soccer

Icelandair celebrating Iceland’s soccer team with stopover fun

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This year, Iceland became the smallest country ever to have its men’s soccer team qualify for the World Cup.

To celebrate, Icelandair, which sponsors the team, is launching a special soccer-themed version of its famed stopover program.

Passengers can apply to participate in Team Iceland Stopover: a selection of 90-minute, soccer-inspired experiences curated by members of Iceland’s men’s and women’s teams and taking place from May 29 through the end of June, 2018.

The experiences range from attending either a National Men’s or Women’s team match and hanging with midfielder Birkir Bjarnason at his favorite geothermal area to attending the June 16 party to celebrate Iceland’s World Cup match.

Anyone can apply to be part of the Team Iceland Stopover experiences, but there are limited spots. You’ll  need to be flying on Icelandair and your itinerary will need to match up with the program events. See the Icelandair website for more details.

Airlines have soccer & football fever

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Football & soccer season is in full swing and airlines are offering football-themed contests and flight discounts.

Who Dey

To celebrate the launch of Allegiant service to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) on Thursday, October 9. the airline is hosting a Best Dressed Bengals Fan Contest at the airport. The winner will get two round trip tickets on the first flight to FLL and a hotel stay at the Comfort Suites Airport & Cruise Port from October 10 – October 13, 2014. Entry details here.

SEAHAwKS photo

Both Delta Air Line and Alaska Airlines are offering sports fans discounts on airfare to cities where away games are being played.

Delta Air Lines just announced up to 10 percent off fares to away games for the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders (soccer). To get the discount, enter NMK7V in the “Meeting Event Code” field when booking on delta.com.

Alaska Airlines continues to offer early boarding to Seattle Seahawks fans wearing NFL quarterback Russell Wilson’s No. 3 jersey on flights departing Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The airline is also offering a 10 percent discount on flights to certain away games. Details here.

World Cup viewing rooms at Orlando Int’l Airport

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With a month-long schedule of special events and programs, we knew Miami International Airport had World Cup fever, but it turns out Orlando International Airport is soccer happy as well.

mIA SOCCER ART

Soccer-themed art show at MIA Airport

The airport has set up a special viewing room in the main terminal building, across from the bank and next to the postal services and the spot has been quite popular with both passengers and with employees on their breaks.

One World photo

World Cup viewing room at Orlando International Airport

Not in Brazil? Where to watch the World Cup

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mIA SOCCER ART

Not going to Brazil? You can still catch the World Cup.

Soccer fans unable to see the 2014 FIFA World Cup festivities in person June 12 through July 13 can still get in on the action. Special soccer-themed events and promotions can be found across the country, from Miami to New York to Seattle.

No matter what city you’re in, there’s likely a bar nearby with a TV screen that will be tuned to the latest game. Find fellow fans by consulting the directory of official U.S. Soccer bars or this list put together by ESPN and Pinterest pinners.

With a city already full of passionate soccer fans, Miami is celebrating its status as the “Gateway to Brazil” with exhibition matches and events ranging from admission discounts at the Miami Seaquarium for those wearing the colors of teams advancing toward the finals to poolside viewing parties with giveaways and entertainment at hotels such as the Fontainebleu Miami Beach and the Clevelander South Beach Hotel.

Miami International Airport has a full month of events scheduled throughout the terminals as well.

“We’re World Cup ready,” said William Talbert, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have billboards welcoming World Cup fans and a special website of event listings that’s already 22 pages long.”

The Paley Center for Media is offering free World Cup screenings and events at both its New York City and Beverly Hills locations, beginning with the opening match (Brazil versus Croatia) on June 12 and ending with the 2014 FIFA World Cup Title Match on July 13.

Chicago will host three free viewing parties for the U.S. Men’s National Team matches in local parks. The USA’s opener against Ghana on June 16 and the U.S.-Portugal match June 22 can be seen at Arvey Field in Grant Park, while the Petrillo Music Shell at Butler Field will show the June 26 U.S.-Germany match. Each event will feature ESPN’s live feed of the matches displayed on a large high-definition screen and a U.S. Soccer Fan Fest area.

Cincinnati’s Fountain Square will also host free outdoor viewing parties for the three US Men’s National Team’s first round matches in the World Cup this summer. On June 16, 22 and 26, the games will be broadcast on the Square’s large outdoor screen, which usually shows Cincinnati Reds baseball games. The parties will also feature live DJs, food, beer from local breweries and activities for all ages.

Plenty of bars and restaurants around the country will be serving up special soccer-themed meals and drinks, such as the caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail. In Santa Monica, Shutters on the Beach has put together a “World Cup of Wine” menu with wines from every participating World Cup country. Once a team is knocked out, their wine will be removed from the list. Securing wine from some of the countries has been a challenge, but “I am certain we will be purchasing more Italian and German wines and very likely the Brazilian Chardonnay Lidio Carraro Dadivas,” said hotel general manager Gregory Day.

In Portland, Oregon, home of popular Timbers soccer club, there will be a family-friendly, pop-up World Cup Beer Garden open from 8:30 a.m. till 9 p.m. showing every single World Cup game live, as well as replays and highlights. Soccer fans can enjoy local craft beers, cocktails, coffee, food and free Wi-Fi.

The Seattle Sounders FC is partnering with Nord Alley for free live-viewing parties in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. On July 13, the club will host its own World Cup Final viewing party, with a full day of soccer-related activities capped off by an evening match against the Portland Timbers.

(My round-up of Where to Watch the World Cup first appeared on NBC News Travel).

Miami International Airport ready for the World Cup

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mia soccer

The 2012 World Cup kicks off today in Brazil and Miami International Airport – which expects to see 200,000 passengers pass through on their way to and from the games – is kicking off its own month-long soccer-themed celebration.

Look – and listen – for: Brazilian music and dance performances; interactive mini-soccer fields featuring professional soccer players; Nintendo Wii™ Soccer game stations; a soccer-themed art exhibit, World Cup and national team clothing and accessories at MIA shops; a children’s cart with activities and soccer-themed face-painting and, of course, plenty of TVs tuned to the games, including a 90-inch flat screen TV in the upgraded MIA Hotel lobby pre-security at Central Terminal E, 2nd Level.

MIA GATEWAY LOGO

Miami International Airport has soccer fever – and soccer art

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Miami International Airport – the major connecting airport for thousands of fans heading to the World Cup in Brazil – is deep into soccer fever.

The airport’s own ‘soccer season’ kicked off last Thursday with the unveiling of a soccer-themed art show called Show Your Colors that features original artwork by more than a dozen students from the Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH) located in Miami’s Design District.

Here’s a sample:

mIA SOCCER ART

Look for this and other artwork in the airport’s North Terminal, by Gate D30, which serves many of the American Airlines flights bound for Brazil.

In addition to Show Your Colors, during the coming weeks MIA will be hosting interactive pop-up soccer fields with professional soccer players, musical performances with a Brazilian beat and Nintendo Wii Soccer game stations. Fans will also be able to buy World Cup gear and find a variety of special soccer-related offers at the airport shops and restaurants.

I bet there are plenty of bars with big screens showing the matches as well.

MIA GATEWAY LOGO

At DFW Airport: play soccer, win soda

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Miami International Airport has World Cup fever and it appears Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is sort of soccer-focused too.

DFW COKE MACHINE

A new-fangled Pepsi Interactive Vending Machine in Terminal D at DFW Airport is giving thirsty travelers willing to show off their soccer skills a chance to earn points and win a can of soda.

DFW Pesi can

No purchase is necessary to play with the machine, which makes use of Microsoft Kinect technology and challenges users to keep a virtual soccer ball in the air for 30-seconds while moving through a series of skills challenges.

There are twenty of these machines worldwide and, for now, this is the only one set up in North America.

London calling: Experience the 2012 Olympic Games before the crowds

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London 2010 Olmpic stadium

(London’s Olympic Stadium – as it will look at completion. Courtesy: London 2012)

Prices for tickets to the 2012 London Olmpics were announced today – and it looks like they’re going to top out at more than $3,000.

But here’s a way to save some dough: go see London now.

As I wrote in my story for msnbc.cm – Experience London ahead of the 2012 Olympics – you can avoid the crowds and get a sneak peek at Olympic venues, the Olympic Park and a wide range of Olympic-inspired arts and cultural events.

The 2012 Olympic Park is being built on 500 acres of a formerly rundown part of London’s east end and will contain the Olympic Stadium, an aquatic center, a Pringle-shaped velodrome for bicycle racing, a handball arena and the Olympic Village, which will house many athletes. The construction site itself is off-limits to the public, but guided walking tours and bus tours currently take visitors through nearby neighborhoods and historic areas and to spots that offer great views of the work in progress.

Wimbledon

Many Olympic events will take place outside the official Olympic Park site, in existing sports venues and open spaces. For example, Hyde Park will be used for the triathlon and for marathon swimming. Lord’s Cricket Ground will host archery competitions, and equestrian events will take place in Greenwich Park. These and many other sites are available to visit and tour before the games as well.

Men’s and women’s soccer finals will be held in the new, 90,000 seat Wembley Stadium, which has a sliding roof and is about six miles from downtown London. (The first Wembley Stadium was also at this site and was the venue for the 1948 Olympic Games and for the 1966 World Soccer Cup.) In addition to attending a regular sport or entertainment event here, visitors can take a 90-minute tour of the stadium that includes the England changing room, the players’ tunnel, and famous sports trophies and artifacts such as the torch that started the 1948 Olympic Games. Shorter, 60-minute tours are also available. See Wembley Stadium for prices and more information.

Wimbledon, the grass-court tennis venue famous for being the site of the Wimbledon tennis tournament since 1877, will host the tennis competitions during the 2012 games. Prior to the games, visitors can attend other tennis tournaments and visit the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, which has a collection of historic tennis attire and artifacts, a film about the science of tennis and an unusual tour led by a ghost-like image of John McEnroe.

For information about the North Greenwich Arena and some of the other venues that will host some of the 26 sports played during 2010 Games, see Visit London or London 2012.

And here’s something else you – and your kids – can take full advantage of in London if you arrive before the crowds: complimentary hotel nanny service.

When the Athenaeum Hotel & Apartments decided to hire a team of nannies, several children were on the interview panel.  Three highly qualified nannies now share the hotel’s Kids Concierge duties.

Kids under 12 get complimentary meals, access to the hotel’s “Toy Shed” and special attention from The Athenaeum’s nannies year-round, but if your family is planning to pop over to London before the end of this month, take a look at the special package the hotel is offering that includes three hours of babysitting service.