Are you a big sports fan or do you groan when your friends go on and on about the local team? Do you wonder if you or your friends are pouring hard earned money down the drain? Here’s our take on the pros and cons to being a sports fan.
The pros are easy. If you love sports, then there is really no need to get into the many reasons why you want to cheer for your favorite team. There are a myriad of reasons that can easily fit into the “pros” columns, and they are all valid to the true diehard. No matter where you’re from, and no matter what team you want to get behind, you’ll find that it is easy to throw your hands up in pure elation when they win, and put your head down when they go down in defeat. Regardless of the sport, you will find that there is a pure thread of glory sewn into your heart whenever you’re watching your favorite team reach for the glory of championship endeavors.
But What about the Cons?
Some may not be so quick to jump to this side of the argument, especially when things start to unravel. More importantly, when your wallet starts to unravel as the budget you’re supposed to be keeping immediately vanishes during the 7th inning stretch. Sports fans can really see their money taken away and all for that thrill of being a fan. There’s nothing wrong with sports, and there’s nothing wrong with being a fan, but if you plan on being frugal, it can really take a shot at your savings, and in ways you may not even know.
3 Major Ways Being a Sports Fan Can Diminish Your Cash Flow
Take a moment and look at the diehard fan. Not the casual fan, although that can lead to some sketchy purchasing decisions as well. Focusing on the fan that bleeds their favorite team’s colors, will see the following money pits appear with regularity.
Season Tickets – Pick a sport, any sport, and you will be tempted to go in for season tickets. That means at least 1 ticket for most or all of the home games played by the team. Sure, you get a discounted rate, but the seasons can be long. With baseball and basketball having 100+ games, and football prices going insane, you may very well spend no less than a couple thousand dollars for a season ticket. Let’s say you wanted a pair, and you didn’t want to sit at the top of the stadium, you will find yourself spending five figures or even six figures.
Jerseys (Official Merch) – There’s something grand about wearing what the players wear on field, and that’s going to cost you. Official jerseys can run you several hundred dollars, and if you want officially licensed gear with your personal touch, you’ll spend even more. Even fitted hats can start to cost a great deal. Keep in mind that is only “licensed” gear. The black market can be cheaper in price, but the materials are also cheaper.
Sports Packages (Viewing) – For the fan that doesn’t live near their favorite team, there are a number of ways to catch the games. Even if you were to buy the streaming/internet packages, expect to pay a few hundred bucks for the privilege, as well as adhering to blackout dates, and lackluster programming. Cable is another option, but you’ll have to pay a premium for the sports packages for the games. Of course, there’s always a local pub but do you really want to spend several hundred dollars per season at a bar watching the game which is sometimes on mute?
Quick Tips for Saving Money
The above options are just the tip of the iceberg, but that doesn’t have to foil your love of the game. If you want to save money, you can do a few quick things to help you out.
Radio – radio broadcasts of the game are often free, or low cost. Even streaming them online can be a couple of bucks, and you get the same kind of emotional connection that you may find from watching it live.
Discounted Tickets – special ticket discounts can be garnered if you look for them. Whether it’s buy one get one free at a local gas station, or discounted rates for auto club members, there’s a variety of opportunities that you can look into to get a lower rate on tickets.
Off Season Merch – buy off season merchandise, and wait for players to get traded. Once a player gets traded, you can snag a jersey for upwards of 75 – 80% off!
In the end, you can save money while being a sports fan, if you simply focus on being frugal. It’s easy to get caught up as a fan, so be careful. You can be smart about your purchases while still cheering on your favorite team!
Image Source: Chad Cooper on Flickr