The price you pay to attend a sporting event.

[bobjustbob]

What events do you do on a regular basis? Special events can be costly but are they worth it? Has the rising costs driven you away from attending some of them as often as you used to? Are their bargains out there? Is it worth it for the premium seats or season ticketing? Share your experiences and attendance habits.

 

[Rey C.]

Auto races are the only sporting events I attend these days. The prices vary by a wide margin. The F1 race in Austin will set you back about $1200 for a 3 day weekend pass in the main grandstand's "Club Level" to $169 for a general admission 3 day pass. If you want to drive and park at the track, that's another $200 for a 3 day parking pass. I have no idea what paddock access would cost for this or any F1 race. Probably best to bring along your first born son just in case the price exceeds the credit limit on your Mastercard though. But F1 is the most expensive series to attend. I'll probably attend the Petit Le Mans sports car race at Road Atlanta this year and a few other sports car races at VIR. Those are usually less than $100 for 3 day tickets. I used to live for CART IndyCar races... til the IRL came on the scene and fucked it all up (someone remind me to cut Tony George's balls off when we're both in Hell). You could get crazy with extras (paddock access, club memberships, pace car rides, merchandise, etc.), but most of the time those races ran about $200 for decent seats and paddock passes for 3 days. When my company was a sponsor, I could get into CART races and some Trans Am races for free. I really, really, really miss those days. No matter what you paid, it was so much fun.

As for bargains, I think that NHRA and IHRA drag races are the most affordable for what you get. You get to see tons and tons of races and you get a chance to meet the racers and see how they work on their cars for a very good price. Problem is, I'm not a huge drag racing fan.

Pals of mine that are baseball, football and basketball fans tell me that the prices have definitely had an affect on how many games they attend these days. They say MLB baseball is just outrageous now. And even college football is crazy if the team is a Division 1 upper tier team. IMO, it's too bad that a dad (a good average guy, not a hedge fund vulture with money to burn) might want to take his kid to some baseball or football games but he can no longer afford it.

 

[STDiva]

Living so close to Detroit I go to a lot of games there. Comerica, Joe Louis and Ford Field are just a few minute walk from the border.

I go to about 30 Tiger games a year. It's definitely the cheapest at about $15-$20 per game. Sometimes it's standing room, sometimes its deep right field. It's a good park so no bad seats.

I try to go to a couple Lions games a year, especially if the Niners are in town. They are a bit pricier at $75-$150 depending on your seat. Lower bowl 50 yard line is usually $100 or so.

Wings games are the most expensive out of the three. A marquee matchup will set you back $130 for a mediocre seat.

Pistons play a bit further from the border so unless the Lakers are playing, I dont bother heading out there. Nobody want to watch the Pistons sober so they can drive home. Tickets for the Lakers are about $100. I'm sure Charlotte And Milwaukee are much cheaper.

 

[zeeblofowl_1969]

I'm a Portland Trailblazers season ticket holder and my seats are $45 each.

 

[feller469]

I am not boycotting the major sports leagues here in the US but I will rarely attend an event. Went to a Tampa Bay Rays game a couple years ago and was sickened by the money grab that went on. Everywhere I went there was someone trying to get me to pull out my wallet. Shitty food is ridiculously overpriced and so are the drinks. I just wanted to watch a baseball game, but be bothered every 20 minutes by someone wanting me to buy something, especially those fucks who wanted me to buy something to "remember the moment."

 

[Mr_Stiffy]

I go to White Hart Lane to see Spurs. It involves a 3 hour drive so my mate that I go with, I usually buy the tickets, he drives - I don't give him any petrol money and he doesn't pay me for his ticket. We usually sit in the Park Lane lower which while cheap is also where the noisiest fans are. We tend to go to Category B games (£36) and the occasionally category C (£31) although there aren't many of those. So the average cost to me per trip is £72 for our tickets then whatever else I spend. Usually £10 for a drink on the way down the motorway and some food outside or inside the ground.

The most I have paid for a game is when we went to the North London derby demand was thus that we had to take what tickets we could get - I was in East stand upper and my mate West stand upper (the family stands) so my ticket was £71 and his £81. He did buy my food next time went down, unprompted. I'd still say it was worth the money, although I don't know if I 'd say that had we not won the match. Something tribal about walking past their lot shuffling home singing "North London is OUUUUUURS.... FUCK OFF BACK TO WOOLWICH, NORTH LONDON IS OURS!"

This season, not so much.

 

[Ace Bandage]

Our Indy 500 tickets are $120 each, but Dad still picks up the tab for those. If I could only attend one event a year this would be it. No question, it's my favorite day of the year.

I'll pay $10-$15 for bleacher seats at Wrigley a few times a year. I'll pay $100 for good Blackhawks tickets once or twice a year. Hockey is the best sport to see in person, hands down.

I have been to one Colts game in my life. Tickets are outrageous, and I can watch every fucking game at home in my living room. I haven't gone to a Pacers game since #31 retired. I used to have season tickets to Purdue basketball and football games when I was in school, but I don't anymore. They're been terrible in both sports recently, yet tickets prices have gone up. Fuck you, I'm not paying more money to watch my alma mater suck ass.

 

[pluggs999]

I live about an hour and a half from Cincinnati so I only go to about 3-5 Reds games a year. Tickets usually run me between $20-$45 depending on where we sit.

 

[bobjustbob]

Interesting contributions from you folks. A pretty wide range of habits and experiences. One thing is for certain, the market charges what the market will bear. When the Knicks play you can't get in there for less than $150. How do they sell out this place every night for over 40 years without championship stock on the floor? It's the place to be seen. Football is just as ridiculous. Part of this may be that there is no college presence in my area for any sport. Rutgers is nearby but 60 bucks for me to see them play Howard isn't getting me into my car. I used to go to Met games where $50 would get you a decent seat at Shea. They recently started dropping the prices on their new stadium and maybe I'll go to a game or two.

$18 gets me round trip to Monmouth Park on the train with admission and program included. I've got the best seat in the house with my lawn chair and cooler full of snacks and booze. It's a different kind of experience going to the track rather than betting at home or OTB. Maybe even a reverse of going to a game compared to watching it on TV. I kick back and just enjoy the place. People watch and take walks. I'll bet a few bucks but no pressure to win.

I'm not far from Belmont Park so I've been to the stakes many times. Never seen a Triple Crown winner but it's been pretty close a couple of times. It's only 10 bucks to walk in though it's a gamble booking seats. Early good seats are less than $100 and VIP can be gotten for under $500. That's the risk. Book before the Kentucky Derby and you are solid. If the Derby winner doesn't win the Preakness then your Belmont buy isn't worth shit. Just half a crowd watching another race. When the Derby winner wins the Preakness then your tickets are like gold. Those tickets go to 2k+. The VIP is open bar, food, reserved seat at a table, and trackside patio. Very different from your auto racing events in that the main event is only 2 1/2 minutes but the party is 7 hours long.

 

[D-rock]

I'm of the opinion that other than a few times in one's life a person does it just for the experience going to a professional sporting event is not worth the cost and hassle. It's much cheaper, and lets face it, you get a much better view of the action on television. I can't think of too many reasons to go to them other than somebody really liking the experience of it or wanting the bragging rights of being there.

 

[Jagger69]

Since my Aeros were bullied out of Houston by Les Alexander, I have not attended any Houston sporting event. I subscribe to hockeystreams.com, MLBTV.com and NFL Sunday Ticket so I get all of my sports fixes sitting right on my couch where the food and beer are cheap and the bathroom is all mine.

 

[Rey C.]

Jagger, I know you live in Texas. I thought I might go to the Austin F1 race as an "atta boy" gift to myself in October. But no hotel rooms are to be had within 20 miles of the joint. Any chance I could sleep in your living room... over in the corner... next to the dog? I don't snore, don't eat much and I'm semi-housebroken. Pleeeease!

I'm hearing that as many as 200K people might be there. No wonder I can't find a room!

 

[Jagger69]

Jagger, I know you live in Texas. I thought I might go to the Austin F1 race as an "atta boy" gift to myself in October. But no hotel rooms are to be had within 20 miles of the joint. Any chance I could sleep in your living room... over in the corner... next to the dog? I don't snore, don't eat much and I'm semi-housebroken. Pleeeease!

I'm hearing that as many as 200K people might be there. No wonder I can't find a room!

Sorry Rey but the wife says no way can anyone associated with this forum enter our premises under any circumstances. No personal offense meant, just protocol. You understand. However, I do have a hammock on my patio that you are welcome to use (might want to bring plenty of your own mosquito repellant) and even though you can't use our bathroom I would be willing to make special arrangements with the Valero station down the street just for you. Glad to assist. I mean, what are friends for??

Actually, I have heard that it will be perhaps the biggest event to hit the state capital this year (even bigger that the S X SW Music Festival). The only advice I can offer is to look off to the east or west of the city. I have usually found rooms there when everything else is booked. Most people want to stay on the beaten path and that means I-35. Be willing to stray into the hinterlands a bit and you should be able to find something. Should be worth it. Good luck!

 

[Chopper3000]

Manchester United - 2nd Tier of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand I pay £45 ($76) per Premier League game. A bargain really.

 

[Rey C.]

Sorry Rey but the wife says no way can anyone associated with this forum enter our premises under any circumstances. No personal offense meant, just protocol. You understand. However, I do have a hammock on my patio that you are welcome to use (might want to bring plenty of your own mosquito repellant) and even though you can't use our bathroom I would be willing to make special arrangements with the Valero station down the street just for you. Glad to assist. I mean, what are friends for??

Actually, I have heard that it will be perhaps the biggest event to hit the state capital this year (even bigger that the S X SW Music Festival). The only advice I can offer is to look off to the east or west of the city. I have usually found rooms there when everything else is booked. Most people want to stay on the beaten path and that means I-35. Be willing to stray into the hinterlands a bit and you should be able to find something. Should be worth it. Good luck!

I'm cool with the back yard! As for a bathroom, as long as your neighbors have some bushes or high shrubs, I'll be fine.

Austin is an area that I've never been to - really don't know my way around. I don't want to rent a car with that kind of crowd, so I was going to rely on a hotel with a shuttle service to the track. Seems like everybody else had that idea too... starting the day after last year's race. Damn!

Next year I may check with Grand Prix Tours. I used to use them when I was going to lots of CART IndyCar races way back when. They still have a 3 day package available for the U.S. GP (these tour operators buy up a lot of the stock on these kinds of weekends!), staying at the Marriott South for $1600 per person (NOT including the race tickets!!! ).

 

[rivasky]

What events do you do on a regular basis?

I attend WTA tennis tournaments. I know some of the players quite well, so I get a free pass for the week. Next off to Birmingham in early June.

 

[STDiva]

I'm of the opinion that other than a few times in one's life a person does it just for the experience going to a professional sporting event is not worth the cost and hassle. It's much cheaper, and lets face it, you get a much better view of the action on television. I can't think of too many reasons to go to them other than somebody really liking the experience of it or wanting the bragging rights of being there.

This thread may interest you.

http://board.freeones.com/showthread.php?662447-Sports-exhilaration-gap

 

[E-Ann-Hilden]

Detroit Lions at the new and improved, but more expensive variable pricing level! $120, $100 and $35, Close to the numbers, but still racks it up every year for the elusive playoff win since the 90's. We also had to pre-pay for the Lions playoff tickets last year, which did not happen! LOL GO LIONS! Tigers, Red Wings, i just buy off stubhub or on the open market...