Sports travel is increasingly becoming the reason for a trip rather than an activity added to an existing holiday. Kantar found that 42% of global consumers plan to travel for a sporting event within the next year, rising to 61% among Gen Z.
For a two, three or four-day trip, that makes the order of planning important. A Grand Prix weekend, football match and tennis tournament each leave very different amounts of time for the destination.
Choose the Event First
Start by deciding how much of the weekend the sport will occupy. Someone with several possible dates can browse the sports categories available through Fanatix and identify an event before committing to a hotel or flight. The homepage covers Formula 1, football, tennis, MotoGP and other live events, so the itinerary can begin with the sport and location that actually fit the trip.
A football match may take up one evening. Wimbledon can occupy most of a day, while an F1 weekend can involve practice, qualifying and racing across three days.
Kantar’s research found that 76% of people planning sports travel describe these journeys as “pure-play” trips, meaning the sporting event itself is the main reason for travelling.
Check Where the Venue Really Is
A city name on an event listing does not tell you how the day will work. Check the exact stadium, circuit or arena before choosing accommodation. Five details are worth mapping before booking anything:
- Public transport. Find the nearest station and check whether it operates after the event.
- Walking distance. A venue may require a substantial walk after the final stop.
- Crowd exit. Leaving with 50,000 people can take much longer than arriving.
- Hotel location. Staying beside the venue is not always useful if the rest of the weekend is spent downtown.
- Return transport. Check the final train or bus rather than assuming services continue late.
Do this for the event day, not for an ordinary weekday. Road closures, temporary stations and changed transport routes are common around major sporting events.
It is also worth checking the route in reverse. The easiest entrance before kick-off may send spectators toward a different station after the final whistle.
Arrive Before the Event Day
Flying in a few hours before a major event leaves little room for delays. One evening in the city before the match or race gives enough time to check the route, collect bearings and start the next day without luggage.
The return deserves similar care. A late match followed by a 7 a.m. flight can turn the last part of the weekend into a rushed transfer rather than a comfortable end to the trip.
Add One Thing That Belongs to the City
Sports tourism now accounts for an estimated 10% of global tourism spending, according to figures highlighted by Condé Nast Traveler in its look at the rise of sports travel. The best itineraries still leave some time beyond the venue.
One local plan is enough. It could be lunch in a neighbourhood near a football ground, a food market before tennis, a museum after qualifying or a park the morning after a race.
Keep the Last Hours Flexible
Do not schedule every hour after the event. Crowds move slowly, matches can finish late and a race weekend can take longer to leave than expected.
A free evening or half-day also keeps the destination from becoming an airport, hotel, stadium, airport. The sport gives the trip its date and purpose, but a little unplanned time is often what makes it feel like an actual weekend away.
Image source : IMG
