A tour operator specialising in US sports trips has broadened its portfolio from American football to include baseball, basketball and ice hockey games.
In line with its expansion, the operator has been rebranded from NFL Weekends to US Sports Travel.
The operator has secured partnerships with 17 professional US teams and enlisted ex-England cricketer Liam Plunkett, who will represent US Sports Travel in the US and host some trips.
Four or five night Atol-protected packages offer the chance to see games in five US cities: Miami, Nashville, Boston, Philadelphia and New York. Bespoke trips are also available for private groups.
The operator, which officially launched last autumn after delaying its early 2020 launch, is targeting the over-35s market, including couples and families, and is keen to take bookings from the trade.
“We are a new operator and we want to take bookings from agents; we are open and flexible,” said founder James Ellwood, who hopes to tap into the “huge surge in popularity” for US sports in the UK market.
Between eight and 10 hosted trips, of 12 people each, are initially planned for this year. Trips run from Thursday to Monday and include return flights, four or five star accommodation, airport transfers, game tickets and a host, as well as optional extras such as meals out or river cruises.
Also included are extra experiences such as entry to tailgate parties, access on to the pitch or court, and the chance to meet players or ex-players. “We are offering experiences through our contacts that you could not get if you just went online to book tickets yourself,” said Ellwood, who previously worked at Oxford Private Travel and Oxford Ski Company.
Packages for this year’s regular season of baseball games were due on sale this week. Others will become available once fixture lists are released.
