By Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor
When it comes to our favourite teams and athletes, no matter how poorly they do, we must stick by them, because thatâs what a good fan does. But sporting events are polarizing experiences: whatever happens, 50 per cent of the spectators will inevitably be disappointed. So, what is the most enjoyable way to view a game, an event, and a championship tournament and still get your moneyâs worth?
Pass: The comfort of a home/bar
For the price of admission, you can throw yourself and your fellow sports fanatics one hell of a house party. Not that you need an excuse, but game nights are the perfect reason to get a good group of friends together. Win or lose, at least you got to spend some quality time with people who share a common interest with you.
I believe that each sport is an art form, but unlike a concert, a theatre performance, or a slam poetry reading, you donât have to be there in person to enjoy it. That is why there are channels dedicated to sport highlights, yet none dedicated to live Shakespearean productions. The same way music can be a backdrop to a party, so too can a sporting event. It might even give you a reason to cheer at the end.
If finances are a problem (theyâre always a problem), then home viewing may just be the obvious choice, but it doesnât make for any less of a spectacle. Bars are also accommodating alternatives. Some even offer incentives on game night: for each goal scored, youâll get a free drink or an opportunity to win a prize at the end of the night. If the odds are with you, your team might not be the only winners.
Fail: Live from the nosebleed section
Who wouldnât want to be there live during a game seven or an Olympic gold medal game? The pandemonium of victory is an exhilarating feeling that cannot be recreated in any other form. Thereâs nothing like 30,000 people cheering for the same reason. But is the frenzy worth it? Personally, I donât think so.
Live games have become a supply-and-demand market, and the price for key games are often raised to an unreasonable price. Just for an example, the price for the Heritage Classic, a regular season game between the Canucks and the Senators played in an outdoor rink at BC Place, start at $104.20 and goes as high as $324.70. Itâs an once-in-a-lifetime experience, itâs a moment youâll remember forever, but mostly itâs a publicity stuntâan obvious gimmickâand itâs a successful one.
Fans take pride in being diehards, and in order to be considered a diehard, one must buy season tickets and attend every game religiously, decked out in authentic apparel. A diehard must be succumbed by the capitalistic culture of the sport, right?
No! Sport is not scientology; if you have more money, that doesnât make you holier or your team better. Sure, the only way to keep the team afloat is to attend the games, thus paying the athletes and their luxurious lifestyle, but thatâs not something the fans should worry aboutâthe fans arenât the marketing team. The fansâ only job is to cheer wholeheartedly, and they can do that with the money in their pocket, at home, with a moderately priced beer in their hands.
