Fantasy Football Drafts Are the New Vacation Itinerary

28 October 2026

Destination fantasy drafts, where fantasy football leagues turn their draft events into annual trips, have evolved from a niche activity into a mainstream travel trend. As of 2023, 19% of American adults participate in fantasy sports, an increase from 13% in 2014, according to the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association. This growing popularity has led to more leagues seeking unique experiences to mark their draft weekends.

Leagues often hold these events in sports bars during the preseason near the Super Bowl.

Destination Drafts Featured on ESPN

In 2022, about 14 million fans played fantasy football on ESPN, setting a platform participation record for the fourth consecutive year. This significant milestone underscores the impact of fantasy football on modern sports culture and its growing influence on the travel industry.

Destination Drafts and Fantasy Football Events

Nashville-based high school football coach Shaun Bell has been part of the same 16-team fantasy football league for over 20 years, and has turned the group's draft into an annual vacation. Their league, which began making draft trips as college friends, held an in-person draft in downtown Nashville in 2022, accommodating members with families. Bell describes the trips as a way for friends, now married or with kids, to reconnect.

Destination drafts are becoming increasingly popular, with major hospitality providers now hosting these events. Paul Cohen, CEO of Colibri Boutique Hotels, noted that guests approached their company about bringing groups for fantasy drafts, leading to "The Draft at La Zebra," a four-day fantasy-focused getaway in Tulum, Mexico, hosted by former NFL head coach Rex Ryan. Packages started at $850 per person for four nights, with about 70 guests attending the inaugural event, which Cohen says will be an annual occurrence.

Other notable destinations and events include:

The Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas, hosted ESPN Fantasy Football Ultimate Draft Weekend, blending the thrill of draft day with luxury amenities.

The ESPN Fantasy Focus Football team transported participants to the Bahamas for a live drafting and resort experience.

A YouGov survey estimated that 9% of U.S. adults, about 25 million people, would play fantasy football that year.

Jake Fehling's league, "Sundays of Bliss," which is about 26 years old, has traveled to 11 unique locations since 2015 for its annual draft, including Montreal, where they rode bikes 12 miles, including on the city's Formula 1 track, showcasing the scope of their trips.

More on this is available via safe casino payment systems.

A different group took a three-night Royal Caribbean cruise from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, for their fantasy draft trip, complete with custom Hawaiian-themed shirts featuring each member's face.

The National Fantasy Football Draft Day holiday, created to formalize the late-summer draft period, saw its inaugural event at Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas from August 20-22, 2022. Organizers estimate that over 60 million fantasy football players conduct over 20 million drafts at the start of each football season.

Baha Mar in the Bahamas has hosted multiple ESPN Fantasy Football Ultimate Draft events, showcasing the continuity of resort-hosted fantasy draft travel. Gaming and hospitality brands, including BetMGM, Mohegan Sun FanDuel Sportsbook, and SoFi Stadium, have created fantasy-draft-centric offerings, such as all-expenses-paid league trips to Las Vegas, daily draft packages with food and drinks, and stadium-hosted draft parties.

Matt Walsh, CEO of fantasy trophy company TrophySmack, estimates a five-fold increase in draft-destination events the company has been involved with, linking the appeal of destination drafts to screen fatigue and the desire for in-person human connection. Fantasy-focused sites encourage fans to turn drafts into multi-day vacations by booking group Airbnbs in cities like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Nashville, or cheaper locations such as Arizona, emphasizing amenities like pools, game courts, and large communal spaces.

Travel and sports media suggest itineraries where groups play 18 holes of golf in the morning and conduct the draft in a group-friendly space that accommodates 8-12 people, laptops, and:

Talk about the trip's schedule: games, the fantasy football draft, sightseeing, and meals.

Who in the League is a weekend golfer?

What kind of TVs and sound systems are included?

In conclusion, destination fantasy drafts have become a significant trend, with leagues and hospitality providers alike embracing this unique travel experience. As more leagues look for memorable ways to mark their draft weekends, these events are expected to continue growing in popularity, offering fans an exciting fusion of sports, travel, and camaraderie.