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Author: Duncan Hughes

Horse Racing Jump Season 2023/24

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the winter months closing in, for horse racing fans that marks the return of one thing. Jump Season. That’s right National Hunt racing is back and it will bring the return of some of the biggest horse racing festivals this country has to offer. From Cheltenham to Aintree, trainers from all over the UK and Ireland will be bringing their fastest horses in the hope that they can win some of the UK’s most prestigious meetings.

So what meetings will there be?

The first big festival of the 2023/24 season will be Cheltenham Festival held from the 12th March until the 15th March 2024. With four days of scintillating races, the non-stop action will have fanatics on the edge of their seats all week.

Fancy watching it in hospitality? Engage Hospitality offer a package for each of the four days where you can dine in the presence of some of the sport’s greats while watching the racing from the VIP suite. An incredible atmosphere with a large Irish support party as well as other horse-racing lovers travelling from all over Britain to join the celebrations of one of the most anticipated events in the racing calendar.

The second big festival, and arguably the biggest of them all, the Grand National at Aintree. A three day event with the main race falling on the Saturday afternoon. This year’s event will take place from the 11th April until the 13th April and will see ‘The World’s Greatest Steeplechase’ as millions will tune in to watch.

With Engage Hospitality’s multiple packages on sale, you will find yourself spoilt for choice. Engage are offering hospitality including the Tiger Roll Suite the Horse and Groom both with views of the parade ring and the Sunloch Restaurant with views of the iconic racecourse.

Grand National Horse

What about this season’s favourites?

Now if you’re planning on attending any of these memorable meetings this Jump Season you’ll want to know which horses to keep an eye on. Here are just a few who you might want to consider putting your money towards.

First up is one of the star novice hurdlers from last season, Inthepocket. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, Inthepocket had his big win last season at Aintree as he was victorious over Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle. He will certainly be one to watch throughout the season and could be a contender at both Cheltenham and once again Aintree.

Of course, you can’t dismiss the 2023 Grand National winner Corach Rambler as a favourite once again for this season. Piloted by Derek Fox, it was a three length victory for Corach Rambler over Vanillier. Trainer Lucinda Russell said she was likely to aim him once again at the Grand National this season and was confident that he would be able to turn his early season poor form around by April.

As mentioned last year’s runner-up Vanillier could be another contender for the Grand National. Gavin Cromwell will be determined to avenge his heartbreak from last season and will hope for a victory in this year’s event. It remains to be seen who will be jockey for Vanillier again this year, however, if it is to be Sean Flanagan, he will be just as keen as Cromwell to go one better than 2023.

Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow is another favourite for both the Grand National and Cheltenham festivals. The seven year old horse boasts an impressive 2023 with a 5th place, 2nd place and a victory at Punchestown. The horse was also runner up to Corach Rambler in the Cheltenham Old in a field of 23 runners. Brassil will be determined to beat Lucinda Russell’s horse at both events this season.

You can’t have a favourites list without including Constitution Hill. Described as one of the best hurdlers of all time, Constitution Hill is unbeaten throughout his hurdling career. After winning the 2023 Champion Hurdle, there is no doubt he has cemented his position in the argument as one of the greats. With that said, trainer Nicky Henderson knows he needs to add the Gold Cup to his collection to be considered as one of the best, however, it’s safe to say he will be one to watch throughout the 2023/24 season.

So there you have it, a wonderful prospect of some exciting racing on show in Spring 2024. Treat yourself and spend it with Engage Hospitality and witness the most iconic races from the luxury of the best seats in the house.

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Is Novak Djokovic the best ever?

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

There is much debate amongst tennis fans about who is the best to ever play the game. There’s plenty of names in contention for the top spot including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras and, a blast from the past, Rod Laver. But probably one of the most prominent figures of tennis in the last ten years and certainly a man who has more than earned his right to be in this conversation, Serbian great Novak Djokovic.

So, who really is the best ever?

There is no doubt that all of these players have treated us to some spectacular tennis over the years, often battling it out against one another for the chance to win a Grand Slam. With only Nadal and Djokovic still playing, are they able to cement their position as greats in the sport, maybe even the greatest?

It’s only right to begin the conversation with Rod Laver, a man whose career started before many of the others were born. The Australian legend was ranked number one in the world for seven straight years between 1964 and 1970 as his career was one full of success. Nicknamed ‘Rocket’ he won a whopping 200 career titles with 11 Grand Slam Singles Titles and 9 Pro Slam Singles Titles, making him easily a contender for the greatest to have ever played tennis.

Next up, another man who retired over 20 years ago, Pete Sampras. The American picked up an incredible $43 million dollars in prize money throughout his career as well as a respectable 14 Grand Slam Singles Titles. Retiring in 2002, he is widely regarded as one of the tennis greats.

His career finished on a high after the US open when he defeated rival Andre Agassi. However, his place in the argument for one of the greats is disputed due to his preference for hard courts and grass. Should he have dominated across all surfaces to be eligible for the conversation?

A rival of Djokovic, Roger Federer’s reign in tennis was a magnificent one to say the least. In a career spanning over 24 years, the Swiss is one of the most well renowned to play the game with 103 career titles and 20 Grand Slam Singles Titles.

Even at the age of 40, he was still playing at the highest level and challenging for titles. His last appearance in a Grand Slam final was in 2019 when he was beaten by Djokovic at Wimbledon. A remarkable career that was played at such a high level for so long.

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Rafael Nadal is another man from Djokovic’s era and like Federer he has been around for quite some time. The Spaniard continues into the later stages of his career at the age of 37, however, with 22 Grand Slam Singles Titles it has been an impressive one. Known as the ‘King of the Clay’ in 2022 he won a record 14th French Open title.

During a time that may mark the beginning of a new era for tennis as Nadal, Djokovic and others bring their careers to a close, we can certainly be grateful that Rafael Nadal treated us to some of the best tennis the world has seen.

But can anyone surpass Novak Djokovic? As the Serbian reaches his late thirties, he is still winning Grand Slams for fun. In the final Grand Slam of the 2023 season at the US open, Djokovic secured a record-breaking 24th Grand Slam Singles Title. He also won 3 out of the four Grand Slams in 2023 at the age of 36, only losing out at Wimbledon to Spaniard and possible successor Carlos Alcaraz.

The most Grand Slams ever by a male tennis player and the possibility for even more, it’s very difficult to argue that Djokovic is anything other than the greatest tennis player ever.

So what do you think? Is Novak Djokovic the best to play the game or is there someone else who has proven himself over the Serbian? No matter what your opinion is, Djokovic’s legacy and impact on the sport will live on for years to come even after his career ends.

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The New 2024/25 Champions League Structure

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

For the third time this season Champions League Group Stage football is back underway as the best sides in Europe battle it out in the hope of finding themselves playing knockout football. This season has already produced some shock results, notably involving English sides including victory for Galatasary at Old Trafford, Newcastle thrashing PSG as well as a shock defeat in France for Arsenal.

However, next season the Champions League will be changing from how we know it with more teams, more games and a whole new format.

That’s right, in the 2024/25 season the Champions League will be undergoing some structural changes. Currently the competition hosts 32 teams but it will be increasing to 36 teams next season in one big league. The 36 teams will be divided into four pots of nine with each pot ordered 1 to 4 with each side’s coefficient for example, pot 1 will hold the winners of the Champions League as well as eight teams with the best coefficients.

Fans can expect more fixtures as well with each club drawn to play two teams from each pot. This will include four home games and four away games as sides will come up against eight different teams in the group stages rather than playing each side twice. It also allows for teams to be drawn against two other sides in their pot meaning the bigger sides will play some of the other bigger sides before the knockout stages.

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From the final table, the top eight will go through to the round of 16 while positions 9 to 24 will be involved in a playoff. Teams from positions 25 to 36 will be eliminated from European competition; there will be no drop down to the Europa League. There will be only one knockout-round draw for the round of 16 onwards with the route a team takes depending on how high the side finishes in the league.

So what’s the reason for this change? The change creates more revenue for sides competing in the Champions League as well as the possibility for more exciting matches. It will also enable fans to see an extra 64 Champions League games next season totalling 189 rather than 125 games while being able to see their own team play two extra games in the group stage. Not to mention, the chance for opponents to play teams of a similar skill-level.

It is an opportunity for the big teams to excel while also giving a chance to the smaller teams while increasing the stature of one of the biggest competitions in world football.

So where do the other four teams come from? Two places will be awarded to the best performing leagues in the current season for example, this would have been Liverpool and Atlanta if the format was in place last season. One place will be awarded to the third placed team from the league that is ranked fifth in the UEFA coefficient and the other placed will be awarded through the qualifying path for champions.

So what do you think? Are you impressed with the new system or do you just want to stick with the old? Football fans around the world will be hoping that it’s a system that will produce thrilling matches as well as a good chance to see their respective teams progress through the tournament. It will be interesting to see how it will pan out and whether or not it is a good move by UEFA.

Want to see the best teams in Europe in action? Watch it live from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

How will the 2024 F1 Grid line up?

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

The 2023 Formula 1 season has been an interesting one to say the least. With eighteen races down and only five more to go, we can now start thinking about the 2024 season after Max Verstappen clinched his third consecutive Driver’s Championship in Qatar. The Dutchman has dominated all season but can he repeat his astonishing form in 2024? And what other changes might we see on the F1 grid next season?

After a season of Red Bull dominance, it will be the same pair that take their place on the grid in 2024 as both Verstappen and Sergio Perez are confirmed to race again next year. Red Bull’s closest rivals this season, Mercedes, once again confirm that the British pairing of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will be battling it out to see if they have any chance of regaining the top spot for the first time since 2021.

After a relatively disappointing 2022 season, Hamilton has, so-far, had an improved 2023 season currently sitting in 3rd place in the Driver’s standings. With that said, the Briton still hasn’t won since 2021 and unless he can find that form that we were so used to seeing two years ago, could his time at the top be petering out?

The majority of seats are confirmed in the 2024 F1 paddock, however, it remains to be seen who Alex Albon will be paired up with as Williams are yet to confirm who their number 2 driver will be next season. With American driver Logan Sargent yet to impress, it remains to be seen whether or not he will secure his seat for next season’s championship.

Williams’ team principal James Vowles has said he is willing to wait until the end of the season to reach a conclusion on Sargent’s future with the team. The F1 rookie has had a tough season so far and there are plenty of candidates who could potentially take his place including Liam Lawson, Mick Schumacher and F2 2022 champion Felipe Drugovich. Not to mention the possibility of the Indycar drivers making the transition to F1 including Colton Herta, Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward.

It will be interesting to see how Sargent will respond at the US Grand Prix this weekend as he fights for his seat in front of a home crowd.

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An astonishing 1.8 second pitstop saw a new world record for McLaren in Qatar as they announced that they were sticking with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris for another season, although not without any drama.

After being frustrated with performance in early 2023, it caused transfer rumours to fly but after an upgrade, Norris made his commitment to the team for the 2024 season. Piastri has also had his contract extended after being signed from Alpine in 2022, dousing out the hopes of any McLaren Indycar drivers making an easy move to F1.

Elsewhere, although there may be no retirements towards the end of the 2023 season, Lewis Hamilton (38), Fernando Alonso (42) and Nico Hulkenburg (36) are all nearing the end of their careers and it remains to be seen whether they will pull the plug on their motorsport futures at the end of 2024. With Hamilton’s contract spanning until 2025 and Alonso on a multi-year deal with Aston Martin, we are unlikely to see the pair leave the grid in 2024.

However, Hulkenburg’s contract with Haas will run out in 2024 meaning we could see the German’s time as a regular face in F1 come to an end?

Perhaps it is too early to make predictions for next season, what with this year’s campaign not even wrapped up. However, it is without doubt that all eyes will be on Max Verstappen and Red Bull examining whether the Dutchman can keep up his magnificent individual form alongside the frightening Red Bull dominance, having only lost one race so far in 2023. Or will we see more fight from Ferrari and Mercedes in 2024? Perhaps with another year’s experience for McLaren’s youngsters we may see them battling it out at the top of the standings.

If any other team is to stand a chance of battling for the top spot in the Constructors Championship, they have to work out how to beat Red Bull first. If you want to see how the F1 grid in 2024 will line up live, check out Engage Hospitality to watch it from the best seats in the house.

Has influencer boxing got the professionals ‘on the ropes’?

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

On the 28th October, Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will take to the ring as the ‘Gypsy King’ will look for yet another win in his undefeated career.

Fury is the favourite to beat Ngannou as the WBC heavyweight champion while Ngannou is making the switch from MMA to take on one of boxing’s greats. It will be Fury’s first fight since December 2022 which is a considerable gap (however not unheard of in boxing); is the reason for this to make way for less competitive boxing?

Two weeks before Fury squares up to Ngannou in Saudi Arabia, another boxing fight will be taking place. A boxing fight with arguably less skill, less meaning but perhaps more viewers.

Tyson’s half-brother, Tommy Fury, most famously known for his stint on ITV’s Love Island, will take on YouTube star KSI at Manchester Arena with fans of both celebrities getting very excited for the prospect. With less professional fights and the mainstream media also bringing a lot of attention to these influencer fights, are we seeing a change of direction for boxing as we know it?

Influencer boxing has grown rapidly in the last 3-4 years as it has attracted more and more fans. KSI, or his real name Olajide Olatunji, has been at the forefront of many of the famous influencer fights and can be argued to be the pioneer of this craze when he fought fellow YouTuber Joe Weller back in 2018.

A few months later, KSI took on American YouTuber Logan Paul in a fight that was described as the ‘biggest event in internet history’ and pulled in an estimated £150 million with two million people paying to watch it. Will we see a similar outcome this weekend?

Tommy Fury has not been outside of the amateur boxing limelight either. Back in February of this year he took on brother of Logan Paul, Jake Paul, in a fight that attracted 800,000 PPV buys. Compare this to Tyson’s last fight against Derek Chisora where 500,000 PPV were sold.

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So are these boxing matches attracting new audiences to the sport who want to watch their favourite influencers, or is professional boxing, specifically heavyweight in this case, in a slow demise?

It can be argued that a lot of heavyweight boxing has made way for the influencer boxing. According to Boxing Social, Mike Tyson criticised many heavyweight boxers for not wanting to fight each other in reference to the lack of recent fights exclaiming ‘they just need to fight’.

With that said, there are still plans of a Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk fight with the date yet to be confirmed as well as Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder rumours. So is it actually fizzling out or are there just less fights due to the increased athletic demands and the difficulty in getting fit for events?

It is with no doubt that the popularity in influencer boxing has risen in recent years, but is it necessarily a bad thing? Well it could even attract a wider range of audience to tune into professional boxing. With new fights being announced regularly such as Fury vs Osyk, there are still plenty of professional heavyweight battles that will keep the die-hard boxing fans satisfied.

Want to watch Fury vs Osyk live? Check out Engage Hospitality for the best seats in the house.

Who will be the breakout star of the 2023-24 NBA season?

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

The start of the 2023-24 NBA regular season is fast approaching with basketball fans preparing for the start of the new campaign with a fascinating double header.

First up the Denver Nuggets will take on the Los Angeles Lakers while over in San Francisco the Golden State Warriors play host to the Phoenix Suns. There will be plenty of teams who will be battling it out for the famous Larry O’Brien trophy until April, but who will be the breakout players in the NBA this season?

A big season ahead for Nikola Jovic and the NBA champions

There are plenty of players who could step up and make a big difference for their side this season. The Denver Nuggets will be looking to repeat their triumph next season as they are the odds-on favourites for the title once again after coming out on top last term with much of their success owed to Nikola Jovic.

With many describing him as the best basketball player in the world at the moment, Jovic took the league by storm averaging 24.5 points per game as well as 9.8 assists per game. If the Nuggets would like any chance of retaining the Championship, they will be relying on Jovic to come up with the goods.

The Nuggets won’t have it easy with the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks expected to push them all the way. The Bucks will flaunt Giannis Antetokounmpo as the forward averaged an astonishing 31.1 points per game last season, while the Celtics boast starman Jayson Tatum. Referred to as ‘The Problem’ by LeBron James, he was another player who averaged more than 30 points last season and both players will be assets to their sides if they are to challenge the Nuggets this year.

Runners up in 2023, Miami Heat find themselves as 7th favourites according to the bookies and they will be keen to make the NBA final once again. Tyler Herro will be a key player for the side averaging over 20 points per game for the second season in a row. If they are to have any chance of getting revenge on the Nuggets, he will have to be firing on all cylinders.

The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy on show at the NBA Global Games Series
Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy at the Global Games Series

Who will have the biggest impact from the 2023-24 NBA draft?

So what about the new players who have been picked in the draft? Thompson twins Amen and Ausar were the fourth and fifth picks, with the latter being scooped up by the Pistons while Amen will also begin playing professionally with the Rockets. They are also the first brothers in NBA draft history to be selected together in the top 5.

Third to be picked was Scoot Henderson by the Blazers. At only 19, Henderson promises to be a great prospect for the Portland side after impressing in the NBA G League over the last couple of seasons.

The Hornets were the second to pick as they selected Brandon Miller, who will make his debut in professional basketball playing in the NBA. An exciting but challenging task for the youngster, questions will be asked about whether he will be able to carry on his impressive form from his collegiate years, which included an Alabama Freshman-Record scoring 41 points in one game.

Finally, it was Victor Wembanyama who took the top spot as the first draft pick when the San Antonio Spurs snapped up the Frenchman who is widely considered one of the greatest basketball prospects of his generation. It was the first time a French player has ever been picked in the first overall draft pick and only the second time it has been a European player.

His breakthrough season last year playing for Metropolitans 92 gave NBA fans a real taste of what he will be like. He averaged an impressive 21.6 points per game across the season as well as 10.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks leading the Pro A League in each category. Can he be the standout player for the Spurs and guide them to the NBA playoffs?

A lot to ponder for any basketball fans ahead of a very exciting 2023-24 NBA season in store for us. Enquire today with Engage to experience the Brooklyn Nets take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in premium hospitality at the Accor Arena in Paris this upcoming season.

Fans spectate at The O2 Arena during the NBA London Game in 2018

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Who will be 2024’s NFL MVP?

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

The weekend marked the return of the much anticipated NFL season with 16 games to keep American Football fans entertained. The Super Bowl 2023 Champions kicked off a bumper weekend of action as Kansas City Chiefs played host to Detroit Lions.

However, it wasn’t all plain-sailing for the Chiefs as they saw themselves open their campaign with defeat to the Lions in a close affair. The Lions won 21-20 as 2023 Champions saw their hopes of defending their title take a small blow. Patrick Mahomes, 2023’s MVP, found even his best efforts weren’t enough to get his side over the line.

The quarterback scored two touchdowns as well as passing for 226 yards but it wasn’t enough for the Chiefs. In fact, it was David Montgomery, in his first season for the Lions after moving from Chicago Bear, who was the difference between the sides squeezing through the defensive line to score the deciding touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Chiefs, who are unsurprisingly favourites to win the 2024 Super Bowl, will be keen to get back to winning ways as they travel to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars in order to give themselves the best chance of defending their title.

Elsewhere, Philadelphia Eagles saw off the Patriots in a close-fought encounter while Brock Purdy steered San Franciso 49ers to a comfortable victory over the Steelers. The Niners The Buffalo Bills got their season off to a disappointing start as they were beaten by New York Jets. The Jets won the game 22-16 after finishing bottom of the table in the East division last season.

It’s hard to say at this stage who will win the Superbowl but there will be plenty of competition from other sides including the Cowboys with an emphatic 40-0 victory over the Giants with two touchdowns courtesy of Tony Pollard. There are plenty of teams who are hoping to be in with a chance of making it to Nevada.

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So who will be the MVP?

Not only will Patrick Mahomes be keen to steer his side towards glory once again, he will also be hoping to retain his status as MVP (most valuable player) after being crowned last year. However, it won’t be easy with many hoping to knock him off the top spot including Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagavailoa.

After Jalen Hurts finished a heartbreaking second place in MVP voting last season, he will be hoping to claim the individual title for the Eagles for the first time since Norm Van Brocklin in 1960. Meanwhile teammates Tagavailoa and Herbert will hope they can both carry their side to victory while being the pivotal player in the Dolphins lineup.

Four time MVP winner Aaron Rodgers is out for the season as the New York Jets quarterback suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Widely considered as one of the best quarterbacks of all time, now 40 years old, his remaining playing days in the NFL could be in doubt.

Joe Burrow and Josh Allen will also look to challenge as they hope to help their team’s have a successful campaign. Burrow will be looking to become only the third MVP in Cincinnati Bengals’ history, while Josh Allen will battle it out for the Bills in an effort for the Championship as well.

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Record-Breaking Weekend for Max in Monza

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

As F1 fans across the globe tuned in to watch the famous Italian Grand Prix in Monza, they witnessed an all too familiar race that has unfolded this season. In red hot form, Dutchman Max Verstappen once again took the chequered flag in front of a full capacity grandstand, as he surpassed Sebastian Vettel’s record for the most consecutive Grand Prix wins having now won an astonishing 10 races on the bounce.

It was Max Verstappen once again who took the win in the Lombardy region of Italy, in one of the Grand Prix’s oldest races. The Dutchman found himself starting the race in second place as it was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz who went fastest in qualifying with his teammate Charles Leclerc making up the top three.

After a delayed start when Yuki Tsunoda broke down on the formation lap, normal service resumed when Verstappen took the lead from Sainz 15 laps in and just two laps later, he already had a 1.5 second lead. It remained that way for much of the race as Red Bull reigned supreme once again with a 1-2.

Teammate Sergio Perez got the better of Sainz to gain maximum points in the Constructors Championship. Sainz rounded off the top three with his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, just behind in fourth. Mercedes’ George Russell was 5th followed by Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen won by six seconds in the end seeing himself go 145 points clear at the top of the Driver Standings. Red Bull continued their domination in the Constructors Championship going 310 points clear of Mercedes.

So how soon could Max win the Championship? If he continues his unbeaten run he could win it by the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on the 24th September, breaking Michael Schumacher’s record by claiming the title with seven races remaining. This would be a feat that many would struggle to match as the Dutchman will have won 14 out of 16 races, with his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez picking up the other two.

CLose up shot of Oscar Piastri driving McLaren MCL60 at the Formula 1

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The Best Ever? 

There is always a big debate in Formula 1 as with any sport, of who is the greatest of all time?

One man that is definitely in that conversation is of course Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes driver has won the World Drivers’ Championship a joint most seven times along with Michael Schumacher. In a recent interview, the Brit said he would not be retiring until he gets his eighth title, which if it comes true, will be an extremely difficult task for Max to match.

Although time is most definitely on Verstappen’s side, Red Bull’s main man is only 25, and with the average F1 age of retirement being 36, there are still many more years for the Dutchman to put his name firmly at the top.

So can we start describing Verstappen as the best ever already? Well it’s not beyond the realms of possibility, especially if he wraps up the Championship by the end of September.  His name is already being thrown around with the likes of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. The latter of whom has not had the greatest season with his Mercedes team.

Hamilton finds himself 4th in the Driver Standings as Red Bull dominate the Constructors Championship with 14 wins out of 14. With that said, Verstappen’s 47 total wins seem like rookie numbers compared to Hamilton’s record of 103 Grand Prix wins.

Is it going to take at least 104 wins for Verstappen to class himself as the best ever, even having broken Vettel’s record for consecutive wins? The earliest an F1 title has been decided was in 2002 when Schumacher clinched it by winning the French Grand Prix after 11 races in a 17 race season. Verstappen could go one better if he wins in Suzuka, winning the season with seven races remaining.

One record down, how many more will he break? Can he prove his status as the best ever this season or does he need a few more years at the top to really cement himself? Why not find out from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

Women’s World Cup: Inspiring the next generation

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the final of the Women’s World Cup fast approaching, we can look back on a tournament that has inspired women, men and children alike across the world. It has been a tournament that has touched the hearts of many with inspirational moments throughout.

In a tournament that has provided us with some scintillating football, emphatic results and shock upsets, it has been the biggest yet. It is the first Women’s World Cup to be held across multiple nations with Australia and New Zealand both hosting games. It has been branded the most successful ‘Women’s World Cup in history’ with record breaking viewing figures across the last five weeks. An astonishing 7.2 million people tuned in to ITV to watch England’s 2-1 victory over Colombia.

And it’s not just England who are breaking viewing records. An incredible 7 million people (a quarter of the population) viewed Australia’s penalty shootout win over France on Australia’s Channel 7, the highest viewed sports programme in over a decade.

Not only on the screens have viewing figures skyrocketed but in the stands, there has rarely been an empty seat with Football Australia announcing at the conclusion of the group stage ticket sales had surpassed 1.7 million ticket sales smashing the record set by Canada in 2015 of 1.35 million making it the most popular Women’s tournament yet. Has hosting the competition in a sport obsessed country helped to drive interest levels or is the sport simply becoming more popular on the whole?

Womens Football, England

According to the FA, ‘since October 2021, there’s been a 17% increase in female affiliated players across all levels of the game, a 30% increase in female registered football teams, and a 15% increase in female youth teams’. You can’t help but think after the World Cup, as more and more people watch the game, this will only increase.

The growth of the women’s game is inspiring women across the world to get involved in football and other sports around the world. And it’s not just the impressive standard of football that has got people talking. The 2023 Women’s World Cup has not been without its touching moments. In Morocco’s 1-0 win over South Korea we Nouhalia Benzina made history by becoming the first player to wear a hijab inspiring Muslim women all over the world that they too can be involved in this sport.

People have also been struck by the sportsmanship specifically from Lionesses’ star Chloe Kelly when she scored the winning penalty to send England through against Nigeria. Before Kelly celebrated properly with teammates she consoled, clearly distraught, Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, blocking the television cameras from zooming in on the goalkeeper’s face.

Like in any World Cup we’ve seen great goals, milestone achievements and shock upsets from some of the countries involved. A shock result saw Sweden knockout holders USA on penalties as the Americans saw their hopes of a third consecutive trophy stripped away. It was made all the more painful for the US as the final Swedish penalty was decided by a millimetre to have crossed the line. There was agony as well for Megan Rapinoe as the two time World Cup winner blazed her spot kick over the bar in what will likely be her final competitive game after announcing her retirement.

With the US out, there is going to be a new name on the trophy and this week four teams battled it out for a place in the final of the most prestigious competition. First up, Spain faced Sweden. After an extra time winner in the quarter finals, the Spaniards once again left it late to open the scoring as Salma Paralluelo broke the deadlock in the 81st minute with her second goal of the tournament. Sweden, runners-up, in 2003 hit back late on in the 88th minute as Rebecka Blomqvist continued her impressive goal-scoring form but only moments later Spain were back in front late on courtesy of an Olga Carmona stunner that hit the underside of the cross-bar on the way in.

So Sweden will have to wait for that desired title, one which they have come close to all too many times. Spain, on the other hand, find themselves in new territory with their previous best finish being the round of 16 in 2019. Now it’s no doubt how successful the men’s team have been in major championships in the last 20 years; can they replicate it in the women’s game?

With Spain through, all eyes were on the home nation as Australia faced England. Fresh from being crowned European Champions in 2022 as well as beating Brazil in the Women’s Finalissima in 2023, the Lionesses went into the tournament with their heads held high. With that said, up against an Australian team with the home crowd behind them not to mention England being less than convincing in previous rounds, it was going to be all to play for.

The game certainly lived up to the expectation as 75,000 fans inside the stadium, and millions on television witnessed the Lionesses march to their first ever World Cup final. It was Ella Toone who opened the scoring inside 36 minutes with a brilliant finish inside the box. Just after the hour, Australia’s golden girl Sam Kerr equalised with a screamer into the top left hand corner. However, goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo sealed the win for England and will see them play in yet another major final.

So all eyes of the footballing world will be on Sunday as England’s women will play Spain’s women with both countries making their debut in a World Cup final. England remain unbeaten in the tournament unlike Spain who in their opening group game saw themselves thumped 4-0 by 2011 champions Japan. It has to be said, the Lionesses go into the final as favourites especially considering their experience of major finals in the last couple of years.

What an incredible achievement it would be for England if they can win it. Not only would it be an achievement for women’s football but also women’s sport in England as a whole. It would inspire women young and old to get involved with sport, showing that anything is possible.

Premier League Football Returns

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

The countdown is on, only one week to go until the first ball of the new Premier League season is kicked on the 11th August. We will see a new title race, a new relegation battle along with new players hoping to make a name for themselves. The eagerly anticipated campaign threatens to be the best one yet, with predictions very difficult to make. Managers will be preparing their sides for what promises to be a thrilling opening weekend.

The Premier League season will kick off at Turf Moor in the first Friday night game of the season as Burnley host Manchester City. The Champions of the Championship take on the Treble winners. What better way to begin the 2023/24 season as two champions take on one another. Pep Guardiola’s side will be looking for a convincing win to begin defending last term’s titles and perhaps win the quadruple while Vincent Kompany looks for a shock result against the side he used to captain.

The first early kickoff of the season on Saturday will see runners up Arsenal host Nottingham Forest, after their Community Shield victory over City on Sunday with a 4-1 penalty shootout win. All eyes will be on Arsenal’s new man Declan Rice as he makes his Premier League debut for the club after a club record signing of £105 million.

After missing out on the title last season, the Gunners will hope they can go one better and beat City to the title, or whomever else may challenge. Meanwhile Steve Cooper’s men will be hoping they can produce another successful season by remaining in the top flight after surviving in May against the odds.

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Onto the Saturday 3pm kickoffs where eight teams are in action.

Crystal Palace travel to South Yorkshire to face newly promoted side Sheffield United. The Blades were relegated from the league back in 2021 after a miserable season only picking up 23 points. Paul Heckingbottom’s side will be keen to return firing after a two year absence but after starman Iliman Ndiaye made the move to French giants Marseille, it will be interesting to see how they respond to Premier League football once again.

On the other hand, Roy Hodgson’s side will be without long time servant Wilfred Zaha and it remains to be seen who is going to come in and replace the winger. Without someone who has been such a key player over the years, will Palace struggle?

Bournemouth will host West Ham in another one of the 3 o’clock games as the Irons look to carry momentum into the new season after their European success. With that said, it was Declan Rice who captained them to Europa Conference League Champions back in June and you do wonder how much David Moyes’ side will miss their star man.

Bournemouth will begin their campaign under a new manager, after what appeared to be the harsh sacking of Gary O’Neil who helped them survive last term. It remains to be seen whether or not new man Andoni Iraola will be able to repeat the Cherries’ good finish this season.

One of the most prominent 3pm fixtures will see Premier League new boys Luton Town travel to Europa League side Brighton in a tough opening fixture for Rob Edwards’ players. Luton’s first appearance in the top flight since 1992 and after having their opening home fixture against Burnley postponed due to required ground improvements, you can’t help but envisage the Hatters struggling this season.

It won’t be an easy start for them either as they face Brighton, a team off the back of two consecutive record breaking season’s finishing in their highest ever position in England’s top flight with a 6th place finish being the latest and Europa League football to go with it. They are a force to be reckoned with and will be extremely tough for Luton to break down.

The final 3pm kickoff will see Fulham visit Goodison Park to face Sean Dyche’s Everton. In a relatively good season for Fulham where many tipped them to face the drop, they finished a respectable tenth and will hope to complete a similar feat this season.

Everton, however, narrowly avoided relegation for the second season running. But with only one defeat in May, Sean Dyche steered his side away from the drop. With that said, he will have his work cut out if they are to move up the table. They will hope to get off to a flying start against the Cottagers so they are in the best position to rule out what would be a disastrous era in the club’s history if they were to go down.

Aston Villa play at their home ground Villa Park in front of a sell-out crowd

The first Saturday Night Football of the season sees Aston Villa make the trip to the North East to play Newcastle. Two clubs who had very successful seasons with the Magpies achieving Champions League qualification for the first time since 2002 and the Villans achieving Europa League football for the first time since 2010.

It was only the 2016/17 season where both sides were playing each other in the Championship now they will be playing against Europe’s elite. It will be one of the most anticipated opening weekend fixtures and a game that will be closely contested.

All of a sudden, the first Super Sunday of the 2023/24 season will be upon us. The first of the two fixtures will see Brentford host fellow Londoners Tottenham. A disappointing campaign for Spurs and a successful one for the Bees only saw Tottenham edge 8th place by a point to the West London club. It promises to be another close game with Spurs appointing former Celtic treble winner Ange Postecoglou with fans keen to see how he will cope with Premier League football.

Brentford will be without top scorer Ivan Toney as he is serving an 8 month ban for gambling offences. It will be interesting to see how Brentford cope without him for the first part of the campaign.

The second game of the day will also take place in West London as Chelsea host Liverpool in the 4:30 kickoff. Both sides had relatively disappointing seasons as Liverpool missed out on Champions League football and Chelsea finished a woeful 12th place.

For a brief period of time last season, the Blues were cautiously looking over their shoulder at the possibility of being caught up in the relegation battle. Luckily for the London side, they had done enough earlier in the season to risk that embarrassment. With the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino and the squad transformation at Chelsea, they will hope to start their season on the right foot. With that said, it will be no easy game after Liverpool’s brilliant form in the second half of last season, unbeaten in their last 11 games.

The final game of the opening weekend will see Manchester United take on Wolves in the first fixture of Monday Night Football. A relatively poor season saw them involved in the relegation battle at one stage in the season but some important wins saw them climb to 13th in the table. United, on the other hand, achieved a respectable league finish of 3rd place last season.

In Erik ten Haag’s first full season in charge of the club he took them to League Cup champions as well as FA Cup runners up and at times looked to be threatening a title challenge. It wasn’t a poor season for the Red Devils by any means, however, if they want to challenge for the title this season, they must start their campaign strongly.

See if you agree with our predictions for the opening weekend:

●    Burnley 1-3 Manchester City

●    Arsenal 2-0 Nottingham Forest

●    Sheffield United 1-0 Crystal Palace

●    Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham

●    Brighton 3-0 Luton

●    Everton 1-3 Fulham

●    Newcastle 3-2 Aston Villa

●    Brentford 2-2 Spurs

●    Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool

●    Manchester United 1-1 Wolves

Excitement is building for football fans across the world as the top flight of English football is almost back. It’s safe to say there will be twists and turns throughout the campaign, hopefully the opening weekend will give us a taste of what is yet to come. Will we see a new name on the Premier League trophy or will Man City make it four on the bounce? Find out by watching the Premier League live with Engage Hospitality.

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