The Great Debate: Attending a Game vs. Watching One on TV

[bicker]

Even with the best home theater setup, you don't get the experience, the sense of being part of the community.

Indeed, for example: Rowdy strangers aren't going to rudely impose their personal interpretation of fun all over your jacket.

Getting closer to the stadium, the tension builds,

"Will my car get keyed while I'm watching the game? Is Junior going to whine the whole time because I didn't buy him a foam finger?"

the hopes are high when you see others wearing the team colors, converging on the stadium.

Actually, you get that at home when your buddies walk in the door.

A little bit of tailgating and kibbitzing will really get you in the mood.

And everyone knows that a charcoal portable hibachi cooks better than the super-premium charcoal grill you have on your back porch.

(And so on... you get the point. It is a different experience. For some people it will be better. For other people it will be worse.)

 

[Golf4food]

In December 1996 I was able to take my father with me to the last Jaguars game of the season against Atlanta in the Jaguars' second year of existence - got a pair of tickets from our neighbors who were out of town. I had been to a few NFL games, but my dad never had. They were in the back half of the top section on the end of the upper level - not great seats and certainly you could see more at home on a TV. The game goes along and the Jaguars are holding a two point lead 19-17 at the end of the game with Atlanta driving down the field into field goal range. With second left on the clock they line up for a chip-shot field goal with a hall of fame kicker. Fans start leaving the stadium. The rest of us sit despondently awaiting the inevitable. The snap, the kick... he pulled it! No good! Jaguars win! And make the playoffs! The crowd goes nuts. Everyone on their feet, hugging strangers all around them, high fiving, jumping up and down, etc. I will always have that special memory of that moment with my father.

You can't get that at home on a TV.