With major sporting events taking place worldwide on a scheduled basis, there are more opportunities than ever to see your favorite team or sport play. However, with the increase in media coverage, social media, live sports channels, and streaming sites, there are also more opportunities than ever to watch from home.
So, is there any point in attending live sporting events? Many people are concerned over the rise in violence and racism in some sports, such as English football. The increased cost of attending sporting events also has to be considered.
In addition to the cost of the ticket, which has increased for most sports in recent years, there is the cost of travel, accommodation, food, and clothes if the event is not close to home. With all of these costs in mind, it can be an expensive experience to go to a sporting event.
However, that is not to say that there are no benefits to attending a sporting event in person. Below, we look at the benefits of attending live sporting events rather than watching at home and how to make the most of the events you are traveling to.
The Atmosphere
The first thing most people will think of when they think of live sports is the atmosphere within the stadium or arena they visit to watch. The crowds, music, cheering, and general buzz created by fans with a common love or interest for a team or sport is something that cannot be matched at home.
While some may be uncertain of this if they do not like crowds, the atmosphere of a sporting event is the main draw for many. The chants at English football matches are legendary, with teams having their own songs and chants that echo around the stadiums during each match.
Although football has a long history of violence in the UK, it is the minority of fans who will partake in this violence, and it is now a rare occurrence during a match. Police and stewards, inside and outside the football grounds, are vigilant for any violence and proactive about protecting matchgoers.
The situation is the same for all sporting events, with police present to ensure that all attendees are safe and can enjoy their time at the event without worry.
Memorabilia
For those who are collectors of memorabilia, attending a sporting event is an excellent opportunity to add to their collection. An Arsenal v Liverpool ticket for a cup match or final is something that collectors or fans would want to keep. LFC vs AFC tickets from key games may also be worth money in the future. See ticket compare Liverpool vs Arsenal match tickets for amazing offers
Many fans who attend sporting events may also keep other items from the event or purchase items within the grounds. While some will buy items simply to make a profit in the future, others will be interested in keeping items from special sporting events for the memories they evoke.
Memories
While you may be able to evoke memories with the memorabilia you purchase while at a sporting event, that is nothing in comparison to the memories you will have. Whether this is seeing your team win their first game of the season or taking your child to their first baseball game, they are memories that will not hold the same weight if you watch from home.
Additionally, major events such as the football World Cup or The Olympic Games may only occur in your country once in your lifetime. So, attending these events on home soil are memories that will last a lifetime and may never be able to be replicated.
If they get the opportunity to attend a major sporting event in their home country, many sports fans will take that opportunity regardless of the ticket price. The cost of traveling to an event within their home country will often be significantly less than traveling abroad, especially if they can attend the event and get home on the same day.
Incorporate the Event
When it comes to making the most of the sporting events that are available to you, it may be possible to incorporate them into a holiday. If you are traveling abroad for a sporting event, you could take a city break and see some of the sights while you are there.
There are many ways to make the most of the time that you are spending at a sporting event, especially if the event is on a weekend. By taking a day or two off work on either side of the weekend, you can extend your trip to enjoy time abroad with friends, a partner, or alone.
If you are paying for a hotel to attend the event, you may find that the nights before and after the event will be cheaper, so you can extend your stay. Hotels will generally be more expensive when sporting events are in progress, but the cost may be less noticeable when spread over a multiple-night stay.
Alternatively, you could incorporate a trip you are already doing, either for business or leisure, and check to see if there are any sporting events nearby while you are there. This would reduce the cost of travel and hotel stays as you are there for another reason, leaving only the cost of the event itself as an addition to your trip.
Take Time Out to Enjoy Yourself
There are many reasons to take time out from your busy life to do something you enjoy, and sporting events are one of those activities. You may find yourself taking time out after college to follow your team for a summer and see more of the country or world.
Alternatively, you could take an extended break from work to follow your favorite team in the off-season and see more of the world that way. Off-season training, for many sports, is completed abroad and is an excellent excuse to broaden your horizons and visit places you may otherwise never visit.
Regardless of the sport you enjoy, seeing it played out in person is always going to be more memorable than watching it from home. With so many stadiums and arenas now built with accessibility in mind, do not let that be a barrier to enjoying an event in person.
