Anyone done American Football or Baseball Game

[fairytale]

Hiya All.

We are travelling back to WDW this coming October and am looking this time at possibly seeing an American Football Game or possibly Baseball. Just to experience the atmosphere really.

Any one done the same, who should we see, where do we see it.

Dont even know the first thing about either sport to be honest, my eldest boys just want to buy a Hotdog from one of those men with them attached to their chests in those little boxes and wave a sponge thumb in the air I think.

Any comments would be apprecaited

 

[Hilary]

DH and I went to one of the Spring training baseball games at Disney's Wide World of Sports a couple of years ago - it was brilliant!

Neither of us knew much about the game, and went along for the atmosphere and to see what it was like. We came away probably now knowing a whole lot more about the game than when we went it, although there was a young man sitting behind us who did his best to answer our inane questions The atmosphere was great - very friendly and family-orientated - and it was good entertainment all round.

I'd say, if you get the chance, go for it

 

[BRobson]

My DH and dad did a baseball game at Wide World of Sports and enjoyed it - I went shopping

 

[madmumof2]

I've been to a baseball game over tehre. I can't remmeber where it was (I was 14 lol) but it was brilliant. Everyone was so friendly and happy, and even though I hated sport and didn't want to go at first, I loved it and got right in with everyone else cheering.

I had forgotten about that until you posted. I must add that somewhere in my already packed plan lol!

 

[GarryK]

I think you may need to look at a Football game rather than baseball if you're going in October. We've been twice in October and, from memory, this tends to be when the play-offs take place including the World Series (the final).

Football tends to be the winter sport and baseball the summer one.

Means there won't be many baseball games and unlikely to be in the Orlando area.

Closest NFL team is Tampa Bay Bucs and the NFL season will be in full swing in October. Try googling the Bucs but I think Bucs tickets are very popular and might be difficult to get a hold of.

Garry

 

[pixiepower04]

I think you may need to look at a Football game rather than baseball if you're going in October. We've been twice in October and, from memory, this tends to be when the play-offs take place including the World Series (the final).

Football tends to be the winter sport and baseball the summer one.

Means there won't be many baseball games and unlikely to be in the Orlando area.

Closest NFL team is Tampa Bay Bucs and the NFL season will be in full swing in October. Try googling the Bucs but I think Bucs tickets are very popular and might be difficult to get a hold of.

Garry

I second what Garry said. Tampa is closest but when I looked for tickets they were so expensive so we went to see the Jacksonville Jaguars instead. We'd never been to any sporting game before and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. DH got sunburnt kneecaps

Our tickets cost £80 including shipping to Scotland and were for the 4 of us. Section 408, Row C, Seats 6, 7 8 & 9. Every time the Jaguars scored fireworks were set off from above the scoreboard, there was a guy sitting on a chair on top of the scoreboard whose job it was to set them off!

Atmosphere was great, crowd were very enthusiastic and well behaved, a guy gave our kids some popcorn vouchers and the food and drink were plentiful and everywhere. There were breaks in the game where there would then be competitions to win cars and food for a year and stuff, great fun.

DH just commented on the cheerleaders

We stayed overnight at The Omni in Jacksonville (£160 for one night and not worth the money, might have been if breakfast was included!).

Definitely worth it and will be going again for sure.

 

[Goofyish]

You probably won't see any baseball in October - the regular season finishes in September for tthe the play-offs, with the World Series in October.

 

[dennis99ss]

As mentioned, October is the end of the baseball season. There are games in Tampa during the first four days of the month. After that the playoffs and world series take place. The last three games for tampa ar against the yankees, so expect a crowd. You can check the schedules out at mlb.com. The closest will be tampa bay rays, second would be florida marlins in miami. For regular season games, you can probably still get tickets direct, and not through a broker. On the schedule on mlb.com there is a "t" which will direct you to the website to purchase tickets. The tickets can be emailed so no shipping. If you want to go to playoffs/world series, expect to pay between US200-US1000 per seat. World series will start about US1500 and up.

For football, the schedules are not final yet, but there will probably be two games, at least, in tampa, two games at least in miami and two games at least in jacksonville during October. Games are mainly on Sunday afternoons, but, there is one game a week on Thursday, Sunday and Monday evening. Tickets to the nfl are most likely sold out, and your best bet might be stubhub.com.

There is also college football which will take place in October, and you can find games in Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa, Miami, and just about anywhere there is a college. College games are on Saturday.

The atmosphere is different for each type of game. Baseball is a very laid back, slow experience. A very "genteel" atmosphere, interrupted by the game. College games are big parties surrounding the game. NFL games are a little of both, as the atmosphere is very party oriented, and rabid, but not quite as rabid as the college games are.

If you are going, stop by Bodeans or some other restaurant that has American Football, or baseball, and you will get a feel of what the fans will be like,(albeit in a very small setting) and, get an idea of what the rules are, etc. I would think anybody watching the game would be more than happy to explain it to you.

For the most part, the fans are friendly and courteous. You should have no problem bringing the kids.

 

[Camac]

My DH and DD (19) went to see a football game whilst we were there in December 08. They saw Florida State University play Wisconsin at the Rose Bowl in downtown Orlando, a very easy drive 20 minutes or so down the I4). They thoroughly enjoyed the experience, as mentioned before it was very family orientated with special family seating areas if required. They sat in regular seats but were still surrounded by very friendly families supporting both teams.

The pre match and half time entertainment was great with very young local children playing an exhibition game, marching bands, cheerleaders etc. They were very taken with the Florida State mascot - a Native American Indian (in full rig) riding his horse and carrying a flaming spear which he threw down as a challenge in front of the other team (Wisconsin's mascot was a beaver - just not in the same league!).

They ate hotdogs and bought the sweatshirts and throughly enjoyed the whole event - be warned it does take a long time to play a whole game - approx 4 hours what with all the stoppages but a great experience.

Tickets can be bought on line and there was a discount for families with younger children.

 

[wickesy]

For football, the schedules are not final yet, but there will probably be two games, at least, in tampa,

The Bucs are playing at Wembley on 25th October and if they get a bye week the week before there could only be one game at Tampa in October this year.