What Does it Cost a Team to Compete at the CrossFit Games?

For many, competing at the Games is a dream come true. But with that dream comes a high-priced ticket to compete. Between food, plane tickets, housing, and even the registration fee at the Games, it can cost athletes and teams thousands, if not more than 10-grand in total.

One big thing: While COVID-19 was a big factor in causing travel prices to skyrocket for international athletes mainly due to increased flight costs and hotel quarantine requirements, U.S.-based athletes and teams are seeing their numbers increase as well. 

• Blues City Athletics is spending nearly $10,000, and they’re driving from Missouri instead of flying: $5,000 on housing, $3,000 on food, $1,125 on fuel and transportation, $550 on team registration. 
• Coupled with a $6,450 Semifinal bill already paid, the team’s CrossFit season totals $16,125.
• For US teams flying, flights to Madison were swiftly headed towards the $1,000 range per person. Multiply that by the four athletes competing and affiliates were looking at spending a minimum of $5,000 just to fly the team and coach.

For international teams, that number could be even higher. According to individual athlete Ellie Turner from Australia, it will cost her approximately $20,000 to compete at the Games this year. 

Other things to consider: It’s also important to consider the indirect costs, like utilizing paid time off or in some cases, unpaid time off to attend the Games.

• Unlike the individual division, many team athletes work full time jobs and don’t make their careers out of being professional athletes.
• According to Blues City Athletics, each athlete had to take about forty hours of PTO in order to compete at the Games this year.

Why it matters: While the sport of CrossFit has grown substantially over the past few years, one thing that has remained a consistent issue has been the payout for athletes over the years. With the pandemic causing travel costs to skyrocket this year and athletes being forced to shoulder the burden, it makes competing in the sport of fitness all the more difficult.