One thing football fans usually don’t consider is how NFL players travel. One thing that’s for certain is that they don’t take commercial flights with “regular” travelers. 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.
You may be surprised to learn that only one team has a private airplane. What’s not surprising, however, is that it’s the Patriots. They bought two used Boeing 767s in 2017.
American Airlines used to fly these planes, and the team likely bought them because they are large and a relative bargain used. The plane seen in the above tweet, a 767-323ER, uses domestic first-class recliner seats, set up in a 2-3-2 and 2-2-2 configuration, each with its own entertainment systems. Its home base is Providence’s TF Green Airport.
The other 31 NFL teams use charter flights for road games, which feels like flying private without the expenses. The big three airlines — American, Delta, and United — transport most of the teams. Interestingly enough, American and United dropped some teams recently after realizing they could make more by using those planes for regular commercial service.
In an email to ThePointsGuy, Delta said it has “trademarked the tag, ‘Official Airline of Champions'” because the company has carried so many winners — more than 10 Super Bowl winners since 2000. Delta also says it’s the largest sports charter organizations.
Now, Virgin Atlantic also gets some work from NFL teams. With the league having multiple games in London, the British company is the airline of choice. Some of the franchises dropped by the big airlines subsequently partnered with small carriers, namely Atlas Air and Miami Air.
How expensive is travel for NFL teams?
The question is always about money. How much does it cost the teams to travel? The answer is a lot. Securing team charters is increasingly difficult because commercial airlines are often flying at nearly full capacity.
According to Sports Business Journal, teams spent an average of almost $4 million to travel in 2017 — double the year before. This is expected to continue to rise in the coming years, which led the league to consider other options to reduce travel costs, including possibly negotiating on behalf of a group of franchises with a single carrier or investing money in a company that would secure long-term rights to a specific airline’s jets.
The latter plan is similar to what the NBA does, while MLB and NHL leave travel decisions to individual teams. Another cost required of teams when they travel to away games is player per diems. Unlike travel costs, these are the same for all teams.
Per the collective bargaining agreement with the players’ association, players must be reimbursed up to $122 per day for meals if they’re not provided by the team — and airline meals don’t count as being team-provided. So, if those meals are satisfactory to NFL players, they can pocket the reimbursem*nt money.
These teams patronize top-notch airlines such as American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines, among others. It was reported as far back as 2017 that league teams spend an average of almost $4 million on traveling, which happened to be double the year before.
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.
These NFL road trips include a mix of planes, trains, and automobiles. And teams will spend about $4 million on travel costs this year alone, squeezing some of the world's largest humans into the same commercial airline seats that you or I would sit in.
During the pandemic of the 2020 season, the NFL elevated this selective tradition to an actual league mandate. The rule reads: “The Home Team will be required to stay at the team hotel the night prior to each game.
Most people undoubtedly believe that all 32 NFL teams travel on team planes, but that is not the case. Just one NFL franchise flies its own plane to transport its athletes. The club has two private planes for transporting representatives.
In addition, Club will pay Player such earned performance bonuses as may be called for in this contract; Player's necessary traveling expenses from his residence to training camp; Player's reasonable board and lodging expenses during pre-season training and in connection with playing pre-season, regular season, and ...
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."
They receive various allowances, including travel and accommodation expenses, as they travel each week from city to city. Referees may also be eligible for performance-based bonuses, such as officiating postseason games or working in the Super Bowl, which can significantly enhance their earnings.
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.
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.
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.
In the locker room, providing for player privacy is of paramount importance. The home club must ensure that the shower area for both teams is screened from view. Each team must supply its players with wrap-around towels or robes in addition to the standard supply of bath towels for post-game showers.
The CBA also stipulates that every NFL player is provided with room and board during training camp. Additionally, players who have not yet established residence in the team city must receive housing between training camp and the Tuesday before their team's first regular-season game.
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.
Typically, though, NFL teams will use the services of the large scheduled commercial airlines in the US, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, which have wide-body aircraft to comfortably accommodate large traveling parties.
The New England Patriots were the first NFL franchise to invest in their very own aircraft back in 2004. The idea was to give the team a competitive edge over the others during long-distance traveling, a move that would save precious time when playing away games in other cities.
NFL teams typically travel to their away game destinations one or two days before the actual game day. The exact travel schedule can vary depending on factors such as the distance of the road game, the team's preferences, and logistical considerations.
He is on their practice-squad, which includes nine other players. Practice-squad players are not allowed to dress for games or travel to road games unless it's a extended four-day trip like the Jaguars made to London last month to play the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium.
Marriotts, Hyatt's, Hiltons, etc. The teams have a LOT of requirements so they need to be in places that can handle the meeting room needs, the massive amount of banquet food required, security, privacy, 24 hour staff available, Bell service to haul the players stuff, etc.
Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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