Game on! Plan the perfect trip to a major sporting event

March 03, 2023

It’s on the horizon: that dream trip for a die-hard fan. Planning the perfect trip to a sports championship, world-famous race, or once-in-a-lifetime matchup is a must-do for many travelers. With our checklist of how to prepare for traveling to a major sporting event, you can plan an itinerary and feel certain you have all your bases covered (and not just if you’re headed to a baseball game!). Here are the top things to consider when planning your trip.

The first step: Tickets

Attending a major sporting event can be a truly game-changing experience in life, whether it's football, basketball, soccer, Grand Prix car racing, rugby or any other sport. Buying tickets early is key to getting the best seats and avoiding the hassle and risk of last-minute purchases. Be sure to find the official ticket seller of the event for the assurance of having legitimate tickets. Once you’ve scored those tickets, it’s wise to plan the details of your trip as early as possible, especially if it will take you beyond U.S borders.

Location

The location of the event is one of the most important factors to consider when planning a trip. If you’ll be traveling overseas, be sure to check your passport’s expiration date and appearance (many countries want your passport to be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip, while others may refuse entry if your document is stained or damaged). Consider whether the distance to the location affects whether you want to drive, fly or use rail travel as a part of your adventure. Be familiar with the cultural Do’s and Don’ts of the location you are visiting.

Transportation

Plan your transportation to the big event well in advance to avoid delays and missed connections. In addition to making reservations when flying to a major sporting event, you’ll want to research the best options for getting to and from the event venue once you’re on the ground. Typically, prearranged transportation is the safest, most reliable, and convenient mode of travel. You may want to use public transportation, ride hailing services, or rent a car (see if you can reserve parking to make coming and going easier). Make sure to check the distance and travel time from your home or hotel to the event venue, as well as the availability of backup transportation options.

Accommodations

Research the best-priced choices for places to stay near the event venue, including hotels, vacation rentals, and camping options. Consider your budget, the amenities you want, and the distance from the event venue. If staying in a hotel, avoid the ground floor and top floor rooms, as they are easier for thieves to access.

You also might want to consider if there are other landmarks or destinations in the vicinity that you want to visit and expand your radius and itinerary. Sometimes hotels a bit farther away may mean a longer trip on the day of the big event but could open up other fun opportunities to add on to your vacation, such as seeing local museums, visiting historic sites or exploring nearby wilderness preserves or state parks.

Weather

Surprisingly, many travelers forget to do their due diligence regarding the weather considerations in their destinations. While it’s easy to check the weather forecast for the event date and pack accordingly, it’s also a good idea to anticipate the possibilities of extremes. Research the historic lows and highs, and bring just-in-case layers or SPF-protective clothing. If the event is held outdoors, make sure to also bring sunscreen lotion, a hat, and extra weather-appropriate clothing.

Food and beverages

Prevent budget surprises and consider the cost and availability of food and drinks at the event venue, as well as nearby restaurants. Many arenas, ballparks and racetracks have a variety of options available, but it may be more cost-effective to bring your own snacks and drinks where allowed. Drink beverages only from sealed containers and never accept food or drinks from strangers.

Entertainment

The bigger the sporting event, the more entertainment options are offered both before and after the event and in the days on either side. Host cities take advantage of the influx of tourists to showcase everything their town has to offer, and then some. World-class concerts, gourmet food festivals, and other activities can add on to the fun of a top-level event, so make sure to check the event schedule to plan (and buy tickets, if needed) accordingly.

Safety

While the excitement of traveling to a major event is a thrill like no other, it’s also important to consider your safety in a new locale. Learn about the security measures that will be in place at the event venue, as well as what you should be cautious of in the surrounding neighborhood as a tourist. Familiarize yourself with the event's policies on prohibited items, and be prepared to go through security checks. Always maintain a level of situational awareness while attending large gatherings in order to reduce safety and security risks.

Travel Insurance

Making a voyage to a major sporting event, such as traveling to watch the Grand Prix is a big investment in time and money. Protecting your trip with travel insurance can provide coverage for unexpected events, including trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and lost or stolen luggage.

You can research travel protection and travel medical plans at the U.S. Department of State website, plus the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers recommendations for protecting your health and safety overseas. When you are researching travel insurance, be sure to consider your health care needs if you are headed overseas. Many U.S. health insurance plans do not cover accidents or illness in other countries, so you’ll want to feel confident that any existing issues or unexpected illnesses are accounted for.

Purchasing travel protection well in advance of your departure date ensures that you are covered for the entirety of your trip — some lead time may be necessary to cover all the aspects you want in your plan. SafeTrip, by UnitedHealthcare Global, offers a variety of plans for all sorts of travel, whether you’re hitting that end-of-season football game across the country, or adding a few stamps to your passport.

• Our Travel Protection plans are perfect for domestic U.S. travel. It’s a great way to cover the unforeseen costs of delays, cancellations, interruptions, and lost baggage.
• Headed overseas? This is where you might want to consider a plan like our International Travel Medical which provides medical insurance for a small need, an illness or an unfortunate accident no matter where you’re headed in the world.
• Want to be totally covered? Our International Travel Medical Plus plan includes medical insurance as well as trip protection in case your vacation is interrupted or canceled due to health, emergency or other reasons when outside the U.S.

This website contains highlights of the plans, which include travel insurance coverages underwritten by Centurion Casualty Company or H&W Indemnity SPC Ltd. for and on behalf of Global Solutions SP. The plans also contain non-insurance Travel Assistance Services provided by United Healthcare Services Inc., or its applicable affiliate operating as United Healthcare Global. Claims Administration is provided by Co Ordinated Benefit Plans, Inc.. Coverages may vary under applicable law and not all coverage is available in all jurisdictions. Insurance coverages are subject to the terms, limitations and exclusions in the plan, including an exclusion for pre-existing conditions. UnitedHealthcare Global does not guarantee clinical outcomes. UnitedHealthcare Global does is not responsible for the content of third-party websites and links to such websites do not imply recommendation, approval or endorsement of that website.