The Ultimate Luxury Gift Guide: Best for Pro Sports Fans

Here’s a common holiday gifting dilemma: someone in your life loves pro sports, and they’re passionate about a particular team. They also have a good eye and refined taste. Or a wicked sense of humor. So the usual T-shirt, hat or team sweatshirt is just not going to get the job done. Fear not! Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has curated our ultimate luxury gift guide on what to give for holiday or Christmas gifts this year to pro sports fans who love the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL. Game on! 

luxury holiday gifts from beyond the sporting goods store

Where can you turn to find upscale – dare we say luxurious – sports apparel and accessories suitable for the elegant precincts of Park Avenue, Miami Beach, or Beverly Hills? Or for the cool-kid streets of Brooklyn, Austin or Atlanta?

Look no further. As part of our holiday gifting series, we’ve rounded up 20 of the best luxury Christmas and holiday gifts for sports fans this year. And don’t worry – since we don’t consider ourselves die-hard fans of the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL, we went straight to the experts when we curated this list.

That’s right, we surveyed the members of our Sports Desk (who always have an opinion about everything). We also checked in with some of our far-flung correspondents to gather suggestions from people who actually know what they’re talking about.

The Ultimate Luxury Gift Guide: Best for Pro Sports Fans

Here’s what the experts had to guide us toward what to buy as luxury gifts for the pro sports fans in our lives this Christmas holiday, whether their passion is for the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL. Or all of the above!

gift guide for pro sports fans: Apparel and Accessories

Luxury sportswear is set to be a $231.7 billion market by 2024 and luxury brands like Gucci, Balenciaga and Dior have all gotten in on the action.

This month, for example, Louis Vuitton unveiled the LV x NBA men’s wear capsule collection designed by Virgil Abloh. Take a look at some of the offerings and get your queuing plan ready for its November 20th release date.

A pro sports championship ring is the ultimate status symbol for true fans. Not only are they given to the athletes, but also the team administration and family and friends. Sometimes, those lucky recipients might sell them on the secondary market. Which means you can score one for the beloved sports fan on your list!

We found some embroidered and needlepoint accessories with team logos that are a huge step up from what you can buy at a sporting goods site. Like, these would not be out of place at a traditional office, or on the shores of Nantucket. You can find accessories bearing professional and college team logos that whisper, not shout.

gift guide for pro sports fans: Food and Drink

Sports fans may not be able to get into the stadium this year. But that doesn’t mean tailgating has to end. A top-rated portable grill like this Coleman Road Trip propane grill will keep the fun alive.

And if your beloved sports fan is missing those authentic stadium eats? Satisfy their hunger with a box of goodies from gourmet food vendor, Goldbelly. They source iconic foods from all over the country for easy care packages and gifts. So you can level up from just a box of Cracker Jacks.

best gifts for pro sports fans: Art and Memorabilia

For a gift that really stands out, consider a piece of fine art featuring their favorite sport. You can opt for a work by LeRoy Neiman if that’s your thing. But if you want something that really stands out, we’ve got some ideas.

Just remember that when it comes to sports memorabilia, buyer beware. It is said that only 35% of sports memorabilia is authentic – which means you have to deal with a reputable, seasoned dealer.

Our jet-set pals swear by Steiner Sports. They are the exclusive distributor of hand-signed memorabilia from Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, Henrik Lundqvist and Patrick Ewing. Other options include Fanatics Authentic; Heritage Auctions; Christie’s; and Sotheby’s.

Many items can be bought online. At last check, we found vintage ticket stubs; a Michael Jordan 1986-88 game-worn Chicago Bulls jersey; and a 2016 Serena Williams signed jumbo tennis ball.

On 1st Dibs, you can purchase two original letters and envelopes dated 1955 and 1957 by baseball legend, Jackie Robinson.

best gifts for pro sports fans: Tickets to a big game

If your gift recipient is living the mogul life, they probably already have season tickets or a luxury suite at the stadium of their choice. Even so, great seats at a sporting event are highly likely to be welcome – just get them for a game out of town, or for a different sport.

If you want to go for broke, consider gifting a pair of the most sought-after tickets in the upcoming season. Pick a contest that anyone with even a passing interest in sports would want to see. And expect to pay north of $1,000 per ticket.

possibly the best gift of all? Talk sports with them

Some curmudgeonly types might say that the best gift for a passionate sports fan is being left in peace to watch the game, with no interruptions, impatient sighs, or nagging about chores. We’ll leave that one to you and yours. Those are very delicate negotiations.

Finally, the best gift you could give the dedicated sports fan in your life might be to learn how to talk sports with them. Not for hours. But for, like, 10 minutes.

If like us, you have very little interest in sports but you have loved ones, friends and family who are deeply invested in it, then why not surprise them by actually being able to talk about The Big Game?

If you’re up for the challenge, just read our This Week In Sports Talk posting every Sunday, and you’ll be able to surprise and delight your gift recipient with a lasting heartfelt gesture. You’ll actually be able to speak their language. And that might be the best luxury sports fan gift of all.

The Ultimate Luxury Gift Guide: Best for Pro Sports Fans

Those are our thoughts on what to give the sports fans on your Christmas or holiday gift list this year. We hope it’s a good guide to the luxury gift options for those who love the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL. And hey – maybe you’re one of those people – in which case, you should pick up a little something for yourself, too! Happy holidays!

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This article contains affiliate links to products independently selected by our editors. As an Amazon Associate, Dandelion Chandelier receives a commission for qualifying purchases made through these links. 

Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, and fitness. Julie lives in New York where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing. And spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.

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