Carryover from the NFL thread.  Feel free to copy and paste your arguments for or against (if you want).  Lots of reasons for declining attendance in a lot of professional and collegiate markets.  Cost, availability and convenience to watch from home, teams suck, etc.

For me, it's 90% about cost.  The other 10% I will say is travel, b/c I'm 2+ hours from any professional live sporting venue.  I think the cost of attending a live sporting event is ridiculous. 

I like attending baseball games. Football games I can take or leave.

Living in Cincinnati, costs are minimal for me. I can see the Reds ballpark from my office, so it's very easy to attend games after work. I also live 15 minutes away, so weekend games are no problem. With the team being terrible, cheap tickets aren't hard to come by. 

I could give a crap about the Bengals, and am heading down that path for the Jets, so I have very little interest attending NFL games unless the ticket was free. I might splurge and get tickets on the 50 yard line close to the field for the Jets Bengals game in December because they should be relatively cheap and I likely won't ever do it again.

College football is fun, but I rarely go to games. I used to travel for WVU bowl games back in the day, but haven't cared in years. My wife works for UC and got free tickets for the upcoming game against Temple. It will be my first football game at Nippert, so I'm kinda looking forward to that. I did attend my first FCC game since they moved to the MLS the other day. It's kinda cool, but it's still soccer.

Just no interest here in attending an NFL game. I've been to Indians and Cavs games but never a Browns game (and I've taken shit about it on here for years). 

I have no interest in the tailgating, etc.

Can watch it from my house, not missing a play, with cheaper food/drink, no lines for restrooms, no pain in the ass parking, etc, etc. When the game's over I can go do other things (mow lawn, grocery shop, etc) instead of burning a half a day, or more.

Just have no interest in it and I've been offered free tickets before.

I live in Maryland, but try and go to as many games when Ohio teams come out here. 

I love attending baseball games. My wife and I both like baseball and usually go to 2-3 Baltimore Os games a year and 1-2 Washington Nationals game a year.  Baseball is a nice way to unplug and just sit back and enjoy an evening relaxing. The Os are dirt cheap tickets the last few years. Nats tickets are a little more pricy, but even then it is not bad depending on the team. 

I used to go to Capitals games, but those tickets got more and more expensive, especially once they made their Cup run. Plus, getting in and out of the city even with metro is a pain in the ass. 

I never head to the Skins or Ravens games, no interest, and the Skins stadium is a dump. 

I have made the last 3 trips to College Park, Maryland when Ohio State has played Maryland. Those tickets were reasonably priced, usually $100 to be in the lower sections behind OSU bench. 

I think it's all about convenience. I grew up around an hour from Cleveland. Went to 1 or 2 Indians games a year, and maybe 1 Browns game a year (Uncle's brother had great seats and rarely used them).  

When I lived in downtown Cleveland we would go to Indians games a lot. Cheap seats, $1 dog nights, could pre-game so cost wasn't bad. I still would only go to Browns games if free. Otherwise I'd tailgate and then go to a bar or back home to watch. I love the atmosphere of a win there (which are few when I was there) but it really is expensive and a long day to do. Living in SC we don't really go to live sports anymore, and I really only miss the Indians games. 

from the NFL thread:

Laley: Events are simply better on TV.

Me: Only if you DVR them, because the amount of commercials is nauseating--and I hate DVR'ing live sporting events unless I'm unable to watch them live. I love going to live sporting events, especially football games--but I do agree that it's becoming more and more cost prohibitive.

Laley: So you enjoy watching nothing on the field instead? Most people turn the channel during commercials. Its not like they keep playing through them if youre at the game.

Me: I'm not sure what games you go to, but there's always something going on on the field. Yes, you make a valid point regarding switching the channel, and there are a lot of pros for watching the game on TV--but for me these are valid points only when you're watching at home...jmo, buddy, jmo.

I will go to a baseball game whenever, wherever. This stems from the fact that you’re outside (typically) and I don’t mind missing a few tribe games since there are 162. Going to Tribe games is also great because I’d never watch any other team.

When seasons overlap, however, it’s more complicated. I don’t want to miss any NFL Sunday, unless Browns had MNF/SNF and you could watch other games leading up and not miss action during game. I’m a big gambler, so my interest spans to other games.

College I’ll go, but a typical Saturday has so many great matchups on that I’d prefer to simply switch the channel. I’ve gone to tailgates as I love them, then we usually go to a bar anyway and not into the game.

For the most part, I just think the TV experience is far superior to the in-game. Summer baseball is the exception to that. If I have the option to go to a big matchup for the Browns, IU basketball I’ll take it, but don’t typically seek them out. No desire to ever see an NBA regular season game. 

We've decided to not attend many or any local games, and instead take that money for a vacation that has a game as a part of it. For example, we've never been to the Pacific Northwest, so we're going to the Oregon game next September and tour the region.

Have you ever been to a big time college game in person? 

I prefer the option that has climate control, cheap beer, no parking fees or ticket prices and the ability to switch to other games during commercials, halftime and/or the event the game I'm watching is a blowout. To me, sports are usually the background that's going on when I'm hanging out with friends or relaxing at home and even if it's a game I'm interested in, I'm probably paying 75% attention to it at most (and if I'm not emotionally invested in said game, it's likely under 50% attention).

I'm not completely adverse to the live sports experience, but it's generally more trouble than it's worth to me. For pro, I'm 1.5 to 2 hours away from the closest teams and for upper-level college or minor league baseball, it's 45-60 minutes, so I'd rather watch stuff locally on TV with friends.

I think I'm done with NFL games, even if I wasn't already boycotting Bengals ownership. 

I haven't been to a pro basketball game in a long time and that's on my to do list this year, to head to a Pacers game. 

posted by Automatik

Have you ever been to a big time college game in person? 

Yep. Numerous OSU/Michigan growing up and every ND/Michigan in Ann Arbor from 1992-2005. Been to a nigh game at Notre Dame vs USC.

I love the tailgating for a huge game, but would still prefer to watch on TV. Better view, angles, replay. Plus ever miss a play grabbing food or taking a leak. The atmosphere for big time sports is second to none. But the viewing is still trumped by everything television has to offer, imo. 

Again, my exception is baseball, playoff baseball in person is amazing, and TV doesn’t add much to the experience.

posted by Laley23

 For the most part, I just think the TV experience is far superior to the in-game.

...and therein lies my dilemma--I don't think watching a game on TV is an "experience", but in your line of work I can see why you do. Being at the game is the experience, and nothing on TV can mimic that. Nothing.

Minor league hockey is the best in person viewing experience.  TV does hockey no justice.  I like the wide open take chances of the ECHL level.  The guys at AHL appears not to want to make a mistake that we hinder a promotion to the NHL.  

A lot of idiot fans at most sporting events that make going to a contest in person non-disirable.

I learned something from reading this thread. I had no idea so many of you guys feel the same way about going to games as I do. Very interesting. Lots of comments made that I totally agree with like prices, time invested, being able to do other shit while a game is on (that’s why I like listening on the radio). 

- back in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s I went to several Indians games a year. Haven’t been to one in about 15 years. 

- in those same decades, I would go to several home Browns games a year, even becoming a season ticket holder for about 5 years.  I quit that when they started including the pre-season games into the package and then the final straw was the PSL’s. I was so pissed about Modell moving the Browns even though they came back, I have never been to First Energy.  (BR - I did not know you have never been to a Browns game. I’m shocked!)

- the Cavs.....I’m an original fan and attended games at the old Cleveland Arena. I remained a fan up to the Price/Daugherty era. Since then, I have not been a fan and become disinterested in the NBA. I am happy that LeBron did bring a championship here, and that is all where he is concerned. 

So I enjoy following my teams by being at home and drinking as much beer as I want. 

posted by Verbal Kint

Minor league hockey is the best in person viewing experience.  TV does hockey no justice.  I like the wide open take chances of the ECHL level.  ...........

 

Agree! The lower levels of professional hockey (and baseball too) are great watches. 

posted by Gardens35

(and baseball too) are great watches. 

 

 

I began taking my kids to the Akron Aeros when they were little, instead of a Tribe game..........time and cost. They had a great time and I got to see some good baseball. 

One more memory: 50 cent bleacher seats at Municipal Stadium. And they were actual bleachers (painted blue). 

Heck yea..........buy the bleacher tix then wait until after the 3rd inning (the unwritten rule) and go sit in the field boxes along the baselines. Hardly anybody there, the vendors were happy to see you. I think those seats sold for 6 bucks.

posted by Gardens35

Heck yea..........buy the bleacher tix then wait until after the 3rd inning (the unwritten rule) and go sit in the field boxes along the baselines. Hardly anybody there, the vendors were happy to see you. I think those seats sold for 6 bucks.

 

Yep

posted by ernest_t_bass

Carryover from the NFL thread.  Feel free to copy and paste your arguments for or against (if you want).  Lots of reasons for declining attendance in a lot of professional and collegiate markets.  Cost, availability and convenience to watch from home, teams suck, etc.

For me, it's 90% about cost.  The other 10% I will say is travel, b/c I'm 2+ hours from any professional live sporting venue.  I think the cost of attending a live sporting event is ridiculous. 

Just got tickets to the browns steeler game at cleveland which is about a 2 hour drive from columbus.  Got my ticket for 147 on stub hub and we are renting a party bus for the day from 1pm to 1am for about 65$ a person x 15 people. Cost wise that isnt a bad deal.  The part that really chaps my ass is that stub hub is now up to charging 42 service fee! wtf so my final checkout price was 195$ for my ticket,   that is 30% of the damn ticket price!  with this new electronic ticket policy or hard copy tickets you almost cant scalp anymore so you basically are screwed. I sure hope someone starts some new type of ticket service and puts them out of business.

Really enjoy attending Ohio State games of several varieties.....football, basketball, volleyball, hockey, baseball, etc.  Also local high school events.

Absolutely could not care less about most professional sports.  Baseball, hockey and soccer are the exceptions. 

I've been to two NFL games....one in Cleveland and one in Cincinnati.  Experience in Cleveland was the worst..and I was a fan of the Browns since 1964, but you really can't call me a fan any more.

One must lower the expectations when going to a Browns game. People there dress up like dogs and bark.

I can handle a nice summer day/night watching the Tribe or the Bucs, probably once or twice a year.  I’ve been to one Browns game in over 15 years, prefer TV if interested at all.  Hit a Cavs game every once in a while, business only, as I really don’t care at all about the NBA.  I do enjoy a good hockey game – Pens or Jackets, maybe hit one every other year. When you go to any of these sporting events it is just never fun to have to drive 1.5 hours home, late at night, after having had several ‘pops’.  I will say I have been to many playoff games in these sports, including World Series and AFC championship game, and the atmosphere then is definitely something to experience, at least once.