I can hardly contain my excitement these days. Why you ask? Because it is almost football season!

I can only read so many preseason predictions, too early top 25’s, and preseason watch lists before wanting to strangle these biased commentators. I mean seriously, quit debating the same things over and over again. And am I the only one that could care less if Tom Brady deflated the footballs? Just give up already.

But, all that is about to be over with as teams gear up for training camp on the college and pro levels. Soon words will be put into action as they grind it out on the gridiron. I am a huge football fan on all levels. Every season my friends and I have the same debate; is it worth it to pay to attend a game, or is better to watch it from home?

I can say that being in Tuscaloosa on game day is pretty amazing. Yeah, thats right, Roll Tide. But, it seems that you break the bank every time you attend a game in person. Alabama games might be amazing, and trust me they are, but watching from home can do one thing, save money.

Lets break down the cost of game day and see if the cost of attending the game is really worth it:

Game Tickets

Whether you are a huge NFL fan or college football fan, tickets are expensive. Purchasing tickets through the actual team’s box office can be extremely difficult. But when you are able to, face value for the tickets are outrageous.

According to Statista.com, the average NFL single game ticket cost $84.43 in 2014. So we are talking around $85 dollars per person. No one wants to go to a game alone. My wife and I really enjoy attending game, but that would be $170 before we even get there. That is only the average ticket price too. Statistics have shown that the better your team is, the higher the ticket prices will be. Especially if you are going to purchase tickets through a secondary service like StubHub, which is the most way attendees have to purchase their tickets.

If you are going to purchase tickets through one of these sites, you better be willing to shell out some cash. We will use an Alabama home game for example, and a game that a fan would actually want to attend. Their first big home game is against Ole Miss, a big conference rival game. The first ticket price that pops up is for $155, and that is for the nosebleed seats. So, you are talking $310 before even heading to the stadium.

Tailgating , Food and Beverage

If you need some lessons on how to tailgate, just send me an email. I have had some practice and can definitely give you some pointers. One of those would be to get your checkbook ready. Even if you are tailgating for two, you are going to need some cash. Your checklist will get pretty lengthy:

  • Hamburgers
  • Hotdogs
  • Buns
  • Ice
  • Cooler
  • Condiments
  • Cheese
  • Drinks
  • Adult Beverages
  • Chairs
  • Tent
  • Grill
  • Charcoal
  • Generator

That is for basic tailgating too. That does not include the fact that you are going to get hungry during the game or on the drive home. You think Disney World is overpriced? Try getting a slice of pizza and coke at a sporting event.

When watching the game from home, you are in complete control of how much you spend on food. Not to mention the comfort of your own home.

Parking

It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it is one that most attendees forget about. Sure you can go the cheap route and then have to walk a country mile (which is a long way for you up North). But, if you want to save your feet you are going to pay a pretty penny. The prices go up the closer you get to the stadium.

You begin seeing signs for $10 parking. They just happen to be a long way away from the stadium, so you think you can get a little closer. You then see $20 parking, but that is a good deal and those are usually taken very quickly. So unless you are there extremely early, you  can count those out. For some reason there is a huge jump after that. $50 parking! Wait, what? Yeah that is right, you have to spend fifty bucks cash to park. “Forget that”, is my usual response. After that you need to be a VIP for parking. Let’s face it, you probably aren’t a VIP.

So in conclusion, leaving your vehicle parked in your driveway will say you a lot of money.

Gas

Do I really need to go into detail?

Are There Any Benefits?

Why, yes there are.

For one, it is important to support your team, especially college teams. The more fan support that your team gets, the better. I am a full believer that players will compete at a higher level when they feel the support of fans.

If you are a college football fan you know how big building your program can be. This includes recruiting, ticket sales, and much more. Attending the game and supporting your team is how you can help build your school’s program.

It is an AWESOME experience. Whether you are attending with friends or taking one of your children, it is a great time and a fun experience. There are not too many ways to experience what you are able to while cheering on your time in the stadium.

The Verdict

All in all, you can’t put a price on the memories you gain watching your favorite team march on to victory in person. In fact, I think it is something that everyone needs to experience at least once in their life, maybe even once a season.

But the big thing to take from this is that you need to be prepared before attending. If you are able to be a season ticket holder, more power to you. But for those of us who have to go through the grueling process of purchasing single game tickets, make sure you know what you are getting yourself in to.

And most important, avoid attending events that are going to break the bank. Invite some friends over and watch the game with your feet kicked up, food that isn’t overpriced, and you can use a clean bathroom whenever you need to do so.