How Eagles fans built a cottage travel industry to see their team
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Philadelphians have found a way to Bird-proof their businesses: They built a cottage industry around the region's love for a football team.
The big picture: A handful of Philly travel agencies are booking all-inclusive sports trips year-round — some costing tens of thousands of dollars — for rabid Eagles fans who want to follow the team all season.
- Football fans are trekking to New Orleans from across the globe for this weekend's Super Bowl. But Bird Gang takes it to another level, projected to occupy more than half the seats at the Caesars Superdome, according to Vivid Seats' Fan Forecast.
Zoom in: Vince Rizzuto, owner of Philly Sports Trips, tells Axios his agency began putting together its sold-out New Orleans trip for more than 150 people on a scouting visit months before the Eagles even punched their ticket to the big game. The price tag: $5,099 a person. The most expensive package? $27K for a couple.
- It's a long list of logistics — chartering flights, booking hotels, arranging parties and locking down food, drinks, entertainment and guest appearances from former Eagles players.
- And trying to do it better than competitors. Yep, for Rizzuto, this week is his travel agency's Super Bowl.
"We can't control the team or the weather. Everything else is our fault," says Rizzuto, a former aerospace engineer who left his day job in 2021 to focus exclusively on the business.
- His agency has organized at least 100 trips since opening in 2017. Think: Phillies' spring training in Florida, Union matches and Sixers playoff games around the country.
Zoom out: Rizzuto is up against other Philly travel agencies that have been in the game for decades, including the Green Legion. And they spare no expense.
- The Green Legion, for example, is chartering two flights to the Super Bowl and renting out two riverboats near Mardi Gras World for their fans' stay.
💠Isaac's thought bubble: I can think of very few U.S. cities that can support multiple businesses catering to this flock of sports fanatics.
- "You've got that right," Stefanie Morgan, executive vice president at the Green Legion, tells me.
- And yes, her agency is already planning for next season.
The bottom line: "This season is going to start in Brazil and end in New Orleans," says Rizzuto. "We've been saying that all year."
- Good thing the Eagles will have a full house: They'll need their fans' help to stop the Chiefs from three-peating.