THE metal can made a satisfying click as I pulled the tab open and took my first ever sip of Cincy Light Lager.

Of course, it had to be on brand — and especially when attending my first ever tailgate outside the home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

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The Paycor Stadium, which is rooted in the very heart of Cincinnati’s downtown area, holds more than 65,000 people, and I could just picture the fanatics piling through the gates on game-day to watch their beloved team.

We were still a few hours away from the beginning of the Bengal’s pre-season match against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but already there was a great atmosphere as we sat on camping chairs in a parking lot next to the stadium.

‘Why on earth would you be sitting in a parking lot?’, I can hear you ask. The idea seems bonkers to those of us in the UK.

But, in the US, it is a great tradition — an opportunity to eat delicious food, drink some beers, throw the old pigskin around and of course, take in the game.

I was reliably told that the star player to watch on the team is quarterback Joe Burrow — a top talent and a bit of a hometown hero having spent time at Ohio State University.

Nearby, college kids played beer-pong as they drank from a keg balanced on the back of a truck.

This felt like a true American experience I thought as I took another sandwich from the picnic table, surrounded by a group of fellow Brits who were in Cincinnati to experience the best the city had to offer.

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What helps is that the sun was shining down at the time — certainly a far cry from the wet and windy streets of Scotland!

We certainly had great weather during our five-day trip to Cincy, as it is affectionately known — a city which sits right across the Ohio River from neighbouring Kentucky.

Fresh from our afternoon spent sampling a traditional game day among the Bengals fans, it was time to change it up and take in a different sport altogether.

And what a treat we had in store as we headed off to the Cincinnati Open — hosted in a city called Mason 22 miles north of Cincinnati.

The tournament has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and I was delighted on our arrival to see a banner of fellow Scot Andy Murray, who was victorious there in the singles in 2008 and again in 2011.

Any tennis fans out there should most certainly ensure the Cincinnati Open is on their to-do list, as with a range of passes, you can access multiple games across the day, and even have the chance to meet some of the stars.

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After such a packed day, it was nice to get back to the fantastic Kinley Hotel in the downtown area to relax.

Rooms are generous and very comfortable, as was the bed I fell into to enjoy a fab night’s slumber.

As a sports fan I was spoiled during my time in Cincinnati.

Visiting the Great American Ball Park, the home of baseball’s Cincinnati Reds, felt like a must for me — not just as a baseball fan, but also as a tip of the cap to the history of the great city we were visiting.

GO:CINCY REGION

GETTING THERE: British Airways fly direct from Heathrow to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport with fares from £583pp. See BA.com

STAYING THERE: Rooms at the Kinley Hotel in Cincinnati from approx £145 a night. See kinleycincinnati.com MORE INFO: See visitcincy.com.

The Reds are one of the oldest professional baseball sides and as I toured the museum, the immense tradition was clear to me.

I even got to try my hand at presenting an old broadcast from one of their games — sports jacket and all!

With MLS side FC Cincinnati also now a staple in the city — if sports is your bag, put Cincy on your itinerary for a hot US spot that should not be overlooked.