After the last couple games I've gone to it just occurred to me that live sporting events aren't really much fun for me anymore. The first thing is that you can't see much unless you have super expensive tickets. Also it's completely deafening with the music and the loud speaker blasting. Then you throw in some alcoholics who are guzzling like 8 beers during a game and causing trouble. The seats are also really tight and then it's a real pain to fight traffic. Granted you don't get to feel the atmosphere at home, but no one is going to make you throw your water bottle out and you're not going to pay a fortune for food or take a leak in a trough. Am I alone on this or do people still enjoy "the experience"?

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To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

I came to that decision about a month ago. A group of guys is planning on going to the Bears game at Lambeau. Looking into tickets, the minimum is like $250, and then there's a hotel, not to mention taking time off work, etc. I've already been once, and while I enjoyed the experience, paying around $400-500 after all the other nonsense involved just to see the Bears get their butts kicked isn't really appealing to me. I'd be more into going somewhere w/ a cool bar on the premises, doing whatever sort of tailgate stuff is at the bar, then watching it on the television and going to a hotel room to cry myself to sleep due to the Packers greatness. Equally fun, half the price and half the hassle.

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

No, you are not alone. Football is unique in that there are only 16 (18) games, so they have to charge a higher amount, but it is still a hit on the wallet. Football and other sports are targeting business-related customers who are getting a tax deduction and don't care about the higher prices. On top of it, Chicago has the additional impact of the amusement tax. I couldn't justify paying $50+ for Cubs tickets and haven't gone since 2009. I couldn't justify $100+ for SRO at Blackhawks games, so I haven't gone since 2009. On occasion I will get free Sox tickets and don't mind spending the money there because the food is really good. I can get there from the red line easily and the team has been good most years since some time in the eighties. Add on the big screen TV, I see no reason to see a sporting event live. Part of it might also be we are just getting old and cranky.

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Last game I attended was the Kane County Cougars in April, 2011. I am old and cranky but it's more than just that. I just don't want the hassle and blow 200 or more bucks. Nothing beats sitting on your own couch,kicking back and enjoying any kind of game. As far as my money,I prefer ML games. Not as much fun,but you still get the expierience at about 150 bucks cheaper.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

the entrance music is always an adrenaline rush

Bigger games, have more of an appeal.

Also, you have become old. It happens to the best of us. Those drunks next to you, used to be you. They think they are hysterical and so did you 15-20 years ago, now you just think they are asshole kids. Granted there is always the guy swearing at players , who is an asshole at any age.

The $$$ it cost to attend multiple games is ridiculous. Food is twice as much as it would be outside the park $5.00 hotdogs? for $3.75 at Wrigleyville dogs they give me fries too and they prepare it for me. As an example.

Traffic? well, living in the city, between street cleanings, closures, block parties, sewer work, etc. I feel like 30% of the streets I drive on are closed anyways daily.

welcome to life Mini Ditka.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

agree for the most part but you can get around a lot of it...i mean its the same way at the movies re: food....you don't have to gorge on food for a 3 hour period. eat before you go. get loaded before you go if you have to. wrigley is certainly hard to find (free) parking spots by but UC and Cell you can within reason. if you only plan on going to 1 or 2 games a year, then it's probably somewhat justifiable to splurge on those things, but when you say its ridiculous cost to attend multiple games....i guess i think if you are attending multiple games is makes those things a bit less special, i.e. you don't need to eat until your gut bursts every game

I still love going to Baseball games, especially in the out of town ballparks I am visiting for the first time. I find the games I go to each summer at the opposing team's park, are the ones I enjoy most now. Football games are best viewed at home. I'm no fan of sitting in the cold with a long walk to the restroom or to get some food in cold weather. For playoff games, being there in person is by far better.

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Go Cubs!!!!

You make your choices. I like to spend my money at White Sox games. I'm not going to browbeat someone who doesn't. I don't have three big screens. To me that's a waste of money. I don't own a boat. I wouldn't use it enough to justify the expense. You do what you want to do.

But if you have an empty park you need to stop blaming the fans. Give them something they'll pay for or lower the prices. That's your choice as an owner.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down... to get it!

I'm of this opinion as well. Baseball is great family fun. I don't go every homestand but I can go once a month. I cut costs by parking on the street, buying no souveniers, taking advantage of value days and give aways.

Football is outrageous. I buy a season with my family. I take 2-3 games. I'm always open to selling if a market develops and one always develops for the good games. Then I take the family to the bad games and have a great time. We pack sandwiches and eat in the parking lot.

Watching a baseball game on a beautiful summer day/evening with my family is about as close to heaven as I will get in this lifetime.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Yeah, I can't remember the last time I paid to park. But you and I are pretty savvy urban guys who have been to a lot of games over the years. I listen to the radio guys bash the fans for not attending more and they just sound out of touch. Of course, they are out of touch because the vast majority of the time they're on someone else's dime.

You can talk about the half-price Mondays and other promos the Sox offer but there's more to it than that. And the guy who goes to just a game or two a year is being hit in the face by all the nickel and diming. I know what a beer costs at both parks. I'm not shocked. But the really casual fan. Maybe he misses going to a game one season and the next time he returns beer has gone up a buck, parking has gone up three or five bucks, etc. It just chews the little guy up.

And take a guy like Frank. He's a big Sox fan but he's got a lot of other interests. He has to make the call on where he's spending his dough- a new bass, a round of golf, etc, Or Sox games. It's the Sox' problem to get him to spend his money at their park, not an imperative upon Frank.

One thing for sure and I think Boyer should take note, it's becoming pretty clear that "dynamic ticket pricing" is a fucking disaster. The season ticket guy is pissed because someone is sitting in front of him on a cheaper ticket and the walk-up fan is confused as to what a ticket costs.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down... to get it!

I'd just like to say that the tight seat thing is a bullshit excuse. I'm 6'4" and 230 and have never had that uncomfortable of a seat. Even in Lambeau.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Why does the casual White Sox fan need to have his hand held so goddamn much? Numerous teams have "Dynamic Ticket Pricing" and draw better than the Sox. Are fans in Pittsburgh and Colorado just smarter? Or do they just not look for every excuse in the world as to why they don't attend a fucking game.

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And Sox games are the cheapest to go to, because nobody fucking goes. You can get great seats for most games on StubHub for 25 a crack.

I think part of it has to do with the fact that there's not really shit to do in Pittsbrgh or Colorado. For the most part I agree though. Danny Mac often sounds like a menopausal woman when talking about why he doesn't go.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul