Do NFL teams have their own planes? How do they travel to away games? (2024)

NFL players are known for negotiating million-dollar contracts, driving fancy cars and living lavish lifestyles. It’s easy to imagine that their billionaire team owners would also provide them with a private plane when they are on a road game.

Surprising fact -- only one NFL team flies its athletes in its own plane. In fact, the club has two private jets to ferry them around. What is probably not as surprising is the team that owns it -- the highly successful New England Patriots.

More from the NFL:

Patriots plane with a purpose

The Patriots purchased two used Boeing 767s a few years ago -- the same planes that are used by American Airlines. This certainly seems extravagant, but the club has put its gigantic carbon footprint to good use.

Aside from transporting the team from city to city, the planes have also been deployed since the covid-19 pandemic began to fly masks, health workers, and vaccines from one place to another. They have also helped in sending relief to Haiti after a devastating earthquake and have help transport military personnel.

New England Patriots' plane carrying National Guard soldiers touches down at DSM https://t.co/4nhi4kZSbC

— WHO 13 News (@WHO13news) September 12, 2022

Chartered flights for other NFL teams

As for the other teams, don’t feel sorry for them just yet. They may not have their team logo on their own aircraft, but they also fly in luxury and style in chartered flights.

This gives the team the perks of a private jet without the excessive cost of owning one. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines are among those that fly NFL teams when they have away games.

The size of the parties of NFL teams has increased in recent years, so those planes are more crowded than you might think. Some teams have contingents of almost two hundred traveling per game. The list includes players, coaches, front office staff, equipment staff, sponsors, security personnel, and doctors.

You can probably figure out who sits in first class.

Do NFL teams have their own planes? How do they travel to away games? (2024)

FAQs

Do NFL teams have their own planes? How do they travel to away games? ›

The answer is no, each team has their own travel arrangements and transportation. They usually fly on chartered planes and stay in hotels close to the stadium they are playing at. The NFL has strict rules and regulations about travel arrangements to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for all teams.

How do NFL teams fly to away games? ›

Most teams charter

Other NFL teams travel by chartered aircraft. It allows teams to have the feeling of flying private without the costs of owning an airplane. Still, chartering jetliners can cost tens of thousands of dollars an hour, so it's not exactly cheap.

Do NFL teams fly their equipment to away games? ›

American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines are among those that fly NFL teams when they have away games. The size of the parties of NFL teams has increased in recent years, so those planes are more crowded than you might think. Some teams have contingents of almost two hundred traveling per game.

How do football teams travel to games? ›

College football teams travel to games primarily by airplanes and chartered buses. For games which are far away, or in the case of schools with large traveling budgets, private planes are a common means of travel, though they often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars each season.

Do NFL teams fly to all games? ›

Many people probably think all NFL teams have private airplanes they use to travel, but that's not true of all 32 clubs. The way players travel, and thus the cost, varies by team. Here's a general look at teams' travel methods, to give you an idea of how NFL players get from game to game.

Do NFL Waterboys travel with the team? ›

“My son is a PT, but 53K a year is way too small for the amount of schooling,” another argued. That said, Thieneman was sure to point out the benefits of the role. As he explained, water boys also get to travel with the team and spend time with players, in addition to other perks.

Do NFL players fly to games? ›

An NFL team is a $Billion dollar franchise now, the days of an NFL player buying their own plane ticket to a game is long gone. Sports franchises that don't have their own plane (like the LA Dodgers and NE Patriots), charter flights for their team's travel to road games.

Do NFL players get their own hotel room for away games? ›

The marquee players will get their own rooms, and some of them might even get something really plush. But for rookies and lesser known players, they will have to bunk up with a teammate.

Do NFL players stay in hotels for away games? ›

The experience varies between players and teams, but some things remain constant. When I played for the Buccaneers and the Jets, the players had to stay in a hotel the night before the game, whether we were at home or away. Sometimes you also had to have a roommate, especially the younger guys.

Do NFL wives go to away games? ›

Warner explained: "You're not allowed to spend the night with your significant other on away games or home games. "For away games they are obviously in a hotel, but if I choose to go to the same hotel, we're not allowed to be in the same room and then home games they also sleep in a hotel."

How many NFL teams have their own plane? ›

The National Football League (NFL) is the most well-known professional sports league in America, and it has several teams that own their own planes for travel. The Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks all have their own aircraft.

Do NFL teams fly or drive to games? ›

As such, it shouldn't come as a surprise that NFL teams do not travel on the road but rather by air. Over the years, many people have wondered how gridiron teams fly around so often, as it is a weekly and, sometimes, daily task.

Which football clubs have their own planes? ›

Manchester United Becomes First Football Club to Have its Own Aircraft Livery. Some football fans may laugh, others cry, but there will surely be a glint of pride in the eyes of at least a few Manchester United supporters, when they see 'their' latest plane.

How does NFL decide which games to air? ›

Primary markets. Several factors determine which games are carried in each market. Each of the 32 NFL teams is assigned a "primary market" which is the metropolitan area where the club is located. Most teams also have a selected number of secondary markets.

Do NFL players get free tickets to away games? ›

Fans might be pleased and a bit surprised to know that players do actually have to pay for tickets. Having said that, they are offered at a reduced price. "All your tickets to games, home and away, aren't free. They are at a discounted rate, but they're not free," divulged Sydney.

Do NFL players share hotel rooms on the road? ›

Yes. You have the same roommate through the season unless one of you is traded. To save on expenses, and to keep track of everyone at curfew, NFL players are assigned double rooms. As a rule, you're teamed with someone at the same position, so the quarterback and backup quarterback generally room together.

Do NFL Waterboys get Super Bowl rings? ›

The Average NFL Waterboy Gets Paid More Than You, And If Their Team Wins The Super Bowl – They Get A Ring. I'm not sure which rabbit hole I was going down when I learned this information. But when a team wins the Super Bowl, the members of the staff usually all get a ring, too.

How much does a ball boy in NFL make? ›

How much does a Ball Boy make? As of May 12, 2023, the average annual pay for a Ball Boy in the United States is $28,061 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $13.49 an hour. This is the equivalent of $539/week or $2,338/month.

How much do NFL refs get paid? ›

The NFL does not release salary figures for referees but, according to Sporting News, the highest paid NFL refs make $250,000 annually. NFL referees on average usually make about $205,000 per year.

Where do NFL players stay during home games? ›

The rule reads: “The Home Team will be required to stay at the team hotel the night prior to each game. All hotels must comply with the requirements set forth in the Team Travel Protocol and must provide parking for all players and essential staff segregated from the public.”

Do NFL teams feed their players? ›

His staff goes through 200 pounds of fish, 300 pounds of meat and 500 pounds of chicken each week. He says he's determined to keep the players smiling while keeping their stomachs full. “As long as they come in here and they're eating and they're happy, that's the most important thing,” he said.

What airline do NFL players fly? ›

Most teams are transported by one of the three famous airline companies: American, Delta or United.

How do NFL players use the bathroom during a game? ›

"Guys are peeing all over the sideline in every game, into cups, on the ground, in towels, behind the bench, in their pants, everywhere," says Panthers center Ryan Kalil, who covered this topic and others in The Rookie Handbook, co-authored by Gross and Geoff Hangartner.

Do NFL players shower after games? ›

Showers were always in order following every game regardless of how much you played. This naturally also applies to the backup quarterback who just held a clipboard all game. There is just something rejuvenating and necessary about it after wearing a complete football uniform.

What do NFL players eat before a game? ›

Generally, a variety of whole grain pasta, breads and rice along with fruits and vegetables like potatoes not only provide the carbohydrates that players need, but also a variety of essential vitamins, trace minerals and fiber.

Do NFL players pray after games? ›

Remember, to be legal in a public-school setting, prayer has to be of the students' volition. In the NFL, players of both teams often pray together after games -- but the caveat is that it's voluntary (and, in the NFL, the church-state issue doesn't apply).

Do NFL teams fly home after night games? ›

Road teams are usually in the air within 2 hours of their game ending, then they'll head home from the airport. Home players will usually go home, if they played a 12:00 pm game they might go out for supper or something. If they played a 4:00 pm game, chances are they'll head home.

Which NFL team has the most fans that travel to away games? ›

The away team deserves a little credit too. After all, some teams bring fans from their home city on the road with them, while others tend to attract big crowds wherever they go for one reason or another. During the 2022 season, the Bengals attracted the most road fans, with 645,660 fans at their nine road games.

Do NFL players eat after a game? ›

To compete at the highest level in football, pro players maximize their diets with the guidance of their sports dietitian. And during the season, teams follow a nutrition game day plan – including pre- and post-game meals – to stay fueled and performing their best.

Do NFL wives get in free? ›

Yes, WAGs are required to pay for their tickets. They also need permission from the team to go on the field before the game and snap cute couple photos that Sydney and Olivia Culpo have done many times before.

Can NFL staff date players? ›

5. Stay away from players at all times. This means: no personal, private, or social relationships with the players are allowed, and if it wasn't already clear, that means absolutely no dating.

Do NFL players pay for their uniforms? ›

Players do not pay for their uniforms or any of the gear they use. So who pays for the fancy uniforms? It's a franchise that usually covers the costs of their players' uniforms. However, teams can recover the cost of these uniforms by selling replicas or authentic jerseys to fans for hundreds of dollars.

Do cowboys have their own plane? ›

The Patriots aren't the only NFL franchise who have their own plane. The Dallas Cowboys followed suit in 2014 when they purchased a customized Boeing 767-200 from American Airlines.

How much does a water boy in the NFL make? ›

NFL waterboys typically make between $53,000 and $58,000 per year. However, not every waterboy you see on TV is paid. Many waterboys and assistants are unpaid or are working at a discounted rate on an internship for high school or college.

Do fans get to keep footballs at NFL games? ›

The NFL discourages football going in the stands for injury reasons so they fine players for throwing them into the stands BUT players are allowed to give them away to fans by handing them to someone.

Do NFL teams travel by train? ›

For a professional football team, traveling by train to a game is a somewhat rare, but increasingly appealing, option. Most team travel happens by charter plane at commercial airports, largely due to the great distances between stadiums sprinkled around the country.

Which NFL team will travel the most? ›

again. The official 2023 NFL schedule release is tomorrow, May 11th but fans of the Seattle Seahawks already know one thing: they will have to watch their team travel… a lot. Yet again, the Seattle Seahawks will lead the entire league with most miles traveled at 31,600.

Which football club has private jet? ›

Real Madrid's luxury £340m private jet boasts beds, showers, personal sinks and tablets with 2,500 TV channels.

Do football teams use private jets? ›

Private jets play a significant role in the football transfer market, facilitating the movement of players, their agents, coaches, and club executives across the globe.

Do teams have a private jet? ›

Some teams may have their own private planes, which they use to travel to away games and other events, but these planes are typically owned by the team or the team's owner, rather than individual players.

How does the NFL determine home and away games? ›

The NFL uses a rotation system to make sure each team plays one another at least once every four years. Flexible scheduling also helps showcase the best late-season matchups to the largest audiences, and the schedule-makers consider bye weeks and travel to maintain competitive equity.

How much air is in an official NFL football? ›

The NFL requires balls to be inflated to between 12.5 and 13.5 psi before games, so that would be a very dramatic drop. Naughton said the pressure could even get to 8.0 psi if windchill is a major factor.

Who is the richest NFL player? ›

Roger Staubach

How much does it cost a NFL player when they give away a football? ›

According to the NFL's schedule of infractions and fines, players are fined $7,210 for a first offense and $12,360 for a second offense. However, this fine is usually reserved for when players throw or kick the ball into the stands. It's all about safety and making sure there isn't a fight over who gets the ball.

How much is a player charged for giving away a football? ›

The facts: The NFL doesn't fine Newton for giving footballs away, a league spokesman told Snopes.com. But all NFL players are fined $5,250 when they throw or punt a ball into the stands because of the issues of crowd safety.

How much does a full NFL uniform cost? ›

Sublimated uniform sets can cost from $160 to $200 for a basic set of football jersey and pants. Custom full sublimation team packs can range from $250 to $550 which includes home and away jerseys, football pants, warm up pants, hoodie, and shorts.

How many hotel rooms does an NFL team have? ›

A typical visiting team needs 130 to 180 rooms, 10,000 square feet of meeting space, a kitchen that can feed the players and a certain level of security, said Jay Schumerth, senior general manager of the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton.

How many hotel rooms does an NFL team need? ›

Hotel for the team: The NFL requires a hotel with a minimum of 1,000 rooms for their use with free items such as beer, snacks, Internet, meeting space, free parking, and storage space.

Do NFL players live in apartments? ›

Many draftees will buy a house in their new hometowns. But many may prefer to live near their original homes and rent an apartment to live in during football season and other times when they're in town. Of course, not just any apartment will do. The stature of a No.

How do football fans travel to away games? ›

The most common form of away travel used by football clubs is via the team bus. Football players will usually meet at the training ground the day before an away fixture before boarding the bus. They'll then drive to a hotel near to the opposing team's ground and stop over the night before.

Do NFL teams have their own plane? ›

The answer is yes. The club purchased two used Boeing 767s in 2017 to be used exclusively for their team's travel needs. The two Boeing 767s that the NFL franchise purchased are luxurious and well-equipped for their team's travel needs.

Do NFL teams stay in hotels for away games? ›

Each team has a preference to hotel they have been known to stay at when visiting different cities. Sometimes it changes based on availability and dates. Each league and team may have specific requirements to fulfill their teams travel needs.

Do NFL fans go to away games? ›

As Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season approaches, a leading online ticket reseller reports that fans are traveling to away games in greater numbers to begin the campaign. In 2021, 25% of fans in Week 1 were rooting for the visiting team, per data from Vivid Seats' Fan Forecast.

Do football teams fly home after games? ›

Road teams are usually in the air within 2 hours of their game ending, then they'll head home from the airport. Home players will usually go home, if they played a 12:00 pm game they might go out for supper or something. If they played a 4:00 pm game, chances are they'll head home.

Do Dallas Cowboys have their own plane? ›

The Patriots aren't the only NFL franchise who have their own plane. The Dallas Cowboys followed suit in 2014 when they purchased a customized Boeing 767-200 from American Airlines.

How much does it cost for an NFL team to fly? ›

In 2017, National Football League teams on an average $4,000,000 on travel, it really makes you wonder what it takes for teams to spend so much money with only 8 away games.

Which football club has its own plane? ›

Manchester United Becomes First Football Club to Have its Own Aircraft Livery. Some football fans may laugh, others cry, but there will surely be a glint of pride in the eyes of at least a few Manchester United supporters, when they see 'their' latest plane.

Do NFL players get their own rooms? ›

The marquee players will get their own rooms, and some of them might even get something really plush. But for rookies and lesser known players, they will have to bunk up with a teammate.

Do NFL officials fly first-class? ›

They fly first-class and the league covers all their travel expenses. Once everyone's in town, the crew meets for several hours, preparing for the next day's game and reviewing the week's quiz.

Who pays for jet flyovers at NFL games? ›

The event organizers sometimes will pay a small fee, but the military uses these events as training (formation flying and time on target precision). The flyovers are also part of the annual recruiting budgets.

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