TORONTO — Of all the sports fans celebrating this weekend as the Toronto Blue Jays secured the AL East title, Elite Sports Tours’ CEO, Tim Macdonell, just might have been cheering the loudest.
That’s because the 5 extra days between Sunday’s title-clinching win, and this Saturday’s first-round game, give Macdonell a crucial window to promote and firm up Elite Sports Tours’ wildly popular Jays packages, this time for the playoffs.
Demand for sports tourism is through the roof, and Macdonell’s company is making the most of it. So are many travel advisors, who are using Elite’s Sports Travel Agents Network platform, launched earlier this year, to book MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA and more packages for their sports fan clients.
With exclusive inventory across the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA, and major concert tours, Elite’s Sports Travel Agents Network simplifies sports travel sales by bundling tickets, accommodation and flights, with commission and booking support included.
Fuelled by strong repeat clientele and good word-of-mouth, sports travel is a niche many agents are finding success with – even if they know nothing about sports or sports travel themselves.
JOINT ACTIVATION WITH VISIT FLORIDA
In its latest joint activation, Elite Sports Tours joined forces with VISIT FLORIDA this past Friday for a night out at Rogers Centre as the Jays took on the Tampa Bay Rays.
Hosting the event along with Macdonell and Hayden Adair, Elite’s Account Manager, were VISIT FLORIDA’s Kelli Godwin – Global Travel Trade Account Executive; Lea-Ann Goltz – Account Manager, Canada; and Anja Brokjans – Director PR, Canada.
VISIT FLORIDA is represented in Canada by VoX International.
As VISIT FLORIDA notes, Florida is one of North America’s premier destinations for sports fans, and baseball is just the beginning. The Sunshine State is also home to the NBA’s Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, the NHL’s Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, and MLS’s Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC.
“From iconic motorsport events like the Daytona 500 to world-class golf courses, Florida offers experiences that extend far beyond the stadium, making it an ideal destination where the thrill of sports and travel come together,” says VISIT FLORIDA.
VISIT FLORIDA’s e-learning platform, VisitFloridaTravelPro.com, equips travel advisors with the knowledge to sell Florida across multiple themes. Modules include The Essentials, Beaches, Sunshine State Cities, Road Trips, Ecotourism, Accessibility, Luxury, Food & Drinks and Hispanic Heritage.
800+ TRAVEL ADVISORS USING ELITE’S SPORTS TRAVEL AGENTS NETWORK
Macdonell told Travelweek that word is getting out in the travel advisor community about Elite Sports Tours and its agent-friendly network.
Elite’s Sports Travel Agents Network has garnered “a really positive response,” with travel retailers, he said. “Our goal was 500 agents and we have more than 800. A lot of leisure specialists have found success with the program. The best part is, the platform handles everything: tracking, reporting, and commissions.”
He added that the Jays’ success with getting into the playoffs “has given agents a conversation starter with clients.”
SPORTS TRAVEL TO THE U.S. – THEN AND NOW
Fans know that sports transcends borders – and that includes the Canada-U.S. border.
With the Jays and the Raptors as the only teams flying the Canadian flag in the MLB and the NBA, and with Canada’s NHL teams playing all the time in the U.S. – not to mention that the NFL is exclusively American, with a whole bunch of Canadian fans – any sports enthusiast looking to see a game live in any of the major leagues is almost certainly heading to the U.S. at some point.
Travelweek asked Macdonell about the cross-border impact for Elite Sports Tours. “Sports fans are still going [to the U.S.]. Especially for the NFL, that’s our #1 product. The emotions behind their sports team is stronger than the emotions behind their politics. I wouldn’t say we’re at 2019 levels, but June, July and August 2025 exceeded June, July and August 2024.”
He added that sports travel doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars. “Our NFL packages lead in at $300 per person,” he said. “The average package with tickets, flights and hotel is $1,000 to $1,500 per person. It can be cheaper than a Leafs game.”
He says about 30 – 35% of his business is repeat clientele.
Macdonell knows all about the joy of seeing your favourite sports team play live, and coming back again and again. Cherished childhood trips to the U.S. with his dad and brother no doubt inspired his future business.
Macdonell told Travelweek that when he was a kid, his dad planned weekend Jays getaways for him and his brother, to cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh, so they could see their favourite team play on the road. His dad also used to take the boys to every Sunday home game for the Jays, year after year. “Me and my brother and my dad got to see the Jays play, and my mom got some time to herself. Everyone was happy,” he joked.
More information about travel to Florida be found at VisitFlorida.com, and for VISIT FLORIDA’s e-learning platform check out VisitFloridaTravelPro.com. For Elite Sports Tours’ Sports Travel Agents Network, click here.
