Sporting event attendance declining? wondering why?

[Colleen27]

As others have said, it is a combination of a lot of things. I've more or less lost interest in sports and there are three really big factors that I can put my finger on:

1) Prices are through the roof at the same time the experience has declined, with more advertising, more rules, more security checks, longer lines, etc. I could probably stomach one or the other; I don't really shy away from spending money on things I enjoy. But when ticket prices double but half the concessions are closed so getting a beer means missing three innings and I can't even carry my phone and wallet comfortably because of a no-bags rule, it just isn't a good time.

2) Sports in general have gotten harder for me to enjoy as the economics of the game have changed to focus so much on the destructive and addictive online sports books, odds, beating the spread, etc. You can't even watch ESPN now without seeing the betting odds for various games on the screen crawl and every other commercial is for some online betting site. And if I'm not following my team from home, I'm less likely to get excited enough to want to get tickets to see them in person.

3) Frankly, my attention span isn't what it once was and all the senseless (from the POV of the live fan) breaks in sporting events to accommodate the demands of commercials in television broadcasts have slowed the pace to the point where I just don't stay engaged. I think that's the single biggest reason I still attend a ton of concerts, despite similar pricing trends, but have almost completely stopped attending sporting events. There's just so much filler now because play can't resume until the advertisers have gotten their time.

... and actually, there's a 4) as well. I'm largely appalled by the behavior of people, post-pandemic, and find myself becoming more selective about which large-group settings I'm willing to brave. And in my experience, sports fans tend to be drunker and more obnoxious than concert-goers, at least in the genres I prefer. So that factors in too.

 

[shh]

For me, it’s the people attending usually. We went to Martina McBride’s Christmas concert in December in Saginaw. The woman beside me played on her phone most of the time. And two women behind me wouldn’t stop talking. I don’t enjoy paying $$ and not be able to fully enjoy the concert. Oh, and the man sitting beside DH desperately needed a shower.

What about the ones that sing at the top of their lungs off key right next to you or behind you, so that you can't even hear the performer? Between "service" fees and rude attendees, I'm a big ole' HECK NO on concerts these days. Used to love them when I was younger and less crankier.

 

[MamaLema]

For us it’s all about price increases

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

What about the ones that sing at the top of their lungs off key right next to you or behind you, so that you can't even hear the performer? Between "service" fees and rude attendees, I'm a big ole' HECK NO on concerts these days. Used to love them when I was younger and less crankier.

Isn't that the point of going to concerts? Being able to sing along with the person you're there for?

I mean of course not all concerts are meant for that but a good amount are. What a boring time it would be if you couldn't sing along?

We went to Garth in 2017 and he most def. wants everyone to sing along, get into it. Lot of performers do.

I mean let me shell out hundreds of dollars to what? Be quiet?? For that I could just stay at home and watch YouTube lol

 

[Disneylover99]

What about the ones that sing at the top of their lungs off key right next to you or behind you, so that you can't even hear the performer? Between "service" fees and rude attendees, I'm a big ole' HECK NO on concerts these days. Used to love them when I was younger and less crankier.

That would probably annoy me if I could hear them. But I can’t.
I find the performers themselves way too loud these days.
I enjoyed an Alice Cooper concert about a month ago with ear plugs in. Lol.

 

[SteveH]

I've pretty much walked away from all "professional" sports due to the behaviors, and lack of discipline ruins it for me. Plus, to be honest the standing for the flag was the last straw for me. I've yet to watch more then a couple minutes of any game, or follow any teams.

Since college has become "professional" now with the whole "Name Image Likeness" ordeal - that ruined it for me and stopped donations to my college and may go to a game occasionally to be with friends, but won't be anything like it used to be.

I still go out to our local minor league baseball game, as long as they focus on the game I'll keep going. It's still fun and I don't pay an arm and a leg or get politics shoved in my face.

As other said the Covid rules that made no sense plus out of control costs to pay millionaires to play a game then lecture me... well I'm done. Giving up Football on the weekends gave me a lot more time for other things, still have no regrets.

 

[Southernmiss]

Isn't that the point of going to concerts? Being able to sing along with the person you're there for?

I mean of course not all concerts are meant for that but a good amount are. What a boring time it would be if you couldn't sing along?

We went to Garth in 2017 and he most def. wants everyone to sing along, get into it. Lot of performers do.

I mean let me shell out hundreds of dollars to what? Be quiet?? For that I could just stay at home and watch YouTube lol

We saw Garth (and Trisha) in Baton Rouge last night.

Record breaking concert (for many reasons) Garth encouraged the 102, 000 fans - kids, young adults, and middle-aged folks to sing. Most everyone knew all his songs and the extra songs of other artists that he did just because he's that kind of entertainer.

He thrived on the response from the audience.

Tickets and concessions were expensive. But many people have said the entire experience was well worth every last penny.
We only know his greatest hits, but we were blown away by his crowd interaction, appreciation for the crowd, and his overall class act performance. Truly a legendary entertainer.

If you get a chance, look up videos and Garth's twitter comments from the concert. Worth the time.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

The cost. I live in chicago. The cost of decent tickets to the cubs, bulls and black hawks is ridiculous. We have a 10 game pack to white sox games that are reasonable cost.

We have a blackhawks fan in the family. She comes down here to watch them for about 1/10th of what she'd have to pay in Chicago.

 

[Nayan]

Sports are a pretty big deal between my friends and I, but we prefer to watch big events together at one of our homes instead of going for some of the reasons already posted. Cheaper and no waiting for food/drinks/bathroom.

 

[jujubiee4]

I think it depends on a couple of factors. We are a four sports family. If our
teams are strong we go and still see pretty full stadiums. My husband went to 3 NFL playoff
games (2 out of town). One I went with him. Exciting but being around 50k screaming people not
sure I will do it again.

Now that my team is in NHL playoffs we and some friends just got tickets. Because of rising costs
and traffic and obnoxious fans the days of going "just to go" are gone. If we are going to put
up with that stuff it will be in the playoffs. Otherwise I much prefer to watch in comfort of home.

***Also I have friends and family from other states that have swore off their local teams because
of garbage owners that don't reinvest in the teams or do the bare minimum to be competitive.
Yet expect people to spend their hard earned dollars on tickets.

 

[kymom99]

I worked at a Jason Andean concert. I’m not a country music fan but my friend worked at the venue and they needed extra help. They audience was into it, but towards the end many were passed out. I can’t see spending all that money to end up not being able to walk at the end.

When I was a kid, my softball coach worked for 5/3. They were sponsors of the Cincinnati reds at the time and he got a lot of free tickets. He would give them to us as prizes at the end of the season party. We also got straight A tickets. It was a big deal. This is why we got to go. My parents wouldn’t have been able to buy us tickets, even back in the 70s.

 

[RedAngie]

We have a blackhawks fan in the family. She comes down here to watch them for about 1/10th of what she'd have to pay in Chicago.

Donde??

I was pleasantly surprised how relatively inexpensive Florida Panthers NHL tickets were.

I think the Toronto Maple Leafs have the highest average prices (CAN$ to US$). For a team that likely will get kicked out in the first round. Again.

 

[mumto3girls]

We saw Garth (and Trisha) in Baton Rouge last night.

Record breaking concert (for many reasons) Garth encouraged the 102, 000 fans - kids, young adults, and middle-aged folks to sing. Most everyone knew all his songs and the extra songs of other artists that
he did just because he's that kind of entertainer.

He thrived on the response from the audience.

Tickets and concessions were expensive. But many people have said the entire experience was well worth every last penny.
We only know his greatest hits, but we're blown away by his crowd interaction, appreciation for the crowd, and his overall class act performance. Truly a legendary entertainer.

If you get a chance, look up videos and Garth's twitter comments from the concert. Worth the time.

We went to see Garth in concert a few years ago. My husband really really likes him and his music. I am not a country music fan, but went because my husband wanted to go. Not only were the tickets super reasonable, the show was fantastic. By the time the show was over, I still didn’t truly like country music, but I became a Garth Brooks fan.

 

[EACarlson]

I still go out to our local minor league baseball game, as long as they focus on the game I'll keep going. It's still fun and I don't pay an arm and a leg or get politics shoved in my face.

This, I will take my kids to a couple Minor League Baseball games this year, and I will usually go to a couple of minor league or junior hockey games. But I doubt I'll ever see the inside of an NFL stadium again, maybe to take my mother since she's never been. My local NBA owner is running for the US Senate, talking about everything the team has done for the community and how great their new arena is, ignoring the fact that taxpayers paid for 3/4 of it and did all those things.

 

[Colleen27]

We saw Garth (and Trisha) in Baton Rouge last night.

Record breaking concert (for many reasons) Garth encouraged the 102, 000 fans - kids, young adults, and middle-aged folks to sing. Most everyone knew all his songs and the extra songs of other artists that
he did just because he's that kind of entertainer.

He thrived on the response from the audience.

Tickets and concessions were expensive. But many people have said the entire experience was well worth every last penny.
We only know his greatest hits, but we're blown away by his crowd interaction, appreciation for the crowd, and his overall class act performance. Truly a legendary entertainer.

If you get a chance, look up videos and Garth's twitter comments from the concert. Worth the time.

I have a friend who was at that same show and shared an incredible video of him performing Calling Baton Rouge. The energy in that stadium was unbelievable! I saw him in Detroit when he first came out of retirement and he put on a great show in a venue 1/3 the size of that stadium, but that clip from last night was next level.

 

[Southernmiss]

I have a friend who was at that same show and shared an incredible video of him performing Calling Baton Rouge. The energy in that stadium was unbelievable! I saw him in Detroit when he first came out of retirement and he put on a great show in a venue 1/3 the size of that stadium and he put on an amazing show, but that clip from last night was next level.

The energy from Calling Baton Rouge caused a small earthquake and reaction on the seismigraph on campus at about 9:25 last night.

It was absolutely incredible and that energy between Garth and the fans was palpable and sustained the entire concert.

The interaction for the Dance, Unanswered Prayers. Low Places, Thunder Rolls, all of his songs and then songs requested by George Strait, Randy Travis, Billy Joel, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, American Pie, was consistent and all night long.

He ended the concert with interaction with a lady undergoing chemo-Wow!

He hired a female LSU student as a roadie while on campus.

All around just incredible stuff.

I have been rewatching videos that I took and each time I closed my camera I had to get it back out and take another video. Just so good that I wanted to remember everything.

My sister was at the concert in Orlando last month (she's a big fan) and has watched and rewatched my videos all day, too.

 

[Sinder]

In the past we have gone to quite a few MLB and NBA games, even a few MLS games too.
Then it dawned on me that it’s kind of ridiculous to pay the insane prices to sit and watch other people doing stuff.
At least at a concert you can sing and dance and feel like your a part of the experience. At a sporting event you are just watching a bunch of people playing. I can do that at home for free.

ETA We have a minor league baseball team here and going there is a great experience. The tickets are reasonable, the food isn’t too expensive and they do alot to make the fans feel like part of the experience. I don’t feel that way when I go to any “major” sports event regardless of the sport

 

[RangerPooh]

Cost. Plus there’s no teams/sports I want to spend money on in my area.

Every other year I’ll pay $10/ticket to watch the minor league baseball team play as part of a scouting event. That’s it.

 

[Darcy03231]

For us its the cost. While we can afford it, we don't find the value. Between the cost of the tickets and parking it makes for an expensive evening out. We'd rather spend our money on travel.

 

[MillauFr]

Looks like only 3,700 turned out at the A's game the other day.