Why do so many people choose broadcasts over going to games?
- Thread starter Dhamp6
- Start date
Without having a child on the team, I am certainly not driving to away games 45 plus minutes away unless it is a banger of a game or a playoff game.
even many home games, if I have something going on or would be 50/50 to make it by kickoff, it is often just more convenient to pull it up on my phone, tv, or computer.
or perhaps there is a big ten game on a Friday night I am interested in. Staying home allows me to watch both on a big screen. If I go to the high school game, I am watching the college game on a phone or likely just ignoring the college game.
when I was in high school or if I had a child on the team, being in attendance in person is guaranteed. But without that personal connection, I am going to take the convenient option 95 percent of the time unless it is just a very big game I am interested in being in person for.
and yes, I recognize that this is the very thing that has minimized crowds and created bleak atmospheres in place of what used to be lively, fun events.
Time and travel to away games would be a big reason. Another is just checking in to see how the two teams are doing, especially in big games.
It basically comes down to convenience. I can watch a game I'm interested in and if it gets out of hand I can switch games. Weather, distance, and traffic in and around the city are also factors. Also nice to have multiple games set up; one on the laptop, one on the tablet, possibly one on the phone, and likely a college game on the TV.
Tw possible reasons:
1) Friday Traffic on the tollway o any Chicccago exxpressway. Yeears ago, when I'd travel from mid-Lake county to gately, I'd have to lease well before 2pm or be stranded on I294. Brutal driving.
2) Physically unable to get to the game or an inability to handle the stress of the crowd and activities.
1) Friday Traffic on the tollway o any Chicccago exxpressway. Yeears ago, when I'd travel from mid-Lake county to gately, I'd have to lease well before 2pm or be stranded on I294. Brutal driving.
2) Physically unable to get to the game or an inability to handle the stress of the crowd and activities.
Or half of us probably want to watch more than one game. Or at least check in on several teams.
Or...many of us are actually attending one game and would like to watch another matchup as well. Ive watched many streams while attending another game.
Some have other responsibilities. Example, taking care of elderly parents.
And many of us are elderly parents
Older and retired now. I no longer go through the hassle of seeing sporting events in person for High school, college, or pro.
EDIT: And because I only watch high school games through streaming, I can watch multiple games at once and watch teams play that I would never have watched in person.
EDIT #2: When I used to drink (beer) attending the games was always a good excuse to Tailgate, eat and drink beer. Then many locations started cracking down on Tailgating, making it less likely that I would choose to attend. Now I don't drink at all and Tailgating in general has lost a lot of it's allure.
EDIT: And because I only watch high school games through streaming, I can watch multiple games at once and watch teams play that I would never have watched in person.
EDIT #2: When I used to drink (beer) attending the games was always a good excuse to Tailgate, eat and drink beer. Then many locations started cracking down on Tailgating, making it less likely that I would choose to attend. Now I don't drink at all and Tailgating in general has lost a lot of it's allure.
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Yup, literally every week for me fr
Theres always another game to fill the in between downs, halftime, timeouts whatever for the game I'm present at.
Also love having my sons stroller too, so I can set it up on there and be hands free to hold him or whatever else. I'm not a bleacher guy, I like to be up and moving to whichever half of the field is showcasing the most action.
I’m the biggest sports fan you’ll ever meet. I have to get up at 1am on Saturday for work every week after doing so on Friday also & working til 3 or 4 pm. I’ll be 56 in March. Now when I come up on vacation? I’ll watch 6 games in 3 days maybe more if I can & see friends & family Sun-Wens & early Thurs-Fri lol. But my point is with my schedule I’d be getting home from games anywhere from 11pm or midnight & be going on a hour of sleep if that. I put the game of my choosing on the phone & sadly fall asleep. Saturday at work I’ll put games on my phone & set it off to the side as I work. I miss being in person
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Unless work interferes, which it often does in my profession, I try to attend every MC home game and help out with security as the neighborhood around MC can occasionally present a challenge but I can count on one hand how many times that has been an issue in the 7 seasons they have been back on campus.
Away games I'm a little more selective. When my kids played I obviously made everyone but being kid free from playing it depends on who they are playing and where. I won't go to BR anymore. The Visitor stands are as advertised. I'm not getting there 2 hours early to secure a picnic bench seat in the stands, I'll let the parents of players have those limited seats. I've tried the stand along the fence line but I don't like obstructed viewing and going off crowd reactions to see if they scored. I've actually tried sitting on the Rice side with my BR family members but that's a miserable experience wearing Brown and White and deservingly so.
Loyola on a Friday night would also be a no with Friday traffic but since they turned on the lights it has only been one game and it was in the CW so no go to Wilmette. Saturday afternoons there isn't bad. Same with going to Fenwick/Triton on a Friday night. They provide a good stream so I'll stay put.
I'm a big advocate on if you are physically able you should go to all the home games but I get it. Had this option been available decades ago I think people would have taken full advantage!
**Cold.....unless my kids were playing I don't do "I can see my breath consistently" cold. I can handle a slight rain and up to mid 30's tops, below that, nope! My body and feet just can't handle it anymore after years of abuse. I'm a cold bitc.......
Away games I'm a little more selective. When my kids played I obviously made everyone but being kid free from playing it depends on who they are playing and where. I won't go to BR anymore. The Visitor stands are as advertised. I'm not getting there 2 hours early to secure a picnic bench seat in the stands, I'll let the parents of players have those limited seats. I've tried the stand along the fence line but I don't like obstructed viewing and going off crowd reactions to see if they scored. I've actually tried sitting on the Rice side with my BR family members but that's a miserable experience wearing Brown and White and deservingly so.
Loyola on a Friday night would also be a no with Friday traffic but since they turned on the lights it has only been one game and it was in the CW so no go to Wilmette. Saturday afternoons there isn't bad. Same with going to Fenwick/Triton on a Friday night. They provide a good stream so I'll stay put.
I'm a big advocate on if you are physically able you should go to all the home games but I get it. Had this option been available decades ago I think people would have taken full advantage!
**Cold.....unless my kids were playing I don't do "I can see my breath consistently" cold. I can handle a slight rain and up to mid 30's tops, below that, nope! My body and feet just can't handle it anymore after years of abuse. I'm a cold bitc.......
All those EDITS and I forgot another big reason I no longer do any Sporting Events in person.
I only use my smart phone for a couple of things:
1) make and receive phone calls
2) make and receive texts
3) on Rare occasions I'll use it to check the weather radar
That's it. Nothing else, period.
So, when somebody expects me to:
1) download apps to my phone
2) somehow buy tickets with my phone
3) store electronic tickets on my phone
The answer is "none of those things are going to happen". No games...
When I went to a NN game a couple weeks ago they took cash. I broke down into tears.
At Morris for regular season,us old guys get in free! One advantage of turning 65.
4-year-old at home. I love to go to games, and I already made a big effort to attend Montini at Sandburg (I live by Montini). But some weeks it’s just too much.
Also, I like to go out with my friends when the opportunity presents itself. If I think my friends will be calling on Saturday night, it’s only polite to stand down on Friday night.
Also, I like to go out with my friends when the opportunity presents itself. If I think my friends will be calling on Saturday night, it’s only polite to stand down on Friday night.
After going to games there since 1979,I couldnt even tell you if the have had hotdogs. I've had my share of pork chop sandwiches and popcorn though.
It's a matter of convenience and the game itself.
I could walk to Oswego games, get in free (but still had season tickets for many years) and pretty much go anywhere in the stadium.
But I also like Friday nights at home where I can have a few cocktails, cook dinner and watch several different games at the same time.
Weather too, I don't watch other peoples kids in the rain.
I would go to more local Saturday afternoon games if they had them.
All that said, Oswego games still have that old time feeling, always crowded, great band, good team and the concession options are solid.
I could walk to Oswego games, get in free (but still had season tickets for many years) and pretty much go anywhere in the stadium.
But I also like Friday nights at home where I can have a few cocktails, cook dinner and watch several different games at the same time.
Weather too, I don't watch other peoples kids in the rain.
I would go to more local Saturday afternoon games if they had them.
All that said, Oswego games still have that old time feeling, always crowded, great band, good team and the concession options are solid.
Rewind to a few years ago when I didn't have a child involved in the game day activities. Really to watch others game at home and wind down on a Friday. The thought of unnecessary driving around Chicagoland on a Friday night was enough for me to enjoy the couch. To add, my job had me driving a lot around midwest so that played a part of wanting to relax on a Friday night. I would catch 2-3 live every year.
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I think I echo a lot of what I am reading here. I had two sons who played. One at Providence and one at Lockport. They were three years apart, so we were going to a lot of games, home and road. The older one wasn't a starter, but he did get into games. We saw every game, in person. The younger one was a starting RB and we went to all of his games as well. The younger one graduated in 2008.
I can see the lights at Lockport's stadium from my house and can literally walk to the games. So, travel isn't an issue for home games. But since the younger one graduated, I have been to one Lockport game. And I left that one at halftime. It doesn't have the same "flavor" for me. I was never a huge high school football fan. But I do follow what is going on and I do know Lockport is 0-3. Here is where I get my information.
People do move on and the general public doesn't follow the game like the posters here unless they have a family member playing. I see a lot of posts that talk about guys who used to post here and no longer do. I think it is mostly a matter of moving on and having other interests. Since my younger son graduated, I have been to more Chiefs games in KC than HS games here.
And I drive almost 500 miles each way to see my College team play at least once a year. So, I have interests and I do love the game. But as I have aged, my interests have changed. Besides HS football can be watched on TV now and I do tune in here and there. Especially at the end.
I can see the lights at Lockport's stadium from my house and can literally walk to the games. So, travel isn't an issue for home games. But since the younger one graduated, I have been to one Lockport game. And I left that one at halftime. It doesn't have the same "flavor" for me. I was never a huge high school football fan. But I do follow what is going on and I do know Lockport is 0-3. Here is where I get my information.
People do move on and the general public doesn't follow the game like the posters here unless they have a family member playing. I see a lot of posts that talk about guys who used to post here and no longer do. I think it is mostly a matter of moving on and having other interests. Since my younger son graduated, I have been to more Chiefs games in KC than HS games here.
And I drive almost 500 miles each way to see my College team play at least once a year. So, I have interests and I do love the game. But as I have aged, my interests have changed. Besides HS football can be watched on TV now and I do tune in here and there. Especially at the end.
I don't think you need to explain why you don't attend games anymore. You have been to a hell of a lot of games including season Tix to the Bears. It is time you relax. I just wonder how many games you sat through in brutal weather. Sooner or later our mortality will catch up to all us. You take care of yourself first.
More passing then running now, so more stoppage of the clock. Also a lot more penalties now, mostly because of the passing that brings on pass interference, holding, and late hits.....and partially because the discipline just seems to have have got worse over the years.
MC used to run 90% of the time, clock moved. Now they pass 80% of the time, lot of clock stoppage
In no particular order of importance:
-Beer
-Bathroom 5 seconds away (and a clean one at that)
- I can utilize the time watching the game to catch up on other tasks around the house, especially when 90% of the games Wilmo plays it isn't worth going to because the game is over in the first 8 minutes.....also piggybacking off this reason there is no travel time or money spent to get into the game and get a soda and dinner. I donate enough to the school through fundraisers
-Don't have to deal with the crowds and see people who I do not want to be around
-100% chance to be 72, dry, and the ever so softest ceiling fan breeze in my man-cave
-Comfy couch or recliner to watch the game on
-Have a 3 TV set up in the man-cave so I can catch college football or playoff baseball as I wish
-Beer
-Bathroom 5 seconds away (and a clean one at that)
- I can utilize the time watching the game to catch up on other tasks around the house, especially when 90% of the games Wilmo plays it isn't worth going to because the game is over in the first 8 minutes.....also piggybacking off this reason there is no travel time or money spent to get into the game and get a soda and dinner. I donate enough to the school through fundraisers
-Don't have to deal with the crowds and see people who I do not want to be around
-100% chance to be 72, dry, and the ever so softest ceiling fan breeze in my man-cave
-Comfy couch or recliner to watch the game on
-Have a 3 TV set up in the man-cave so I can catch college football or playoff baseball as I wish
First, I had a sstroke which khampers my ability to walk in a crowd, or stand very long. Secondly, I developed "low visiion" - which in my case makes driving a challendnge -- especially on an expresswy. It also affects my ability to type propelry. Sorry re the typos, but it's the best I can do.
Biggest thing for me as I get older...I dont like people...
I'd like to recommend selling tickets to your man cave.
I don't get out of work until usually 5PM on Fridays, so getting home and getting to games is sometimes rushed. I live in the Chicago area so if I want to go see a game in another part of the state it has to be on a Saturday. I also want to buy my tickets ahead of time. I've gone to a game or two where tickets were sold out when I got there and was forced to watch from outside the gates. I have been to 5 games so far this season. I'll likely get to around 12 by the time playoffs begin.
Just looked and realized that I will be gone for last regular season game and 1st 2 weeks of the playoffs as I have a couple beach chairs and an umbrella with my name on them on Captiva Island for 16 days.....wi-fi is iffy out there so I might not even be able to stream games. 20 years ago my butt would of been attached to a fence at some high school for games. Might be fun if I get service watching some games with my toes in the sand sipping margaritas.Biggest thing for me as I get older...I dont like people...
Bring me a six pack of a craft beer I haven't tried before (or one of my favorites) and you're more than welcome
Me too. I intentionally bricked my phone to make it as dumb as possible. One reason was to protect myself from all the hackers, spammers, and AI agents coming for my bank account. Another is that QR codes turn people into zombies.
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Excellent responses guys. Enjoyed reading them all. Especially the one about not liking people the older I get. Felt that in my soul.
Well that's fine. They don't like you either. LOLBiggest thing for me as I get older...I dont like people...
You're absolutely right about that. And another good thing about getting older....I could give 2 sh#t's if they don't.Well that's fine. They don't like you either. LOL
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