11-27-2018, 12:37 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-27-2018, 12:38 PM by OutsiderFan.)
I have no real interest attending any live sports event anymore. Reasons:
1. Don't live real close to any teams of which I am a fan (used to be a 20 minute drive from Stanford)
2. The ticket prices are more than I care to pay
3. Can extract myself from a bad game by flipping channels or turning off the TV
4. Miss too many other compelling games when at just one
5. Can do other things around house if watching at home, can pause game, watch my own replays
6. No value-add to make being at games in person compelling
7. Used to be fun yelling with others, but only in packed stadiums; it's like entropy has kicked in, fewer people leading to fewer people
8. Haven't been to as many games as some, but have been to enough to feel "been there, done that"
I mean I have had these experiences and don't feel I am missing too much by not being at games in person:
1. 1981 NFC Championship Game (try topping this)
2. Monday Night Football Niners games in 1980s
3. 1988 AL CS Game when A's clinched pennant vs. Red Sox (can't remember the game number)
4. Colorado at Stanford in 1993 - what a game that was
5. First night game at then Pac Bell Park to see Kevin Elster of all people hit 3 HRs for Dodgers, ushering in the steroid era LOL
6. Candlestick double header against Reds with dad and grandpa, seeing Willie McCovey hit 500th HR
7. Tennessee and Petyton Manning upset at Memphis 1996 (there for Grad School)
8. A Warriors game with Run TMC against Phoenix Suns when Coliseum rocked in 1992
9. 2006 at Knoxville to see Cal get creamed by Tennessee
10. 2007 Tennessee at Cal when Cal clobbered Tennessee
11. Oregon at Cal in 2006 when DeSean Jackson went wild
12. USC at Stanford in 2000 when Chris Lewis won game on 4th and 20 TD pass on last play of game (led to Pete Carroll hiring)
13. UCLA at Stanford 1999 when I called the 98 yd TD pass to Troy Walters to my friend at the game, when they lined up to snap
14. Arizona at Stanford in 2010 to see Andrew Luck beat Nick Foles
15. Oregon State at Cal in 2007, the game Kevin Riley ran out the clock when Cal could have been #1 the next day
16. Seeing Matt Williams and Barry Bonds hit back to back HRs in game last year at the Stick
17. Cal getting crushed by Syracuse a MSG several years ago
18. Niners lose to Vikings in 1987 NFC Playoff
19. Niners beat Giants in 1995 NFC Playoff Ricky Watters scores 5 TDs
20. Washington at Stanford in 2000 the day Curtis Williams was paralyzed and Stanford gave up a 34 second TD drive to lose, even after taking lead following two straight onside kick recoveries...
I could add a few more, but just wanted to make the point that mid 40s guy may have already seen enough games in person to not feel compelled to attend more. If you factor in my attitude and that young kids don't really have a passion for going to games, its no wonder attendance is plummeting across pro and virtually pro college sports.
1. Don't live real close to any teams of which I am a fan (used to be a 20 minute drive from Stanford)
2. The ticket prices are more than I care to pay
3. Can extract myself from a bad game by flipping channels or turning off the TV
4. Miss too many other compelling games when at just one
5. Can do other things around house if watching at home, can pause game, watch my own replays
6. No value-add to make being at games in person compelling
7. Used to be fun yelling with others, but only in packed stadiums; it's like entropy has kicked in, fewer people leading to fewer people
8. Haven't been to as many games as some, but have been to enough to feel "been there, done that"
I mean I have had these experiences and don't feel I am missing too much by not being at games in person:
1. 1981 NFC Championship Game (try topping this)
2. Monday Night Football Niners games in 1980s
3. 1988 AL CS Game when A's clinched pennant vs. Red Sox (can't remember the game number)
4. Colorado at Stanford in 1993 - what a game that was
5. First night game at then Pac Bell Park to see Kevin Elster of all people hit 3 HRs for Dodgers, ushering in the steroid era LOL
6. Candlestick double header against Reds with dad and grandpa, seeing Willie McCovey hit 500th HR
7. Tennessee and Petyton Manning upset at Memphis 1996 (there for Grad School)
8. A Warriors game with Run TMC against Phoenix Suns when Coliseum rocked in 1992
9. 2006 at Knoxville to see Cal get creamed by Tennessee
10. 2007 Tennessee at Cal when Cal clobbered Tennessee
11. Oregon at Cal in 2006 when DeSean Jackson went wild
12. USC at Stanford in 2000 when Chris Lewis won game on 4th and 20 TD pass on last play of game (led to Pete Carroll hiring)
13. UCLA at Stanford 1999 when I called the 98 yd TD pass to Troy Walters to my friend at the game, when they lined up to snap
14. Arizona at Stanford in 2010 to see Andrew Luck beat Nick Foles
15. Oregon State at Cal in 2007, the game Kevin Riley ran out the clock when Cal could have been #1 the next day
16. Seeing Matt Williams and Barry Bonds hit back to back HRs in game last year at the Stick
17. Cal getting crushed by Syracuse a MSG several years ago
18. Niners lose to Vikings in 1987 NFC Playoff
19. Niners beat Giants in 1995 NFC Playoff Ricky Watters scores 5 TDs
20. Washington at Stanford in 2000 the day Curtis Williams was paralyzed and Stanford gave up a 34 second TD drive to lose, even after taking lead following two straight onside kick recoveries...
I could add a few more, but just wanted to make the point that mid 40s guy may have already seen enough games in person to not feel compelled to attend more. If you factor in my attitude and that young kids don't really have a passion for going to games, its no wonder attendance is plummeting across pro and virtually pro college sports.