The Story of Bucket List Events
Bucket List Events was founded by avid sports fans and world travelers who built a company just to make sure we could attend these amazing events every year. We are a small company with a very big mission. We exist to provide affordable access to the most epic experiences in the world. It’s a big job, but someone’s gotta do it.
WHY US?
You might ask yourself why you should trust us to deliver your once-in-lifetime bucket list experience? Here are a few thoughts to consider:
- We have the experience – The original version of this company was founded in 2004, and members of our team have been providing access to these events continuously since then. We are entrepreneurs; we’re professionals, we’re athletes; we are sports junkies.
- We value your feedback – After every event we provide all of our guests a survey and publish those results. You can read the testimonials online and hear exactly what previous guests thought about our events. And when a guest offers a good idea for improvement, you can bet we will listen and incorporate it for the next year.
- We will be there with you – The person you work with to book your event will be the same person you meet at the event. There’s no middlemen. Nothing is lost in translation. When you call or email us, you are working directly with the person who will be fulfilling your experience.
WHAT IS A BUCKET LIST EVENT?
We are constantly being asked to help people get access to big events. But not every event is something we can help with. So let us help define why we choose the events that you will find available on this website.
- There must be a constrained item. Something that is very hard to find on your own. For the Masters, it is a badge for access to the golf course. For the Running of the Bulls, it is a balcony spot to view the bulls beneath you. For Oktoberfest, it is a beer tent reservation. And for some events, like the Olympics, the hardest thing to get can often be a hotel room in the host city. With all of our events, there is always something that is hard to obtain, and we put our energy into finding a reliable source. That is also why we do not offer trips for other bucket list type experiences, such as swimming with sharks, climbing a mountain or going on a safari. You can almost always find a provider for those experiences because nothing about them is truly constrained.
- Someone must be very passionate about attending. There are plenty of events with constrained access to tickets, like concerts and sporting events. However, we are not particularly interested in regular season football games or Taylor Swift’s next concert. We don’t consider either to be a true Bucket List experience, where people feel like they must attend before they die. OK, in fairness, some Taylor Swift fans probably feel that way, and maybe we will help with that if you ask nicely. But typically, we are here to provide access to the biggest events that people truly want to check off their bucket list . We get great satisfaction in making those kinds of dreams come true.
- There’s more than a ticket. All of our events require more than just a ticket. In most cases, there is travel involved. That means airports, transfers, hotels, meals and a handful of other details that must all come together to ensure an epic experience. We are a turn-key provider and hopefully we have thought of everything you need to make the most of your bucket list experience.
- We are the 4-Star Value Option – We are not always the best fit for someone on a very tight budget. We do not offer hostels, or 2-star hotels, or obstructed view tickets. Likewise, we are not always the best fit for 5-Star clients arriving on private jets demanding red carpets and backstage access. Instead, our sweet spot is someone that can afford to be there, but who still expects value. We have a knack for delivering the most bang for the buck at these events.
- Someone on our team enjoys the event – Because we are providing a turn-key product, someone on our team will be there at your hotel to make sure everything is running smoothly. For that reason, it needs to be an event that we enjoy attending. We’re fans of these events, too. And if no one on our team likes the event, then you won’t find it on our website. But hey, if there’s an event that you think we are missing, feel free to tell us. We are always curious to explore other events.
WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY
We’ve been humbled to be mentioned in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Frommer’s Travel Guides, the San Diego Business Journal, USA Today, Fox News, and more.
See what our clients have to say on Travel Stride, Google Reviews, Facebook Reviews, and Yelp.
“”Perfect trip!!! First time to the Kentucky Derby and it was the best!! Bucket List events made the trip easy and fun. If I could rate over 5 stars. I would. Thank you all at Bucket List Events - especially Ben! “I’ll be back.”
“”Brian and Rich are Masters of their craft! Our World Cup trip to Qatar was met with the highest regard to trip details and follow up. This was not my first experience with them and will not be my last! Ryder Cup 2023 Rome, here we come!
“”My son and I had an amazing time in Qatar for the World Cup, thanks to Bucket List Events. When I first started looking into options, Brian was helpful answering questions, gave me confidence that Bucket List was the way to go. Throughout our preparation and trip itself, Rich was great to work with, very responsive and made sure our experience in Qatar was outstanding. Given all the different elements of this trip, it was incredibly valuable having Bucket List make it all happen so smoothly, including our match tickets (outstanding seats & hospitality!), hotel, desert excursion, city tour and more! Thanks Rich and Bucket List for a fabulous and memorable experience!
“”This was my first World Cup and It was an amazing experience. Since it was my first time I was very nervous about the transaction but I decided to trust them. Rich delivered everything that he promised and went beyond since we needed an extra night in Doha and he was able to find us a hotel. I recommend BLE 100% to everyone who is looking to get access to this kind of world events.
“”Dreams really do come true! Bucket List Events made our Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and NYC experience perfect. Ben was always knowledgeable and helpful and best of all always had a smile on his face. Can’t thank them enough for a wonderful and memorable time. Looking forward to traveling with them again.
“”We booked with Bucket List Events for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Trip of a lifetime! They was great to deal with, including accommodating last minute ticket requests! Everything was well organized, communication from booking to departure was excellent - such a great experience!
“”It was so well planned out and executed by Ben and his staff. The hardest part in any business/experience is matching the value in ‘dollar cost’ to the value in experience and this team did this perfectly. It was absolutely worth the price tag, and I’d recommend them to anyone, every time.
“”Just wanted to thank you for your help in making such a memorable trip for my dad, uncle, and myself this week. We had an absolute blast. Everything from housing, hospitality, and transportation was top-notch. Know how hard everyone was working to take care of people and can not imagine the logistics of pulling that off, but you all did it, and it was superb.
Thank you for making this happen for us. Trip of a lifetime with special memories.
“”We used Bucket List Events for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and weekend and it was excellent all around. They accommodated every request and every detail was perfect. There is no better way to enjoy New York City for Thanksgiving Day Weekend!
“”They set up things I couldn't have even dreamed of doing, or planned myself. The team was extremely friendly and helpful, you can tell they LOVE what they do. Thanksgiving 2021 in NYC, check that off the bucket list in the most special way ever! Thank You Bucket List!!