Having the ability to watch a sporting event live rather than through the lens of a television set is one of the great joys in life. Not too long ago, I wrote about the difficulty of attending any professional sport due to the cost. This is as true today as it was then. What then, is the average sports fan to do?
Think smaller.
I recently attended a Winthrop men’s basketball game with my family. For those who don’t know, Winthrop athletics fall into the “mid-major” category. They’re Division I, but on the lower scale from a budget and overall athletic perspective when compared to larger state schools like Clemson or South Carolina.
Winthrop is one example among thousands of small colleges and universities in the United States. Most of them, regardless of size, have some form of athletics department. In many cases, the department is run on a shoestring budget, reliant on “pay out” games (games where larger schools pay to play them) and the local community to provide financial support by attending their games.
Chances are, you have a small college or university within driving distance of where you live. This presents a great opportunity for you to enjoy competitive sports at an affordable price. The young men and women are playing the sport they love without the benefit of huge Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals. It’s the purest form of sport that still exists and the cost of entry is a fraction of what you’d pay to see a professional sport or larger university game.
For us to attend the Winthrop basketball game, we paid $15 per ticket. I got one beer, two waters and a popcorn for an additional $16. Parking was free. That’s $76 total for our family of four to watch lower level Division I basketball.
Compare this to the professional basketball team in Charlotte. Tickets can be found for pretty cheap (some are even lower than $10) but keep in mind, that’s the cost of entry. Once you’ve paid for parking, gotten a beer or two and fed the family, you’re looking at spending well over $100.
Another suggestion would be to attend a lower tier women’s sport. Although men’s sports get most of the hype and coverage, women are beginning to have their day in the sun thanks to the success of the US Women’s Soccer Team and most recently Caitlin Clark. If you think the lower level men’s sports are affordable, lower level women’s games and matches can be attended for even less due to lack of fan interest.
It’s getting harder and harder to find affordable family fun these days. It’s also difficult to take advantage of free community parks and recreation areas when the weather turns cold and the kids require extra bundling in order to have fun outdoors. There are plenty of options at smaller colleges and universities to enjoy the great indoors without breaking the bank.
Rather than shelling out hundreds of dollars to attend an indoor water park or take your kids to the pro team up the road, give the little guy in your town or surrounding area a try. You might be surprised at how interested you become in watching athletes play with maximum effort for smaller financial benefit compared to other sports you have been watching. It may even remind you of throwing the ball in the backyard with your dad. In other words, when sports were fun and the idea of money hadn’t entered your mind.
As a matter of fact, let me know when you’re free. We can catch a game sometime, my treat.
You will owe me a beer though.
