Recent news from Amtrak details the organization’s interest in hosting more train travel-focused events within the Fighting Game Community (FGC) and gaming. For the Esports community, this is a major win. When it comes to finding the best travel options for USA domestic travel as a gamer to tournaments, we looked into the comparisons between flight and train.
Travel Options and Costs
With airline travel fees continuing to rise, and the news in the United States about various problems for not just gamers and industry professionals but people of color and marginalized genders as well, travel options are getting increasingly difficult for everyone stateside.
Flying Options
At the time of writing, the cost of train travel is comparable to flying with the average coach ticket price ranging from $128 USD up to $500+, making it comparable to flying business or coach through any major airport. For my research I looked into a direct trip from Los Angeles to Chicago, and by train that trip takes 43 hours, which would be an extensive ride versus flying which would only be about 4 hours on average without layovers.
Given most tournaments take place over 3 or 4-day weekends, that time frame would not be ideal for the average gamer going from the West Coast to Chicago or further East at the moment. For this instance, I chose the popular holiday weekend (Memorial Day weekend) when Combo Breaker takes place to present the cost of flying versus taking the train.
Train Options
While the ride might be long, it can be rather fun especially if there were events that happened aboard the train that wouldn’t be available as an option otherwise. Offering various scenic views from coast to coast, the train often takes multiple stops that often aren’t experienced when flying or driving. However, for long distances, it doesn’t seem like the best approach at this time due to the length of time it takes to get from point A to point B when you have a major event to attend and are limited on time.
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Amtrak allows private room bookings too, and they sell those rooms per person as either a roomette (lower rate featured would be $717 as of 2/19/2025), a bedroom for two adults, or a family room for two adults and two children. In comparison to flying where first-class seats vary by airline, and often don’t offer private rooms for whole families, this could be a way to make a vacation worthwhile and a bit more affordable.
Amtrak and the FGC
The Smash scene of the FGC is rather excited about these developments with Amtrak and have already started to investigate this as an option. Some major players including HungryBox (@LiquidHbox) have shown some support for hosting a traveling Smash tournament with Amtrak. Seems they would like to continue collaboration with Amtrak on this matter. Not much has come out from the rest of the FGC on whether they are for or against it.
Trains and Community
Trains offer a way to connect with strangers and make new acquaintances and friends, compared to a plane where flyers often stick to themselves. To see a large business like Amtrak interested in supporting the FGC is very cool and could open the door for that Invitational that HungryBox suggested.
If it were to happen, and Amtrak followed the routes suggested by the Smash community—which further expands on already existing routes and trains—it could make for wonderful, fun memories and really re-define what the traveling experience could be.
Trains and Timing
The only true downside is that many of those in the FGC, come from working-class backgrounds and can only take up to two weeks of work off. This is common for many Americans as no mandated paid time off exists in multiple states because companies still consider it a ‘benefit’ rather than a right.
Many companies adopted a “take time off when you need it”, better known as “unlimited PTO”, but from discussion with various sources, I have found that they often felt bullied and ridiculed for merely requesting a day off to even visit the doctor’s office or for calling in sick.
Those who make streaming and gaming their full-time jobs, through the support of their fans, often forget that these types of time constraints can limit a person from being able to attend tournaments, especially ones that require travel.
Those in lower class pay scales, often do not get even that luxury. For many in the FGC, participating in a tournament, whether as a player, spectator, cosplayer, or staff is out of their love for the game and the community of friends locally and globally, which is where traveling by Amtrak, while fun, could be difficult due to if they don’t have enough time available to make such a long trip. In that case, flying would be a more ideal option, as many gamers tend to travel to multiple events per year.
Amtrak x FGC Overview
Amtrak supporting FGC on travel opportunities by providing an alternative method shows support for Smash and gaming which is a major win for everyone. Even with things like time and speed to consider, it would still be a worthwhile venture. Some of those features provided by Amtrak include “plenty of power outlets for your gaming devices, complimentary WiFi, loads of elbow space between you and your sticky-fingered siblings, and overhead storage you can access any time, there’s no better way to keep the gaming lights on than train travel.” (Amtrak.com)
Weighing Travel Options
Flying is still a wonderful option, as well as driving when traveling to a major tournament like CEO, CEOtaku, ComboBreaker, EVO, and any true Smash tourney. While TSA will often check someone’s fight stick or pad, it’s also not that expensive to upgrade to checked luggage (Pelican makes some great gear that would protect your stick!), or to explain to a TSA agent who is unfamiliar with what it is you’re using to play games on. In comparison, there is no delays or strict bag checks when taking the train.
Flying’s Stricter Luggage Rules
When flying, it would also be more than easy to call your local airline or port and provide them with information. You can also reach out to the FAA to share data on recent updates to fight sticks which could help speed up a process that has been hindering local gamers from reaching major tournaments. Finally, airports may check and screen laptops, a common thing since September 11th, 2001. (You can read more about the FAA here.)
Between the convenience of travel, safety, and security, a player often needs to consider what they can or can’t bring on transit as well. They must review the rules every single time, even the day of. It would suck to spend so much money on a flight, hotel, and tickets to an event to then not make it because the traveler didn’t plan on the best way to protect one of their most important pieces of equipment to participate in a major tournament.
Why Amtrak Over Flight
Some things that I think could make Amtrak better is providing faster train routes that are a bit more direct to reduce the time. This would require a lot of negotiation across the industry and politically to make headway, as well as to make sure our current train tracks are capable of a faster speed. Even if this meant only one or two trains per day were “bullet trains” on specific routes, if travel time were to reduce by a significant margin, I do think this would lead to an increase in people taking the train.
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