XL Sports Tours

What XL Sports Tours does

XL Sports Tours (legal entity: XL Travel Ltd., UK-domiciled, US-operated) is a privately held sports-focused travel company founded in 2002 by two former soccer coaches in Boston. The company designs and operates customized international sports travel packages for college and university athletics programs, youth clubs, professional teams, and individual sports fans, primarily in soccer but extending across baseball, basketball, golf, hockey, lacrosse, rowing, rugby, softball, tennis, and volleyball. Its core products include Team Tours (customized multi-day international itineraries with 4-star hotel accommodation, competitive fixtures, training sessions at professional clubs, stadium tours, and 24/7 guides), Fan Packages (VIP travel to Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and UEFA Champions League matches), the PL Legends Residential Camp at Omni ChampionsGate in Orlando, and tournament facilitation for the Gothia Cup (Sweden), Donosti Cup (Spain), Disney International Cup, and XL's own XL International Cup. Ancillary revenue streams include IMG-partnered travel insurance, a fundraising raffle program, and 3% credit card processing fees.

The business model is sales-led and transaction-based: customers initiate contact through tour enquiry forms on the Wix-hosted website, are assigned dedicated Tour Specialists and Destination Account Managers, receive customized itineraries, and pay via an online registration and payment system (SportsEngine) on an installment schedule with final balance due 28 days before departure. Go-to-market relies on digital channels (website, Facebook, Twitter, blog content, downloadable brochures), tournament/event presence (Gothia Cup, Disney Cup, PL Legends camps), and coach testimonials from NCAA programs. Distribution is direct-to-customer with no disclosed third-party reseller channel. Revenue is generated primarily from one-time tour package sales priced in the low-thousands-per-traveler range (e.g., Thanksgiving 2025 London package from $2,239 per person double occupancy), with marginal recurring revenue from insurance commissions and ancillary fees. The company maintains offices in Orlando and across multiple US and European cities to support 24/7 in-tour coverage, and operates as a founder-owned business with no disclosed institutional investment.

Name

XL Sports Tours

Legal name

XL Travel Ltd.

Website

https://xltravel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

XL Sports Tours is a privately held, US-operated sports travel company that designs customized international team tours, VIP fan packages, and elite youth camps across 16+ countries for college athletics programs, youth clubs, professional teams, and supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Travel Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Travel Agencies (561510), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Team, Tournament & Training Travel (THAKAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports & Active Travel Agencies (e.g., ski, golf, dive) (THAKAFAJ), Sports Events & Match Tickets (THAJAFAE), Sports & Recreation Lessons (Surfing, Skiing, Golf, Tennis) (THAJAKAN)

Keywords

• International sports tours
• Youth soccer tournaments
• Fan travel packages
• Team travel services
• Sports tour operator

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Sports Tour Packages: The primary revenue stream comes from selling comprehensive sports travel packages to teams, schools, clubs, and fan groups. Packages include international travel, accommodations (4-star hotels as standard), game tickets, training sessions, stadium tours, meals, local transportation, and tour guides. Pricing varies by destination, duration, and group size, with customization available.
2. Travel Insurance: The company sells travel insurance policies through a partnership with IMG. Pricing tiers include Team Tour Players ($125.20), Team Tour Non-Players ($105.20), and Fan Package Customers ($95.20). Insurance includes sports rider for participants.
3. Fundraising Raffle Program: XL offers raffle ticket sales programs where players can sell tickets ($20 each) to raise funds toward their trip cost. The company covers ticket production costs while customers retain proceeds. An annual prize drawing awards a Premier League fan package for two.
4. Credit Card Processing Fees: Credit card payments incur a 3% convenience fee on all transactions except the initial deposit, generating additional revenue from payment processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

XL Sports Tours designs and operates customized international sports travel packages for athletic teams, youth clubs, professional clubs, and sports fans. Packages include round-trip flights, 4-star hotel accommodations, ground transportation, competitive fixtures against hand-selected international opponents, training sessions at professional facilities, stadium tours, cultural excursions, and 24/7 on-site tour guides. The company also operates a youth residential soccer camp (PL Legends Camp), runs its own international youth tournament (XL International Cup), and resells travel insurance through IMG.

Product overview

XL Sports Tours operates as a sports-focused travel company providing customizable international team tours, fan packages, and soccer camps. The core offering consists of Team Tours (customized international sports travel for teams competing against international opposition with full logistics), Fan Packages (VIP luxury travel to major soccer events), and PL Legends Camp (residential training camp with former Premier League stars). The product portfolio also includes tournament facilitation for major youth events (XL International Cup, Gothia Cup, Donosti Cup, Disney International Cup), supported by an online registration system, My Tour Portal for participant management, and optional XL Travel Insurance add-on. All team tours include 4-star hotel accommodation, competition against level-specific international teams, training sessions at professional clubs, live event tickets, round-trip flights, and 24-hour tour guides. The company has been operating since 2002 and organizes tours across 16 destination countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PL Legends Camp: Premier League Legends Residential Soccer Camp featuring former Premier League stars, held at Omni ChampionsGate Resort in Florida.

Products and services

• Team Tours Customized international sports travel packages for college, youth, and professional team groups. Packages include round-trip flights, 4-star hotel accommodations, ground transportation, competitive fixtures against hand-selected international opponents, training sessions at professional facilities, stadium tours, cultural excursions, and 24/7 on-site tour guides.
• Fan Packages VIP luxury fan travel packages including premium tickets to Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and UEFA Champions League matches, behind-the-scenes stadium tours, 4-star hotel accommodations, and curated multi-city cultural experiences in destinations such as London, Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, and Munich.
• PL Legends Camp Residential soccer camp featuring coaching and mentorship from former Premier League stars at the Omni ChampionsGate Resort in Florida, including elite coaching sessions, world-class facilities, and resort amenities for youth athletes.
• XL International Cup International youth soccer tournament organized by XL Sports Tours in Orlando, FL, featuring teams from more than 10 countries competing over 3 days at top-tier facilities.
• XL Travel Insurance Travel insurance resold through IMG, with sports rider coverage for injuries during sporting events. Three pricing tiers: Team Tour Players ($125.20), Team Tour Non-Players ($105.20), and Fan Package Customers ($95.20).

Quantifiable outcome

• Teams report that international tours contribute to improved performance, such as Georgetown University's men's soccer team citing the Barcelona tour as a factor in their College Cup run.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St. George's ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership providing access to the England National Teams' official training facility. XL clients can stay overnight at the team hotel, tour the national training complex, and train with UEFA-qualified coaches on immaculate grass pitches used by England's top players. This is described as a highlight of England football tours and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for athletes.
• Gothia CupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXL serves as a key tour operator facilitating US team participation in the Gothia Cup in Sweden, the world's largest youth soccer tournament with over 35,000 players from 72 countries. Previous participants include notable players like Xabi Alonso, Andrea Pirlo, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
• Disney International CupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXL organizes team participation in the Disney International Cup at ESPN's Wide World of Sports, attracting teams from over 20 countries with access to Disney's world-class facilities and entertainment.
• Donosti CupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Donosti Cup in Spain, one of Southern Europe's largest youth tournaments with over 400 teams competing annually at Real Sociedad's training ground.
• London is Blue (Chelsea Podcast)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-branded fan tour partnership with the 'London is Blue' Chelsea podcast, offering podcast listener community exclusive access to Premier League Chelsea matches with special discounts for returning guests.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Roadtrips: Roadtrips offers custom luxury sports fan travel packages to events like the Super Bowl, World Cup, Masters, and Kentucky Derby. Directly comparable to XL's Fan Packages product line for premium spectator-sports experiences.
• Anthony Travel: Anthony Travel is a long-established US travel management company with a dedicated college and sports team travel practice serving NCAA programs. Closest peer to XL's college team tour business model and customer base.
• Sports Tours International: UK-based sports tour operator arranging international tours and tournament participation for club, school, and representative teams across soccer, rugby, hockey, and netball. Direct competitor in the team-tour segment, particularly for European clubs traveling to tournaments.
• Travsport: Specialist tour operator for club and representative sports teams offering international tours, tournaments, and training camps. Highly comparable to XL's Team Tours product for youth and amateur sports clubs.
• Beyond Sports Group: Sports hospitality and travel company providing premium fan and corporate experiences to major global sporting events including Champions League, Premier League, and Formula 1. Comparable to XL's Fan Packages and VIP event-travel offerings.
• Champions Hospitality: Specialist in official UEFA Champions League hospitality packages including match tickets, travel, and accommodation across European cities. Comparable to XL's premium European fan tour packages with bundled match access.
• Destination Sports Group: Provides sports travel management, team tours, and event logistics for clubs, federations, and corporate clients. Comparable to XL's full-service team tour and tournament facilitation offering.
• Global Events Group: Sports hospitality and event-based travel provider serving corporate clients and fans at major sporting events worldwide. Comparable to XL's fan-package business for live sports event experiences.

Broad incumbents

• IMG (International Management Group): Global sports and entertainment management company that operates in sports travel, hospitality, events, licensing, and athlete representation at massive scale. Currently XL's insurance partner; operates in adjacent travel/hospitality verticals at significantly larger scale.

Others

• Marriott Vacations Worldwide / Sports Travel Operators at Hotel Groups: Large hospitality and vacation ownership groups occasionally bundle sports-event packages. Represents a potential adjacent competitor if major hotel chains decide to vertically integrate premium sports travel offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/xlsportstours
• Facebookfacebook.com/XLSportsTours

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about XL Sports Tours