Sporting Events: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

The gallery erupted as Tiger Woods rolled in his birdie putt to tie John Daly for the lead on the back nine. It was shaping up to be a dramatic finish on this warm October Sunday in San Francisco. Standing front and center next to the green as Tiger made the putt, I thought to myself that it doesn’t get any better than this. Then, the man standing next to me said that he had to hurry home so he could watch the finale on television. What? Not only did we pay $50 for tickets to the tournament that day, but we were right in front of all the action. Why would anyone want to leave to go watch it on TV? Then I thought about it some more and maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. After all, we had waited in this spot next to the green for nearly thirty minutes before Tiger arrived, just to be in the front row. Behind us was a crowd of people all fighting to catch just a glimpse of Tiger putting. Earlier, I had been in the same situation and all I could make out was the Nike logo on his hat. At that time, I knew the results of his putt solely by crowd reaction and not by sight. So, a question begged to be answered: is it better to watch a sporting event at home or in person? Let’s look at several factors to see if we can come up with an answer.

1. For starters, there is nothing quite like the feeling of having tickets to a big game or event. The anticipation is exciting, knowing that you’ll be witnessing an event in person that millions of others will be watching on television around the world. Then, as you arrive at the stadium or arena, you can feel the buzz and the energy of the crowd. As the event unfolds, the roar of the crowd is always energizing and produces an adrenaline rush. This is something you just don’t get by watching the game at home on TV. You might come close if you watch the game in a crowded sports bar or with a group of people, but still it’s not quite the same. Advantage: In Person

2. At an event, there are many inconveniences that you would not experience if you were watching at home.
For instance, you will have to walk a long distance and wait in long lines to use the bathroom at a stadium.
At home, there will be no line, the bathroom will be a lot cleaner, and there will always be soap to wash your hands and a towel to dry them. At a crowded stadium, you are not guaranteed such luxuries. Also, at home you don’t have to worry about someone spilling a beer on you or picking a fight with you because they are drunk. Advantage: At Home

3. At home, you will not have to wait in line for food and the food is already paid for. At the game, there will be lines at the food stands, the food will be expensive, and it may or may not be good. Most importantly, at home you can time your trips to the kitchen so that you don’t miss any of the game. At a stadium, even if you go for food during a break in the action, it almost always takes too long to get back to your seat in time. Advantage: At Home

4. Even with today’s amazing technology, you still cannot catch a foul ball at home. Nor can you get an autograph, sit near a celebrity, or have your picture put on the jumbotron screen for dancing like a fool during a timeout. Also, at home, you don’t get to see extracurricular activity like fights in the stands. The closest thing to a fight at home is when my wife yells at me because a game goes into overtime and she misses the beginning of Desperate Housewives. Advantage: In Person

5. If you miss a play or an official’s call at a live sporting event, you are pretty much out of luck. If you’re fortunate, they may show it once on the scoreboard, but that’s it. At home, on the other hand, you have instant replay, analysis, and Tivo so you can watch the play repeatedly until you know exactly what happened. This is especially true at golf events where you can only watch one hole at a time in person. On television, you get to see every golfer play every hole and won’t miss a single crucial shot. Advantage: At Home

6. Finally, you don’t have to pay for tickets if you watch the game at home. To attend a sporting event, especially a big event, it will cost you a small fortune for tickets. Unless of course, you have a generous friend, got free tickets from work, or won a contest. Also, there is the cost of parking, the time it takes to travel to and from the stadium, and the traffic from all the fans coming and going. The parking situation is more tolerable if there is a tailgating party outside the stadium. Advantage: In Person (if the tickets are free) At Home (if you have to buy tickets)

So, if you have to buy tickets, the advantage goes to watching the game at home (4-2). If you have free tickets, then it is a draw (3-3). In this case, I think the tie goes to the holder of the free tickets, and you have to go see the game in person. After all, you can’t let those free tickets go to waste. Really though, there is no wrong answer. So, whether you decide to watch the game at home, at a sports bar, or in person, I hope you enjoy it.

As for that golf tournament I mentioned earlier, Tiger went on to beat Daly by one stroke in a playoff. The first playoff hole was so jam packed with people that I could not see a thing. Since I could not see, I hoped for a tie on that hole so the playoff would be extended. In anticipation of this, I made my way to the potential second playoff hole and found a prime seat right next to the green. Lucky for me, they tied the first playoff hole and went on to the second hole where I was seated. The huge crowds soon followed and I probably could have sold my seat if I had wanted to. The tournament wound up being decided on that hole when Daly missed a short putt to lose by one. Daly was so distraught that he walked off the course by himself carrying the wayward putter. He was so annoyed with himself and the putter that he eventually gave the putter away to a fan. On the train ride home, someone sat down next to me carrying a putter. Sure enough, it was the putter that Daly had given away. Riding home next to the golf club that had decided the tournament is something that would not have happened had I watched on TV. So, I guess there are always intangibles that draw you to live sporting events, even though it’s probably more practical to watch them at home.