Production Passport | 🏈 NFL 2025 To Set New Global Travel Record

Welcome to Production Passport! Each week, we bring you tailored insights, expert tips, and industry updates to streamline your travel and logistics within sports production. Let’s make your next event stress-free and unforgettable!

⏱️THE MINUTE READ

NFL 2025: The Season That Will Travel

The 2025 NFL season is shaping up to be the league’s most logistically complex yet, with teams covering record-breaking miles and spanning more time zones than ever before. Topping the list are the Los Angeles Chargers, set to travel a staggering 37,086 miles and cross 42 time zones — their season kickstarting in São Paulo against the Kansas City Chiefs. Not far behind, the Rams will cover 34,832 miles, including an away fixture in London.

International expansion is a clear theme: the NFL’s 2025 schedule features seven games in six countries, including first-ever regular season clashes in Dublin and Madrid. Notably, the Minnesota Vikings will play back-to-back international games in different countries — a logistical feat never attempted before.

As the league goes global, so do the demands on team operations. Coordinating long-haul flights, recovery protocols, venue transitions, and VIP movements requires not only precision, but real-time flexibility. That’s where firms like Coraaj step in — trusted travel management partners working quietly behind the scenes to ensure teams and executives move seamlessly across borders. From athlete logistics to stakeholder engagement trips, Coraaj’s growing reputation in elite sport speaks to a simple truth: great performances start with great planning.

📌WEEKLY MUST-KNOWS

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
GO Sport Travel Renews Exclusive Match Break Partnership With Watford FC
GO Sport Travel has renewed its exclusive partnership with Watford FC, reinforcing a strategic alliance that prioritises international fan engagement. This continued collaboration exemplifies a shared commitment to service excellence, ensuring overseas supporters can access tailored matchday experiences at Vicarage Road with ease and security. Working in tandem, Paul O’Brien, Watford’s Commercial Director, and Per Gavelius, CEO of GO Sport Travel, have effectively cultivated a relationship that now stands as a benchmark for fan-focused football hospitality offerings.

By securing this extended agreement, both parties signal ambition to elevate the club’s global profile while delivering high-value propositions for travelling fans. The partnership is positioned to supply premium, hassle-free Official Matchday Experiences that embody safety, professionalism, and the fervour associated with English football. As Watford FC continues to expand its reach, such strategic collaborations are integral to sustaining competitive advantage in the evolving sports hospitality sector.

SEVENT TOURISM STRATEGY
US Coalition Forms to Back Sports and Travel Mega Events Across America
US industry leaders have united to form the Americas Sports and Travel Mega Event Coalition (ASTMEC), aiming to ensure the United States seizes the unique opportunity of hosting landmark events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics. Backed by the US Travel Association, this initiative has a clear agenda: drive strategic collaboration with federal and local authorities to modernise visa systems, upgrade airports, and implement security technologies, thereby delivering world-class experiences to an anticipated 30 million international visitors.

Key industry stakeholders are advocating for the removal of the $250 visa integration fee, which is perceived as a barrier to legitimate travellers, underscoring the need for cohesive policy reform. The coalition’s vision extends beyond event execution, focusing on sustainable enhancements to travel infrastructure and long-term international competitiveness, with the forecasted $100 billion economic impact reinforcing the scale of this opportunity.

LUXURY SPORTS TRAVEL
Pickleball Cruises And Tennis Retreats Fuel A Surge In Racket Sports Tourism
Driven by surging global interest in racket sports, the travel industry is strategically capitalising on this trend with specialised offerings, including tennis academies, pickleball experiences, and padel resorts that blur the lines between sport, luxury, and lifestyle. High-profile collaborations, such as partnerships between leading eCommerce brands and international sports organisations, along with celebrity investment, have accelerated the expansion of exclusive packages—ranging from Grand Slam VIP experiences to immersive sports-centric retreats.

Notably, pickleball’s rapid ascent has redefined holiday planning, with cruise lines, resorts, and adult camps prioritising court access and tailored instruction. The integration of elite coaching, wellness facilities, and access to prestigious tournaments reflects a wider shift in the industry, leveraging the sport’s accessibility and appeal for all skill levels. Travel operators are actively positioning these experiences as key drivers of growth in the projected $1.8tn sports tourism sector, signalling robust long-term demand.

⚡QUICK READS

IHG’s US Open Plays Up On‑Court Hospitality: Member-only experiences like “Bed on the Baseline” extend loyalty into broadcast-visible space—expect stricter camera plots, talent flows, and RF coordination to protect both show and guest safety.(More)

CBS Classic Bundles Signal Earlier Ops Lock: With packages on sale now, vendor holds, motor coach planning, and crew travel should lock earlier to protect margins against peak-season airfare and hotel volatility.(More)

World Aquatics Diving World Cup 2026 and 2027 Sites Confirmed Across Three Nations: World Aquatics is strategically expanding the profile of competitive diving by confirming Montreal, Guadalajara, and Beijing as hosts for the 2026 and 2027 Diving World Cup circuit, reinforcing the sport’s global reach across the Americas and Asia.(More)

The Production Passport is a ClickZ Media publication in the Travel division