The view down the leftfield line at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
The view approaching Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, CO. (Photo by Rob Byrd) 
The George Gervin Gameabove Center on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
An exterior view of Growden Park, home of the Alaska Goldpanners, in Fairbanks, AK. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
A view from the corner of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. (Photo by Rob Byrd) 
A view from behind the basket at Little Caesars Arena home of the Detroit Pistons (and Red Wings) in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
The view down the rightfield line at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
A pre-game field-level view of Bills Stadium (now Highmark Stadium) in Buffalo, NY. (Photo by Rob Byrd) 
An exterior shot of Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park) in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout in the batter’s box at the Angels Stadium of Anaheim. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
Th,e view from down low at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Commanders, in Landover, MD. (Photo by Rob Byrd) 
The Jackie Robinson statue in the outfield at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
An aerial shot of the 2018 Rose Bowl that captures the B-52 Stealth Bomber’s pre-game flyover. (Photo by Mark Holtzman) 
The entrance to the plaque gallery at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
The marquee in front of Wrigley Field following a Cubs’ victory. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
The view looking up the 18th fairway at The Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
Doyt L. Perry Stadium on the campus of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
Selhurst Park, London. Home of the Crystal Palace FC. (Photo by Wayne Wilson) 
The leaderboard in Fan Central during the first round at the 2024 U.S. Open. 
The lightpost banner at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. (Photo by Doug Hill) 
A few from just off the fairway on No. 18 at Royal Troon Golf Club. (Photo by Doug Hill)
In June of 2024, I retired from a 25-plus year career in public education. And, because idle hands are the devil’s playground, I decided I needed something to keep me busy. Thus was born the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project.
Much like Jules Verne‘s protagonist Phileas Fogg my goal is to get around this planet to as many iconic events and venues as possible before I turn 60 in 2027.
This being The Sports Fan Project and all, it’s seems a natural spot to chronicle said travels of a sports fan. If you’re looking for other spots to follow along, please Like & Follow The Sports Fan Project on Facebook, subscribe to our podcast “Conversations with Sports Fans” whereever you get your pods, and follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Threads by searching for @Douglas_T_Hill. YouTube is also an option as we’re building out our video library by searching for Doug Hill or @doughill5970. Finally, the latest addition to social media is BlueSky @douglasthill.bsky.social.
Thanks to some wonky ticketing apps, I’m done traveling for the 2025 calendar year. Up next on my sports fan journey around the globe will be Nashville, TN, for the Football Championship Subdivision title game on the campus of Vanderbilt University. From there, a trip to Storrs, CT, to see the UConn women’s basketball team in person on MLK Day against Notre Dame. A side trip to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will ensue and the following week I’ll take in one of the nation’s greatest college basketball rivalries when I attend the Calvin College at Hope College game. After that … the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics!
We’ll keep producing other content such as regular blog posts, the Fan Teaser, and the aforementioned podcast, If you have any suggestions or comments please email me directly at hilldouglast@gmail.com. And, by all means, please consider supporting our work by making a donation on this page.
Yours spanning the globe:-)
~ Doug Hill