Massachusetts’ Top Sporting Events in 2023

Posted by Michael Quinlin, guest blogger of Massachusetts It's All Here

The Massachusetts Office of Travel + Tourism (MOTT) has compiled its annual 2023 schedule of popular sporting activities in the Bay State, ranging from professional games and collegiate tournaments to iconic competitions and fundraising events.

Massachusetts has been called the ‘State of Champions,’ and for good reason.  Since 2000, the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins have won a combined 11 championships, making Massachusetts the winningest state for professional sports in the United States.  Massachusetts also hosts world-renowned sporting events such as the Boston Marathon and Head of the Charles Regatta, and is also credited with inventing two sports, basketball and volleyball, in the 19^th century.

“We look forward to an exciting year ahead of professional, collegiate and amateur sports across the Commonwealth,” said MOTT Executive Director Keiko M. Orrall.  “We are especially excited to welcome, for the first time ever, the prestigious Army Navy game coming to Gillette Stadium in December, a perfect way to cap the year.”

NHL Winter Classic
January 2 | Fenway Park, Boston
The Boston Bruins face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 NHL winter classic outdoors in the city’s fabled ballpark.

2023 HoopHall Classic
January 12 – 16 | Springfield College, Springfield
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame showcases rising basketball talent at its annual Hoop Hall Classic, held in Blake Arena at Springfield College.

2023 USATF New England Indoor Track & Field Open
January 15 | Wheaton College, Norton
USA Track & Field is the national governing body for track 7 field, cross country running, road running and race-walking.

New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Track & Field
February 4 | The Track at New Balance, Brighton
Now in its 24th year, the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix is the only U.S. stop on the prestigious IAAF World Indoor Tour. Over the years it has played host to nine world records and 13 American records.

2023 Pan-Mass Challenge Winter Cycle
February 4 | Fenway Park, Boston
Since its founding in 1980, this annual bike-a-thon has raised millions every year toward life-saving cancer research. The race passes through 46 Massachusetts cities and towns.

Men’s Beanpot Hockey Tournament
February 6 +13 | TD Garden, Boston
Four historic men’s collegiate hockey teams, Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, and Northeastern University compete for the coveted Beanpot Championship.

Women’s Beanpot Tournament
February 7 + 14  |  Boston College
Four iconic women’s collegiate hockey teams, Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, and Northeastern University take to the ice in pursuit of the Beanpot Championship at the TD Garden in Boston.

NIKE Boston Volleyball Festival
February 24-26, March 3-5 |  BCEC, Boston
The JVC volleyball tournaments are part of a national schedule geared toward high school and amateur athletes.

Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

New England Revolution 2023 Opening Home Game
March 4 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
New England Revolution’s 34-game season kicks off against the Houston Dynamo FC.

Major League Rugby Festival
March 11 | Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
New England’s popular rugby team, the Free Jacks, face off against Old Glory DC

Hollywood Fight Nights Boston
March 16 | Agganis Arena, Boston
Ireland’s six time National Champion Callum Walsh takes on Spain’s Leonardo Di Stefano Ruiz, as part of Boston’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Hockey East Championship
March 17 + 18 |TD Garden, Boston
College hockey’s most prestigious postseason tournament, the Hockey East Association is an 11-team Division I college men’s conference and a 10-team women’s league.

Red Sox Opening Day 2023
March 30  | Fenway Park, Boston
The Red Sox will open the season at Fenway Park for the fourth year in a row on Thursday, March 30, against the Baltimore Orioles in the first of a three-game series.

Woo Sox Opening Day 2023
March 31 | Polar Park, Worcester
Massachusetts popular Minor League Baseball team, the Woo Sox, take to the field against the Syracuse Mets.

127th  Boston Marathon
April 17  | Hopkinton to Boston
The Boston Marathon falls on every third Monday in April, on “Patriots Day,” where world-renown runners and local legends come together to compete and raise money for charitable causes.

Brockton Rox Baseball Opening Home Game
May 24 | Campanelli Field, Brockton
The Brockton Rox is a popular local professional baseball team, part of Futures Collegiate League of New England.

The Cape Cod Baseball League

2023 Cape Cod Baseball League Opening Day
June 10  | Cape Cod
Many top MLB players have earned their stripes in the Cape Cod Baseball league.

Ironman 70.3 Western Mass
June 11 |  Springfield
Swim, bike and run against the best in this grueling competition, taking place in the beauty of western Massachusetts.

Hooplandia
June  23-26 | Basketball Hall of Fame & The Big E, Springfield
Three-on-three basketball tournament, featuring thousands of players, hundreds of courts, and categories for girls, boys, women, men, wheelchair, Special Olympics and Wounded Warriors.

Pan Am Challenge Weekend
August 5-6  | Across Massachusetts
Since its founding in 1980, this annual bike-a-thon has raised millions every year toward life-saving cancer research. The race passes through 46 cities and towns in Massachusetts.

Nantucket Lacrosse Festival
August 12 | Nantucket Island
Prime Time Lacrosse hosts this 3 on 3 lacrosse tournament for boys and girls U-11 to U19 teams at on turf fields.  Each team plays four 30-minute games to compete with their peers in this fast-paced exciting sport.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield

2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement
August 12 | Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield
Basketball was born in Springfield and every year the game returns home to celebrate its legends.

2023 Spartan Race Boston Sprint Weekend
August 12-13 | Barre
This year’s Spartan Race across muddy terrain takes place at Carter Stevens Farm in Barre.

Gaelic Athletic Association Championships Weekend
August 12-13 | Irish Cultural Centre, Canton
These exciting Gaelic games, including football, hurling and camogie, feature teams from across New England.

Mass Women’s Amateur Golf Championships
August 14-18 Dedham Country and Polo Club, Dedham

47th New Balance Falmouth Road Race
August 20  | Falmouth, Cape Cod
International and local athletes competing in this annual 7.1-mile road race benefit along the serene coast of Falmouth and Woods Hole on Cape Cod.

Head of the Charles Regatta
October 20-22 | Charles River, Boston, & Cambridge
Elite rowers from around the world flock to the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge to participate in this classic test of endurance, strength and teamwork.

The International Volleyball Hall of Fame, Holyoke

International Volleyball Hall of Fame Ceremony
October | Volleyball Hall of Fame, Holyoke
Each year, a new class of champions are inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame. The game was invented in Holyoke.

124th Army Navy Game
December 9 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Massachusetts is proud to host its very first Army Navy game at Gillette Stadium in 2023.