diff --git a/kloppy/_providers/sportec.py b/kloppy/_providers/sportec.py
index c1d0574f..fe152c6d 100644
--- a/kloppy/_providers/sportec.py
+++ b/kloppy/_providers/sportec.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 from kloppy.io import open_as_file, FileLike
 from kloppy.utils import deprecated
 
+from requests.exceptions import HTTPError
+
 
 def load_event(
     event_data: FileLike,
@@ -121,19 +123,32 @@ def load_open_event_data(
     coordinates: Optional[str] = None,
     event_factory: Optional[EventFactory] = None,
 ) -> EventDataset:
+    """
+    Data associated with research paper:
+    Bassek, M., Weber, H., Rein, R., & Memmert, D. (2024).
+    "An integrated dataset of synchronized spatiotemporal and event data in elite soccer." In Submission.
+    """
 
     if not META_DATA_MAP.get(match_id):
         raise ValueError(
             f"This match_id is not available, please select from {list(META_DATA_MAP.keys())}"
         )
 
-    return load_event(
-        event_data=DATA_URL.format(file_id=EVENT_DATA_MAP[match_id]),
-        meta_data=DATA_URL.format(file_id=META_DATA_MAP[match_id]),
-        event_types=event_types,
-        coordinates=coordinates,
-        event_factory=event_factory,
-    )
+    try:
+        return load_event(
+            event_data=DATA_URL.format(file_id=EVENT_DATA_MAP[match_id]),
+            meta_data=DATA_URL.format(file_id=META_DATA_MAP[match_id]),
+            event_types=event_types,
+            coordinates=coordinates,
+            event_factory=event_factory,
+        )
+    except HTTPError as e:
+        raise HTTPError(
+            "Unable to retrieve data. The dataset archive location may have changed. "
+            "Please verify the `kloppy.sportec.DATA_URL` and file mappings. "
+            "This issue might be resolved by updating to the latest version of kloppy. "
+            "Original error: {}".format(e)
+        )
 
 
 def load_open_tracking_data(
@@ -143,17 +158,30 @@ def load_open_tracking_data(
     coordinates: Optional[str] = None,
     only_alive: Optional[bool] = True,
 ) -> EventDataset:
+    """
+    Data associated with research paper:
+    Bassek, M., Weber, H., Rein, R., & Memmert, D. (2024).
+    "An integrated dataset of synchronized spatiotemporal and event data in elite soccer." In Submission.
+    """
 
     if not META_DATA_MAP.get(match_id):
         raise ValueError(
             f"This match_id is not available, please select from {list(META_DATA_MAP.keys())}"
         )
 
-    return load_tracking(
-        raw_data=DATA_URL.format(file_id=TRACKING_DATA_MAP[match_id]),
-        meta_data=DATA_URL.format(file_id=META_DATA_MAP[match_id]),
-        sample_rate=sample_rate,
-        limit=limit,
-        coordinates=coordinates,
-        only_alive=only_alive,
-    )
+    try:
+        return load_tracking(
+            raw_data=DATA_URL.format(file_id=TRACKING_DATA_MAP[match_id]),
+            meta_data=DATA_URL.format(file_id=META_DATA_MAP[match_id]),
+            sample_rate=sample_rate,
+            limit=limit,
+            coordinates=coordinates,
+            only_alive=only_alive,
+        )
+    except HTTPError as e:
+        raise HTTPError(
+            "Unable to retrieve data. The dataset archive location may have changed. "
+            "Please verify the `kloppy.sportec.DATA_URL` and file mappings. "
+            "This issue might be resolved by updating to the latest version of kloppy. "
+            "Original error: {}".format(e)
+        )