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A look at possible travel plans to watch the Run for the Roses and the big fight

The Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao bout and the Kentucky Derby are two of the most highly-anticipated sports events of the year. They also happen to be taking place on the same day (May 2), separated by about five hours and more than 1,500 miles, making it all but impossible to attend both.

Or is it? It actually is possible to achieve a sports fan’s dream day. The only catch is you’ll need a private plane and something that’s even more difficult to track down: a ticket to the fight.

The post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:24 p.m. ET. Louisville International Airport is only a couple of miles away from Churchill Downs. So an extravagant go-getter could bolt immediately after the race and catch a 7:15 p.m. private flight. This might be the preferred travel plan for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a Derby day fixture in recent years who told Mayweather he’s planning to attend the fight. A representative for Brady didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Erik Hocoluk, managing partner for Jet Partners, said the flight would take approximately four hours. That would mean an arrival in Las Vegas at 8:15 p.m. PT—as bouts on the Mayweather-Pacquiao undercard are underway. Depending on the exact model of the plane a client preferred, Hocoluk said, the cost could range between $25,000-$35,000. His company has clients flying from the New York area to both events, he said. But nobody, as of Friday afternoon, had contracted to fly between Louisville and Las Vegas next Saturday.

Without private planes, though, it’s still possible to catch a few of the Derby day races at Churchill Downs and still make it for the fight. It’s just impossible to watch both the Run for the Roses and the main event in the MGM Grand. The cheapest option, as of Friday afternoon, would be a $194 flight that leaves Louisville at 3:56 p.m. ET, stops in Atlanta, and eventually arrives in Las Vegas at 7:45 p.m. PT. A more mid-rate option—and the only logical nonstop flight—would cost $361. It departs at 4:20 p.m. ET and arrives at 5:25 p.m. PT, leaving plenty of time for a pre-fight dinner.

But even those cheaper options would still end up costing thousands of dollars. The cheapest seat available for the bout costs $4,575, according to TiqIQ. The average price is $11,311, almost $1,000 more than the average for this year’s Super Bowl.

After getting into the fight, finding a hotel room might seem like an afterthought. Many of the city’s most famous hotels, such as the Bellagio and Wynn, are sold out for that night, according to their websites. Others, like Caesars Palace, have rooms available for $799. At that point, splurging for a few cocktails and just heading back to the airport might be the best bet of the night.

How to Attend the Kentucky Derby and Mayweather-Pacquiao

Private Jet Setters Will Be on the Move

Every year features that one special day packed with amazing sports events. This year, that day falls on May 2nd 2015, and there’s good reason to celebrate. If you don’t want to miss out on any of the following events, think about grabbing a chartered private jet flying an empty legs route for amazing luxury at the right price.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao

Forget fight of the year, this one is being billed as the fight of the century. The match between Mayweather and Pacquiao has been in the works for over six years, and with a purse worth $200 million, the stakes couldn’t be higher. There’s no doubt that seats for this match are going to be one of the hottest tickets around, and a chartered jet will get you there in style. Stroll off the runway and into Vegas to see the action live, hear the crowd scream and watch history in the making. Grab an empty leg flight and you’ll be in Vegas in no time at all.

Go for Glory at the Kentucky Derby

Last year’s Derby featured celebrities flying in from across the country to grab a coveted seat at this world-class event. Big bets will be made, winners will be crowned and high rollers will be on the edge of their seats as horses like International Star, American Pharaoh and Dortmund go for the glory. If you want to fly to this event in luxury, think about taking empty leg charter flights directly to Louisville.

Playoff Fever

The NHL playoffs should be into their second round by the time May 2 rolls around. As for the NBA, there were multiple game seven playoff games held on May 3 last year. This year, if any game goes to game seven, it will almost certainly fall on May 2. Grab a ticket and fly on over to catch the action.

Red Sox vs. Yankees

The biggest rivalry in baseball explodes on May 2, with Yanks facing off against the Red Sox. The game will take place in Boston’s Fenway Park, and will almost certainly give the victor some serious bragging rights as the season rolls on. It’s one event baseball fans can’t miss.

See the NFL Draft

Sad the NFL season is over? With the third day of the NFL draft being held on May 2, there’s no reason you need to wait to get pumped for next season. Fly a private jet charter to the event in Chicago and watch to see if your favorite team nabs one of the best picks out there.

Ultimately, each event offers something special for sports fans. You may already have a ticket and your hotel booked, but when it comes to transportation, there’s nothing like cruising at 35,000 feet in a state-of-the-art luxury air charter.

May 2nd 2015 Will Be the Greatest Sports Day of Our Lifetime

This year’s PGA championship at Whistling Straits will be held August 10^th-16^th. This is the last major of the year and proves to be an exciting event for golf fans. Many questions will be answered surrounding golf’s top athletes. Will Jordan Spieth secure his 3^rd major championship of this year? Will Zach Johnson defend his British open championship? Will Rory McIlroy recover from his recent injury in time to compete? Will Tiger Woods finally find his stroke and get back to prominence? All of these questions will be answered by the tournaments end.

Those traveling to the scenic course on beautiful Lake Michigan by commercial airline have their work cut out for them. The course is located an hour south of Green Bay and an hour north of Milwaukee. For those traveling by private jet or aircraft, they have the option of flying into Sheboygan County Memorial Airport (KSBM) which is only a 15 minute drive from Whistling Straits. With a runway length of 6,802 feet, Sheboygan County Memorial can accommodate almost every business jet on the market.

SBM Airport is most likely the airport where Golf’s top athletes and fans will be parking their private aircraft. Anytime there is a sporting event that is located well outside of a major city more fans ultimately elect to take private aircraft because of the ease of travel. Instead of needing a whole extra day, spectators can leave late the night before or early in the morning on the starting day of the tournament and still make it to the event on time. Here are flight times to Sheboygan from some major cities around the country:

Chicago to Sheboygan: 30-45 min.

New York City to Sheboygan: 2 Hours.

Los Angeles to Sheboygan: 4 Hours.

Houston to Sheboygan: 2 Hours 45 min.

Due to Whistling Straits close proximity to Lake Michigan there are several posh resorts nearby for fans to stay at such as the American Club in Kohler, WI. Fans could potentially check into the American Club and get to Whistling Straights within 30-45 Min of landing at Sheboygan County Memorial. More information about the surrounding area can be found on the PGA’s area information page. P90081452 (3)

Weekly tickets to Whistling Straits have been sold out since last year. Only a limited supply of daily ground tickets remain so any fans who don’t have their trips planned need to act soon. Slots and parking are also limited at KSBM Airport as is aircraft availability for the tournament dates. If you are interested in getting a quote on a private jet or aircraft to the last major of the year, call or email Jet Partners today.