Nearly 1 in 5 US Sports Fans Would Happily Cancel Their Honeymoon to Travel and See Their Favorite Team Play Live
Research conducted by Booking.com in 29 markets among more than 22,500 sports fans reveals that 25% of US soccer fans think they’ll see their team win a major international championship.
2020 is set to be an exciting sporting year. With UEFA EURO 2020™ taking place across 12 European cities, and with Super Bowl LIV right around the corner, fans are already gearing up to travel and watch their favorite teams and athletes compete on a national and global level.
As excitement builds, Booking.com, the official Accommodation and Attractions Booking Partner of UEFA EURO 2020™, reveals which sports have the most optimistic fans, how far they would go to make sure they can travel to watch their team’s big moment live, how this influences their travel behaviors and what matters to them most when selecting their home away from home for these momentous occasions. Working with soccer legend and UEFA EURO 2008™ champion David Villa as the brand’s latest ambassador, Booking.com also shares unique insights into what the fans’ dedication and never-ending optimism means when competing on the big stage.
UEFA EURO 2008 Champion and Booking.com Global Ambassador, David Villa, explains: “Our fans’ support during the UEFA EURO 2008™ Final was indescribable and their unshakable optimism definitely carried our team to victory that year. And knowing that your fans will support you through thick and thin and that they are willing to dedicate time and money to travel to watch us play in some of the best stadiums in the world is truly inspiring. It is what motivates you to always give your best – on and off the pitch.”
US sports fans look ahead to 2020 with great expectations
One in four (25%) US sports fans believe that they will see their national team or player win an international tournament within the next year. The expectation level is therefore huge within fan sets as they prepare for tournament after tournament in 2020.
Baseball fans are the most optimistic fans with 84% stating that they think they’ll see their team win a major national tournament in 2020, followed by Soccer fans (78%) and Basketball fans with 74% declaring that they expect their team to go all the way in an upcoming tournament.
Dedicated fans will cancel anything to ensure they can travel to watch their team
A combination of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and dedication to traveling and showing their support in the stadium results in unwavering commitment as nearly 1 in 5 (17%) of US sport fans admit they would happily cancel their honeymoon if it meant they could travel to watch their team live in a big game.
Basketball fans (25%), Soccer fans (21%) and NFL fans (14%) top the rankings when admitting to being happy to cancel their romantic trip.
Similarly, nearly 1 in 5 (17%) US sports fans confess that they would even quit their job if it meant they could watch their team compete in a major final.
From the US sports fans surveyed, Basketball fans (27%) are more likely to quit their jobs to attend a historical sporting event versus Soccer (20%) and NFL (13%) fans.
Baseball fans are least likely to risk it all and cut loose from their current employers in order to travel and watch their team win a major international final, with only 10% admitting that they would be willing to do so.
Sports Fans and Travel
Traveling to see their team live in action is a clear priority for many US sports fans, with a whopping 89% confirming they have completed between one to five trips in the last year alone and almost half (47%) having traveled both internationally and domestically to watch their team or player. The sports that get most fans on the road are NLF – with 47% of US sports fans having traveled to watch a game live outside of where they live – baseball (46%) and soccer (43%).
Once they know which games they will be traveling to, fans start looking for the perfect place to stay. Topping the list of considerations when looking for the perfect place to stay are affordability (77%) and location (73%) in relation to the stadium or venue, while one in two (52%) look for accommodations that have a spa or hot tub to relax in post-match.
Yet, despite affordability being important for US sports fans, 33% happily admit that they would be willing to pay more for sports travel than their family vacation.
Showing support on match day
Almost one third (29%) of US sports fans wear lucky charms when attending a game, while 19% have developed a superstitious routine that they always perform before or during a game to ensure their team wins.
Aside from having rituals, 65% of US sport fans say they would never leave a match early, regardless of whether they thought their team was going to lose. 37% stay out of respect for the team or players, whereas 35% stay because they will not give up hope that their team or player can still come back and turn the game around.
Arjan Dijk, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com, said: “With the soccer-fueled excitement of the UEFA EURO 2020™ tournament set to sweep across Europe and beyond, as well as other major international cricket and athletics extravaganzas coming up in Asia, 2020 will definitely be an unforgettable year for sports. With a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, we know that finding the right place to stay – no matter what the occasion may be – is key to getting the most out of every trip. We’re excited to help bring fans the best experience through our partnership with UEFA, easily booking their ideal accommodation base as well as great things to do in each host city.”
