In a rollercoaster year filled with championship energy, passionate fans, and unforgettable moments, Peekskill’s Sarah Peterson has become a familiar face at some of the biggest sporting events across the country. 

Her journey kicked off in February at Super Bowl LIX, followed by WWE’s WrestleMania 41 in April. Peterson, a local school teacher and devoted Buffalo Bills fan, earned these experiences after winning a costume contest at Fanatics Fest in 2024. Since then, every aspect of her trips — including flights, hotels, tickets, and more — has been fully covered by Fanatics. 

With four more trips still ahead, Peterson is soaking in every experience. Most recently, she traveled from the sunny beaches of Fort Lauderdale to the electric energy of Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, witnessing history unfold with her 11-year-old son Hudson and a close friend.

Stanley Cup Finals: A Trip to Remember 

Heading into June, Peterson expected to catch a brief breather after her WWE trip. But as the NBA and Stanley Cup finals inched closer, any hopes of downtime quickly disappeared. At home, the family eagerly followed the playoff races, trying to guess their next destination.

“It was hectic,” she recalled. “We were watching both playoffs, wondering which two teams were going to end up in the finals.”

No matter who made it, one thing was certain: Hudson was going. “I always planned on bringing my son Hudson because he plays hockey,” she said. “Even though he is a Rangers fan, he was hoping that the Panthers would be in the finals so he could get a trip to Florida.”

Once the Stanley Cup Final was set — the Edmonton Oilers versus the Florida Panthers — Peterson and Hudson were on a first-class flight to Fort Lauderdale for game three on June 7.

Arriving a day early, the duo soaked in the Florida sun at their five-star hotel, W Fort Lauderdale. “We had a hotel right on the beach with a pool overlooking the ocean,” Peterson said. “The first day, we were able to go swimming in the ocean and we went out on a fishing boat. Hudson caught 10 fish.”

On game day, June 9, they lounged by the pool before heading to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, where the Stanley Cup Finals were tied at 1-1.

“We were blown away by the energy at the arena,” Peterson said. “DJ Khaled was DJing the whole game. There were also fireworks and lights going off.”

Though loyal to their New York Rangers, the Petersons couldn’t help but get swept up in the Panthers spirit. “As Rangers fans, you’re supposed to hate Florida,” Peterson said. “But once you’re there and everyone around you has a Florida Panthers jersey on, you can’t help but start cheering.” Hudson even caught a shirt during a toss and wore it proudly. 

From the opening minutes of the game, the tension and intensity from both teams was palpable. “We watched games one and two at home, and both went into overtime. We knew that it was going to be an all-out brawl, and it was,” said Peterson. 

The Panthers dominated, ultimately beating the Oilers 6–1 to take a 2–1 series lead. By the end, multiple fights broke out. “It was wild — four or five different pairs of hockey players were fighting,” Peterson said.

After this victory, the Florida Panthers went on to win the Stanley Cup in six games.

Reflecting on the trip, Peterson was grateful to share it with her son. “It’s always nice to bring your kids somewhere new and see how excited they get trying new experiences. Hudson was a really good travel buddy.”

He also didn’t mind the all-expenses-paid experience. “I kept asking him, ‘Doesn’t this make you want to be rich?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’”

Peterson and Hudson flew home Tuesday, the morning after the game finished. 

From the Rink to the Court: NBA Finals in Indianapolis 

Just three days after returning from Florida, Peterson was back on a plane — this time to Indianapolis with her friend Kara for game four of the NBA Finals on June 13. The Indiana Pacers, leading the series 2–1, were taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC). 

“It was stressful to unpack and then pack again, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Peterson said.

As a New York Knicks fan, Peterson had mixed feelings. “We were so upset that the Knicks didn’t make it,” she said. (The Pacers eliminated them in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 31.)

Still, Peterson and Kara embraced the trip. The duo stayed at the four-star Omni Severin Hotel and had prime seats, sitting behind one of the baskets on gameday. 

Recalling the game experience, Peterson said they were overwhelmed by the fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The pair, who entered the arena as neutral fans, were quickly persuaded to support the Indiana Pacers. “You get there and they have a camera going around, pointing to people if they’re not wearing the shirt. Me and my friend were like, ‘Well, we’d better put it on. It’s only one game.’”

As the game went on, they were convinced the Pacers were going to secure a victory. “It really seemed like the Pacers were going to win,” said Peterson. “They had a lot of momentum and were in the lead for a lot of the time, but in the fourth quarter, OKC just couldn’t miss a shot.”

The Thunder ended up winning 111–104 and tying the series 2–2. They would go on to win the NBA Finals in seven games, clinching their first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City. 

Peterson was struck by the emotional investment of the fans. “The fans were very sweet, but very upset with the refs. There were a lot of chants of ‘Refs, you suck,” she recalled. “I love sports, but I just felt so sad at the end because you could tell most people in there really thought the Pacers were going to win this game.”

After the game, Peterson and Kara stayed an extra day to explore Indianapolis. Their favorite highlight was eating at the historic St. Elmo Steak House. “It was built in 1902, and there was a ton of beautiful wooden architecture. It was just gorgeous,” said Peterson. “The food was also delicious.”

They returned home Sunday, ending their weekend of fun. Peterson returned to her school job Monday morning.

Back to Reality — But What’s Next?

It’s fair to say that Peterson is living the dream of many sports fans. But going from major sporting events to grading papers can be challenging. 

“It was a lot because the trips were so close together,” she said. “But summer’s coming up, so I can relax a little bit. I think next year is going to be hard when I’m not going on all these paid trips.”

Peterson rated her Super Bowl trip as the best of the year so far. “There were so many parties and planned events associated with the Super Bowl that weekend,” she said. “They know when and where the Super Bowl is going to be in advance, so they can do a lot more planning for activities. Whereas the hockey and basketball games, nobody knows where it is until the playoffs are over.”

Second place is Florida. “It was just a nice getaway with my oldest son to just go to the beach for a couple days and go see an amazing hockey game.”

With each trip, Peterson gets to bring one guest. Her selection strategy is simple: “I just pick whoever’s going to be the most fun,” she explained. “Everybody’s been understanding.”

Her younger son, Teddy, is next in line. “He’s going to go to the MLS Cup. We’ve actually been looking online at odds of who’s predicted to host, and right now it looks like Miami — so another trip to Florida.”

Still ahead on the calendar: 2025 MLB World Series in October, the MLS Cup later this year, a Buffalo Bills game of Peterson’s choosing, and a UFC fight at Madison Square Garden in 2026. 

Editor’s note: The Herald will follow Sarah Peterson throughout the year as she attends all these events. If you wish to follow Sarah Peterson’s adventures, be sure to subscribe to the Herald’s email list so you don’t miss the next story.