Author: Duncan Hughes

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?

Who will win Superbowl LVIII?

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

Widely considered one of the biggest sporting events of the year, this weekend is a big one for NFL fans. That’s right Superbowl LVIII is upon us. In what feels like forever since the first action of the campaign back in September, the big finale is finally here in what promises to be a thrilling contest. The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Franciso 49ers at the Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas on Sunday. In what is expected to be a sell-out crowd with a capacity of 65,000 and millions more watching from home, viewers will be treated to some spectacular American Football, pyrotechnics and an epic halftime show featuring popstar Usher. You won’t want to miss this.

The Kansas City Chiefs go into the final as pre-season favourites and reigning champions. Having beaten the Philadelphia Eagles last year in the finale, they will be keen to make it two on the bounce, the first team since the New England Patriots in 2005, while making it four total Superbowl wins. 11 wins and only 6 defeats throughout the campaign suggest that they mean business and watching Usher perform will not be their main concern.

Nor will it be the 49ers main concern either as they boast a superior record coming into the match having won 12 and only lost 5. With commanding wins over the Cowboys and the Packers, the 49ers will not be a walkover for the Chiefs. They will look to tie the record of the most Superbowl victories (6) if they are to be victorious in the final joining the Steelers and the Patriots on that incredible feat.

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So who should you look out for in the final? Well Patrick Mahomes once again has been a valuable asset to his side with passing yards of 4183, the sixth highest this year. Elsewhere in attack Isiah Pacheco has rushing yards of 935 and Travis Kelce has receiving yards of 984. Meanwhile in defence Justin Reid boasts 95 tackles and 3 sacks.

In terms of individual performance the Chiefs are less impressive when compared to the 49ers with Brock Purdy outshining Mahomes with passing yards of 4280 while Christian McAffrey tops the rushing yards table for the season with 1459. In defending they prevail as well, with Fred Warner’s 132 tackles while Charvarius Ward is ranked joint 4th in interceptions made with 5.

The Chiefs were favourites at the start of the season, but are they still favourites now? Well with the clear differences in individual performance, could they struggle against a very well-drilled San Francisco side? It’s safe to say it could be anyone’s game but with the 49ers’ impressive form, you have to say that they might be the team to pinch it and equal the record Superbowl wins.

So who do you think will win Superbowl LVIII? Where will you be watching the game of the year in 2024? It will be a great contest between two excellent sides, and we can’t wait to watch how it pans out. Want to see your favourite NFL stars in action in the UK? Check out Engage Hospitality’s range of American Football events including NFL London 2024 at Wembley Stadium. Teams in action include the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings. Don’t miss out!

Flying start to England’s tour of India

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

England’s Cricket team kicked off 2024 with a heart-stopping test victory over Indian in Hyderabad. In a 28 run victory that went down to the wire, they began their tour of India in impressive style. A thrilling encounter saw stunning displays from Ollie Pope with the bat and debutant Tom Hartley with the ball. Ben Stokes termed the test match win as the best since he became captain.

However, it wasn’t all plain-sailing for England. The tourists found themselves in difficulty after a first innings deficit of 190, but it was Ollie Pope’s second innings display of 196 that anchored England into position to snatch the result from the hosts, setting them 231 to win. The work wasn’t done yet though, as Tom Hartley, in his test debut, outdid the Indians on their own pitch as his 7-62 sealed the victory for Ben Stokes’ side.

Described by many as one of England’s best ever away wins, they began their tour of India with a fairly average first innings having been 155-7 at one point. That was before a trademark Ben Stokes rally saw them surpass 240 before being the last man out.

India came out to bat, high on confidence after a good bowling display and they batted like it. With Jaiswal, Rahul and Jadeja all hitting over 80 runs, England were on the ropes as the Indians posted 436 with a lead of 190.

In the second innings, it was looking pretty miserable for England once again as they slipped to 163-5. That was until Ollie Pope stepped up with arguably the best innings from an overseas player on an Indian pitch, scoring 196 to stabilise the ship for the tourists. England were 420 all out with India needing 231 to win.

So, could the home side do it? Well England came out firing with Tom Hartley taking the first four wickets of the innings to have the hosts 95-4. There was further misery for India as they slipped to 119-7 with the 6th wicket being courtesy of some brilliant Ben Stokes fielding to run Ravindra Jadeja out much to his side’s dismay. However, a 56-run eighth-wicket stand sparked a glimmer of hope and was enough to heighten England nerves. With that said, ultimately it was Tom Hartley’s spin bowling that sealed the victory, seeing India’s final wicket tumble on 202. The debutant finished on superb figures of 7-62.

Hartley is only the sixth player ever to take a seven-wicket haul on debut and the first Englishmen since Dominic Cork in 1955 against the West Indies. Only 24 years of age, Hartley certainly stamped his name in the mind’s of selectors as the spinner looks to cement his place for the remainder of the tour and beyond. Not to mention, his first delivery of the game was smashed over the rope for six; not the warmest of welcomes to test cricket.

A 28 run victory for The Tourists sets Ben Stokes and his side up well for the remainder of the series, with a journey east awaiting them on Friday, as they travel to Visakhapatnam for the second test. It’s safe to say, morale in the England camp will be high and they will be confident of another victory on the Asian continent to once again unsettle the home side.

Can England go 2-0 up in the series? Or will India be more eager to get revenge? Either way, this series has all the hallmarks of a thrilling contest and perhaps a classic. Want to see England play live from the best seats in the house this summer? Check out Engage Hospitality’s range of options to watch the cricket in style.

England’s Possible Route to the Euro 2024 Final

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

For English football fans, not only was the clock striking midnight on the 31st December to mark the start of a New Year, it was the beginning of a year with a major international tournament. The European Championship will once again return in Summer 2024, in a tournament that will attract the best talent across Europe. The tournament will take place in Germany this year and after such agony in 2021’s final (Euro 2020), England fans will be keen to see their team redeem themselves.

Heartbreak in 2021 saw England’s hands slip from the trophy after defeat in the final to Italy. Having been 1-0 up courtesy of an early Luke Shaw goal, Leonardo Bonucci levelled things up in the 67th minute.

The teams were inseparable after extra time and it was England’s archenemy, penalties, that saw them prolong their wait for another trophy. However, 3 years on from the disappointment in Euro 2020, can Gareth Southgate spur his men on to triumph in 2024? If so, what might their route to victory be if they are to go all the way? We take a look at all of England’s possible routes to the final.

When do England begin their tournament?

England will commence their Euro campaign when they face Serbia on the 16th June. Other teams in their group include Denmark and Slovenia who they will play on the 20th and 25th June. A relatively difficult group with Denmark being the most difficult challenge.

England were victorious over the Danes in the 2021 semi-final and will hope to repeat the outcome albeit at an earlier stage in the tournament. Although it is a difficult group, without any disasters, England should progress comfortably to the knockout stages.

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What if England were to go through as group winners?

If England were to win their group they would go on to play the 3rd placed team in group D/E/F and if all results go according to the world rankings they would play Austria, Romania or Turkey.

Based on the rankings the Three Lions would then go on to play Italy, then France in the semi-finals and then Spain for a chance at European Glory.

Obviously, the likelihood of England following this route is slim as it is all based on ranking, however, if it were to happen England would have to beat two sides who have both caused heartache in the last 4 years; France having knocked them out of the 2022 World Cup after a Harry Kane penalty miss. How will your nerves be over the course of these two games if they were to pan out like this?

Spain, who were crowned 2023 Nations League Champions, are another team to be reckoned with. If England were to go through as group winners, they’d arguably have the most difficult route to the final.

What if they were to go through as group runners-up?

If England finish second in group C and all of the other results go with the world rankings England would face Germany in the round of 16, then Spain, the Netherlands in the semis and then battle it out with the French in the final. Another road to the final that will certainly not be easy but perhaps a one that England will feel they can be successful in.

After victory over the Germans in the round of 16 at Wembley in Euro 2020 they will be confident that they can repeat this feat, however, Thomas Muller’s infamous 1-on-1 miss in that game warns us just how dangerous they can be.

England have only faced the Netherlands three times in the last ten years, with the most recent game all the way back in 2019. It resulted in a 3-1 defeat as England crashed out in the semi-finals of the Nations League. England could face them in another semi-final with arguably a lot more at stake. Will they be able to get the better of them this time around?

What about if England were one of the four best third-placed sides?

If England finished third in their group, it wouldn’t necessarily mean they were going home. The four best third-placed teams in each group will progress to the round of 16 based on their points in the group stage. If England were to do this they would face the winner of Group F or Group E, groups that include Belgium and Portugal.

Perhaps if they were to finish third, they would arguably receive an easier round of 16 draw. With that said, Southgate will be keen for his team to finish as group winners convincingly and send a statement out to the other countries as well as his critics.

So can England finally get their hands on the major trophy they have been longing for for almost 60 years? What route do you think they will take to the final and which would you prefer?

In possibly England’s biggest opportunity for a major tournament yet, the whole nation will be excited to see how they get on. Fancy watching England in their Euro 2024 preparations? Watch the Three Lions take on Brazil and Belgium from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

Which players will be picked for Southgate’s side?

Gareth Southgate is set to unveil his preliminary squad selection immediately after the end of the Premier League season, with only a handful of weekends remaining in the club football calendar. As players battle for their spots, the competition for the 26 available places is intense.

Certain seasoned players, such as England’s No.1 Jordan Pickford and Manchester City’s defensive duo John Stones and Kyle Walker, are almost guaranteed their spots. Three Lions captain Harry Kane aims to make a comeback after missing the March internationals due to injury.

Phil Foden’s stellar performances for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have likely ensured his inclusion in the England squad this summer. However, he faces stiff competition from world class attacking stars like Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, among others.

Henderson, Chilwell, Ramsdale, Trippier, Maguire, Palmer, Rashford, Maddison and Toney are just a few other names predicted to secure their spot and have the opportunity to achieve European glory this year.

We are unlikely to see Reece James, who is regarded as one of the world’s best full-backs make an appearance, due to lack of consistent fitness. Raheem Sterling, who was one of England’s star players at Euro 2020, has not been involved in recent camps and is not a part of Southgate’s preferred formation. Although his recent form has shown signs of promise, he is unlikely to feature now.

Southgate is scheduled to reveal his training squad on Tuesday, May 21st.

Big Premier League Players lost to AFCON

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

Two years on from Senegal’s triumph in 2021, the Africa Cup of Nations returns, with countries all over the African continent battling out for the prized trophy. Hosted by Ivory Coast this year, the 2023 competition promises to be an exciting one. However, unlike the European Championships played in the summer, AFCON is played midway through the Premier League campaign causing headaches for many clubs who lose players called up to international duty. So which key players are Premier League clubs losing in this year’s tournament?

Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian superstar will once again be called up for the African tournament leaving Liverpool without their star player and the league without the top goalscorer. Salah has scored 14 goals and grabbed 8 assists in the Premier League so far this season, playing a pivotal role in Liverpool’s position at the top of the table.

His absence could be a huge blow to the Reds’ title hopes, especially if Egypt make the final as Salah would miss four Premier League games. Liverpool will also be affected by the Asian Cup with the loss of Wataru Endo to Japan. The defensive midfielder has been a key player for Jurgen Klopp and will also be another big miss in their fight for the title.

Similarly, Tottenham will also lose Heung-Min Son to the Asia Cup as he will be called up for South Korea. Ange Postecoglou will also be without regular starters Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr as they are called up to AFCON for Mali and Senegal. With Spurs very much in the title race, you can’t help but wonder how losing three key players will affect them and their good run of form having won four of their last five games.

Nottingham Forest will take the biggest hit out of the Premier League clubs as they will lose six key players to AFCON when the tournament starts on the 13th January. After the departure of manager Steve Cooper and the appointment of former Wolves and Spurs manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, they have been in good form.

Wins away at Newcastle and at home to Manchester United have seen them move 5 points clear of the relegation zone. With that said, could the loss of Willy Boly, Serge Aurier and other senior players be detrimental to their survival hopes allowing the teams around them to catch them up?

With Manchester City being the only team in the current top 6 to not have any first team players involved in either competition, could this give Pep Guardiola’s side a chance to fight back after a poor start to the season?

The Citizens have been in unusually disappointing form this campaign dropping points to seven teams including Wolves, Crystal Palace and Chelsea. The task at hand for Guardiola seems a big one this season, however, only 5 points off the top spot with a game in hand, AFCON may give them that chance to close the gap.

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In the battle for European places, West Ham may have their hopes of another European adventure dented as they see two players depart who have played vital roles in their success so far this season. The Irons are currently 6th in the league but will be without Mohammed Kudus and Nayef Aguerd as the pair travel to their respective countries for international duty.

Kudus has scored 6 goals for the London side and Aguerd will be a huge defensive miss for David Moyes. The departure of both players could see West Ham struggle to match the pace of the other sides challenging for Europe.

With up to 46 Premier League players expected to be missing due to AFCON as well as several others attending the Asia Cup, how badly will it affect clubs? It may benefit some teams who have less absentees while for others it may give the opportunity for new stars to step up and make a name for themselves. Want to find out how the Premier League will be affected by the two tournaments? Watch it live from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

Rising Sports Stars of 2024

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

Just like that, 2024 is here! After a year of action-packed sporting drama, another year of similar excitement is on the way which includes the 2024 Paris Olympics, Euro 2024, the 2024 Six Nations and many more events to keep you entertained throughout the year. In what could be a breakthrough year for many young stars, we look at the up and coming sports stars who could announce their name to the world on some of the biggest stages.

Jude Bellingham

At only 20 years old the Englishman has been discussed as one of the best footballers in the world. The midfielder began his career at Birmingham City before making the move to Borussia Dortmund followed by a €103 million move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2023.

Questions were raised about how he would perform on such a huge stage for one of the biggest clubs in the world, however, he has certainly proved his doubters wrong. With 17 goals this season in all competitions, the youngster is tipped as one of World Football’s biggest rising stars and rightly so. Will he be even better in 2024 and help England to European glory?

Jannik Sinner

With Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal coming to the end of their illustrious careers and Roger Federer having already retired, a new era for tennis is brewing. This new era already seems to be bringing through some incredibly talented youngsters.

There is a lot of excitement surrounding Carlos Alcaraz after his victory over Djokovic for his first grand slam, however, Jannik Sinner could prove some competition for the Spaniard. At 22 years of age, he is ranked number 4 in the world by the ATP and is the highest ranked Italian male player in history. Tipped by many to be the one to surpass Djokovic’s incredible achievements alongside Alcaraz, he will certainly be targeting his first grand slam in 2024.

Ben Earl

England’s Rugby World Cup campaign certainly exceeded expectations after making it as far as the semi-finals and a one point defeat to South Africa. One man who played a pivotal role in the side was Ben Earl.

The 25 year old Saracens flanker made 39 carries, had a tackle success rate of 83% and was termed by many as one of England’s standout players this year; he will be a real asset to both the North London club and England in 2024. With that said, Earl’s injury last month was cause for concern on whether the flanker would be available for the Six Nations this year, however, positive news from a scan suggests he will return in January, just in time for the famous competition.

Tom Kim

With three PGA Tour wins and victories on both the Asian and Korean Tours, Tom Kim has announced himself as a player for the future.

The South Korean is only 21 years old but so far he has taken the golfing world by storm after victory in the Wyndham Championship in the 2021/22 season as well as 9 top tens in the 2022/23 season. Ranked 11th in the world at the moment, he will be keen to move up the rankings in 2024 as well as the possibility of a Major on the not so distant horizon.

Yasmin Ingham

With 2024 being an Olympic Year, plenty of sportspeople will be eyeing up success following in the footsteps of their heroes. For Yasmin Ingham, it will certainly be the same in equestrian. The 26 year-old from the Isle of Man will be looking to add Olympic Gold to her 2022 World Championship Individual victory as well as her European Team Eventing Gold in 2023. After a slightly inconsistent 2023, will she be able to add Olympic success to her World and European honours in 2024?

After another year of incredible sporting drama, 2023 has come to an end. However, with plenty of ‘ones to watch’ in a wide range of sports, 2024 promises to be a blockbuster year of action with major events coming thick and fast. Who do you think will be the breakthrough star in 2024? Why not find out from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

Curing the January Blues With Fantastic Events

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

The most exciting time of the year is almost upon us. The festive season is in full swing with events on show to entertain everyone.

However, once the festivities are done and the cold January weather dampens our mood, what events are going to cure the January Blues with Engage Hospitality?

Premier League and FA Cup

Starting with the football, there is non-stop Premier League action to begin the New Year with fixtures almost every week including Manchester United vs Tottenham on the 14th as well as Liverpool vs Chelsea on the 31st . Not to mention, the third round of the FA Cup when the Premier League sides join the competition. There have been some tasty draws to say the least with Arsenal hosting Liverpool on the 7th and the return of the Tyne-Wear Derby, after an eight-year absence, as Newcastle travel to Sunderland on the 6th . Will we see new title contender and cup upsets in the first month of the year?

WSL and FA Women’s Cup

Just as the men’s football is action-packed, the women’s game will see games coming thick and fast over January. The Women’s Super League is well underway and the excitement around the title race is building. There is a 4-way battle for the trophy as Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City all find themselves within four points of each other.

The 14th of January also sees the FA Women’s Cup fourth round ties where the Super League teams will join the competition. Holders Chelsea will play host to West Ham United Women in a bid to defend their title.

Australian Open

Tennis fan? You won’t be disappointed as the world’s best will travel to the Southeast Coast of Australia to take part in the famous Australian Open.

From the 14th of January until the 28th, players from all over the world will battle it out in Melbourne in the hope of winning the first Grand Slam of the year. Both Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka will be back to defend their titles as they will be met with challenges from Wimbledon Champion Carlos Alcaraz and World Number One Iga Swiatek with all four gunning for the prestigious title.

Rafael Nadal has also entered the tournament after announcing this could be the start of the Spaniard’s final world tour before retirement.

Cirque Du Soleil

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, roll up to the circus with Engage Hospitality. That’s right, forget all your January woes by enjoying the Cirque Du Soleil. Perfect for all ages, Cirque Du Soleil is for all to enjoy from January the 11th until March 3rd in London.

It is the largest contemporary circus and on show will be incredible acrobatics, marvellous outfits, great laughs and an interesting storyline that will have you engrossed as if you are part of the act itself. So why not come and watch the circus with all of the family this January from the best seats in the house?

Concerts

Is the circus not your thing? Want another way to get rid of the January blues? Why not dance and sing them away with Engage Hospitality’s range of music tours coming your way in 2024 including the highly anticipated Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. The American Singer Songwriter took the US by storm in 2023 with her stunning costume changes and long-winded performances.

Other tours include Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Liam Gallagher’s ‘Definitely Maybe’ Tour, Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ Tour and more!

Engage are also the official hospitality partners of The Brit Awards 2024 with Mastercard, why not join us in the best seats in the house to see some stunning performances and some of Britain’s best artists rewarded with the famous honour. So, there you have it, whether it’s sport or entertainment, there are plenty of opportunities to cure the January Blues with Engage Hospitality. From football to the circus Engage have you covered from the best seats in the house!

Women’s Super League Season So Far

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

As we approach the halfway stage of the Women’s Super League (WSL) season, it is Chelsea who lead the way closely followed by fellow Londoners, Arsenal. After a bruising 4-1 drubbing away at Arsenal, ‘The Gunners’ clawed their way back to being level on points with the Blues, inflicting Chelsea with their first league defeat of the season.

With Manchester City only three points behind Arsenal and Chelsea, it’s hotting up to be a thrilling second half of the campaign. Can Chelsea make it five consecutive league titles, or will someone knock them off their perch?

It comes as no surprise to see Arsenal and Chelsea battling it out for the top spot. Two of the most dominant forces in the WSL in recent years, Chelsea are hunting for their fifth consecutive league title and their third consecutive FA Women’s Cup.

Arsenal, on the other hand, will be keen to put an end to this rampant run. The last time The Gunners won the league was in 2019; and with only one trophy since then, they will be desperate to make amends and get their hands on some silverware.

After a 4-1 defeat on Sunday at Arsenal, Emma Hayes’ Chelsea will be determined to return to winning ways. With that said, you can’t help but wonder what that result has done to their confidence and whether they can return to the fine form they had previously shown?

Manchester City will also be eager to get their hands on a league title. The Citizens haven’t won the league since 2016 and have been runners-up five times since then.

Their last piece of silverware was in 2022 as they were victorious over Chelsea in the League Cup. Only 3 points off the top spot, a big second half of the season will be needed to overthrow both Arsenal and Chelsea. If star players Khadija Shaw and Lauren Hemp stay fit, who’s to say City can’t go all the way? With 15 goal contributions between them, the duo will be a force to be reckoned with as the season goes on.

With only one defeat all season, Manchester United shouldn’t be written off as they find themselves 4 points adrift of the league leaders in 4th place.

The Red Devils might be the ‘dark horses’ this season, however, holding on to goalkeeper Mary Earps will be the key concern in January. The England number one has impressed over the last couple of years and could be on the move to Chelsea or Arsenal. Described by many as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, she will be key to Manchester United’s title hopes.

Away from the league action, this weekend also marked the third round of the FA Women’s Cup, as teams from the Championship joined the competition. The WSL teams won’t join until the next round, where Chelsea will take part in a bid to defend the trophy once again.

With Arsenal, Manchester City and last year’s runners-up Manchester United also entering the competition it won’t be an easy battle for the Blues. It will be an incredible feat if they are to defend their league title and FA Cup honours. Want to find out if they can do it? Watch the FA Women’s Cup Final live with Engage Hospitality.

A four-way race for the WSL title and a battle for England’s most famous trophy all to play for; who will reign supreme? It’s safe to say it’s going to be a spectacular second half of the season with a number of teams battling it out to be the best in England. Who do you think will win the league and FA Cup? Find out by watching the WSL and FA Women’s Cup live with Engage Hospitality.

Top 5 Sporting Moments of 2023

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With 2023 coming to a close and 2024 almost upon us, we look back on what has been a year of scintillating sporting action. In 2023 we were spoilt by some incredible performances as well as inspiration as athletes from a number of sports cemented their legacy in their individual expertise. We have a look at some of the best sporting moments of 2023.

5. A new era for tennis

There was a new name on the Wimbledon trophy as Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic in the final 3 sets to 2. Only 20 years old, Alcaraz has burst onto the scene and is ranked World Number One.

His brilliant shots and defeat of arguably the greatest tennis player ever has got tennis fans excited that we could be witnessing a great in the making. With two major titles at only 20 years old, could he be the one to surpass Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as their eras come to an end.

4. An enthralling Women’s World Cup

2023 marked the ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup. We were treated to some thrilling spectacles with high class, entertaining football that showcased great goals, huge upsets and inspired a new generation of women’s footballers.

Holding it in Australia and New Zealand was ideal for the sport bringing more viewers to the Women’s game than ever before. Unfortunately, for the Lionesses it wasn’t to be as they were agonisingly defeated by Spain in the final, however, the reigning European Champions did their country proud attracting many new fans and shining a spotlight on women’s football.

3. The Aussies retain the Ashes but not without controversy

In one of the best Ashes Series of all-time it, the series ended in a draw. Not a single game was a one-sided affair with both sides in it right until the end. Gutsy performances from both sides saw the series finish 2-2 as a result of rain ruining England’s chances flipping the scoreline after they found themselves 2-0 down.

With that said, this year’s famous competition had everything; a controversial Jonny Bairstow runout at Lord’s kicked off an already fiery affair. With that incident, Ben Stokes was in the mood, hitting 155 in a 108 seventh wicket stand; however, it wasn’t to be the greatest Ashes innings ever as England ultimately lost by 43 runs.

Meanwhile, Stuart Broad announced that he would be retiring from test cricket in the final game of the series. It was a fairytale ending for the England legend taking the last two wickets as England won the match to draw the series.

2. A record-breaking year for the Springboks

In the 10th Rugby World Cup, it was South Africa who prevailed as they won the tournament for a record-breaking fourth time narrowly beating New Zealand in the final after a tight semi-final against England in two thrilling contests. The World Cup as a whole provided us with sensational games that went right down to the wire.

However, it was heartbreak for Ireland and Johnny Sexton as the Irish captain’s final World Cup ended in defeat to the All Blacks in arguably the game of the tournament with an astonishing 37 phases in the final moments of the game, but it wasn’t enough for Ireland. Nevertheless, it was a World Cup that had it all with wonderful tries, gripping matches and many shock results.

1. Max Verstappen Dominance

An incredible 86.4%-win rate this season, the Dutchman has dominated the world of Formula One in 2023 in unbelievable circumstances. 19 wins out of 22 he cruised his way to the Championship title helping Red Bull win the Constructors Championship alongside it.

He sent records tumbling with most wins in the season, most consecutive wins in a season (9), highest win percentage in a season, first driver to lead over 1000 laps and more. A simply breathtaking campaign, one that may not be beaten for years. Unless he can make it a perfect season in 2024?

So, there you have it, the top 5 sporting moments of 2023. It has been a compelling 2023 and with 2024 on the horizon, sports fans everywhere can’t wait to see what the new year has to bring. Why not watch 2024’s sporting action from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

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