The VicSports Blog

Booking a VIP box for a sporting event for the first time can feel a little daunting, but the reality is that it is one of the most relaxed and enjoyable ways to watch sport at any level. The private suite environment removes all the friction of a regular match-day — no queuing, no crowded concourses, no fighting over armrests — and replaces it with a curated hospitality experience from start to finish.

Arrival is via a dedicated VIP entrance, completely separate from the general public. Your name will be on a guest list, and a personal host will greet you and escort you directly to your suite. Most suites open two hours before kick-off, giving you time to settle in, enjoy the pre-match catering, and absorb the atmosphere as the stadium fills. The catering is typically a seated meal before the game plus canapes and drinks during play — all included. Premium wines, craft beers, and soft drinks are available throughout.

The suite itself will have a private outdoor viewing area directly overlooking the pitch or court, as well as an indoor lounge with comfortable seating, HD screens for replays, and your own dedicated facilities. Dress code is smart casual. There is no rigid requirement, but most guests dress well given the exclusive environment. At half-time your host is on hand for any request — dietary requirements, extra drinks, or arranging transport at the end of the evening.

VicSports' VIP packages also include a premium welcome pack for each guest featuring a commemorative programme and branded merchandise. Once you have experienced sport from a private suite, watching from the stands feels like a very different proposition. Many of our VIP clients return year after year, booking the same suite for the same fixture as an annual occasion.

When the UFC announced Auckland's Spark Arena as the host venue for UFC 325 in February 2027, the New Zealand MMA community erupted. This is not just another Fight Night — the card being assembled has the hallmarks of a genuine pay-per-view calibre event, with a main event featuring two fighters ranked inside the global top five in their division. The last time the UFC visited New Zealand, tickets sold out within hours. This time, demand is expected to be even greater.

Spark Arena is an outstanding venue for combat sports, with a capacity of around 12,000 and a steep bowl configuration that means almost every seat is a good one. The octagon will be positioned centre-floor, with floor seats offering close proximity to the action and elevated tiers providing an excellent overview. VicSports offers tickets in every category, from standard lower-bowl seats at $120 through to our Octagon-Side VIP Box at $750 per person — arguably the most exciting live sports experience available in New Zealand.

The undercard features two Kiwi fighters in separate bouts — a rare treat for Auckland fans who will be rooting for home glory before the international main event. Doors open three hours before the preliminary card, giving early arrivals time to explore the arena, visit merchandise stands, and soak in the atmosphere that only a sold-out fight venue can generate.

For group bookings of eight or more, our corporate hospitality team can arrange a bespoke VIP package including a private lounge area, pre-fight dinner, and branded VicSports welcome packs for each guest. Contact us directly — demand for group packages at UFC events is always extremely high and inventory is very limited.

Roland Garros occupies a unique place in the sporting calendar. Unlike Wimbledon's manicured grass or the hard courts of the US Open, the Stade Roland Garros — with its distinctive orange-red clay surface and intimate court layouts — creates an atmosphere wholly its own. The sound of a ball biting into the clay, the red dust on players' shoes, the roar of Court Philippe-Chatrier: it is a sensory experience that no television broadcast can fully replicate. If you are a tennis fan, attending Roland Garros once in your life should be non-negotiable.

Paris in May and June is at its most beautiful. The trees in the Bois de Boulogne, which borders the complex, are fully in leaf, and the city's café culture spills onto every pavement. We recommend basing yourself in the 16th arrondissement or Saint-Germain-des-Prés for easy access to the grounds and the best boulangeries in the city. Book accommodation six months in advance at minimum — Paris hotels fill extremely quickly during the Grand Slam fortnight.

Ticket strategy at Roland Garros is everything. Court Philippe-Chatrier and Court Suzanne-Lenglen session tickets — particularly for the second week — command a significant premium. VicSports offers tickets for all session types, from grounds passes through to VIP Lounge packages on Philippe-Chatrier including a three-course lunch, premium wine service, and the best seats in the stadium. Packages start at $180 for standard sessions and $600 for our Grand Slam Royal Box experience.

For the Men's Final — the pinnacle of the clay season — demand is extraordinarily high. We strongly recommend contacting VicSports as early in the year as possible. Our allocation is limited and sells through quickly. Watching the world's best clay-court players compete for the Coupe des Mousquetaires on a warm June afternoon in Paris is, quite simply, one of the greatest sporting spectacles on earth.

Ask most sports fans outside Europe and Russia to name the world's top ice hockey league and they will say the NHL without hesitation. That is entirely fair — the National Hockey League is home to the sport's greatest players. But the Kontinental Hockey League, featuring teams from Russia, Finland, Latvia, China, and beyond, offers something the NHL cannot: world-class hockey in an atmosphere unlike anything in North American sport, at a fraction of the cost.

The SKA Arena in St. Petersburg is one of the most impressive sporting venues on earth. Opened in 2025 with a capacity of over 20,000, it combines cutting-edge technology — including the world's largest indoor LED screen — with the deep hockey tradition of a city that has produced some of the sport's greatest players. Watching SKA St. Petersburg face CSKA Moscow in this arena is a sporting pilgrimage any true hockey fan should make. The noise during a derby match is extraordinary; the speed and skill of the players will astonish even experienced watchers.

From New Zealand, the most common route to St. Petersburg is via Helsinki or a European hub. Total travel time is around 24 hours. We recommend spending at least three nights in the city — the Hermitage Museum alone could fill two full days, and the White Nights phenomenon in summer is a travel experience in itself.

VicSports offers KHL packages across all price points, from standard seating at $65 through to our President's Box VIP experience at $350, including a private suite with catering and the best sightlines in the building. With 58 regular-season events on our calendar, there are plenty of fixtures to choose from — contact our team to find the perfect matchup.