A cancer survivor from Chicago, Ashvin Rudd, took on the incredible challenge of visiting all 124 major sports stadiums across North America, with his final destination being a hockey game featuring the Islanders. This particular game turned out to have an added significance.
Rudd, 51, shared that he chose the Islanders’ match against the St. Louis Blues on November 22, partly due to his fondness for numbers. Interestingly, he found out later that it coincided with a Hockey Fight Cancer event.
“This feels like a full circle moment in my post-cancer journey,” Rudd noted, as he celebrated the event along with fellow members from Club 124 after the game.
The path hasn’t been easy for cancer survivors like Rudd.
He recalled a pivotal moment from December 31, 1999, when he was too unwell from chemotherapy to join in the New Year’s celebrations. “I watched everyone celebrate the turn of the millennium, and it hit me—once I’m through this, I’m going to seize every opportunity to explore and experience life,” he reflected.
Fast forward to today, and Rudd has not only reached this goal but has also become the 27th documented athlete in Club 124, attending various sports events in both the U.S. and Canada.
Receiving treatment from the same oncologist who treated Lance Armstrong back in February 2000, Rudd had visited just four stadiums before beating cancer.
After his recovery, he really immersed himself in attending games, traveling to St. Louis for an NFL game, Indianapolis for an NBA match, and Nashville for an NHL event. “If I’m working somewhere and a game’s on, I hop in. If it’s during vacation, I do the same,” he explained, acknowledging his gradual start.
His introduction to “Club 124” sparked a journey he considered a real commitment after meeting like-minded travelers in Chicago during the 2010s.
“I thought, ‘Is this really happening? I’m actually going to plan this out,'” he admitted, thriving on the flexibility that came with touring on his own, backed by a modest budget of $100,000 over time.
Enjoying the Journey
Over the years, Rudd has created memories at major sporting events, including the Super Bowl in New Orleans and witnessing Aaron Judge hit his first home run with the Yankees. That same year, he managed to attend three World Series games in Chicago, where he not only holds season tickets but also is known for assisting kids with their homework at the ballpark.
He visited around 74 stadiums throughout the 2020s, sitting in diverse sections of arenas, before concentrating on his local venues.
Reflecting on a particularly busy September in 2022, he described attending a Thursday night NFL game, then flying to Pittsburgh for another game the following day before heading to Buffalo for yet another match. “It was nonstop, and I made it work,” he recounted.
By carefully planning his travels, he became adept at attending multiple events in quick succession. “Once, I went from an Eagles game in Philadelphia straight to a Ravens-Pats game in Baltimore,” he said.
Today, Rudd feels a profound sense of accomplishment. “I aimed for a richer life than I once had. I used to be overwhelmed with stress, but now, that’s behind me,” he expressed contentedly.
Stadium Recommendations
- SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- UBS Arena, Long Island
- PNC Park, Pittsburgh
- Wrigley Field, Chicago
- Bell Centre, Montreal
- Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
- Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
- Intuit Dome, Los Angeles
- Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
- PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh
