Purpose: the initiative promotes sports tourism by highlighting professional football as a catalyst. Early experiences in the top national tier began with Elche and Valencia, with these cities acting as pioneers in a new program designed to boost travel by football fans. The project is backed by the Professional Football League and a group dedicated to fans across the first and second divisions. By leveraging the mass movement of supporters, the plan aims to strengthen local economies in cities hosting professional teams and to capitalize on the sustained energy that fan travel generates.
David Aranda, president of the Peñas del Elche Federation, described the program as highly advanced and collaborative with multiple municipal and local bodies, including sports and tourism departments, VisitElche, and the Hoteliers Association. The core idea is to stimulate both sport and the local economy by offering a range of experiences that extend beyond a single match and encourage visitors to prolong their stays in host cities as they follow their teams.
For example, when a ticket is purchased to travel to Vigo, the Federation of Peñas del Celta can relay relevant information to the club, which would then issue a ticket with pre-set prices. The travel pass would enable fans to buy a bundled package that adds leisure, entertainment, culture, hospitality, and other services such as city transportation to the game experience.
In the bundled offers, ticket holders could receive discounts on city buses, access to Elche museums, curated restaurant guides with special menus, and a standardized 20 euro option for certain services. A directory of hotels with transparent pricing could be included, along with additional enhancements ensured by the fan federation and local partners. Fans would complete their purchases in advance at home, consolidated with the ticket bundle.
Aranda noted strong political and administrative support during the latest meeting, with the mayor and the sports councilor expressing enthusiasm to cooperate in promoting sports tourism in Elche. The city has a broad array of attractions for the 19 teams joining Martínez Valero next season. Valencia, located nearby, serves as the closest major city, about 170 kilometers away, with several hundred kilometers more separating Elche from other destinations such as Almería, the next club in the geographical sequence.
The aim is to attract rival fans not only for football but also to explore additional attractions such as beaches and cultural sites like the Archaeological Museum, La Alcudia, El Misteri d’Elx, Santa María Basilica, El Palmeral, and more. Elche presents a wide spectrum of gastronomy and natural landscapes, including Pantano and El Hondo, which enrich the fan experience beyond stadium time.
Experimental phase
The league and the hobby organization conducted an initial experimental trial of the sports tourism program in a Second Division fixture between Real Valladolid and Las Palmas. In collaboration with Valladolid City Council, about 200 Canary fans were accommodated with discounted hotel rates, match tickets, and access to leisure activities. The trial yielded positive feedback from participants, with federations coordinating fan events and family-friendly activities such as goalie demonstrations for young supporters, affordable food and drink, and a tapas route around Valladolid after the match. Some attendees extended their stay to explore local nightlife.
Involvement with local authorities
Efforts to expand partnerships include seeking further support from the Alicante Provincial Council and other regional bodies. The federation’s leadership argues that the impact of the Centenary year will extend beyond a single city, drawing fans to other parts of the province for sun, beaches, and gastronomy experiences, and offering fans opportunities to explore the interior landscapes. The plan envisions co-branded deals with city councils to sustain long-term collaboration and broaden the reach of sports tourism initiatives.
Future engagement
The Franjiverdes fan clubs plan to pursue additional support from the Diputación, emphasizing that Elche’s supporters are not limited to the city alone. Officials have been briefed on the broader resonance of the program and its potential to elevate Elche CF’s regional profile. A follow-up meeting with state representatives is scheduled to discuss further deals and contracts and to explore partnerships across multiple municipalities within the province, ensuring a wide-reaching impact.
Global interest
For several years, an online travel service has organized stadium visits for foreign fans attending Franjiverde matches. Fans traveling with teams like Real Madrid or Barcelona can board up to four buses from the Costa Blanca region, combining match attendance with short getaways to nearby beaches. The agency, run by Jessica Hayes and her partner, has drawn fans from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and other European nations, with a growing subscriber base this season. This model illustrates how football tourism can expand beyond national borders and contribute to regional tourism economies. [citation]