We like to concentrate on the finer things in life here and that doesn’t always cross over easily into the world of sports. As exciting and passionate as many events are, a stadium or arena is not always the most refined place to be and some sports almost seem to revel in their rough-and-ready reputations.

But there is another side of sports that has always been there too. The one where cultured fans mingle to watch some of the most exhilarating action on the planet while still keeping a distinct level of sophistication. Fans can still try to do their best with the moneyline betting markets but are also able to treat the event as the social occasion that it is, as well as cheer on their favorites.

Many of the events on this list come with quite an extravagantly priced ticket and, although that isn’t the only reason for their inclusion, that is sometimes an added feature of what we have come to class as luxury events. These five should be on all sports fan’s bucket lists, especially if the fan in question also counts an air of prestige as an important and defining quality.

Wimbledon

Summers in the UK can not always be guaranteed to provide endless days of sunshine, unfortunately. But there is one seasonal tradition that you can be absolutely sure of and that is the Wimbledon Championships, held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.

It is the only major tennis championship that still requires its competitors to wear majority white outfits and that sense of tradition permeates through the entire event. It is the oldest tennis competition in the world and tickets for Centre Court – with the chance to sit close to actual royalty – are extremely difficult to come by. But millions queue each year in the hope of watching the tennis, while enjoying the equally famous strawberries and cream, of course.

Monaco Grand Prix

We have no doubt that many of the people who flock to the principality on the south coast of France do actually enjoy Formula 1 motor racing. But it is also a fact that there are some sports events where it is just as important to be seen. The F1 circuit as a whole is a luxurious affair but the Monaco Grand Prix is surely the most prestigious of the lot.

The great and the good, including celebrities from all walks of life, descend on the picturesque French Riviera at the end of May each year – many making the trip in their own private yachts or helicopters. Monaco is the playground of the rich and famous and this sports event is the epitome of glitz and glamor. You may even get to see some exciting road racing as well!

The Masters

This is the sport we mostly cover on this site and it is no surprise when you consider the tradition and history of golf. There are still plenty of prestigious events taking place right around the world. But surely the biggest of them all is The Masters, hosted by the city of Augusta, Georgia.

The golf on show is the cream of the crop and The Masters is one of the four majors in the sport’s calendar. So you can be guaranteed of watching some of the finest players in the world in action. But that is if you can manage to get hold of a ticket – a notoriously difficult task in itself. The exclusivity of the event is one of the main draws and makes this the jewel in the golfing crown on a yearly basis.

The Ashes

When you think of sports that just scream high class, then cricket has to be right up there. For many people not versed in the ancient laws of the game, understanding what is actually going on can be difficult. But, even if you are still coming to terms with the rules of cricket, you can’t fail to be impressed by the tradition – and not many cricket events come with more history than the Ashes.

England versus Australia is the oldest rivalry in the sport and the two nations meet every two years to play for one of the strangest trophies in the world of sport. The Ashes are actually a small “urn” said to hold the ashes of the cricket ball burnt after Australia first beat England in 1882. Whether or not that is true, the test series is always keenly contested and the test at Lord’s – the home of cricket in London – is surely one of the most prestigious events to watch.

Figure 2 Celebrities flock to Monaco for the Grand Prix

Super Bowl

After all of those extremely prestigious sports events, it may come as something of a surprise to see that we round off our list with the most American of occasions – the Super Bowl. The NFL might be the most popular sports league in the country but football is not always readily associated with glamor and prestige. In fact, many politicians and celebrities like to prove their “working man” status by showing their support for their team.

But the Super Bowl is an event that has now transcended sports entirely and the exclusivity of tickets means that it definitely belongs here. Only the biggest entertainment stars get invited to play the world-famous halftime show and the football quite often becomes secondary to everything else that goes on in the host city during Super Bowl week.