United Airlines Expands Flight Schedule to Support Notre Dame Football Fans Traveling for 2025 Season’s Most Anticipated Matchups
Notre Dame football fans received welcome news ahead of the 2025 season as United Airlines announced it will be expanding its flight offerings to better accommodate travel to and from Fighting Irish games this fall. The move reflects not only the enduring national appeal of Notre Dame football but also the increasingly symbiotic relationship between major college athletics and the airline industry. With a massive nationwide fanbase, Notre Dame has long been one of the most travel-heavy followings in college football, and this initiative seeks to meet that demand more efficiently than ever.
United’s decision comes as part of a broader effort to streamline sports-focused travel across the country. The airline will add nonstop and enhanced service options to key destinations on the 2025 Notre Dame football schedule, particularly for away games and marquee home contests that are expected to draw large out-of-state crowds. Fans traveling from cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, and Washington, D.C., can expect expanded flight options into South Bend and other major hubs near game locations, including Chicago O’Hare, Indianapolis, and Detroit.
Notre Dame’s unique status as a national brand—one with alumni chapters and fan clubs across all 50 states—makes it an ideal candidate for tailored airline scheduling. While other major college programs benefit from regional loyalty, Notre Dame’s fanbase is truly widespread. It’s not unusual for fans to travel thousands of miles for a game weekend, turning college football Saturdays into weekend-long cultural events.
The 2025 schedule features several high-profile games that United has specifically targeted for flight increases. Among these are the mid-September clash with USC in Los Angeles, the early October showdown with Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, and the late-season battle against Miami in Florida. Each of these matchups has the potential to draw tens of thousands of traveling fans, especially considering Notre Dame’s reputation for traveling well regardless of the opponent or venue.
In addition to away games, United is boosting flights into South Bend for several home contests expected to bring in large out-of-town audiences. Notably, games against Ohio State, Stanford, and Clemson are expected to see heavy demand. The airline is adding temporary direct flights from major hubs into South Bend International Airport (SBN) on weekends when these games are played, providing fans with more convenient and flexible travel options.
This isn’t the first time United has catered to the sports fan travel market, but the scale of this season’s commitment to Notre Dame fans is among the most extensive to date. The airline is leveraging data insights—tracking ticket sales, Google searches, and fan engagement metrics—to predict which games will generate the most travel interest. This data-driven approach helps optimize the number of flights while minimizing the risk of underbooked planes.
The collaboration between Notre Dame and United Airlines also reflects the evolving landscape of college athletics, where the fan experience now extends far beyond the stadium. Travel, lodging, tailgating, and community events have become essential parts of the gameday culture, and schools that support those experiences tend to see higher alumni engagement, increased donations, and broader brand loyalty. By easing the burden of travel logistics, Notre Dame is making it more appealing for fans to remain active participants in the program, even from afar.
The timing of United’s announcement is no coincidence. With the college football calendar quickly approaching, many fans are finalizing their travel plans for fall weekends. Airline prices have spiked in recent years, particularly for limited-service routes into smaller airports like South Bend. By adding more flights—including some at lower promotional fares—United is giving fans more options and potentially lowering overall travel costs.
Furthermore, United is enhancing its in-flight offerings for these sports-specific routes. Select flights will include Notre Dame-themed content, including highlight videos, school fight songs, and special messages from alumni athletes or coaches. There are even talks of collaborations with the university to offer in-flight food or beverage items inspired by South Bend cuisine or Irish tailgate staples. These additions are small touches, but they help build excitement and deepen fan connection with the program.
For Notre Dame itself, the airline partnership is yet another strategic move in a larger effort to modernize and expand its athletic operations. From NIL support to state-of-the-art facilities, Notre Dame has increasingly embraced the need to compete not just on the field, but in every aspect of the student-athlete and fan experience. Aligning with a major airline like United adds a layer of professionalism and national scale that further cements the program’s status as one of college football’s elite.
Of course, travel improvements also benefit the university’s recruiting efforts. High school prospects and their families often attend home games as part of their evaluation process. Easier and more frequent flights into South Bend can make that process smoother, especially for recruits from talent-rich areas like Texas, California, and the Southeast. When a visit to Notre Dame is more accessible, the chances of securing a commitment increase—and that can be a game-changer for a program looking to stack top-10 recruiting classes.
Fan reaction to the news has been overwhelmingly positive. Many Notre Dame supporters—especially alumni who no longer live in the Midwest—have long voiced frustrations about the difficulty and expense of traveling to games. Booking flights typically requires multiple connections, long drives from alternative airports, or extended time off work. United’s added services promise to reduce those barriers and make the pilgrimage to South Bend, or any Irish game, more feasible for a broader swath of the fanbase.
The expanded flight schedule also has a potential economic impact on South Bend and the surrounding communities. More flights mean more visitors, which in turn boosts local hotels, restaurants, and small businesses. On game weekends, South Bend sees a massive influx of tourists, many of whom spend several days in the area. A more robust flight infrastructure can help the city better accommodate and capitalize on these busy weekends, reinforcing the symbiotic relationship between the university and the local economy.
There’s also a sustainability angle to consider. By consolidating fans into more efficient, nonstop flights, United is potentially reducing the overall carbon footprint of game-related travel. Fewer layovers and shorter drive times from distant airports translate to less fuel consumption and lower emissions—an increasingly important consideration as universities and businesses alike strive to meet environmental responsibility goals.
Looking ahead, United and Notre Dame are already discussing expanding this model into future seasons. If this year’s initiative proves successful, it could become a permanent feature of the Notre Dame football calendar. Additionally, other universities with national fanbases—such as Texas, Michigan, and Alabama—may seek similar partnerships, prompting broader change across college athletics travel logistics.
For now, though, the focus is squarely on fall 2025. With high expectations surrounding Marcus Freeman’s team and a schedule full of marquee matchups, interest in Notre Dame football is peaking. United’s move to support that excitement with increased accessibility shows how powerful and influential the Notre Dame brand remains. Whether it’s a trip to South Bend for a cold-weather classic or a cross-country flight to watch the Irish in a primetime battle on the road, fans can now make the journey with greater ease and comfort.
At a time when fan engagement matters more than ever—both emotionally and financially—Notre Dame and United Airlines are showing how strategic partnerships can enhance tradition rather than replace it. By helping more fans see the Golden Dome in person, walk through the shadow of Touchdown Jesus, and sing the alma mater arm-in-arm with fellow alumni, this initiative does more than sell tickets or fill seats. It deepens connection, builds legacy, and ensures that the spirit of Notre Dame football continues to stretch from coast to coast.
