Author: Jack Smith

London Bucket List: Must-see events in the capital in 2024

Posted on by Jack Smith

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

Take in the spine-tingling atmosphere at Twickenham

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

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

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

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

Indulge in the tradition of Test Cricket

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

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

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

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

Attend a showpiece final at Wembley Stadium

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not many events are more quintessentially British than Wimbledon.

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

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

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

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

The London Stadium hosts an authentic baseball experience

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

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

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

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

Jonnie Irwin cherishes ‘highlight of the summer’ with Engage

Posted on by Jack Smith

We were delighted to see British TV presenter Jonnie Irwin enjoying his day out within our hospitality facility at the Kia Oval this week whilst he continues to bravely battle terminal cancer.

The beloved presenter rose to fame when he was selected to host Channel 4s ‘A Place in the Sun’ and has been a staple on our TV sets ever since when working with the BBC to present episodes of ‘Escape to the Country’ and ‘To Buy or Not To Buy.’

However, for the last few years Irwin has been heroically battling terminal cancer in his lungs, admitting on Instagram recently that he been feeling pretty unwell this summer.

Determined to make the most of his experiences, Irwin looked in good health whilst thoroughly enjoying his day out at the cricket alongside friend and former domestic cricketer Ryan Sidebottom at the Kia Oval.

Joining us in within our Live hospitality, Irwin watched on in the warm September sunshine as Ben Stokes put on a batting masterclass to hit a record ODI score.

Heading into the fixture the ODI series was evenly poised at 1-1, and the day looked like it was going to be a long one for England fans after Jonny Bairstow was removed after the first ball.

The hosts were able to recover though through an impressive partnership between Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes, with the latter going on to make England’s highest ODI score after a mesmerising knock of 182 runs. The skipper Jos Buttler added a further 38 to take his side into a commanding position which eventually saw them win by a mammoth 181 runs on a beautiful day in London.

Commenting on Instagram after the match, the presenter wrote: “Had the best day in awesome company thanks to @ryansidebottom_official and @engagegroup_uk who made the whole experience a massive highlight of my summer.”

Throughout the day we were also joined by other famous faces within our hospitality facility, including the ICC’s number one World Test Batsman, Kane Williamson, who happily mingled and took pictures with guests whilst he continues to recover from a knee injury.

At Engage we are thrilled that Jonnie Irwin cherished his experience with us at the cricket and, like everyone connected with him, are inspired by the way continues to approach his own personal battle.

England make dream start to their Rugby World Cup campaign

Posted on by Jack Smith

Inspired by the right boot of George Ford, England overcame adversity in their first game of the Rugby World Cup to make a statement 27-10 win with 14-men against Argentina.

England showcase their resilience in classic World Cup victory

Receiving a red card within three minutes was probably not the start to the World Cup campaign that English fans envisaged. Tom Curry was unfortunately the culprit when his yellow card was upgraded to a straight sending off for a clash of heads with Argentina’s Juan Cruz Mallia – and just like that Plan A was thrown out of the window.

What followed that early set back, however, was a true testament of the team’s resilience and togetherness. In a first half that had shadows of England’s victorious 2003 World Cup campaign, George Ford decided to bring back the drop kick back into fashion.

After the confidence of landing his first at 3-3, Ford took range from the half way line for his second attempt with the same result. Argentina tried getting in on the action themselves but couldn’t execute the art as effectively as England’s No.10 who converted a third drop kick before half time to take his nation into a 12-3 lead at the break.

It was easy to forget that Steve Borthwick’s side came into the tournament with an overarching sense of dread after an underwhelming year of international results. A breathtaking first 40 minutes was followed by an extremely well controlled second period, consolidating what was by a distance England’s best performance under head coach Borthwick.

Anyone who turned up late to the match on Saturday evening would be forgiven for thinking the Pumas were the team restricted by having a man down. England controlled every aspect for the majority of the 80 minutes, only succumbing to the South American’s late pressure for a mere consolation try in the final minute.

Courtney Lawes captained fantastically, Manu Tuilagi encapsulated the whole performance with his endless bundle of energy in the midfield and George Ford orchestrated a classic victory and the perfect start for England against one of the main challengers in their World Cup pool.

2023 Rugby World Cup Hospitality

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France make the perfect start; South Africa put on clinical display

It was an opening weekend of the 2023 Rugby World Cup that saw few shocks but entertained with incredible performances.

All eyes were on the Stade de France for France’s opening match of the World Cup against the All Blacks. Often these occasions can fall short of the hype that surrounds them but in a match between two sides that could likely meet again for the final in six weeks time it was the hosts France who were able to land the early blow in this years’ fascinating competition.

The two heavyweight sides looked well matched for most of the contest but with the support of the national stadium behind them, France dug deep to create a healthy cushion in the final quarter.

Despite being disheartened at full time after their first ever pool stage defeat, the All Blacks will take encouragement from the fact opening weekend defeats aren’t fatal. In a group also containing Italy, Uruguay and Namibia they will still be firm favorites to make the last eight.

Elsewhere in the tournament Wales got off to a fine start with a 32-26 win against Fiji in the final match of a gripping weekend. Warren Gatland’s team looked comfortable with a 12-point lead but a late Fiji comeback set up a dramatic ending in which Wales were able to hang on to secure the win in an eight-try thriller.

Reigning champions South Africa also started with a win by wearing down Scotland in a low scoring but ruthless display. Following their headline win over New Zealand in the build-up, the Springboks are highly tipped by many to go all the way again in 2023 and showcased those credentials on Sunday with an 18-3 victory at Scotland’s expense.

After a solid year so far, Scotland won’t be too discouraged by the defeat against the world champions but will have to put in a near perfect display throughout the rest of their pool fixtures after reigning Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland thrashed Romania by 74 points on Sunday as well.

What’s coming up next?

England’s next opponents in Pool D will be Japan. Steve Borthwick’s side will take a lot of confidence and momentum from their win against Argentina that now makes them favorites to top their group. If they can manage the challenges of Japan, Chile and Samoa to finish top, they will likely play one of Australia or Wales in the quarter finals.

Welsh hopes of making to the knockout stages were helped by Australia’s victory over Georgia on the opening weekend. Portugal are the next opponents for Wales in Pool C, whilst Eddie Jones’ Australia turn their attention to a dangerous match up with a Fiji side that beat England in the warm ups and showed a lot of spirit in their opening match.

On the other side of the draw, tournament favourites France, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa will be looking to avoid any unexpected headlines against lower ranked sides in their pools; while Scotland get a week off to reflect on their loss to South Africa and what was an electric start to the 2023 World Cup.

England’s remaining World Cup pool fixtures:

Sunday 17 September – England v Japan, Stade de Nice

Saturday 23 September – England v Chile, Stade Pierre Mauroy

Saturday 7 October – England v Samoa, Stade Pierre Mauroy

Best Sports Events Coming Up This Winter

Posted on by Jack Smith

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

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

Festive winter football in the Premier League

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday 6 December – Manchester United v Chelsea, Old Trafford

Weekend of 16 December – Liverpool v Manchester United, Anfield

Weekend of 23 December – Liverpool v Arsenal, Anfield

NFL touches down in London

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

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

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

Sunday 1 October – Jaguars v Falcons, Wembley Stadium

Sunday 8 October – Bills v Jaguars, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Sunday 15 October – Titans v Ravens, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Sunday 11 February – Super Bowl LVIII, Allegiant Stadium

Close-up of the American Football action during the NFL London Games
NFL London Games

England head to India to defend their Cricket World Cup title

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

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

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

Tennis season concludes for the winter in Turin

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

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

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

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

June 17-23 – cinch Championships

June 25-29 – The Boodles

July 1-14 – The Championships, Wimbledon

Crunch time in the Formula 1 season

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

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

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

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

November 16-18 – Las Vegas Grand Prix

November 24-26 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Darts fans descend on Alexandra Palace this winter

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

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

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

NBA Paris Game to take place in January

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

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

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

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Oval Invincibles keep up their winning streak at The Hundred

Posted on by Jack Smith

Having won the women’s competition in each of the first two editions, the Oval Invincibles were able to maintain their winning run at The Hundred with a dominant performance to secure their first men’s title. Meanwhile, the women’s competition continued to bring in record-breaking crowds as the Southern Brave blew away the competition to lift the trophy.

Glory for the Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave

In an edition of The Hundred that saw more close finishes and showcased the depth of talent the UK has to offer, it was the Oval Invincibles who made the short trip across the Thames to Lord’s to secure their first men’s title – and third in total for the franchise having won both the first two titles in the women’s competition.

Helped by a strong core of players who share a dressing room during the county cricket season with Surrey, the franchise based in South London were head and shoulders above the rest of competition in the league stage but found themselves in trouble at 34-5 in the final against the Manchester Originals. However, a strong partnership between Tom Curran and Jimmy Neesham led the fight back for the Invincibles who won the title with a 14-run victory.

The Southern Brave also outclassed the rest of their competition on the way to winning the women’s competition. Having already lost two finals the Brave looked to be on a mission to go one better right from the outset of the tournament, recording 7 wins out of their 8 matches in the group stage.

Danni Wyatt led the way ruthlessly with the bat in the final before Lauren Bell and Kalea Moore both took three wickets to ensure they made no mistake this time on the way to lifting the trophy at the Northen Supercharger’s expense.

With ticket sales, TV audiences and online views all up this year and England’s star players all backing the benefits of the franchise competition, the 2023 edition has enjoyed greater success on and off the pitch in what was arguably the most enjoyable campaign of The Hundred to date.

An edition of The Hundred full of standout performances

As a whole the tournament was able to showcase the depth of elite talent that England have at their disposal heading into a hectic 12 months of cricket that includes a Cricket World Cup, a T20 World Cup and multiple Test Series’.

Harry Brook – who had been left out of England’s World Cup squad just days before – played arguably the standout innings of this year’s tournament. A destructive 105 not out off just 42 balls was an extraordinary summary of the talent the 24-year-old possess and offered fans in attendance another glimpse into the exciting future of English cricket.

The incredible display, however, was not enough to keep his team the Northern Superchargers from finishing bottom, just behind the London Spirit who slumped to seventh after a poor start and a couple of games washed out by rain.

England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler also continued to lead by example as he ended the competition as the leading run scorer with the Manchester Originals. With a total of 391 runs he set a new record for most runs in a season and will be hoping to keep that form going into the World Cup this October.

In the bowling department, his teammate Calvin Harrison stole the show with the best bowling figures recorded in the men’s Hundred when he took 5-11 to help the Originals finish second.

Meanwhile the Southern Brave had an unforgettable season in the bowling departments. All-rounder Georgia Adams finished comfortably above any other bowler in the women’s competition, taking 16 wickets on the way to winning the title. In the men’s competition Tymal Mill also impressed with his pace bowling and effective variations. His breathtaking hat trick for the Brave against the Welsh Fire was the highlight of an exceptional season in which he ended on top of the men’s wicket taking column too.

What’s up next on the calendar?

Following the conclusion of The Hundred, England now turn their attention to preparing for October’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup with important T20 and ODI series’ against New Zealand.

England announced their provisional team for the 2023 World Cup with the notable inclusion of Ben Stokes who has come back out of one-day retirement to play at the World Cup in India this Autumn.

Spectators view from the stands at Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord’s Cricket Ground will host the final ODI between England and New Zealand on Friday 15 September

The news did stir some debate amongst fans due to the omission of Harry Brook to make way for England’s star man, meaning all eyes will be on the performances of Stokes and the rest of the English batting line-up.

Elsewhere in the squad Joe Root helped his cause for being included in the ODI team with some impressive performances in The Hundred – including an impressive unbeaten 72 for the Trent Rockets at Lord’s against London Spirit. Looking to make his mark within England’s white ball setup, the legendary Yorkshire batsman also enjoyed a spell with the Rajasthan Royals at the IPL in the spring and looks to be in good touch just at the right time.

Sam Curran, Jason Roy and England’s surprise pick Gus Atkinson all come out of The Hundred full of confidence too having been a part of the victorious Oval Invincibles side. Along with the backbone of the England squad, including Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, they will be looking to entertain fans once again across country at venues such as Emirates Old Trafford, Lord’s and The Kia Oval against New Zealand. 

England v New Zealand T20 Series

England v New Zealand ODI Series

Official hospitality packages on sale now for The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 

Posted on by Jack Smith

We’re delighted to announce that we are offering official hospitality packages for the most prestigious and historic tennis tournament in the world, The Championships, Wimbledon in 2024. 

Watched by millions across the globe, Wimbledon is the highlight of the summer grass season in the UK. Every tennis player aspires to make it onto the famous Centre Court at SW19 and you can be there next year with several luxurious hospitality packages to choose from with Engage.

The action that unfolded at Wimbledon in 2023 will live long in memory. Those lucky enough to be at The Championships for the Men’s Wimbledon Final saw the dawn of a new era on the men’s tour when Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz ended Novak Djokovic’s 10-year winning streak on the famous Centre Court.  

Despite falling behind twice in the match, the 20-year-old was able to conjure up the fight and spirit to come back and win his first Wimbledon title in a five-set match that will go down alongside some of the greatest finals ever played at Wimbledon.  

Secure hospitality at The Championships, Wimbledon 2024

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In the women’s draw there were several unexpected twists and turns on the way to final, all playing into the hands of Markéta Vondroušová who became just the third woman from the Czech Republic to lift the famous Venus Rosewater Dish. There were also heart-warming moments for USA’s Christopher Eubanks during his unbelievable run to the Quarter Finals and Andy Murray who won an all-British match-up with Ryan Peniston on Centre Court during the first week of the tournament.  

As we begin to turn our attention to the next incredible two weeks of The Championships at the beginning of July 2024, the tournament may be one of the hardest to predict in a long time. Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur will both be out for revenge after falling agonisingly short in their finals. Meanwhile both sides of the draw possess a plethora of amazing young talents, including Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff, who will all be wanting follow Alcaraz’s lead and create their own piece of history at the biggest tournament on the tour.

Whether it’s a corporate day out or a special treat for friends or family, we can offer a fantastic range of hospitality packages for you in 2024. The Lawn offers you and your guests private tables to soak up the sunshine in a relaxed, spacious facility, while the award-winning Rosewater Pavilion packages are conveniently located with beautiful landscapes and relaxed lounges. 

Alternatively, packages at The Treehouse, perched above The Lawn, are designed to give you the freedom to enjoy the day with short strolls to the headline courts, a roaming menu and live DJs to heighten the atmosphere, or you can treat your guests to luxurious private areas within Centre Court at the Skyview Suites. 

Every package we have ensures a world-class experience that will make your day at The Championship, Wimbledon an unforgettable one in 2024. 

Monday 1 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Day 1

Tuesday 2 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Day 2

Wednesday 3 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Day 3

Thursday 4 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Day 4

Friday 5 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Day 5

Saturday 6 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Day 6

Sunday 7 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Day 7

Monday 8 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Day 8

Tuesday 9 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Day 9

Wednesday 10 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Day 10

Thursday 11 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Ladies’ Semi-Finals

Friday 12 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Men’s Semi-Finals

Saturday 13 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Ladies’ Final

Sunday 14 July – The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 – Men’s Final

While we sell official hospitality to The Championships, we are not an official hospitality provider to the AELTC or The Championships, we are an authorised re–seller of the Official Exclusive Hospitality Provider to The Championships.

The Biggest Sporting Events in 2024!

Posted on by Jack Smith

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

Paris 2024: Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games

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

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

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

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

Euro 2024 to be held in Germany

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

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

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

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

All roads lead to Wembley for the UEFA Champions League Final

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

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

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

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

West Indies and USA host the T20 World Cup

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NFL returns to London again

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Formula 1 racing at the 2023 British Grand Prix in Silverstone

A new era is dawning at Wimbledon

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

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

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

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

Rule changes ahead of the new Premier League season

Posted on by Jack Smith

The new Premier League season is upon us. With major changes to cut down on time wasting and dissent being applied this season, here is the breakdown of all the new rule changes to be aware of heading into the start of the new football season.

Significant changes to stoppage time

The biggest change to be implemented this upcoming season will be substantial changes to added time. As was the case at the Qatar World Cup, match officials will be firm with adding on the specific amount of time that is lost during periods when play is stopped, such as goal kicks, penalty kicks, free kicks, goals celebrations, substitutions or injuries.

This has come off the back of concerns about time wasting across the Football League. The average ball in play over the past 10 seasons in the Premier League averages around 55 minutes per game, with some matches last season such as Brentford v Aston Villa leaving fans short-changed with the ball in-play for under 45 minutes.

Therefore, the Premier League’s initiative to combat this issue will see games lasting far longer than the norm. These new plans were implemented during the EFL’s opening match week, where all but two games ticked over 10 minutes of added time due to these new changes in the law.

This extra time added onto matches could result in more drama beyond the 90 minutes with more late goals potentially being scored in injury time. But there is an argument that this new rule change will benefit the bigger teams like Manchester City or Arsenal who will be given more time to wear down their opponents and stamp their authority on matches.

Whichever the case, more stoppage time will give the season an interesting new dynamic to watch out for during the first few months.

Smith Rowe and Saka - Emirates Stadium

Stamping out dissent

Another area of the game that often prevents new fans from watching the league is dissent from players towards the referee.

Last year the numbers of incidents that involved groups of players crowding around the match officials attempting to aggressively argue their case began to rise dramatically, meaning referees will take a stricter stance in order to stamp it out of the game.

In the new laws automatic yellow cards will be shown to players who approach the referee or run from a distance towards them.

Football has often come under criticism for a lack of respect between players and those in charge of running the game, so this is a change that could be universally applauded.

A crackdown on manager behaviour

In line with the changes around dissent, the Premier League will also be cracking down on abuse and aggression from the touchlines aimed at the fourth official.

In domestic competitions alone in 2023, Brighton’s manager Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham head coach at the time Cristian Stellini and Fulham’s Marco Silva have all been sent off during matches, and Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp has been charged with improper conduct by the FA due to the way he acted and spoke about match officials.

Consequently, stricter rules are being brought in to limit the amount of dissent from the benches. In 2023/24 only one coach will be allowed in the technical area and aggression from coaches will be firmly met with red cards.

These crackdowns on the behaviour of players and managers were witnessed during Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City in the Community Shield, where several players, as well as Mikel Arteta, received cards for kicking the ball away and trying to argue with the referee – giving us a good insight into how the new rules will be applied this season.

Allowing the game to run smoothly

One of the league’s biggest initiatives during the past few seasons is trying to allow the games to flow better, making it a better product to watch for fans.

This will continue in 2023/24 with a higher threshold to be applied to physical contact in the hope that this will lead to fewer free kicks and more free flowing games of football.

The traditional rules will still be applied to reckless challenges or tackles that are overly physical but, like the other changes planned for this season, the league will hope this will make the game more enjoyable to watch and lead to another unforgettable season of Premier League football.

We have hospitality options for some of the biggest clubs in the world who will all be fighting for the Premier League title, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and more so embrace the new season with a premium package of your choice.

2023/24 Premier League Season

Standout players to watch during the Summer Nation Series

Posted on by Jack Smith

The biggest competition in international rugby is nearly upon us. With just over a month until the top twenty teams in the world touch down in France for start of the 2023 Rugby World Cup on the 8th September, nations will be put through intense training camps and a Summer Nation Series to prepare for the tournament.

With some of the home nations going head-to-head in front of packed crowds at Twickenham, the Principality Stadium and the Aviva Stadium, here are some exciting names to keep an eye on during the warm-up matches who could make the difference for their nations in September…

Harry Arundell – England

England have been on a rocky ride since they reached the final of the World Cup four years ago in Japan. After a run of poor form and disappointing Six Nations campaigns, they parted ways with Eddie Jones in December but have still been searching for their identity under new head coach Steve Borthwick.

However Harry Arundell, Premiership Rugby’s young player of the season in 2022, is one England’s young stars giving fans hope of a bright future.

Now playing for Racing 92 in France, the 20-year-old broke onto the scene at London Irish in the Rugby Premiership, scoring a collection of breath-taking individual tries which earnt him a place in the England squad for their tour of Australia last summer where he went on to score with his first touch in international rugby.

Primarily a full-back, Arundell will have to compete with another young talent in Leicester Tiger’s Freddie Steward or with England’s experience on the wing if he is to make an impact this autumn at the World Cup. But expect fireworks if he is able to find his place in Steve Borthwick’s plans during this August’s Summer Nations Series.

Marcus Smith – England

Since taking over as head coach of the English side in December, Steve Borthwick has been faced with the same selection conundrum that Eddie Jones was faced with at the back end of his tenure – how do you fit Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith in the same team?

Finishing an underwhelming fourth in the Six Nations this spring, Borthwick is also yet to crack the puzzle and it’s a debate that is bound to be brought to the surface once again during England’s warm up fixtures this month.

One thing that is indisputable though is that Marcus Smith can be the future of English Rugby. The 24-year-old fly-half has the ability to orchestrate and win matches almost single-handedly as he’s shown on a weekly basis with the Harlequins. Smith has also made his impact on the international stage with 21 caps, multiple Man of the Match awards and ending the 2022 Six Nations as the highest points scorer in the competition.

Whether he is paired alongside Farrell in the team or given the freedom by Borthwick to dictate matches like he has done so effectively at club level remains to be seen, and it is a big question that could be answered during England’s Summer Nation Series preparation fixtures.

England’s World Cup 2023 warm-up fixtures
Rugby statue outside Twickenham Stadium

James Lowe – Ireland

Ireland will head to France in September as one of the favourites to reach the final. In the Autumn International Fixtures last year they defeated current world champions South Africa and Australia before they secured the fourth Grand Slam in their history as they beat the rest of their rivals to win the 2023 Six Nations Championship in March.

Winger James Lowe was an ever present figure on their way to the historic achievement. After experiencing a reasonably quiet start to his rugby career, Lowe has made up for a slow start since making his debut for Ireland three years ago. He played a vital role in Ireland’s international triumphs, including finishing as their top try scorer in each of the last two editions of the Six Nations.

If Ireland are to become the second team from the Northern Hemisphere to become world champions, Lowe and the rest of the back three in Hugo Kennan and Mack Hansen rather pick themselves for the squad and could be the key names for them yet again when they look to land a blow against England in their Summer Nation Series fixture at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 19 August.

Louis Rees-Zammit – Wales

Like England, Wales are also in the midst of a tough transitioning period ahead of the World Cup. Alun Wyn Jones – star of Wales’ Six Nations wins in 2019 and 2021 as well as their run to the World Cup semi finals in Japan – recently announced his retirement from international rugby.

As they look to transition to a younger team, players like Louis Rees-Zammit will be key for Wales and their best chance of matching their impressive run deep into the knockout phase four year ago. The 22 year-old winger – who plays for Gloucester in the Premiership – believes his best is yet to come having already made 25 appearances for Wales and becoming the youngest player to be selected by the British & Irish Lions in 62 years back in 2021.

Wales face two major challenges during their Summer Nation Series against England. The double header at the Principality Stadium and Twickenham Stadium will be important tests for both sides and a chance to gain some much-needed confidence before the group stages.

With young names such as Harry Arundell, Marcus Smith and Louis Rees-Zammit searching for career defining performances ahead of the 2023 World Cup, the stage is set for an incredible few months of international rugby.

The Hundred 2023: Oval Invincibles eyeing hat trick

Posted on by Jack Smith

Following the hype of The Ashes summer attention now swiftly turns to the third edition of The Hundred this August.

Stars of England’s Test side Zak Crawley and Mark Wood will line up for London Spirit at the Home of Cricket while the Oval Invincibles women’s side have their sights set on retaining the title for a third consecutive year.

Oval Invincibles chase down a hat trick of titles

Champions in each of the first two edition of The Hundred, the Oval Invincibles women’s side go into this year’s tournament confident of coming out on top once again in 2023.

Notably they have retained their captain Dane Van Niekerk, Suzie Bates and PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year in 2021 Alice Capsey who, despite her age, will be crucial with the bat and ball. The franchise based at the historic Kia Oval have also opted to keep together most of the squad that beat the Trent Rockets in last year’s final in their hopes of making it three in a row.

As for the Men’s team, they also pack a lot of power which should suit them well heading into the 100-ball format. They will be captained by Sam Billings and are able to brag plenty of international experience with spinners Sunil Narine and Adam Zampa as well as the South African power hitter Heinrich Klasson who averaged a very impressive 49.78 at this year’s IPL.

The Invincibles also have an abundance of domestic talent throughout their team. All-rounder Sam Curran became the most expensive player in IPL history earlier in the year and a lot of their hopes of victory will rest on his shoulders once again.

Opener Jason Roy and all-rounder Will Jacks – who holds the record for the highest score in the competition – also have the ability to win matches single-handedly. They both go into the tournament with a point to prove with hopes of getting into England’s white-ball squad for the T20 and ODI series’ against New Zealand.

The men’s side will miss the express pace of bowler Saqib Mahmood though who has been ruled out through injury. Despite that loss to their bowling department the Invincibles will believe that they have enough quality in their side to break into the top three and make it to the final at Lord’s for the first time.

The view from Engage's hospitality facility at the Kia Oval during a test match

The Hundred Fixtures for Oval Invincibles 2023:

Sunday 6th August – Oval Invincibles v Welsh Fire, The Kia Oval

Wednesday 9th August – Oval Invincibles v Manchester Originals, The Kia Oval

Tuesday 15th August – Oval Invincibles v London Spirit, The Kia Oval

Monday 21st August – Oval Invincibles v Trent Rockets, The Kia Oval

The Hundred Final 2023

Ashes stars at the heart of the Spirit team

England’s Ashes stars Zak Crawley and Mark Wood will be key to London Spirit’s chances of improving on their third placed finish last campaign and reaching the final in 2023.

Led by batsman Dan Lawrence for the first time, the Spirits’ biggest strength lies within their batting department with Crawley, Rossington, Wade and Bell-Drummond all available to open. Fast bowler Mark Wood also showed how valuable he can be during the Ashes and London Spirit will be hoping he can carry his Ashes form into the tournament.

Questions do remain however over the lack of a true power hitter later down the order. The team who play they’re home fixtures at Lord’s Cricket Ground no longer have the heavy hitting West Indian Keiran Pollard so they will be relying on their skipper Lawrence, all-rounder Liam Dawson and New Zealand international Daryl Mitchell to fill the gap.

The men’s side will hope to continue their upwards trajectory after improving on their last place finish in 2021 when finishing third last season. Their women’s side on the other hand slipped down the table to a disappointing seventh in the previous edition so will be looking for an improved performance this time around.

They will hope the signing of Australia’s Grace Harris will help them to achieve this. She will slot in alongside England’s captain Heather Knight to create a formidable hitting line up. Lauren Filer – another Ashes star within the Spirit’s team – will also help to provide impressive variety to their bowling attack.

To kick off they’re campaign, the London Spirit host their London rivals Oval Invincibles at Lord’s in an unmissable clash between two sides who will both strongly fancy their chances of winning the third edition of The Hundred.

The Hundred Fixtures for London Spirit 2023:

Wednesday 2 August – London Spirit v Oval Invincibles, Lord’s Cricket Ground

Tuesday 8 August – London Spirit v Southern Brave, Lord’s Cricket Ground

Saturday 12 August – London Spirit v Trent Rockets, Lord’s Cricket Ground

Friday 18 August – London Spirit v Northern Superchargers, Lord’s Cricket Ground

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