From cricket to F1: Why Indians are packing bags for sports in 2025

Imagine being surrounded by enthusiastic sports fans watching your favourite individual or team play live with the sounds of cheers echoing everyonersquos love for the gameMore and more Indians are seeking this thrilling experience opting for stadiums instead of screens Sports enthusiasts are not hesitating to travel to another city or country to engage more actively with what some people call a lsquoonce in a lifetime experiencersquo of witnessing a game liveWhy Simply because of their love and passion for the sport and the team which has either defined their childhood or played an important role in their livesHarsh Jagtap a Bangalorebased creative professional is one such sports enthusiast He shares ldquoI went to Manchester to watch the team I supported since I was 8 years old It was the best experience of my life watching my favourite team win the matchrdquoAsk him why he chose to travel to another country for something he could have easily witnessed from the comfort of his home and he is quick to say ldquoThe connection with your boyhood team is very different and as a true fan and supporter since a very young age it has always been a dream to watch my team play live in the stadium The atmosphere is electrifying which you donrsquot get sitting at homerdquoHarshit Agarwal an ardent cricket follower backs this sentiment He says ldquoI watched an ODI Cricket World Cupmatch live in Chennai inNovember 2023 Watching a match at home is nothing compared to the atmosphere at a stadium The excitement loud cheers and just the energy make the experience amazingrdquoWhile some fans prefer a specific sport to watch live others donrsquot mind travelling for different gamesSarah a Mumbaibased writer reveals ldquoLast year I had the opportunity to travel to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup and Irsquove since visited several Indian cities to attend major cricket football and hockey events This includes the Womenrsquos Asian Champions Trophy and the ODI World Cup among many others My travels have taken me to cities like Ahmedabad Lucknow Bengaluru Chennai Kolkata Dharamsala and New Delhi where I have had the privilege of experiencing the excitement of live sports in different parts of IndiardquoAlso ReadPlanning to attend Coldplay Ahmedabad concert Here are 5 places to visit in the citySharing the experience of live sports that enthusiasts place far above the experience of watching matches on screen she says ldquoI truly believe as a fan watching a sporting event live offers an entirely different experience that cannot be replicated on screen The palpable energy of the crowd the intense atmosphere in the stadium and the thrill of witnessing key moments in real time are all part of the magic There is a unique sense of connection to the event the players and fellow fans that television simply cannot provide To put it simply watching them live is about immersing myself in the moment and creating memories beyond what a screen can offerThis travel trend called sports tourism is expected to prevail in 2025According to the Travel Trends 2025 Report by Skyscanner 54 per cent of Indians between the age group of 2534 and 53 per cent of all Indians plan to travel either domestically or internationally to see a sporting event next yearWhether its cricket football F1 or other global tournaments sports tourism is hitting an alltime high with nearly twothirds 63 per cent of Indians planning to soak in the experience for entertainment purposes and 59 per cent of fans wanting to travel for the excitement of live sports For half 50 per cent of Indian fans a chance to see their favourite sporting celebrities in action is a motivator to witness these grand spectacles in personMohit Joshi Travel and Destinations Expert at Skyscanner says ldquoIndian sports enthusiasts are gearing up for a thrilling year of travel in 2025 Travellers are leaning towards switching their couches for a seat in the stadium We are seeing a lot of positive data in terms of sportsrelated travel with people keen to support their favourite teams with fellow fansrdquoWhich sports are people willing to travel forCricket and football are popular options among sports enthusiasts here Formula 1 is gradually rising the ranks as its popularity grows among Indian audiences People are also willing to travel for other sports like tennis and hockeyJagtap shares ldquoI would happily travel to watch football tennis and chess live I have even developed a new interest in watching F1rdquoSarah reveals ldquoI would be more than willing to travel for cricket hockey football and athletics Each of these offers a distinct atmosphere and excitement that makes attending a live event truly special Cricket with its rich traditions and intense fan base offers an unparalleled sense of community especially during highstakes matches like the World Cup or even the IPL Hockey known for its fast pace and physicality creates an electric atmosphere in stadiums Athletics with the drama of individual plus team performance is a sight best witnessed live especially during major events like the Olympics or World Championships or CWG Football with its global appeal and passionate crowds offers an intense 90 minutes thatrsquos best experienced in personrdquoSports and tourismWhile fans are travelling to other cities and countries to watch sports events they are also planning their trips in ways that allow them to explore the destination beyond the eventFor Agarwal this is a choice depending on the situation He says ldquoIrsquove done both planned a trip to also visit tourist places in that area and visited just for the match It all depends on the destination time constraints etcrdquoldquoWhile attending a live match in another city I do try to plan my trip to explore other tourist attractions but this largely depends on my hectic work schedule If time allows I enjoy making the most of the opportunity to discover the local culture adding to the overall experience However my primary focus remains on the game itself as its the main reason for the triprdquo Sarah concludesIndia is often regarded as a country of sports lovers especially cricket As global broadcasting increased marketing and behindthescenes series and events bring other sports closer to Indian audiences their keen interest and drive to feel closer to these games is giving rise to sports tourismName changed or only first name usedAlso ReadWhat is sleep tourism Decoding this wellness and travel trend