The Perfect Sports Trip Often Requires Months, Even Years, of Planning

Even if you have never been a gymnastics fan before, it is difficult to ignore the historical performance of Simone Biles in the last few months. No matter what kind of sports fan you are, seeing the best in the field is the ultimate goal. And whether you are going to save to attend the 2020 Olympics or you are looking for tickets to watch your favorite National Football League (NFL) team compete, it is always important to make sure that you start the planning process as early as possible. If you wait longer you risk having to pay more for less desirable seats. This week when Biles won her fifth world all-around title, broke her own record for women’s record margin of victory, extending her six year unbeaten streak, and winning her 22 world metal, she likely created even more fans who will be watching the next time that she performs.

Finding a way to make sure that you are able to attend the sporting event of your dream involves many steps. So many, in fact, that many people work with a professional agency to purchase the sports travel and tour packages that they wan the most.

Are You Making Plans to Attend the 2020 Olympics?

Scheduled for Tokyo, the 2020 Olympics will include gymnastics, swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo, archery, badminton, baseball, softball, basketball, boxing, canoeing, and kayaking. A lot of sports with multiple sessions means that scheduling can be confusing, so a professional travel agent would be helpful. Whether you, too, are considering a trip to the 2020 Olympics or you are attending your 20th event to watch your favorite baseball team, it is worth your time and money to make sure that you have a great experience.
Sports has long been one of America’s favorite past times, and no matter what your favorite is you have likely watched hours of television following your favorite players and teams. Taking the next step, however, and attending the top events in your chose sport will help you create memories you will remember for a lifetime. In the case of Simone Biles, an opportunity to attend the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is a pinnacle opportunity. Now that Biles has announced that this will be her last Olympics, in fact, attending this event is an even bigger goal. Consider these facts and figures about the many times when Americans are willing to go to great lengths to take in competitions across the country, and sometimes, around the world:

• 37% of U.S. adults indicate that football is their favorite sport to watch. This is by far the most for any sport. Baseball, in comparison, is at its lowest point ever, with only 9% of U.S. adults saying it is their favorite sport to watch.
• Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia are the only five U.S. cities with all four major sports: Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), National Basketball League (NBA), and the National Hocky League (NHL).
• Phoenix, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Miami, Dallas, Boston, New York City, and Minneapolis are the eight additional cities that have all four major sports within their metropolitan area.
• From their combined revenue from television and marketing rights fees, the NCAA generated $820 million in its 2017 financial year alone.
• Estimates indicate that the North American sports industry will be worth more than $74 million by 2020. A significant amount will come from the five largest sports in the U.S.: football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and soccer
• In total, The North American sports industry is expected to generate as much as $69.4 billion from ticket and merchandise sales, media rights and sponsorship fees, according to the latest sports outlook from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

In spite of America’s obsession with sports, there are 25 states that have none of the four professional major sports teams: Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas, Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. It may come as no surprise then that some of the people who are the most willing to travel to see their favorite athletes and teams may come from these locations.