Tag Archives: travel

SSC Napoli: Football in the Partenope

  By O-Posts Team | November 2, 2023 - 00:57 | , , , ,
Leave a comment

Watching a football match at the magnificent Stadio San Paolo in Naples is an experience that everyone can enjoy. Italian football fans are so passionate that even people who are not particularly interested in the ‘beautiful game’ are sure to get swept up in the enthusiasm.

Italian football players are known for their dramatic styles, and there is never a dull moment when you watch a football match in Naples. Matches tend to be extremely fast paced and no matter who wins, players and supporters of both teams take part in the celebrations at the end of a match and these celebrations tend to go on long into the night.

I recently watched SCC Napoli play at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples. This large football stadium was opened to the public in 1959 and was designed by local architects Carlo Cocchia and Luigi Corradi. The stadium was extensively renovated in 1990 and although it originally had the capacity to hold 87,500 football fans, these days the pitch and surrounding facilities have been enlarged, which means that only 60,240 people can attend a match. Despite this, the Stadio San Paolo remains the third largest football stadium in the whole of Italy.

The Stadio San Paolo is home to the local team Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, which was founded in 1926. The club has been extremely successful over the years and throughout most of its history has scored a prominent place in Serie A.

In fact, SSC Napoli is the most successful football club in southern Italy and the team has won Serie A twice to date, while they have also won the Coppa Italia an impressive four times and won the UEFA Cup during the 1988-89 season.

Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli is my favourite Italian football team and I try to catch a match whenever I am in Naples. However, I often have to ask a friend to arrange tickets for me, as the passion of local supporters means that tickets are often sold out several weeks before a big match. This time I was lucky and I arrived in Naples just in time to watch SSC Napoli play the French team Olympique de Marseiile.

Tensions were running high as I took my seat in the stadium, which can be found in the western suburbs of Fuorigrotta in Naples. As usual the entire stadium was full of football fans and the roar of the crowd was almost deafening.

I was pleased to see that all of my favourite players were in full force, including Local legend Maggio, mid fielder Davide Bariti and team captain Paolo Cannavaro. Unfortunately local goal keeper Antonio Rosati is out on loan at the moment, but his substitute Rafael certainly worked his magic.

Fortunately, SSC Napoli beat Olympique de Marseiile 2-1 and the atmosphere was absolutely electric. Of course, after the match my friends and I took to the town, surrounded by hundreds of other football fans and the night that followed was perhaps as memorable as the match itself.

 

Greg has supported SCC Napoli since childhood. He is enjoys traveling to away games and is also contributor to a challenge blog.

Please like O-Posts on Facebook

You can follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts

Premier League: Favourite Hangouts Of Manchester Footballers

  By O-Posts Team | October 14, 2024 - 21:20 | , , ,
Leave a comment

For anyone who wants to see Premier League footballers off the pitch, relaxing in nightclubs, bars and restaurants, Manchester is the place to visit.

There are numerous nightspots around the city where players from Manchester United and Manchester City can be seen out on the town, often accompanied by their wives and girlfriends.

Here are five of the top venues in Manchester for celebrity spotting.

 

Panacea

One of the favourite hangouts for footballers and WAGs is Panacea, a basement bar and restaurant in Deansgate. Colleen Rooney chose to hold her hen-do here. Making it through the large glass doors and down the wooden stairs will be the first hurdle, as they have a very selective door policy.

Once inside, a gilded East meets West décor includes private booths where both real and wannabe WAGs will be drinking very expensive champagne and cocktails. Those planning to visit Panacea should find a great value Manchester hotel to spend the night, as the money you save on accommodation will help to keep the Cristal flowing.

 

Cinnabar

An ultra-cool cocktail bar in the Hulme area of east Manchester, Cinnebar is on the top of floor of Vermillion, a popular Thai restaurant. Located in Sport City, right next to Etihad Stadium, Cinnebar attracts WAGS and footballers galore, and is a favourite with Cheryl Cole and Ryan Giggs.

Sharing a designer with the Buddha Bar and Hakkasan, the red and gold décor is ornate, with cocoon shaped lounging beds surrounded by Asian antiquities.

 

Cloud 23

For great views as well as a chance to see footballers and WAGs, a visit to Cloud23 will be perfect. Situated high up on the 23rd floor of the Hilton hotel in the Beetham Tower, Cloud 23 is the highest point in the city, with floor-to-ceiling windows that give a spectacular view over Manchester.

Cloud 23 is famed for its cocktails, inspired by Manchester’s heritage, with names such as The Industrialist and Berry Black Smog.

 

Neighbourhood

When the Manchester United team wanted to celebrate their Premier League title win, Wayne Rooney gathered them all together at Neighbourhood. Located in Tower 12, part of the Spinningfields development of Manchester, Neighbourhood is a New York style eatery and bar that only opened last year and is already a hotspot on the Manchester nightlife map.

Designed to replicate an American diner, the restaurant’s menu is based around various districts in Manhattan.

 

The Living Room

Popular with Manchester United players, The Living Room is a bar-restaurant in Deansgate, where many of Manchester’s footballers have apartments. For those who don’t live in the city, it’s easy to find hotel rooms for two and enjoy a romantic weekend that includes an overnight stay in Manchester and a candle-lit dinner at The Living Room’s restaurant.

The food served is modern English, and the extensive drinks menu offers cocktails that are WAG favourites, like the Glamorous and the Pornstar Martini. The décor is elegant and stylish, and upstairs is a members-only area much frequented by footballers and their wives and girlfriends.

 

Paul Hendersen is an avid football supporter and writer.

Please like O-Posts on Facebook

You can follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts

PSG: A Guide To Their Legendary Home - Parc Des Princes

  By O-Posts Team | March 14, 2024 - 12:40 | , ,
Leave a comment

Paris attractions have tempted visitors to the city for decades. More recent additions to an already very long list of ancient monuments and other Parisian attractions are the likes Disney World and the Parc de Prince stadium.

The stadium was built to replace the old Vélodrome built in 1897 which stood on this impressive site till the Parc was built. Today, major football (such as Paris st Germain home games) and rugby matches take place at the Parc and then there are the concerts!

George Pompidou, the then president, opened the Parc des Prince on 4th June 1972 with the first match ever to be played on these hallowed grounds being the Coupe de France final, a match played between SC Bastia and Olympique de Marseille – which the latter won. The stadium was filled to capacity – the whole 48,527 seats.

Parc de Prince - Paris

 

A Stadium That Won Awards

The Architecture was considered very Avant garde winning both the building and the architect many prizes. Roger Taillibert was the Architect; the 50 concrete columns supporting the roof were his brainchild and the reason why so many architectural awards were won.

 

Getting to the Parc

Getting to the Parc by Metro is easily done – the stop to get out at is the Porte de Saint-Cloud station from line 9 – the stadium is just a five minute walk from there. From central Paris, line 9 goes through the city centre – on the north bank.

By bus from the centre of Paris, there’s a choice of three, the 22, 62 and 72 which go to Porte de Saint-Cloud. The actual address of the Parc des Princes is 24, Rue du Commandant Guilbaud, 75781 Paris.

 

Where to Stay & Where Eat

The neighbourhood around the Parc has a typical Parisian ambiance with many bars and brasseries on most of the street corners – as per usual, the food served is very good.

Hotel wise there are many in the vicinity of the Parc. However, it might not be a good idea to stay too close because of the inevitable noise from the stadium. However, with two metro lines close by, it is easy to get into the centre of town without any effort or trouble.

Full capacity at the Parc

 

How to purchase Tickets

You can buy tickets for PSG games by going online or you can call the stadium directly. Another method is at the stadium itself from any of the PSG service points. The cost of a ticket can range from anything between €20.00 to €100.00.

 

Conclusion

Organised tours around the Parc last around an hour and includes being taken through the dressing rooms, players’ tunnel where many a famous sportsman has tread. Visitors also get to see the VIP boxes and admire the fabulous cups and shields in the trophy room. For air travel it’s important to do some flight comparison checks to make sure you get the best deals.

Tours are organised three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. They start at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm although occasionally there’s a guided tour organised for 6pm.

Tours take place every day during the school holidays except Sundays. However, there are no tours on match days or the day before. The great thing is you don’t have to pre-book but it is possible. You can book tickets at the PSG shop on the Champs- Élysées or you can opt to do this at the stadium.

The cost of a guided tour around the Parc des Princes is €10.00. It’s a great way to get a real feel of the place which is pretty impressive to say the least – especially when the stadium’s empty.

 

Featured images:

 

Written by Nathan Griffiths who is a sports enthusiast and loves travelling to Paris.

Please like O-Posts on Facebook

You can follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts

Special Feature: The World’s Greatest Sports Stadiums

  By O-Posts Team | March 9, 2024 - 19:16 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

http://www.flickr.com/photos/babasteve/4741231133/

The World’s Greatest Sports Stadiums

Sports fans are a mad bunch, some spend hundreds of thousands a year following their team all over the world. From football teams on a tour to the Far East, to American franchises flying from coast to coast, sport is booming business across the globe.

As a result we’ve put together a list of some the best sports stadiums in the world, be sure to experience the atmosphere of at least one of these incredible venues on your travels.

Yankee Stadium – The Bronx – New York

Steeped in history and with some of the most passionate fans in Baseball the New York Yankees are icons of the sport and it’s only right they have a stadium to match.

The New Yankee stadium first opened in 2009, replacing its predecessor which had stood tall since 1923. With a capacity of over 52,000 and at a construction cost of $1.6bn the stadium is testament to The New York Yankees standing as giants of the game.

To really make the most of your visit stay in The Crowne Plaza, Times Square Not only is it a short hop to the stadium but you’ll also be perfectly positioned in the heart of New York.

Yankees

Soccer City – Johannesburg – South Africa

Having undergone a major redevelopment programme for the 2010 Soccer World Cup Soccer City is an easy addition to our list.

Tasked with hosting the both the opening ceremony and the first match of the World Cup the stadium shone in the spotlight of one of the most successful Soccer tournaments of all time.

With a capacity of 95,000 the stadium cost $440 million and today hosts South African league soccer, rugby and music concerts.

A visit to Soccer City is not to be missed, stay at the Holiday Inn Sandton and enjoy enviable views from the 9th floor Skye bar or simply relax in the cigar lounge with one of Cuba’s finest.

Soccer City

 

Madison Square Garden – New York

Home of Basketball, Ice Hockey, Tennis, and even WWE Wrestling Madison square garden is a multi purpose venue situated in Midtown Manhattan.

A recent renovation costing $1.16 billion has ensured The Garden keeps its crown as one of the worlds most famous and frequently visited venues.

However with a maximum capacity of only 22,000 people seats for events are scarce and frequently reach into the thousands of dollars for the most popular shows, testament to the allure of this incredible venue.

Stay at The Marmara Manhattan and enjoy apartment facilities with the luxuries of a hotel suite.

Yankee Stadium

 

Sports City – Dubai

Currently under construction Dubai’s sports city is a behemoth, boasting four stadiums the centre piece of which is a 60,000 seater multi purpose venue capable of hosting Soccer, Cricket, Rugby, Athletics and music festivals.

Costing an estimated $4 billion and covering a total of 4,600,000m2 Sports City promises to be at the heart of Dubai’s sporting future.

Once the venue opens I recommend you stay at the Burj Al Arab. The grandest hotel in the world offers the ultimate in luxury including a private beach, chauffer driven Rolls Royce and the very best in gourmet dining.

Sports City

 

The Staples Centre – Los Angeles – California

Home to no less than four professional sports teams The Staples Centre in downtown Los Angeles is a haven for fans of Hockey and Basketball alike with the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers as well as WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings all calling the centre home.

With a maximum capacity of 21,000 and at a construction cost of $523 million, The Staples Centre is one of the most popular sports and music venues within the United States.

Stay at the Beverly Wilshire, a decadent Five Star hotel designed to make the most of your Los Angeles Holiday. Enjoy fine dining, a luxury spa or just relax in the comfort of your extravagant room.

Staples Centre

 

Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex – Oman

Situated in the Ghala district of Oman the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex makes the list due to its impressive list of facilities.

Renovated for the 2009 African Cup of Nations the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex has a capacity of 39,000 and is equipped with a Football pitch, Athletics Facilities, an Olympic sized swimming pool, Tennis Courts and Gymnasium.

For your holiday in Oman I recommend staying at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort. This five star resort offers a private beach, infinity pool, luxury spa and lavishly appointed rooms.

 

Featured images:

 

About the Author:

Matt Coe is a sports travel enthusiast and head of marketing for Wanderforth, a tour operator specialising in luxury worldwide holidays.

Please like O-Posts on Facebook

You can follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts