Biggest Sports Events in 2023
With 2022 coming to a close, sports fans and bettors are now gearing up for 2023. Many major events are on the horizon, and everyone’s already looking ahead to the new year. The world of sports never slows down and many more betting opportunities will soon arise.
This article covers the biggest sporting events of 2023 that you can bet on and win money. I’m talking about championships involving the UEFA, NFL, NBA, and many other sports leagues. Here’s what everyone’s looking forward to in the upcoming year.
NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship
- Date: April 3, 2023
- Competition: NCAA Men’s Basketball
- Venue: NRG Stadium
Also known as March Madness, the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament features 68 teams competing in a single-elimination bracket. The competition begins on March 14, and the final two teams will face each other for the championship.
This is easily going to be one of the biggest sporting events in 2023. The championship game alone attracts millions of viewers every year. I strongly advise that you mark this one down in your calendar and fill out a bracket when March rolls around.
Super Bowl
- Date: February 12, 2023
- Competition: NFL
- Venue: State Farm Stadium
It’s one of the biggest spectacles in American sports every year. Over 100 million people will be watching this year’s Super Bowl, making it one of the largest sporting events in 2023. It’ll be the 57th edition of the big game, with the best NFL teams competing for a championship.
Why is the Super Bowl so important? In terms of popularity, the NFL is at an all-time high – the global impact of the game itself is undeniable. Also, the Super Bowl is held in February when no other major competitions are taking place. This always ensures that the entire world is watching.
UEFA Champions League Final
- Date: June 10, 2023
- Competition: European Soccer
- Venue: Atatürk Olympic Stadium
The UEFA Champions League is nearly on the same level as the FIFA World Cup in terms of importance. Furthermore, no other sport quite compares to soccer on a global scale. The viewership alone is no joke – over 300 million people were watching the tournament in 2022.
In America, the UEFA Champions League Final doesn’t hold as much significance. However, you can’t deny that it’s a huge event where there’s a lot at stake. In Europe, almost everyone will be following the tournament and rooting for their favorite teams.
Indianapolis 500
- Date: May 28, 2023
- Competition: IndyCar Series
- Venue: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sure, Indiana is a fly-over state that everyone overlooks. After all, they call it the “Crossroads of America” for a reason. However, the Indianapolis 500 is easily the biggest attraction in pro racing. It’s also going to be one of the biggest sporting events in 2023.
Citizens of Indiana…
Yes it’s cold, but the #Indy500 is just five months away!
: @SamJohnsonNews pic.twitter.com/Kl9JIV8rA5
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) December 23, 2022
The current engine manufacturers in the sport are Chevrolet and Honda. They produce cars that can exceed 240 mph in any given race. Everyone knows that the need for speed makes the Indianapolis 500 an instant classic every year!
Wimbledon Finals
- Date: July 15 & 16, 2023
- Competition: ATP & WTA (Men’s & Women’s Tennis)
- Venue: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
There are four Grand Slam tournaments every year in pro tennis. However, nothing quite compares to Wimbledon in terms of the history and tradition associated with the iconic venue. It’s an event that avid fans make a point of watching every year.
2023 is going to be an amazing year to watch this year’s Wimbledon Finals. You can expect there to be a ton of fanfare and hype surrounding the tournament as July approaches. We also get to watch Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic continue to cement their amazing legacies.
NBA Finals
- Date: June 1, 2023
- Competition: NBA
- Venue: TBD
Basketball is arguably the second-most popular sport in the United States. Every year, we also get to witness the best NBA teams compete for a championship during the postseason. The top contenders are determined by regular-season winning percentages.
The updated format now allows NBA teams that placed 7th-10th to compete in the play-ins. The winners then get to qualify for the playoffs, which are set to begin on April 15, 2023. The defending champion Golden State Warriors are seeking their fifth NBA title since 2015.
FIFA Women’s World Cup Final
- Date: August 20, 2023
- Competition: Women’s International Soccer
- Venue: Stadium Australia
We get to watch another FIFA World Cup in less than a year. The best countries in women’s soccer will compete in one of the most important sporting events of 2023. Keep in mind that the tournament takes place only once every four years.
20 July, 2023. ✨
The biggest women’s sporting event in the world.
Ready? #BeyondGreatness pic.twitter.com/XUZDXWnQm2
— FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 20, 2022
This is the first time in which multiple countries are hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup (Australia & New Zealand). The tournament also features an extended 32-team format, similar to the men’s edition in 2022.
Ryder Cup
- Date: September 29 – December 1, 2023
- Competition: Men’s Golf
- Venue: Marco Simone Golf and Country Club
The Ryder Cup is a biennial competition between American and European teams with 12 golfers representing each side. The tournament includes three foursomes matches, four fourballs matches, and 12 singles matches.
Ireland and France often alternate as host countries of the Ryder Cup. However, the tournament this year will take place in Italy for the very first time. The United States has also dominated the Ryder Cup since the first event, winning 27 matches out of 43 editions.
World Series
- Date: October 28, 2023
- Competition: MLB
- Venue: TBD
The World Series is the MLB championship series between the top teams in the American and National Leagues. It also follows a best-of-seven format, and this year is the 119th edition of the biggest event in baseball.
The MLB playoffs consist of several rounds of competition and feature 12 total teams. You have three division winners as well as three wild card teams from each league. The expanded postseason format in 2022 included an additional team from both the AL and NL.
Kentucky Derby
- Date: May 6, 2023
- Competition: Horse Racing
- Venue: Churchill Downs
Everyone knows that the Kentucky Derby will be one of the greatest sporting events in 2023. It’s actually the longest-running continuous competition in the United States. The very first edition of the Kentucky Derby took place in 1875.
The competition features the best three-year-old thoroughbred racehorses on earth. Over 150,000 people attend the event every year, and some of the biggest celebrities are often there enjoying the festivities.
Cricket World Cup Final
- Date: November 26, 2023
- Competition: International Cricket
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium
This quadrennial tournament is akin to the FIFA World Cup in terms of prestige and greatness. It’s also a month-long event that involves 10 participating countries and 48 total matches. Previous Cricket World Cup Finals have been played in Britain, New Zealand, and Pakistan.
Cricket is also a lot more popular than you think. In 2019, the Cricket World Cup had a global audience of 1.6 billion people during live coverage. That’s a 35% increase over the previous edition in 2015, proving that cricket is a widely-celebrated sport.
Betting on the Biggest Sporting Events of 2023
Keep in mind that the top online betting sites will cover the biggest sporting events of 2022. They also offer betting odds on many other games and competitions throughout the year. You have a ton of options in terms of winning money when you go to bet on your favorite sports.