their teeth. What a job Rob Edwards has done for the Hatters; it will be an incredible achievement if he can keep them up.

Elsewhere, Everton are four points clear of the dropzone after a 6 point deduction earlier in the season while Thomas Frank’s Brentford are one point better off after a particularly disappointing campaign for the London club.

What about the race for the Golden Boot? Erling Haaland leads the way once again with 18 goals, however, he has Ollie Watkins, Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke for company with the trio of goalscorers threatening to steal the trophy from the Norwegian’s grasp.

So, the 2023/24 Premier League season is into the home straight. In one of the most exciting title races and relegation battles in recent years, it’s anyone’s call what will happen. Can Sheffield United do the impossible? Will Arsenal win their first league title in 20 years?

What do you think will happen? Watch the Premier League from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

Formula 1: Flying start for Red Bull’s 2024 Title Defence

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

It’s that time of year again, the Formula 1 season is back under way and the new season is already promising to be an exciting one. Two races down and twenty-two to go, expect thrills and spills throughout. The racing action will be coming thick and fast with a record schedule length of 24 races in 2024. Will the magnificent Max Verstappen be able to sustain his dominance from last season or will there be a new champion crowned in the Abu Dhabi finale?

The 2024 Bahrain season opener provided some brilliant entertainment as it always does, with all the drivers coming together again after their off season with fans curious to see how the teams had improved their cars for the new campaign.

It was business as usual for Max Verstappen and Red Bull as the Dutchman banked another victory under the lights with his teammate Sergio Perez coming in second to complete the perfect weekend for the Red Bull team. Ferrari teammates Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished 3rd and 4th respectively rounding off a good weekend for their team.

Lewis Hamilton finished 7th with his Mercedes team as teammate George Russell was two places ahead in 5th. A slightly disappointing result for Hamilton in what has been a tough last couple of years for the Briton. However, his announcement of joining Ferrari in 2025 provides some hope of him getting himself back on the podium but he will be keen to put in a good final season for the team that saw him win 7 Drivers’ Championships including four on the trot.

Another poor drive from Logan Sargeant saw him finish in 20th place and after only one point last season, questions were raced about Williams’ decision to re-sign the young American alongside Alexander Albon who took the chequered flag in 13th position.

The oldest driver on the grid, Fernando Alonso still managed an impressive top 6 finish. In his 40s now the Spaniard shows no signs of letting up as he continues to challenge the best drivers in the world. How many more seasons does he have left in him?

And after the excitement of the season opener in Bahrain, it was onto Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the second round. A race that has caused much controversy in recent years off the track due to drivers’ unease to race due to Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record with Hamilton being one of the more prominent critics of the event and its decision to be held in Jeddah as well as many others threatening a boycott. With that said, the race still is a headline fixture in the F1 calendar and once again drivers arrived in Jeddah for the second round of the 2024 season.

It was déjà vu for Red Bull after Bahrain as Max Verstappen was once again the victor finishing an incredible 13 seconds ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez in second place. Oscar Piastri impressed for Mclaren as he took the chequered flag in fourth place with teammate Lando Norris in eighth.

Perhaps the biggest talking point of the weekend was 18-year old Oliver Bearman’s stand-in debut performance for Ferrari. With the Briton called up hours before the final practice to replace Carlos Sainz, the youngster qualified 11th on the grid and improved to take seventh place in the race.

A brilliant performance saw him hold off both Norris and Hamilton raising a few eyebrows in the process. It will be interesting to see how the youngster fares for the rest of the F2 season and whether he will be offered a contract to race in F1 in 2025.

Further down the grid, Pierre Gasly was forced to retire on the first lap due to gear issues as Lance Stroll crashed out on the 5th lap to end his hopes of placing in the points. It was a better performance for Logan Sargeant as he finished in 14th place, but there is work to be done if he wants to keep his seat for the 2025 season.

Next up is the Australian Grand Prix. Will it be another win for Verstappen and Red Bull? Will Hamilton be able to improve on his disappointing results? Can Ferrari have any response to Red Bull’s dominance? There is no doubt it will be another scintillating race on the Melbourne circuit, can Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo impress in front of the home crowd?

A perfect start for Red Bull and Max Verstappen sees them target their 3rd title in a row and Verstappen’s 4th Drivers’ Championship on the bounce. Can anyone actually stop them? Verstappen couldn’t do the impossible and go the season with a 100% record, could he? It would be astonishing if he did. Want to find out? Watch the F1 live from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality. 

A Gift Guide for Mother’s Day

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

Has it creeped up on you once again this year? Have you forgot to buy that special gift? Don’t worry, here at Engage we have you covered with a wide variety of entertainment and hospitality options for you to show your mum some love this Mother’s Day. What better way to show her you care by treating her to a hospitality package at her favourite event.

Concerts

It’s your chance to show your mum how much you appreciate everything she does for you. Go big with a hospitality ticket at our range of concerts. These include the world-famous Taylor Swift Eras Tour, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s tour, Coldplay or even a trip to the Royal Albert Concert Hall. With numerous packages, locations and dates available watch your mum’s favourite performers from the best seats in the house.

Chelsea Flower Show

Here at Engage we have something for everyone to enjoy. If music isn’t your mum’s thing, why not treat her to a trip to the annual Chelsea Flower Show with five days of indulging in the beauty of the natural world. From the 21st to the 25th of May, experience Engage’s Spring Garden with private chalets for you and others to enjoy both the stunning nature on show as well as a London fine dining experience. The Spring Garden menu has been put together by none other than Australian Chef Skye Gyngell, famous for her unique cooking style creating dishes inspired by what she saw growing and blossoming around her. It will be a week like no other.

Michael McIntyre

Fancy a more humorous day out? A Michael McIntyre comedy show might be right up your mum’s street. Enjoy his brand-new show MACNIFICENT from the best view at the O2 Arena as the London man tours for the first time in 5 years. Previous tours saw him sell over 4 million tickets and if you fancy making your mum laugh this Mother’s Day, you can’t miss this.

Sports Gifts

Is mum more of a sports fan? Engage offer a wide selection of sporting events throughout the year with a wide range of hospitality options for everyone. Summer is just around the corner, and you can’t let her miss these brilliant events that will make the perfect gift.

Bask in the summer sun with strawberries and cream at the World’s most prestigious and oldest tennis tournament. That’s right, Wimbledon is back from the 1st until the 14th of July 2024. What better way to treat your mum than hospitality seats on centre court watching the best players on the planet battle it out for the famous honours. Wimbledon is a title won by greats including Roger Federer, Billie Jean King, Serena Williams, Boris Becker, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and many more.

If tennis isn’t the preferred summer sport, how about the famous Henley Royal Regatta? 5 days of the most iconic rowing event in the country located in Henley on Thames, the perfect place for a summer’s day out. From the 2nd of July until the 6th dress up in your finest summer clothes and come down to the riverside to spectate the high-quality racing on show. You will be treated to a fine dining experience with tremendous views of the races in our well-renowned ICON enclosures and Temple Island. The perfect day out that she is sure to love.

Whether it’s music, sport or a more cultural hospitality experience your mum is looking for, here at Engage there is plenty on offer. Show your mum some love this Mother’s Day with one our wonderful hospitality packages. We can assure you that no matter what you book with us, you will not be disappointed. So, what are you waiting for?

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

What is the Goodwood Festival of Speed?

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

Are you a motorsports fan? Do you have a passion for cars past and present? Or are you just an adrenaline junkie who loves speed and sound? If you said yes to any of these questions, we have just the place for you.

On Thursday 11th July 2024, the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed will be returning once again. An action packed weekend that car lovers will thrive in, with multiple events and action areas for any motorsport fanatic.

What to expect?

Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual motorsports festival located at Goodwood Motor Circuit in Chichester. It is a jam-packed weekend featuring modern and historic motorcars as well as a range of different events including a hill climb race, air displays, rally events and much more. It will take place from the 11th to the 14th July and is sure to have something for everyone whether you are a diehard motorsport fan or not.

Each year, a new theme for the festival is announced associated with the motoring industry, and this year it’s no different. The theme for 2024 is ‘Horseless to Hybrid- Revolutions in Power’ which will celebrate the evolution of motorcars and how they have developed through the years from the first ‘horseless’ carriage to the sustainable, more environmentally friendly cars today.

Sustainability will be the main focus of the weekend from the Hill Race to the many exhibits around the festival. The event that Goodwood is famous for is the well-renowned Hill Race attracting 1000s of spectators every year. It is unique to the festival and will see the cars battle it out in a time-trial styled event to be crowned ‘King of the Hill’.

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‘Action on the hill’

The Hillclimb is the most iconic part of Goodwood and has been the centre of action since the festival’s inception in 1993. A winding 1.16 mile stretch that finishes at the top of the Goodwood hill, tests the limits of drivers of the utmost quality with Sunday Shootout winners including Sebastian Loeb, Jonathan Palmer and Martin Brundle.

Indy 500 Champ and former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya exclaimed that it was the ‘narrowest, bumpiest, least grippy course I have ever driven. But I loved it’.

It was Marvin Kirchhöfer’s title in 2023 in his McLaren Solus GT. However, Max Chilton is the current record holder from 2022 with a blistering 39.08 seconds in a McMurtry Spéirling, over 2 seconds faster than the previous record held by Nick Heidfield in a McLaren MP4/13. Can anyone get near 39 seconds in 2024?

Something for all motorsport fans

What else is on? The Hillclimb is not the only scintillating part of the weekend, in fact there is something for all motorsport fans to enjoy. If you are a rally fan why not spectate the classic Forest Rally Stage as some of the best current rally drivers take on the gravel for the fastest time including cars ranging from modern WRC cars to the infamous Group B machines.

How about Goodwood Action Sports? This arena is perfect for adrenaline junkies showcasing BMX stunts, motocross jumps and more that will have you watching with one eye open!

Get the chance to meet your heroes and walk through the FOS pit-lane. You will be up close and personal with some of the best drivers in Formula 1, MotoGP and more. You will be within inches of modern F1 cars with Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren in attendance. Don’t forget the classic Goodwood air displays including an epic show put on by the legendary Red Arrows and watch in awe as they paint the sky in their famous formation.

With this being only a small snippet of the entertainment on show and what to expect it’s safe to say you will not be short of things to do and see.

Goodwood Festival of Speed is easily one of the best motorsport events of the year in the UK with thousands of fans flocking from all over the country to the South Coast for an exhilarating weekend of some of the most impressive machines the 21st century has to offer.

For motoring enthusiasts and anyone interested in getting involved with the automobile industry, you just can’t miss this. Check out Engage’s range of hospitality options for the Festival of Speed as well as the Goodwood Revival at the start of September.

League Cup Final Preview: Chelsea and Liverpool Meet Again

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

Just like that, the first opportunity for domestic silverware is almost upon us. That’s right the Carabao League Cup Final will be played at Wembley on Sunday in a 3pm kick-off. Chelsea will take on Liverpool under the Wembley Arch with both clubs gunning for a much-needed trophy, for very different reasons.

A classic matchup that is sure to have all the hallmarks of a brilliant final. Not only that, it is a repeat of the 2022 final, one that Chelsea won on penalties breaking Liverpudlian hearts. The Red’s will be mindful of the outcome 2 years ago and they will be keen to claim revenge on a Chelsea side that haven’t been quite up to scratch as of late.

Starting with Liverpool, a high flying first half of the campaign sees them in a title race, and arguably favourites too. Also, still in the FA Cup and Europa League there is plenty of opportunity for them to pick up numerous pieces of silverware throughout the season. Their good form is perhaps not the main talking point of their season so far after manager, Jurgen Klopp, announced he would be leaving the club in the summer.

Klopp has been in charge of the Reds since 2015 and is regarded by many as one of the best managers in world football. With a Premier League title, Champions League and FA Cup amongst other trophies, it’s hard to argue that his reign at Liverpool hasn’t been spectacular and he will be a huge loss. Liverpool will be hoping to win as many trophies as possible throughout the remaining season to honour their head coach before his departure.

Chelsea on the other hand have been far from their best. They need something to kick start their season and a League Cup trophy could be just what they require. After spending in excess of £1 billion over the last two seasons, but only a mid-table finish last year and the possibility of another one this season to show for it, nothing seems to be quite working for the London club.

Fans hoped it would be different this season with the introduction of new manager Mauricio Pochettino and a complete overhaul of new players after last season, however, they still find themselves middle of the pack. Can they turn their season around with a piece of silverware?

So who should we look out for? In the league, Liverpool’s superstar Mohamed Salah has been in fine form once again with 15 goals and 9 assists in 21 matches. He is certain to be a nightmare for the Chelsea defence. As will Darwin Núnez who is coming into his own in a Liverpool shirt. The Uruguayan has 9 goals and 7 assists this season in the Premier League and while many claim he is too wasteful in front of goal, there is no denying that he is on course for a great tally this year.

Chelsea on the other hand boast a number of players in fine form themselves including England man Connor Gallagher. With three goals in his last three games, the midfielder is on fire for the Blues and he will be hoping to carry this goalscoring form into Wembley, alongside other Chelsea youngster Cole Palmer.

Palmer has proved vital to Chelsea this season contributing a number of goals and assists to the side after his signing from Manchester City. He is another man who the Liverpool defence will have to contain on Sunday.

Defensively, Liverpool are also the stronger of the two sides having only conceded 24 in the league this season compared to Chelsea’s 41 goals against. Liverpool’s good defensive record is a huge contributor to their position in the table and their cup form, not to mention their array of attacking options.

Although Chelsea appear to have had a weaker back line, they haven’t been short on goals with 42, the 8th most in the league and the best record in the bottom half of the table. If they were to tighten up at the back, where could they have found themselves this season?  

Another convincing win for Liverpool on Saturday away at Brentford will have Klopp and his side’s confidence soaring high. With that said, a good Chelsea performance away at Manchester City saw last year’s treble winners made to work hard to snatch a point. The performance will instil belief in the Blues that they can cause an upset this weekend.

One thing that can’t be denied is that this fixture always promises to be a classic. This weekend will be no different as two giants of English football will clash for the first piece of silverware this season. So who will it be, Chelsea or Liverpool?

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