Major League Table Tennis has released its full 2025–2026 season schedule, starting with an early September event at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California, with the Bay Area Blasters hosting the Portland Paddlers, Florida Crocs and Texas Smash.

The 15-week regular season will feature matches across 10 markets with 10 teams competing in singles, doubles and the Golden Game. MLTT general admission starts at $10, courtside seating from $20 and $5 tickets for kids, students, and seniors.

“With new teams, new cities and an expanded national schedule, MLTT’s growth continues,” said Flint Lane, founder and commissioner of MLTT. “We’re giving fans more chances than ever to experience the excitement of professional table tennis.”

There are some changes to the league including a team from Seattle relocating to Los Angeles and debuts for teams from Atlanta and New York. Matchups throughout the season at  venues include Compass Arena (Chicago), Energy VBC (Chicago), Gas South Convention Center (Atlanta), Terasaki Budokan (Los Angeles), and Rider University (Princeton).

Major League Table Tennis Schedule

September 5–7: Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, California
September 19–21: Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte
October 3–5: Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon
October 24–26: Energy VBC, Bensenville, Illinois
November 7–9: Westchester Table Tennis Center, Pleasantville, New York
November 14–16: Gas South Convention Center, Duluth, Georgia
November 21–23: Broward Table Table Club, Hollywood, Florida
December 12–14: Terasaki Budokan, Los Angeles
January 9–11: Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon
January 16–18: Compass Arena, Willowbrook, Illinois
January 30–February 1: ULH Event Center, Houston
February 13–15: Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, California
March 6–8: Broward Table Tennis Club, Hollywood, Florida
March 13–15: Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte
March 20–22: Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey

Blast has announced its debut arena event in mainland China with the Dota Slam Chengdu from December 5–7 at the Wuliangye Chengdu Performing Arts Centre.

The event will be delivered as part of a multi-year agreement with Chengdu Television and Media Company, with follow-up tournaments to be confirmed for in the future. Chengdu joins the Blast circuit of esports destinations for events this year that includes Rio, London, Lisbon, Austin, Boston, Singapore and Hong Kong.

“We are incredibly proud to bring Blast’s first ever event in mainland China to Chengdu,” said James Woollard, director of market development at Blast. “Entering the buoyant and growing Chinese esports and gaming space — one of our fastest growing viewership markets — is hugely important, and partnering with Chengdu Television and Media Company allows us to combine our global competitive entertainment pedigree with trusted local expertise to deliver something truly special. The Phoenix Mountain Sports Park Arena is a phenomenal venue,and we can’t wait to create landmark esports moments there this December as part of a multi-year partnership.”

Dota 2 teams will battle for a $1 million prize pool at the Wuliangye Chengdu Performing Arts Centre, a 12,000-seat venue. Chengdu is also set to host the 2025 League Of Legends World Championship Final in November and has hoted esports events dating to 2009.

“We are very glad to cooperate with Blast and bring a world-class esports experience to Chengdu,” said Zhou Wenwen, general manager of Chengdu Broadcasting Film and Television Group. “The Blast Slam is not only a competitive feast for fans all over the world, but also an important opportunity to showcase Chengdu as an international cultural, sports and entertainment destination.”

The LIV Golf League has added a tournament in New Orleans for 2026 after Louisiana agreed to pay the Saudi-backed tour $5 million and spend an additional $2.2 million on improvements to the Bayou Oaks course in City Park.

“What an unbelievable opportunity to announce this on the 20th-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina,” Gov. Jeff Landry said at an announcement alongside LIV Golf officials and LIV player Bubba Watson.

New Orleans has a long-running PGA Tour stop with the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana. Watson won the Zurich in 2011 and hailed his opportunity to play professionally in New Orleans again.

“I’m from the Gulf Coast and this is part my home,” Watson said, drawing laughs when he joked about attending many New Orleans Pelicans games wanting to see often-injured NBA star Zion Williamson play. “I still hope for that day.”

The tournament will be held at the South Course at New Orleans City Park Bayou Oaks, which will be newly renovated and designed by golf legend and former LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman.

The event in New Orleans is LIV’s 10th committed tournament to the schedule and third in the United States. LIV Golf Virginia presented by Maaden will take place May 8–10, 2026, at Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C., marking its third visit to the Mid-Atlantic region and second time at the venue following a successful 2023 debut.

“Following a memorable event in 2023 and a great tournament at Robert Trent Jones earlier this year, we’re looking forward to bringing LIV Golf back to Virginia in 2026,” said Ross Hallett, LIV Golf executive vice president, head of events. “Trump National offers a bold, championship-caliber stage for our players to compete and we are thrilled to once again showcase elite golf, an immersive fan environment and premium hospitality in picturesque northern Virginia.”

LIV Golf Indianapolis 2026 will take place August 21–23 at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, repeating as the host site of the LIV Golf League Individual Championship and marking the league’s second visit to the venue following a successful 2025 debut.

Previously, LIV’s site announces were highlighted by the news that Steyn City in Johannesburg is set to host LIV Golf South Africa from March 20–22, 2026, to start a multi-year commitment, extending LIV Golf competition to five continents across the globe.

“Bringing LIV Golf to South Africa is another significant moment in our journey,” said Hallett. “The country has a proud sporting heritage with passionate fans and world-class talent and Steyn City will be an incredible host venue to celebrate this next chapter. We currently have events in Asia, Europe, Australasia, North America and today we add Africa, marking another exciting opportunity to showcase LIV Golf to a new audience and market.”

Among other announced tournaments for 2026 have been;

• LIV will return to the Real Club Valderrama for LIV Golf Andalucía 2026, from June 5–7. Real Club Valderrama famously hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup.
• LIV will return to Saudi Arabia to launch its 2026 season at LIV Golf Riyadh presented by ROSHN Group, taking place February 5-7 at the Riyadh Golf Club following a debut appearance in 2025.
• LIV Golf Mexico City 2026 will be staged from April 17–19 at the historic Club de Golf Chapultepec, marking the league’s fourth visit to Mexico and second to the country’s capital of Mexico City.
• LIV Golf will return to LIV Golf Singapore presented by Aramco at Sentosa Golf Club for the fourth edition of the event from March 13–15.
• LIV will return to JCB Golf & Country Club from July 24–26 for the third edition of LIV Golf UK by JCB, in Rocester, Staffordshire. JCB Golf & Country Club first hosted LIV Golf in July 202.
• LIV Golf Adelaide will return to The Grange Golf Club from February 13–15, having drawn more than 260,000 fans to The Grange since its inception in 2023.

There are 136 FBS football teams and this year, there are almost as many incredible games.

College football is nothing if not pageantry. With tailgating scenes that go on for hours before — and sometimes after — games, there may be no scene like it in sports This year, SportsTravel has built the ultimate weekend road trip that can last a full season.

One rule: You can’t go to a site more than once. But you will see a blend of historic stadiums, atmospheres, rivalries and high-stakes matchups if you follow our list.

Week Zero

Saturday, August 23: Kansas State vs. Iowa State (in Dublin, Ireland)
This Big 12 rivalry has one of the best names in sports — Farmageddon. The game has occurred every year since 1917, making it one of the longest continuous series in college football history. However, this year’s edition will be far from the farms of Iowa or Kansas, as these two ranked teams take their conflict to Dublin and Aviva Stadium that will have the full attention of the college football world. —Justin Shaw

Week 1

Saturday, August 30: No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State
Texas and Ohio State is not only a rematch of the 2025 Cotton Bowl, which was a College Football Playoff Semifinal, but it features two of the most storied teams in the sport battling in the Horseshoe. This clash of top 3 teams will be Arch Manning’s debut as the full–time starter for the Longhorns, with the excited Texas fanbase traveling to Columbus to mix with Buckeye red–clad Ohio State fans still reveling in the team’s national title. —Justin Shaw

Sunday, August 31: No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami
In 1988, No. 1 Miami traveled to No. 4 Notre Dame for what became one of the best college football games of all time. The “Catholics vs. Convicts” narrative and a pre–game fight in the tunnel catapulted this rivalry to new levels, as it remains hostile today. This year, Notre Dame and its large fanbase will invade South Beach as the Fighting Irish scuffle with the Hurricanes in a top 10 clash to open the season. —Justin Shaw

Week 2

Saturday, September 6: No. 14 Michigan at No. 18 Oklahoma
Still getting used to the notion of Oklahoma (and Texas for that matter) in the SEC? Well, get over it. The fans at OU are certainly trying to, after finishing (gulp) 13th in the conference last year. In this one in Norman, they get the chance to get on the right track against a resurgent Michigan team that has had to battle off-field drama this offseason, resulting in recent penalties for their years-old sign-stealing scandal. Regardless of their recent histories, these are two storied programs facing off with two fan bases that will settle for nothing less than a national title. —Jason Gewirtz

Week 3

Saturday, September 13: No. 5 Georgia at No. 24 Tennessee
SEC stadiums tend to only do things big. And they don’t get as big as Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee. Of course, when the Volunteers are doing well, the stadium looms even larger. With Georgia — a perennial favorite to win it all — headed to town, expect heightened urgency and intensity for a battle that may well determine playoff positioning way down the road when the calendar hits December. —Jason Gewirtz

Week 4

Saturday, September 20: No. 14 Michigan at Nebraska
No matter the record (and don’t ask about some of the recent records), the stands in Lincoln Memorial Stadium are filled with red for every Cornhusker home game. Nebraska football is steeped in tradition and devotion and the fans live and die with every snap. On this day, the maize and blue of traveling Michigan fans may make the panorama look a bit different. And being unranked at the moment, this is a perfect chance for Nebraska to make an early statement in the Big Ten. —Matt Traub

Week 5

Saturday, September 27: No. 8 Alabama at No. 5 Georgia
The air will be thick with humidity no matter the time of kickoff and the air will also be full of anticipation as two of FBS’ most dynastic programs of this century face off. The past few years may have featured the greatest combined group of potential NFL talent in any college football game and whoever wins this game typically has its sights even closer on a national championship run. There are games that matter and stadiums that have tradition; few matter more than this one to the two fan bases and few stadiums are as revered as the one where the Dawgs play between the hedges. —Matt Traub

Saturday, September 27: No. 7 Oregon at No. 2 Penn State
That this is a conference game speaks to the depth of the top four leagues in college football and also its absurdity given it would take 41 hours to drive from Eugene to State College. There’s also the attraction of whatever outfit the Ducks will wear going against the decades-long tradition of plain blue jersey and white helmet (with some slight changes over the years) for the Nittany Lions. On gamedays in State College it becomes one of the biggest cities in the commonwealth and on this day, certainly the loudest. —Matt Traub

Week 6

Saturday, October 4: No. 4 Clemson at North Carolina
The Carolina Blue always feels and seems a bit calming, don’t you think? For basketball, the Tar Heels have fought the label of being the “wine and cheese” crowd and in football, even with some spurts of success, it hasn’t certainly had the reputation of being a feared place to play. But this isn’t Chapel Hill anymore, it’s Chapel Bill as in Belichick and the legendary NFL coach’s arrival on campus should juice up any matchup, particularly one with the highly ranked Tigers coming to town and a fan base that enjoys setting up shop in a rival’s stadium on Saturdays. —Matt Traub

Week 7

Saturday, October 11: No. 18 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Texas (in Dallas)
It’s always a party when these two teams come together — at least at the tailgate, which coincides with the Texas State Fair. After the fans consume plenty of fried food and beverages outside the stadium, the atmosphere inside the Cotton Bowl becomes electric. The venue is split right down the middle, with half painted crimson and the other half burnt orange. The Red River Rivalry is a must attend for any college football fan. —Justin Shaw

Week 8

Saturday, October 18: USC at No. 6 Notre Dame
Aside from a three–year period during World War II and during 2020, these two fierce rivals have played every year since 1926. The Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh is scheduled to be played through 2026, but after that, one of the best cross–sectional rivalries in college football may cease to exist as USC has been hesitant to schedule future contests. Notre Dame Stadium celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025, as it welcomes the Trojans to South Bend for perhaps the final time. —Justin Shaw

Week 9

Saturday, October 25: No. 19 Texas A&M at No. 9 LSU
There’s been more than a few earthquakes caused in Baton Rouge by the explosion of fans screaming and jumping late into the night as the hometown Tigers try to maintain their status as a national powerhouse. The tailgating scene is famous and can be something to enjoy for a day … or two .. or maybe three or four? There’s also the chance that you could see a live Tiger prowling the sidelines, which is also something that only happens in college football and is also the potential stuff of nightmares. —Matt Traub

Week 10

Saturday, November 1: Army at Air Force
There is something special about football games involving the military academies. And with Air Force having one of the most stunning settings for football in the country at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, games in Colorado Springs feature not only the rivalry on the field but the beauty of the mountain setting to make it all feel just right. This year, the new Hotel Polaris is open at the entrance to the Air Force Academy for those lucky enough to get a room in the closest hotel to campus. And a new Air Force visitor center will also be open this fall, adding yet another reason to make the road trip to see if the Falcons can fly high. —Jason Gewirtz

Week 11

Saturday, November 8: Eastern Washington at Montana
Don’t think that this is some “normal” FBS program where you can show up and expect to find a ticket on gameday; the Grizzlies drew an average crowd of 26,978 in 2023 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, where the home team has a .890 winning percentage. Instead, get your tickets in advance and enjoy one of the traditional powerhouses in college football, one that won more games in the 2000s than any other program and can hang with the big boys of FCS, having beating nationally ranked Washington in 2021. —Matt Traub

Week 12

Saturday, November 15: Ithaca at Cortland
The annual game between Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland in Upstate New York was famously nicknamed “the Biggest Little Game in the Nation” by Sports Illustrated. As the colors turn on the leaves throughout the mountains in the region, there is no way you can step on the Ithaca campus without first checking to make sure you’re not wearing red — and the same with blue on the Cortland campus. In 2019, the game was moved to MetLife Stadium and drew 45,161, the type of crowd a Jets or Giants late-season game would wish it could get nowadays. The next year at Yankee Stadium, more than 40,000 attended. —Matt Traub

Week 13

Saturday, November 22: No. 24 Tennessee at No. 15 Florida
Volunteers and Gators in The Swamp. This one may yet play a factor in the hard-fought SEC with two heavyweights preparing to face off. Tennessee may bring its fair share of orange-clad fans to Florida, but will it be the orange and blue that win the day? With a planned renovation to The Swamp nearing final approval — a move that might reduce seating — this is the time to get into one of the rowdiest experiences in college football while you can. —Jason Gewirtz

Week 14

Friday, November 28: No. 19 Texas A&M at No. 1 Texas
Last year was Year 1 for these longtime rivals to find themselves in the SEC together and Texas marched into Kyle Field for the victory. Can the Aggies play spoiler this time around at Texas? Make no mistake about the rivalry in this one. The Aggies faithful take pride in some of their most beloved cheers that are aimed at the Longhorns – something they shout at every game regardless of opponent, regardless of the fact they went years without playing. With Texas entering the season as an early favorite to win it all, this one will be full of drama as A&M tries to spoil the fun. —Jason Gewirtz

Saturday, November 29: No. 3 Ohio St. at No. 14 Michigan
A rivalry that burned hot especially in the 1970s has continued to burn at mercury’s temperature. With both teams claiming national titles the past two years and knowing the path to another goes right through each other, the fandom is rabid. Winning this game could even mean as much as a national title (especially if you beat your rival on the way to their title run). Watch out for planted flags, too, especially at the end of the game. They’ve been known to incite some additional action. —Matt Traub

Week 15

Saturday, December 13: Army vs. Navy (in Baltimore)
M&T Bank Stadium will be the site for a matchup that provides more prestige and pageantry than any other college football contest. The President of the United States has been known to attend the Army–Navy game, which includes flyovers and tens of thousands of cadets and midshipmen in the crowd. The Commander-in-Chief Trophy is sometimes on the line in this spectacle, which features those who will be fighting for their country after their football careers have ended. —Justin Shaw

World Football Sevens, a women’s 7v7 soccer event that debuted this year in Portugal, will move to the United States for its second event in December in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The W7F event will be December 5—7 at Beyond Bancard Field, home of the new Fort Lauderdale United FC. The 7v7 format features 15-minute halves and rolling substitutions.

“We’re thrilled to confirm our second World Sevens Football tournament will take place this December in Fort Lauderdale,” said Jennifer Mackesy, co-founder of W7F. “We can’t wait to welcome this new group of players to what we promise will be not just fun and competitive, but also financially rewarding.”

The inaugural event in Portugal featured Ajax, Bayern München, Benfica, Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, AS Roma, and FC Rosengård. Bayern München claimed the championship and the majority of a $5 million prize pool, with the prize money split between clubs and players. The Fort Lauderdale event will also have a $5 million prize pool.

“With an average of 11 goals every 90 minutes of play and unforgettable moments on and off the pitch, we saw undeniable proof of concept,” Head of W7F Football Adrian Jacob said. “Now, we’re building on that momentum and in advanced conversations with some of the top clubs across the Americas, all truly eager to be part of World Sevens. This isn’t just a tournament—it’s a movement, this time in America, where women’s soccer has unprecedented momentum.”

The FIFA 2026 World Cup Draw will be held December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump announced Friday morning with FIFA President Gianni Infantino among those on hand.

The draw was held in Las Vegas the last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994. While Las Vegas was for months expected to host the event — Mexican media and other American outlets reported a deal was done earlier this month — local sources told SportsTravel that no agreement was reached even as U.S. Soccer told host cities there would be a summit gathering the day before the draw and that it would be in Las Vegas.

SportsTravel had reported in the spring that Las Vegas was a leading candidate to host the draw; one Las Vegas property had more than 4,000 suites reserved for FIFA around the scheduled draw date. The rooms that FIFA had asked to be blocked off were released earlier this month after months of negotiations; those in Las Vegas who had been negotiating with FIFA received a generic email from the organization this morning informing them a different location had been chosen.

While Las Vegas has been widely expected to host the draw, the spector of Trump loomed throughout the process in large part due to the relationship between Infantino and Trump. Infantino has been seen with Trump more than a dozen times since the inauguration after not having one in-person meeting with the previous administration.

Infantino visited Trump in the Oval Office in March after a White House Task Force for the World Cup was announced and was at the first meeting of the group in May, where there was reaction to multiple mentions about the potential of visitors overstaying their welcome. Infantino also delayed his arrival at May’s annual FIFA Congress, held in Paraguay, to join Trump on a trip to Saudi Arabia, where the 2034 World Cup will be held. Infantino’s late arrival on private jet flights from Qatar forced FIFA’s annual meeting to start more than three hours late and led to a mid-meeting walkout in protest by senior officials from European soccer body UEFA at the “deeply regrettable” delay.

FIFA has opened an office at Trump Tower in New York City and the family was part of the Club World Cup draw. When Chelsea won the Club World Cup title, there were reports that the trophy the club was given was a replica of the original still in Trump’s possession. Trump helped Infantino present the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, with Trump staying front and center despite confusion of Chelsea players and pleading of Infantino to move to the side of the stage.

FIFA’s official announcement about the draw says it will be held at noon local time, which also puts it in a prime-time TV position for its European broadcast partners.

New Approach for the Draw

The draw will be the first FIFA 2026-related event not to be at a host city. The host cities announcement was made from a TV studio in New York before the logo was revealed in Los Angeles. When the schedule was released and New York/New Jersey was awarded the final, Infantino made the announcement from a TV studio in Miami.

The 2026 World Cup starts June 11, 2026, at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and will be FIFA’s biggest ever with 48 teams and 104 matches in 16 cities. The U.S. host cities will be Atlanta, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, New York/New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia and Miami. In Canada, Vancouver and Toronto were selected. In Mexico, matches will be played in Monterrey, Mexico City and Guadalajara.

The draw will finalize the groups and give countries the chance to know where they will play in the group stage as well as their potential knockout round paths. After the draw, countries will begin the process of selecting base camps from the 62 options around North America. Teams will submit their selections for base camps, with selection order based on a team’s world ranking.

Host country sites for the group stage have been decided; the U.S. will have two games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Should it finish first in its group, the U.S. would have a round of 32 game in San Francisco, then potentially a round of 16 game in Seattle and quarterfinal in Los Angeles. If the U.S. finishes second in its group, its knockout-round path would start in the round of 32 in Dallas, followed by potentially a round of 16 game in Atlanta and quarterfinal in Kansas City.

Along with the three co-hosts, countries that already qualified for the 2026 World Cup are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, Iran, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, South Korea and Uzbekistan. While the draw will be in December, there will be two spots not yet determined when it is made; the final six-country, inter-confederation playoff will not be held until March 2026 and is due to be held in one of the three host nations as a test event.

LIV Golf has announced a partnership with Fever that will see the tech platform will become the official global ticketing and demand generation partner for LIV plus an official partner of Fireballs GC team featuring major champion Sergio Garcia.

This multi-year collaboration will have Fever’s platform used to discover and purchase access to LIV Golf tournaments worldwide. The partnership will also ensure the integration of advanced technology for user experiences.

“At LIV Golf, our goal is to push boundaries and deliver the game in fresh and dynamic ways for fans around the world,” said LIV Golf President of Business Operations Chris Heck. “Partnering with Fever gives us a powerful platform to connect with audiences around the world and makes our events even more accessible and entertaining. Together, we will deliver unforgettable experiences both on and off the course.”

The partnership will showcase the Fever logo on the sleeve of Fireballs’ shirt as well.LIV has started announcing some of its 2026 schedule including Riyadh (February 5-7), Adelaide (February 13-15), Singapore (March 13-15), South Africa (March 20-22), Mexico City (April 17-19), Virginia (May 8-10), Andalucía (June 5-7), England (July 24-26) and Indianapolis (August 21-23).

“Fireballs GC is proud to partner with an organization like Fever that shares our passion for bringing fans and people together through sport and world-class events,” said Garcia. “Our fans are incredibly important to our team and through Fever we can create new ways for them to engage with Fireballs GC and the energy of LIV Golf events.”

Fever operates in more than 40 countries, using its technology to deliver personalised recommendations for major sporting events including Real Madrid, Barcelona and the X Games.

“LIV Golf’s innovative new format and international reach is the perfect complement to Fever’s global presence and holistic approach to audience engagement and conversion technology,” said Tom McElwee, Fever general manager for North America. “Together, we’ll deliver a seamless, technology-powered experience that makes it easier than ever for fans to discover and enjoy one of the most exciting sporting events in the world.”

Within a year’s time, more attention than ever will be focused on Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

With the Super Bowl coming in February and then six matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the stadium recently unveiled $200 million in renovations as it welcomed hundreds of season ticket holders for “Levi’s Stadium Under the Lights.”

“We were super proud and very grateful that the feedback was enormously positive,” said Stephanie Rogers, the San Francisco 49ers’ executive vice president of marketing. “Everybody has seen the construction happening at the stadium for several months. To show it off was a jolt of energy not only for season-ticket holders at the building but partners there who were able to see their hard work come to life.”

Levi’s Stadium, capacity 68,500, opened in 2014. The renovation project features new video boards over 70% larger than the previous boards. Other upgrades include new LED field lights, new Wi-Fi and cellular networks, over 120 renovated luxury suites and club spaces and a renovated team store.

“We’re all very proud and super grateful to have this opportunity,” in 2026, Rogers said. “When you talk to anybody who works in sports and you ask them what their bucket list events are, you’d be hard pressed to find anybody who doesn’t put a Super Bowl or World Cup among their top five. We know it’s a huge undertaking and a huge responsibility to deliver for the fans of these sports, and we are excited and proud of the chance to deliver it.”

Construction began last December with preparation starting the day after the 49ers regular season ended. Work was completed in July but planning for renovations began nearly two years ago.

“We have very consistent ongoing dialogue with everybody in the stadium, whether season ticket holders or suite holders or partners,” Rogers said. One example is that fans wanted more core football statistics on the video boards to see easily, so the 49ers worked to develop a video board layout that will ensure a spot with only football-specific content the whole game.

There are also plenty of small but noticeable touches intentional throughout the venue including the production control room, which has 49 monitors and was of big interest from season-ticket holders who had never seen the area before, Rogers said.

“One of the things that I’m really proud of for the team is that all the tech in the room is not out of date, it’s going to grow and evolve,” said Rogers, which is in part credit to the team’s partners in the Silicon Valley region. “What we’re trying to build here, we want to be sustaining the next 8-10 years the next wave of buildout.”

The venue hosted the Super Bowl in 2016 and next summer will host five FIFA World Cup group stage games and a round of 32 game. Rogers said since the venue opened, Levi’s Stadium has driven over $2 billion in estimated economic impact to the region. In 2026 alone it expects to drive $1 billion.

“I think having these events certainly was a motivation and a mark on the calendar,” Rogers said. “But also making these investments and enhancements to the fan experience not only sets us up well to deliver an incredible show for those massively global stages but also long-term, we want to solidify ourselves as a global sports and entertainment destination venue.”

Between the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup, there will not only be hundreds of thousands of fans attending the games but millions more around the world watching and seeing the venue. The 49ers also have global marketing arrangements in the United Kingdom, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates with a large fan base in Germany added in for even more eyeballs on Levi’s Stadium.

“I hope they see a venue that they immediately add to their bucket list if it isn’t already on there,” Rogers said. “We strive to deliver a fan experience that you can’t get anywhere else in the world. We want fans to come here from afar to enjoy Levi’s Stadium. When they’re watching the big game or any of the FIFA matches, I hope they see a stadium that’s gorgeous and technologically advanced and looks like a place they want to come and experience incredible sporting experiences for themselves.”

The WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup will return to Australia in April 2027 in Redcliffe, Queensland, 45 minutes outside of Brisbane, returning to the country where the inaugural World Cup was played in 1965.

“We’re thrilled with the announcement of Redcliffe as host of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2027,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “Held one year before the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and five years until the Brisbane 2032 Games, this tournament will highlight Australia’s strong passion for softball and the deep roots the sport has in the country’s sporting community.”

“We want to see more global sporting events call Queensland home over the next seven years to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Women’s Softball World Cup is a perfect fit,” said Queensland Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander. “This is a sport with a strong Olympic history, having been included in the Games in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2020, and it’s fantastic to see it returning at LA 2028. We all remember the impact of the Matildas in 2023 and competing on home turf in a Softball World Cup in 2027 will inspire more young women to emulate their sporting heroes on the field.”

The Association of Pickleball Players, National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association, Selkirk Sport and USA Pickleball are joining forces to serve and grow college pickleball across the United States.

Since debuting in the 2023-24 academic year, the APP Selkirk Collegiate Series will be a NIRSA Championship Series event sanctioned by USA Pickleball. The APP will host seven regional qualifiers across the country and culminate the season with the 2026 APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships hosted at The Courts, Cape Coral in March 2026.

“I am so grateful for the incredible collaboration between the APP, NIRSA, Selkirk and USA Pickleball,” said Shannon Dan, EVP of Strategy and Growth at the APP. “Our collective mission is to grow the game of pickleball on college campuses and each organization has stepped up to bring meaningful benefits to college programs and players. From funding and education to equipment and a national competition platform, this offering will be transformational for college pickleball.”

In total, college players will battle for $85,000 in prize money, including $5,000 per qualifier and $50,000 in the APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships. Pickleball joins basketball, flag football, soccer, and tennis as part of the NIRSA Championship Series portfolio, expanding experiential learning opportunities for thousands of NIRSA members.

“USA Pickleball is committed to nurturing the growth of pickleball within the collegiate space, recognizing the unique opportunity colleges present for expanding our sport,” said Chris Zukas, vice president of membership development and service at USA Pickleball. “We’re focused on equipping administrators, coaches, and students with meaningful resources and dedicated support that they need. By investing in college pickleball today, we’re shaping the future of our sport, building a strong foundation for continued growth.”

2025-26 Season Schedule

October 25-26: APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier – Idaho (The Flying Pickle Boise, Idaho)
November 8-9: APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier – Arizona [held alongside the APP Mesa Open] (Arizona Athletic Grounds Mesa, Arizona)
November 15-16: APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier – Colorado (Chicken N Pickle Thornton, Colorado)
November 22-23: APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier – Kansas (Chicken N Pickle Overland Park, Kansas)
January 10-11: APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier – Florida (The Courts Cape Coral, Florida)
January 24-25: APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier – Texas (Chicken N Pickle Webster, Texas)
January 31-February 1: APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier – New Jersey (Pickleball Kingdom Hamilton, New Jersey)
March 6-8: APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships (The Courts Cape Coral, Florida)