Expedia Group uncovers top desired locations for Canadian sports fans and how much they spend to see their teams on the road

TORONTO, /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:

1. Toronto, Ont.
2. New York, N.Y.
3. Montreal, Q.C.
4. Las Vegas, Nev.
5. Vancouver, B.C.
6. Los Angeles, Calif.
7. Boston, Mass.
8. Miami, Fla.
9. Chicago, Ill.
10. 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.

SOURCE Expedia