Is Going To The Game Worth It?

[Fins4ever]

This topic was spun off from some excellent points that Brian F. brought up in another thread. He talks about being "squeezed out" of his season tickets through price increases and baking in the sun to watch them lose while being surrounded by 40K fans for the opposition.

When you consider the price of the ticket, parking, food and such, it becomes a very expensive day. Is it worth it? Seriously, only a true fan would even ask the question and consider going.  Here is my take...

Everyone should go at least once just for the experience.

The best part is the camaraderie for me. Tailgating!!! 

Other than the experience and hanging out, I would rather watch it at home. We make a big deal out of it and I even have different game day menus. The wife and I cook ahead of time and watch every game, win or lose! Even invested over 5 grand for an awesome home theater system, mainly just for the Fins games.

The sad part is it is just the 2 of us. When I first moved to AZ. last year I got all "garbed up" in Dolphin stuff and headed to the towns biggest sports bar. I was hoping to find another Fin fan. The place was packed with Cards, Packer, Stealers and Cowboys. Not another aqua hat in the place. I left at 1/2 time after watching the Fins game on the smallest TV in the place which was squeezed in a dark corner near the bathrooms. UGH!

[Brian Fein]

One of the worst NFL sunday experiences happened to me last week.  I live in Broward county, in a suburb of Ft. Lauderdale.  It is Dolphins' country...

Or is it?

The wife and I went to Bru's room - a local sports bar chain owned by former Miami Dolphins Bob Brudzinski.  There are three of them locally, and they have great food.  Normally a great atmosphere.  However, on this Sunday, I walked in in my Jake Long jersey expecting to whoop it up with other Dolphins fans - at a bar owned by a former Dolphins player, in south Florida.

Instead, there are 40 or so Giants fans at the bar, and they are slowly convincing the staff to change every TV in the place, as well as the primary audio in the place, to the Giants game.  When asked, the manager said "do you see how many Giants fans there are?  Majority rules..."

I was the only Dolphins fan in the bar.  The Dolphins were on one tv, of the 20 or so they have.  The Giants were on at least 7 or 8 of them.

Granted many people might have been AT the stadium, but the same thing happens there.  Where have all the Dol-fans gone?

As far as going to the game, you read my post in the Jets game thread.  You can stand it 3 hours without food and beer, so if you wanna do it cheap, you can.  Bring your own food and tailgate (still costs but you get 10 hot dogs for $5 instead of 1).  You can park in the nearby neighborhood for cheaper, although that negates the ability to tailgate.  So, if you pay the $25 for parking, which affords you about 4 hours of tailgate time, and the game tickets (cheapest is $53 by my research), then for a couple to go to the game, it costs MINIMUM $131 for 6-7 hours of potential entertainment on a Sunday.  And that's with seats at about 30,000 feet elevation.

Of course, it only qualifies as entertainment if they are winning, or at least competitive.  Seeing them get blown out in front of 25,000 opposing fans is hardly entertaining.  In that case, what did you pay for?

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE going to games.  However, I just can't see myself doing it often.  I refuse to go to the game if I have to sit above row 5 in the upper deck.  I will NOT.  Call me spoiled, but any higher and its just ants running around on the field.  I don't mind the sun - that's Florida and I'm use to it.  I don't mind the wasted Sunday.  I could even turn a blind eye to the money, if it were fun.

But its not fun, and it hasn't been in years.

[Dave Gray]

There's nothing like being at the game.  The atmosphere is great, tailgating is fun, etc.

But you don't need it every week.  If you can get to the game 2-3 times a year (if you live down here), IMO, that's sufficient.  Unless you want to make it a lifestyle...

More than the money (which is considerable) is the time investment.  If you really want to tailgate, you need to get there early by several hours.  Usually, clean-up and leaving takes a while as well.  Add in driving, etc -- it's like a day of work.  And if you're drinking, forget about it...  I went last week, got there early, then came home and passed out sleeping during the 8 PM game on the couch.  The sun and a couple of beers and everything just takes so much out of you.

So, YES, it's fun and worth it once in a while, but there is such a high cost, not only of money, but of time and energy, that it's hard to do regularly.

[Brian Fein]

^^ that said, Dave, if you have other games you don't want to go to (perhaps the Patriots game?) I'll gladly buy them off you.

[Pappy13]

I went last week, got there early, then came home and passed out sleeping during the 8 PM game on the couch.  The sun and a couple of beers and everything just takes so much out of you.

This just sounds like old age. I should know, spending an afternoon with my grandkids has the same effect on me. 

[SportsChick]

^^ that said, Dave, if you have other games you don't want to go to (perhaps the Patriots game?) I'll gladly buy them off you.

Yes, please Dave

[MikeO]

this is slightly off topic but sorta on the issue of "going to games".... if you get a chance catch HBO Real Sports this month (aired this past Tuesday). They talk about violence at games and how the atmosphere at games is keeping people away these days.

Not saying that is the case with you guys obviously and when it comes tothe Fins. But it is amazing what is taking place in the stands at some of these games.

[Brian Fein]

Yes, please Dave

Who invited you?

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

I've been a season ticket holder for a long time. Sat through many rough, losing seasons. For me it is the experience and the atmosphere that I would miss more than anything. Granted when we got the new stadium they jacked my ticket prices up almost double for a team that hadn't had a winning season in a number of years but I paid it anyways. It finally paid off with a couple of playoff years in which they raped us in pricing as well. The NFC championship against the Eagles was the best game I have ever been to hands down. Honestly they could probably double them again and I would go. Yeah I would bitch and complain about it but in the end I would pay it. I love the 3-4 hours of tailgating with the guys, followed by 3 hours of yelling and jackassing around inside the stadium. I love the fans and the bantering (usually friendly) with the opposing fans. I look forward every week they have a home game and start getting antsy around Wednesday. I will be at the game this weekend against the Eagles and I have been thinking all day about what we will be grilling this week.

[Brian Fein]

I should add, since my post reads kind of negatively...

If I had a large group, say 6-12 people, who all went every week and tailgated every week, I'd definitely be more inclined to go.  At that point, the "fun index" increases and it becomes more of a social event.

[bsfins]

this is slightly off topic but sorta on the issue of "going to games".... if you get a chance catch HBO Real Sports this month (aired this past Tuesday). They talk about violence at games and how the atmosphere at games is keeping people away these days.

Not saying that is the case with you guys obviously and when it comes tothe Fins. But it is amazing what is taking place in the stands at some of these games.

Saw it...Curious how it is at Sun life,and especially like this week against the Jets...

For me going to a Dolphins game, I'd never seen so much Dolphin stuff in my life,and that was a game in St. Louis..

[CF DolFan]

I absolutely think going to the game is worth it if you do it right.

Typical going to a game Sunday for me.

Get up at 6:30 and leave by 7:00 am.
Get to stadium by 10:00 am
Tailgate until 12:00 - 12:30
Walk around stadium to see if any exciting exhibit (found the KISS tribute band exciting last week!)
Game from 1:00 - 4:00
mini tailgate until 5 or so
get home at 8:30 -9:00.

It costs me two tanks of gas about $140 right now
2 Tickets are usually between $120 -$240
Parking $25
Tailgate money ?
Concessions $20-$30
Dinner on way home - $25

So I'd say on average it cost me about $400 or so to go to a game. More if I stay the night or donate to the tailgate fund. This means I have to have fun when I go so I always make sure to hook up with people. It's a pretty serious commitment but I love it. It's also why I gave up my tickets. If I'm not having fun it certainly isn't worth it.  


 

[CF DolFan]

Saw it...Curious how it is at Sun life,and especially like this week against the Jets...

For me going to a Dolphins game, I'd never seen so much Dolphin stuff in my life,and that was a game in St. Louis..

I think Miami is pretty opposing fan friendly for the most part. There is always the risk of running into a dummy but you can now report them via text so it gets snuffed out pretty quickly.  I think in Tampa its the same. Maybe it's because us Floridians are used to everyone being from somewhere else?

[MikeO]

I think Miami is pretty opposing fan friendly for the most part. There is always the risk of running into a dummy but you can now report them via text so it gets snuffed out pretty quickly.  I think in Tampa its the same. Maybe it's because us Floridians are used to everyone being from somewhere else?

The worst two stadiums I have seen on opposing fans are Cleveland and Buffalo. Brutal. Brutal to the point that if I had a small child I wouldn't bring them to the game. In those stadiums the NFL Experience isn't family friendly at all.

[el diablo]

I think Miami is pretty opposing fan friendly for the most part. There is always the risk of running into a dummy but you can now report them via text so it gets snuffed out pretty quickly.  I think in Tampa its the same. Maybe it's because us Floridians are used to everyone being from somewhere else?

Talk about hitting the nail on the head. You don't go to Ohio and find a bunch of people from Florida.