TECH & INNOVATION  /  SUSTAINABILITY

By FedEx | First published: March 18, 2022    Updated: July 11, 2025

From equipment delivery to media coordination, here’s how smart logistics keeps global sports events on track.

• Event logistics is the unseen force behind global sports. From customs clearance to time-sensitive deliveries, it makes sure every match, ceremony, and broadcast runs without disruption.
• FedEx plays a key role in major sporting events, from delivering the Vince Lombardi Trophy for Super Bowl LVIII to providing logistics support for the UEFA Champions League. 
• FedEx leverages AI and sustainability to stay ahead. Advanced tools like FedEx Surround offer next-level shipment visibility, while solutions like FedEx Sustainability Insights help event organizers track and reduce their shipping emissions.

Big games mean big business. As the ninth-largest industry in the world, valued at USD 2.65 trillion in 2024, sports is an economic powerhouse that impacts various sectors, including media and marketing, as well as merchandise and apparel sales. And let’s not forget the athletes, teams, and organizations at the heart of every sporting event.

But big games don’t just happen. Behind every electrifying match and packed stadium is a powerful network of event logistics that makes it all possible. For the teams running these shows, event logistics is the unseen MVP of every game day.

From the opening ceremony to the last-minute goal, sports lovers and event organizers alike rely on logistics to move equipment, coordinate teams, and meet media deadlines with clockwork precision. The stakes are high, and the expectations are even higher, especially when you’re shipping gear and tech across continents.

As more sporting events grow into global spectacles, the need for specialized sports logistics has never been greater.

What role does logistics play in an event?

Event logistics is the backbone of every live tournament, match, and fan experience. It may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Delivering gear, uniforms, and event kits
• Moving high-value broadcasting equipment
• Managing time-critical shipments of merchandise and promotional items
• Clearing customs efficiently across multiple jurisdictions

In fast-paced, high-profile settings, logistics support for media-driven events can be particularly complex. Delays can mean missed live feeds or empty merchandise booths. Success largely depends on timing, flexibility, and near-real-time visibility.

A recent high-profile example: We, at FedEx, successfully delivered the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, continuing our 20-year tradition supporting the NFL’s biggest night. The smooth handoff, from FedEx courier Bob Fini to three-time Super Bowl champion and NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, demonstrated the reliability needed to deliver high-value, high-stakes items – on time and in style.

FedEx in the game: Delivering excellence for major sporting leagues

At FedEx, we know what it takes to deliver under pressure. With a vast network that spans more than 220 countries and territories, FedEx helps power the world’s biggest sporting events.

Our cross-border capabilities make even the most challenging routes feasible. Whether transporting media kits from Asia to Europe, or delivering uniforms last-minute to the United States, FedEx offers the agility, speed, and reliability that sports event organizers need when working on tight timelines.

This includes our long-standing involvement in major sporting leagues. In Europe, for example, FedEx is the official carrier of the UEFA Champions League (UCL), trusted to deliver its iconic trophy to the final.

Powering modern event logistics with AI

Split-second decisions and high-value shipments have zero room for delay. This is where FedEx’s AI-powered supply chain solutions come in. Through tools such as predictive analytics, machine learning, and near-real-time tracking, FedEx optimizes delivery routes, proactively identifies high-risk areas, and minimizes delays, particularly for time-sensitive shipments.

Some of FedEx’s AI capabilities include:

• Dynamic rerouting to avoid disruptions
• Prioritization of high-value, time-sensitive goods, such as medical supplies 
• Automated risk alerts for stakeholders

Solutions like FedEx Surround enable event coordinators to stay a step ahead with actionable logistics data and real-time insights.

Embedding sustainability into sports logistics

Big games have a significant environmental impact, considering all the elements that make sporting events possible – from land use and travel to energy and water consumption. 

Sustainability is now a key metric for sports event organizers seeking to meet environmental goals and manage stakeholder expectations. As sustainability moves from the sidelines to center field, logistics providers must adapt to support greener sporting events.

FedEx is leading the charge with eco-conscious logistics solutions that help event organizers reduce their environmental impact, including:

• FedEx Sustainability Insights, a tool that tracks shipping emissions 
• Electric vehicle (EV) deployment, as we expand our EV fleets in Asia Pacific for greener last-mile deliveries 
• Recyclable and reusable packaging that helps to reduce waste 

Event logistics: The unsung hero of global sports

Elite athletes creating historic sporting moments capture the world’s attention. Yet, it’s event logistics that set up their goalposts and deliver their trophies all the way to the final. 

From trophy deliveries to cross-border shipping, customs clearance, and AI-powered shipment monitoring and intervention, FedEx helps global sporting events run with precision, sustainability, and speed. When the pressure is high and the schedule is tight, logistics becomes the engine that drives success.