The Remarkable Journey of a Cancer Survivor: Visiting Every Major Sports Arena in North America
Ashvin Lad’s life changed forever when he found himself watching the world celebrate the new millennium while recovering from chemotherapy. The 51-year-old Chicago resident, who battled testicular cancer in the late 1990s, made a profound promise to himself during that difficult time: “When this is done, I’m going to go out there and see as much of the world as I can, meet as many people as I can, and take in as many experiences I can.” This promise evolved into an extraordinary 24-year journey that culminated last weekend at UBS Arena on Long Island, where Lad became just the 27th person to visit all 124 major sports stadiums and arenas across North America—a feat known as completing “Club 124.”
What makes Lad’s achievement even more poignant is the serendipitous nature of his final stop. He selected the New York Islanders versus St. Louis Blues game on November 22 simply because, as a self-described “numbers nerd,” he liked the date (11/22). Only later did he discover that the Islanders were hosting a Hockey Fights Cancer event that very day. “It brings that whole post-cancer journey full circle,” Lad reflected as he sat with fellow Club 124 members celebrating his accomplishment. This coincidence provided a deeply meaningful conclusion to a quest that began with his cancer diagnosis and subsequent recovery under the care of the same oncologist who treated cycling legend Lance Armstrong.
The journey officially began in 2000 after Lad won his battle with cancer in February of that year. Having visited only four stadiums before his diagnosis, he started adding venues to his list by traveling to St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Nashville to watch various professional sports teams. Initially, his approach was casual—attending games whenever work travel or vacations presented the opportunity. It wasn’t until the 2010s that his casual hobby transformed into a focused mission after a chance meeting with a fellow stadium enthusiast in Chicago who introduced him to the organized “Club 124” community. “I said, I can’t believe this is a real thing. I’m really going to go do this, make a concerted effort and start planning,” Lad recalled of this turning point.
As a single man without children, Lad had the flexibility and resources—he estimates spending around $100,000 over the years—to pursue this ambitious goal. His journey took him to every corner of North America, witnessing historic sports moments along the way. He was present for Aaron Judge’s first home run with the Yankees in 2016, attended Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans in 2013, and cherished watching his beloved Chicago Cubs during their 2016 World Series appearance at Wrigley Field, where he holds season tickets and has earned a reputation for helping children with their homework during games. By the early 2020s, Lad had visited approximately 74 stadiums, but he significantly accelerated his pace in the final stretch, developing an impressive expertise in “doubling up”—attending multiple sporting events in different cities within extremely tight timeframes.
The logistics of Lad’s quest often required meticulous planning and endurance. One particularly notable stretch in September 2022 demonstrates his dedication: “I did a Thursday night football game—Chargers vs. Chiefs in Kansas City. I flew home Friday morning, went to work, and then I flew to Pittsburgh on Saturday, went to the Steelers game on Sunday, and then went to Buffalo for a Monday night Bills game. Then I flew home first thing Tuesday morning to go to work.” Another time, he managed to attend an afternoon Eagles game in Philadelphia before driving to Baltimore for a Sunday night Ravens versus Patriots matchup. Throughout his journey, Lad experienced venues from every perspective, sitting everywhere from field level to the highest seats in the rafters.
Beyond the impressive statistics and logistics, Lad’s stadium quest represents something deeply personal—a fulfillment of the promise he made to himself during his cancer battle. “I wanted to have a better life than I did. I was very stressed out always… Now I’ve done that,” he reflected after completing his journey. Among his favorite venues were SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, Chicago’s iconic Wrigley Field, Montreal’s Bell Centre, and Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. While his “Club 124” quest may be complete, the transformation it represents continues to define him: from cancer patient to world explorer, from someone watching life pass by to someone fully embracing it—all because he realized, in those difficult moments of treatment, that life is indeed too short not to pursue extraordinary experiences.
