MSG's Portuguese Adventure

Ben and Sam from our business development team recently traded the office for the winter sun of Lisbon and Porto. The inspection trip offered an opportunity to meet our industry partners in person and experience the depth of both cities.

Experiencing our touring centres in person helps our team develop robust and well-matched itineraries relevant to each age category; a skill easily recognised by our clients who return each season in search of exciting touring programmes.

The trip started by gathering intelligence for our Portuguese tournament packages at the Universidade De Lisboa. Boasting six football and two rugby pitches, the facilities are perfect to host many teams across weekend events.

A visit to Sporting Lisbon's stadium club shop followed tour of the Estadio do Benfica, two enriching locations for any touring group. Next on the itinerary was Benfica's training facility in Seixal. As expected, it is of the highest quality with multiple grass and artificial pitches. This facility is a MUST for any team wanting to experience professional training sessions.

When it comes to rugby tours, Lisbon is an understated destination. Both the Grupo Deportivo Direito and Belem Rugby Park have amazing facilities with gyms, artificial and natural turf, padel courts and on-site restaurants. The generous year-round climate and progressive rugby levels mark Portugal as stand out among other coastal European resorts.

Porto was the perfect cherry on top of the Portuguese cake. Despite a very quick visit to Estádio do Dragão and the FC Porto Museum, the facilities are state of the art and are the perfect destinations for a sporting group. Alongside visiting historical landmarks across the city which pay homage to the deep-rooted history of the city and the formation of the nation.

"The takeaway from this inspection trip to Lisbon is that the facilities from the football & rugby pitches to the accommodation have all been of top quality. Any team, club or school coming here will be very impressed."

"To stay beach front, have a pro coaching session at one of Europe's top teams and play against local teams; what more would you want from a football tour?"

– Sam

"This inspection visit gave us a great insight into all our Portuguese tours, especially our tournament packages. They are organised in conjunction with our friends at Move Sports and played at top notch facilities."

– Ben

"It was great having Sam and Ben visiting our country! They are two sport enthusiasts who have a great passion for sports. Hopefully seeing firsthand the great potential our country has to offer in sport tours will translate in a fruitful relationship."

– Pedro, Move Sports