Need a 'Mancation'? Try These Must-See Sporting Venues

Men often find it difficult to explain the love they have for their favorite sports team to casual fans or those with no interest in sports. To nonsports fans, a devotion to a sports team is often puzzling, particularly when a sports fan devotes so much time and spends so much money in support of his favorite team.

To fellow diehards, however, the devotion to a favorite team is easily understandable. In fact, many sports fans openly or secretly dream of a vacation devoted entirely to following a favorite team or visiting any of the many historic, "must-see" sporting venues across the country. For men hoping to embark on a sports-themed "mancation," consider the following sports and their legendary venues.

Baseball

* Wrigley Field, Chicago. Home to baseball's most lovable losers, Wrigley Field is considered a shrine by baseball fans far and wide. Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is one of the most famous sporting venues in the world, a place known as much for its free-spirited and festive nature as it is for baseball. Championship-hungry spectators (the hometown Cubs have not won a World Series in more than a century) watch from surrounding rooftops, and neighborhood bars, of which there are many, are typically filled to capacity on game day. For ticket information, visit chicago.cubs.mlb.com.

* Fenway Park, Boston. The oldest venue used by a professional sports team in the United States, Fenway Park is home to the Boston Red Sox, one of baseball's most storied franchises. Opened in 1912, Fenway Park has undergone many renovations over the years, yet still provides baseball fans the unique opportunity to experience baseball how it was watched a century ago. Located near Kenmore Square, Fenway Park is in the middle of a bustling area that is often crowded on game days. Fans with deep pockets should consider the stadium's relatively new "Green Monster" seats, which sit atop the famed left field wall. Green Monster seats typically sell fast and start at roughly $165 per seat. Visit boston.redsox.mlb.com.

* Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles. The third oldest stadium in operation, Dodger Stadium is located in the Los Angeles community of Chavez Ravine and provides some of the more idyllic views of any baseball stadium in the country. The stadium overlooks downtown Los Angeles and offers views of the city to the south as well as the tree-lined hills of Elysian Park to the north and east. Beyond the outfield pavilions, fans can also catch a view of the majestic San Gabriel Mountains. Fans hoping to see the action inside the stadium can enjoy one of baseball's most historic franchises that currently boasts a host of young stars, including Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and James Loney. Visit losangeles.dodgers.com for ticket and stadium information.

Football

* Lambeau Field, Green Bay. Home to the 2011 Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, Lambeau Field has stood since 1957 and is often filled with some of the game's most diehard and loyal fans. Game day traditions include the famed "Lambeau Leap," during which Packers players who score a touchdown jump into the stands behind the end zone to celebrate the score with fans of the team. Pigskin fans might find it hard to score tickets at Lambeau Field, as season tickets have been sold out since 1960 and the 81,000 person waiting list boasts an average wait time of 30 years. For more information, visit www.packers.com.

* Cowboys Stadium, Dallas. The largest domed stadium in the world, Cowboys Stadium holds true to the axiom that "everything is bigger in Texas." Home to the historic Dallas Cowboys, Cowboys Stadium is perhaps most renowned for its massive center-hung video screen. The largest video-screen in the world, the structure measures 160 feet wide and 72 feet tall. Fans inside the stadium often find themselves watching the game on the massive video screen rather than watching the action on the field itself. For ticket information, visit www.dallascowboys.com.

Basketball

* Madison Square Garden, New York. Known colloquially as "The Garden," Madison Square Garden is home to numerous sporting and entertainment events but is most widely known as the home of the NBA's New York Knicks. The third busiest arena in the world in terms of ticket sales, Madison Square Garden is the second oldest arena in the NBA and located in the heart of New York City on 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets. Home to the Knicks for more than 40 years, Madison Square Garden also caters to college basketball fans, who can watch the legendary Big East Conference basketball tournament each March. For ticket information, visit www.thegarden.com.

* Staples Center, Los Angeles. Home to both the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers and the up-and-coming Los Angeles Clippers, the Staples Center is a multipurpose sports arena that's as much a place to be seen as it is to see a basketball game. When the Lakers are in town, hoops fans can take in the stars on the court as well as those in the stands. While NBA All-Stars like Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol battle it out on the court, fans can star gaze at their fellow spectators, who typically include celebrities like Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, among others. For ticket information, visit www.nba.com/lakers/ or www.nba.com/clippers/.