Whether you go to a pro or collegiate sporting event on your own, with friends, perhaps even the family, are you prepared for a day or evening of fun?
While there are thousands and thousands of fans attending events with season tickets, many others are just happy to get to a single game each season. Between high ticket prices and long commutes etc. many fans end up watching games on the television. In some cases, they don’t get to see the events at all.
Even though the events may be few and far between, millions of sports fans do have opportunities to enjoy some games here and there.
If you’re a sports fan looking to best enjoy a day (or night for that matter) at the stadium or arena, do you have all your bases covered?
Check Your List and Check It Twice
So that you can get the most out of trips to the stadium or arena, remember these five tips:
- Selecting the best opponents – Unless you can afford season tickets, you have to be rather selective as to which sport/s and which game/s you want to see. For most sports (and teams for that matter), the prices will be higher when two marquee teams are playing or a marquee team meets your team. Take a look at schedules when they come out for the respective sport or sports you are interested in, and then decide. Given ticket prices for many sports have gone up, make sure you attend the event or events you want to;
- Dress the part – There is nothing better than getting all dressed up in the gear of your favorite team. When you wear your favorite sports apparel, you oftentimes feel more into the game. If money is a little tight, do some shopping around to see where you can get the best deals on jerseys, t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, jackets, hats and more.
Consider Involving Family and Friends
- Get others involved – In the event you are seeing money as being a little tight, you could go in on season tickets with family and/or friends. For instance, NFL teams play eight regular season home games, along with two home pre-season games. Instead of having to spend all that money for tickets on your own, see if you can get some family members (outside the immediate family) or friends to split the costs. You can then divide up the games, allowing each individual or couple to make a few events each season;
- Tailgating for fun – Even though tailgating is generally reserved for pro and college football games; it is not uncommon to see some tailgaters at baseball games etc. You can get to the event several hours before it starts, making for some great food and conversation before kick-off or first-pitch. If you’re really into tailgating, hang out in the parking lot after the game to discuss how your team won or lost;
- A little wager or two – Lastly, while some folks eschew gambling, many others have no problem putting down a couple of dollars or so on a game. When you have a few dollars riding on a game, it makes for a more interesting afternoon or evening of watching. With the boom in popularity of fantasy sports (football, baseball etc.), having certain players to root for can make the event even more interesting.
Get Away from It All for a Few Hours
Given the fast-paced world that millions of Americans live in these days, it is nice to get away from it all for a few hours.
That said many people look to sports as an escape from the daily grind, even if it means shelling out some major dollars at times to attend.
Without breaking the bank, go to a few games this season no matter what sport or sports turn you on.
When all is said and done, you may very well leave with a smile on your face, perhaps even a few more dollars in your pocket.