Sports are entertaining to watch and can be a great way to spend time with friends and family. Sporting events are also a great place to meet new friends who are rooting for the same team.
Whether you have a regular crew to hang out with when watching sports events or you are planning to go to your first game, check out some of these ideas for getting pumped before the big game.
Sports rule the nation
Considering how much Americans spend on sports events, it is no surprise that they are a common interest. In one year alone, people in the U.S. spent over $50 billion to go to sporting events.
NFL games tend to top the charts on cost to attend, but you have to remember that the cost is worth it to serious fanatics. A massive live crowd can’t really be duplicated, so fans feel that it is worth hundreds of dollars to attend pro games.
Most popular sports
If you are trying to decide which sport to see live, start with one of the most popular. You will get a bigger and better crowd at some of the top pro sports events.
Most rankings put American football, basketball, and baseball in the top three spot in terms of popularity. Many people get a thrill from attending pro or college games, but you should also try to support your local high school team or check out the amateur leagues.
Other top sports to attend in person include hockey, soccer, tennis, golf, and volleyball. Check out what’s available in your area and the price of tickets to get an idea of what’s in your budget.
Keep in mind that just because a sport isn’t ranked at the top of the chart doesn’t mean they won’t have a great crowd. Less traditional sports, like skateboarding, car racing, martial arts, gymnastics, and more can also be exhilarating to see.
Getting in the spirit
Experts say that people are driven to attend sports events due to the atmosphere, experience, and memories created there. Nothing beats cheering and chanting along with other fans, and the excitement is unreal.
If you haven’t been following a sport as long as others, then you might have some catching up to do. You will enjoy yourself more if you learn about the players of your team and the opposing team. Many professional and college teams have a cheer, chant, or song that the crowd goes wild for, so this is something to research before attending a live sports event so you can participate.
Many sports fans get ready days or weeks prior to a big sports event. Devoted fans who like to dress up, wear face and body paint, make personalized signs for the team or certain players, and other fun game-time stunts are planned in advance so they can make a statement. You never know when you might end up on TV on game day, so some will go all out to get on camera.
Some sports fans have certain rituals before games. Whether it means throwing a tailgate party before every home game, walking from a set location to the stadium, listening to a certain song, dancing or something else.
Long-standing fans sometimes believe that luck can help their team win, so they will wear a lucky shirt or do something the same way before leaving the house hoping that it will improve their team’s chances of winning. Whether this actually helps or not can be hard to prove, but it can provide some fun pre-game rituals regardless.
Get more involved in the game
There are many additional ways to enjoy the world of sports. Dedicated fans typically immerse themselves in their team culture.
Stakers is a fun sports-oriented website that allows you to bid on your team. Here you can check out live games, and more for just about any sport you can imagine.
If you are talented at playing sports, consider seeking out a local amateur team to join. It can be a ton of fun to get out on the field. This might be an excuse to get into peak physical shape, and it provides an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded sporty friends.
Another way to get more into sports is to join a meet-up group. Attend meet-up events to meet fellow fans to join for pre-game parties, local games, post-game celebrations, and more.
From getting in the right mindset to learning more about the players, there are many things that you can do to get ready for a sports event. Part of being a dedicated fan is to fully immerse yourself in the culture by wearing a team jersey or joining a meet-up.