Sports fans spend on average $4,294 per year on sports trips
Toronto, New York, Montreal top desired global destinations for
sports fans
Hockey fans most likely fan base to see games on the
road
TORONTO, Oct. 17,
2023 /CNW/ -- A shift in the weather means Canadian
sports fans are saying goodbye to summer sports and dusting off the
fall and winter jerseys for another season. Released today, a
report from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo found that almost
half (42 per cent) of Canadian sports fans were more likely to
travel and see a game on the road rather than attending a game at
home or in their closest sports city1.
The Sports Travel Road Game Report also found that the average
fan takes approximately three sports trips per year, and that 80
per cent of fans are looking to take either the same or more trips
in the upcoming year than they did the previous year.
Fans prioritized sports travel over dining at restaurants and
going to concerts and reported spending on average $4,294 per year on sports trips (including
travel, accommodation, tickets and food). For football fans, the
cost per trip was said to be approximately $500 higher than the average fan trip, while
hockey fans estimate an average spend of $1,291 per trip.
"The amount sports fans are willing to spend may seem surprising
to non-sports fans until you realize it's not just about the match
— a game on the schedule gives some fans the reason they need to
actually book and take their vacation, turning 'someday' into a
reality," says Melanie Fish, head of
PR for Expedia Group Brands. "We combined the power of Expedia,
Hotels.com, and Vrbo to get a comprehensive look at what's
inspiring Canadian sports fans to travel, whether those fans are
booking packages, a last-minute room on Hotels.com to see their
team clinch a playoff spot or booking a Vrbo to stay with your
fellow fans."
Fans reported hockey (47 per cent), baseball (21 per cent),
soccer (21 per cent) and basketball (21 per cent) were the top
sports they were looking to travel and watch in person over the
next 12 months, and many were just as likely to travel for American
pro football as they are for Canadian football (16 per
cent).
While the majority (72 per cent) of fans said the game itself
was the best part of being there in person, there are other reasons
the in-person experience has so much appeal over watching games on
a screen:
- Cheering along with the crowd (55 per cent)
- The chance to gather socially with friends and family (47 per
cent)
- In-game entertainment (30 per cent)
For specialty events like awards ceremonies and outdoor games,
almost half (45 per cent) reported they were more likely to travel
for these occasions than regular games. In fact, Expedia flight
data shows bookings for Nashville,
Tenn., saw an increase of 135 per cent during pro hockey's
annual awards festivities3 in June 2023 when compared to the previous
week.
As for where Canadians are travelling to, Toronto came in as the most desired
destination in the world for Canadian sports fans. Full
list:
- Toronto, Ont.
- New York, N.Y.
- Montreal, Q.C.
- Las Vegas, Nev.
- Vancouver,
B.C.
- Los Angeles,
Calif.
- Boston, Mass.
- Miami, Fla.
- Chicago, Ill.
- Seattle,
Wash.
Tools for Fans; more savings for more games, foam fingers and
stadium hotdogs
- Conversational trip planning: iOS users can use
Expedia's AI feature powered by ChatGPT to make sports travel
planning easier. Start an open-ended conversation in the Expedia
app to get recommendations for sports-themed trips, or where to eat
around the stadium.
- Trip Planner: looking to gather your cheering squad? For
the first time, travellers now have one place to collaborate and
engage with friends and family, making it a breeze to plan the
ultimate fan trip. Group members can like, comment, save more
ideas, and see what's already been booked across places to stay,
flights, activities and car rentals. Available on the Expedia,
Hotels.com and Vrbo apps.
- Price tracking: view price history, receive alerts when
prices fluctuate, and understand when prices are likely to change
to take the guesswork out of booking your next sports trip
4.
- Packages: bundle your trip elements to unlock instant
savings in the Expedia app. Expedia members can also apply air
mileage numbers at checkout to double dip and earn points even
faster, meaning more savings to put towards the next sports
trip.
Notes to Editor:
Where to; teams over destinations
When deciding where to take vacation, travellers were more inclined
to look at the schedule and choose a destination where their
favourite team was playing (53 per cent), rather than following a
favourite player (19 per cent); or choosing a destination and
seeing any local team (12 per cent). Forty-two percent have planned
a sports trip around a birthday.
When it came to deciding where to stay or what activities to do,
64 per cent said they felt inspired by athlete and team social
media accounts and would add a featured activity or hotel to their
itinerary. Soccer fans (80 per cent), esports fans (78 per cent),
and hockey fans (64 per cent) were the most likely to be influenced
by athletes on social media. Regardless of fandom, Gen Z was most
inclined to find trip inspiration from athletes (79 per cent), and
the breakdown between men and women was nearly even (67 per cent
versus 66 per cent, respectively).
All-star accommodation
Over half of fans (53 per cent) said proximity to the arena was
very important to them, but 44 per cent also wanted lodging to be
close to other tourist attractions, proving that sports trips
aren't just about the games themselves. Other top amenities for
fans included complimentary breakfast (41 per cent) and discounted
nightly rates (34 per cent).
The majority of fans also admitted they're willing to shell out
more on accommodation that's closer to the arena (73 per cent).
Those aged 55+ were most interested in closer accommodation, but
they were also the group least willing to pay extra for it.
Fans were also interested in staying in vacation rentals, like
Vrbo, where they could stay together and enjoy private amenities
such as pools and hot tubs. Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of
respondents said they would consider booking a vacation rental for
an upcoming sports trip.
Hotels.com fan-approved hotels:
Hotels.com put
together a list of great hotels for sports fans in the top desired
destinations, ranging from suite rooms inside the ballpark to
rooftop jumbotron viewing pools.
- Toronto: With several
pro sports teams playing out of the city, Toronto is a great spot to get your sports
fix. The Rogers Centre and Scotiabank arena are located on the same
street, with the Hockey Hall of Fame just a few blocks away. In
February 2024, Toronto will play host to the NHL All-Star
game for the ninth time in history, and the first time since 2000.
Hotels.com recommends: Toronto Marriott City Centre for its
spectacular stadium views and ballpark room service eats.
- New York: Hosting some
of the most storied and historic franchises, New York is a must for sports travellers. Take
a tour of Yankee Stadium or Madison Square
Garden or enjoy a game at one of the city's many sports
bars. Hotels.com recommends: Renaissance New York Midtown
Hotel for its proximity — only 0.4 km from Madison Square Garden.
- Montreal: Montrealers
are passionate, and it's no surprise that this extends to their
sports teams. The city hosted the Olympic games in 1976, and
travellers can still visit Olympic Park to see some of the sites.
Nostalgic hockey fans can visit the iconic Montreal Forum which is
now a mall, but still houses pieces of its past. Hotels.com
recommends: Le Centre Sheraton Montreal which is one block away
from the Bell Centre.
- Las Vegas: With new
teams playing out of Sin City, and a state-of-the-art stadium
dominating the skyline, Las Vegas
continues to grow as a top sports destination. Fans can enjoy the
flashy and over-the-top game entertainment at any of the venues, as
well as sports experiences like Top Golf. Hotels.com
Recommends: Circa Resort & Casino where
spectators can enjoy watching a game on the 43.5-meter jumbotron
from the comfort of the rooftop pool.
- Vancouver: Vancouver's Olympic legacy shines as brightly
as the Olympic Cauldron located at Canada Place. Playing host to
one of Canada's biggest
international sports moments when both the women's and men's hockey
teams secured gold on home soil, many sports fans still flock to
the sites. Hotels.com recommends: Hotel Blu Vancouver, just
a five-minute walk from BC Place.
Expedia's fan-tastic activities:
Since sports trips aren't just about watching games, Expedia
curated an activity list based on top destinations that sports fans
are sure to enjoy.
- Hockey Hall of Fame - Toronto,
Ont.: browse hockey memorabilia, practice your shot, and get
your picture taken with hockey's most iconic trophies.
- Madison Square Garden All Access Tour - New York, N.Y.: head behind the scenes at the
home of some of the most prolific pro sports teams and
concerts.
- Montreal Old Port Craft Brewery Tour - Montreal, Que.: learn about Montreal's rich brewing history while pairing
delicious local cheeses with local craft beers.
- Las Vegas Strip Helicopter Tour with Dining Experience -
Las Vegas, Nev.: soar over the
skyline to see the newest stadiums, including the famous MSG
Sphere, lit up at night.
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour - Vancouver, B.C.: eat your way through one of
Vancouver's oldest areas,
including Canadian poutine, Japanese karaage chicken and local
craft beer.
A Vrbo for every fan trip:
For sports fans that like to travel in packs, Vrbo
properties provide ample space to spread out and enjoy premium
amenities like private pools, big screen TV's and full, modern
kitchens for pregame snacks. Because Vrbo only provides whole,
private homes, fans will never have to worry about sharing a space
with their rivals. Check out these Vrbo sports trip and
accommodation types:
- Fan cave faves: Decked-out properties like this hog-wild
Retreat in Fayetteville, Ariz., or
this purple and orange Dream Cottage in Clemson, S.C., let you show off your team
spirit while living like a local. Wear your team colours proudly,
from your jersey to your vacation space.
- Golf foursome friendcations: Heading to the links with
friends? Sharing a Vrbo, foursomes can stay together and save
money. This large home in Inverness,
N.S., is only a 10-minute drive from Cabot Links and
averages $650 per night, meaning each
person pays $163 before taxes and
still gets their own room, access to shared spaces, a full kitchen,
and a backyard. Golf trip tip: in the Vrbo app, type the name of
the golf course into the search bar to get properties in the area,
and then filter for number of rooms.
- Sports complex superstars: For those who love to play
sports, Vrbo has an abundance of properties to enjoy your own
personal playground, like this luxury celebrity estate in
Scottsdale, Ariz. From indoor
roller rinks to private basketball courts, putting greens, and even
hockey arenas, there's something for every sports fan.
- Viewing-party places: Fans looking to gather their
people to watch the big game can find Vrbo's with private movie
rooms, large living room spaces with generous seating, and outdoor
grilling areas to get their BBQ on. This Kissimmee, Fla. home boasts an indoor
'drive-in' complete with a truck and large-screen TV to tailgate
without leaving home, an outdoor TV by the pool to float while
watching football and sleeps 18 so guests don't have to worry about
going into overtime.
- Hassle-free homes: Driving and parking at busy arenas
can be a pain, so why not walk instead? By entering the name of the
stadium, pitch or arena in the Vrbo app, fans can find properties
close to stadiums, arenas and pitches that provide hassle-free
options to skip the traffic and parking costs. This Edmonton loft is just one block from Rogers
Place, and a 10-minute walk to Commonweath Stadium.
For additional properties, activities, images, and questions,
contact press-ca@expedia.com.
About Expedia Group
Expedia Group, Inc. companies power travel for everyone, everywhere
through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel
is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new
ways and build lasting connections. We provide
industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and
success, while helping memorable experiences for travellers. Our
organization is made up of three pillars: Expedia Product &
Technology, focused on the group's product and technical strategy
and offerings; Expedia Brands, housing all our consumer brands; and
Expedia for Business, consisting of business-to-business solutions
and relationships throughout the travel ecosystem. The Expedia
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Data sources and notes:
1 The survey about sports travel was
conducted online among 1,000 Canadian sports fans from September 13-21, 2023, by OnePoll on behalf of
Expedia Group.
2 Based on hotel bookings on Expedia.ca in
Salt Lake City, Utah, from
February 15-20, 2023, compared to
February 8-13, 2023.
3 Based on flight bookings on Expedia.ca to
Nashville, Tennessee, from
June 22-27, 2023, compared to
June 15-20, 2023.
4 Price predictions are not a guarantee.
Available to members in the Expedia and Hotels.com apps on
select routes.
SOURCE Expedia