Canadian Sports Travel Growing Fast

If you're looking for the next big trend in travel, think sports.

A report released this week by Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo finds that nearly one-half (42%) of Canadian sports fans are more likely to travel and see a game on the road rather than attending a game at home on in their closest sports city.

The Sports Travel Road Game Report also found that the average fans takes roughly three sports trips per year, and that 80% of fans are looking to take the same number or more trips in the upcoming year.

Canadians 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), the report said. 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%), baseball (21%), soccer (21%) and basketball (21%) 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%).

While the majority (72%) 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%)
The chance to gather socially with friends and family (47%)
In-game entertainment (30%)

For specialty events like awards ceremonies and outdoor games, almost half (45%) 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% 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.

Here’s the full list: