Sporting Events: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

The gallery erupted as Tiger Woods rolled in his birdie putt to tie John Daly for the lead on the back nine. It was shaping up to be a dramatic finish on this warm October Sunday in San Francisco. Standing front and center next to the green as Tiger made the putt, I thought to myself that it doesn’t get any better than this. Then, the man standing next to me said that he had to hurry home so he could watch the finale on television. What? Not only did we pay $50 for tickets to the tournament that day, but we were right in front of all the action. Why would anyone want to leave to go watch it on TV? Then I thought about it some more and maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. After all, we had waited in this spot next to the green for nearly thirty minutes before Tiger arrived, just to be in the front row. Behind us was a crowd of people all fighting to catch just a glimpse of Tiger putting. Earlier, I had been in the same situation and all I could make out was the Nike logo on his hat. At that time, I knew the results of his putt solely by crowd reaction and not by sight. So, a question begged to be answered: is it better to watch a sporting event at home or in person? Let’s look at several factors to see if we can come up with an answer.

1. For starters, there is nothing quite like the feeling of having tickets to a big game or event. The anticipation is exciting, knowing that you’ll be witnessing an event in person that millions of others will be watching on television around the world. Then, as you arrive at the stadium or arena, you can feel the buzz and the energy of the crowd. As the event unfolds, the roar of the crowd is always energizing and produces an adrenaline rush. This is something you just don’t get by watching the game at home on TV. You might come close if you watch the game in a crowded sports bar or with a group of people, but still it’s not quite the same. Advantage: In Person