The Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Sports Focused Travels

Discover the growing trend of traveling for major sports events like the Olympics, F1, and World Cup. Learn how these events transform cities, create unforgettable atmospheres, and offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Plan your journey and make every game day memorable!

Deniz Cabadak

The Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Sports Focused Travels

Jan 21 2025

Leave Your Couch, Be A Part Of the Atmosphere

A new trending vision for sports and travel enthusiasts: "I will be there and experience this in that passionate crowd." It's time to leave your couch and join the enthusiastic fans in the stadium or arena you've been watching on television.

While this trend began with dedicated fans traveling to away games, it's no longer just for football and basketball fanatics. It's for anyone who loves sports or "the atmosphere of sports events"—whether they're drawn to the game itself, the players, the electric stadium atmosphere, the pre-and post-game activities, or simply experiencing cities during major sporting events.

As an architect and sports & travel enthusiast, I'm particularly drawn to the game, the merchandise, the surrounding activities, and how these events transform cities. Significant events like the Olympics, F1 (especially street circuits), Tour de France, and World Cup reshape entire cities — from transportation to restaurants, from nightlife to landmark decorations. When cities bid for major events like the World Cup or Olympics, they emphasize their sports venues and capacity and the overall city experience. Cities strategically schedule these events during off-peak seasons, creating a win-win situation for event organizers and local economies through city branding and tourism.

With this growing trend, event demand increases yearly while venue capacity remains fixed. Careful planning is, therefore, crucial. You must track pre-registration dates and ticket sales closely. Popular events (the elite ones) like Roland Garros, Wimbledon tennis tournaments, Volleyball Nations League, Olympics, and Champions League matches require precise timing — thousands queue online when tickets first go on sale. Patience is essential!

Some annual events, particularly tennis tournaments, offer a "loyal customer advantage." For instance, attending the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters once grants early access to next year's ticket sales, one week before public release. As these are niche events, local customers often claim most seats before public sales begin. However, this and other international events offer official resale channels where tickets become available even at the last minute.

I secured Olympics tennis semifinals/finals and volleyball semifinals tickets just a week before through the official resale channel. Always use official channels — there are many fraudulent sites, and events strictly require their official apps for tickets and QR codes.

Step 1: Choose and Monitor Your Event

First, decide which event you want to attend, and then closely monitor all social media and ticketing information. Once you've secured your ticket, plan your trip around the event schedule and city activities.

Step 2: Prepare for Game Day

When the day arrives, prepare your essentials: choose which jersey to wear, plan your photo opportunities at the stadium, and research the best spots to get player autographs near the changing room walkway potentially.

Step 3: Navigate the Venue

At the venue, first locate all essential checkpoints: rules, food vendors, restrooms, merchandise shops, photo opportunities, and the exciting fan zone. Remember, beyond all the planning and finances, the experience matters most.

You might only experience the Olympic atmosphere once — in Paris, for instance, it will be unique! Even recurring events at the same location differ each time, and for rotating venues, each experience is truly once-in-a-lifetime.

If you love sports, channel your travel passion through sporting events for an energetic, unique perspective. While cities can be visited anytime, experiencing them during major sporting events offers a rare, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

About the Author

Deniz is an architect and avid traveler based in Istanbul, with a unique perspective shaped by extended stays in Milan and the Caribbean islands. Rather than counting countries visited, they prefer deeply experiencing favorite destinations through multiple visits.

With a keen eye for design inherited from their architectural background and passion for graphic design and typography, Deniz's travel experiences are often influenced by aesthetic appreciation and architectural interests.

An active sports enthusiast, Deniz is particularly engaged in tennis and running, offering local insights and personal recommendations for these activities in various locations. Their combination of design sensibility, athletic pursuits, and travel expertise provides a distinctive lens through which they view and share their global adventures.

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