Do you spend money on Sports apparel or Events?

[DaveInPgh]

If so, how much and how often?

Living in a city where Sports are a big deal, I am surrounded by people that spend a lot of money to "support their team." I have been a sports fan my entire life, but somehow I have never allowed fandom to have an impact on my wallet.

Simply put, I just can not rationalize spending money on it. The very few sports t-shirts I own were gifts, and I have only been to a few sporting events in the past 30+ years.

[disneysteve]

I'm not a sports fan, so my simple answer is no.

However, I think your question can easily extend to things other than sports, especially other fandoms.

I am a BIG Disney fan (hence my screen name ). For over 40 years, I have collected Disney memorabilia and have spent tens of thousands of dollars on Disney-related travel and purchases. Thankfully, I indoctrinated my wife to be just as big a fan as I am so we've been into it together for the past 25 years.

[97guns]

my brothers ex wife buys sf giants season tickets to the tune of 16k a year, been doing it for over 10 years. she gets tickets for 82 games and maybe goes to 20 of them, she tries to sell the tickets she doesnt use and gives the rest away that she cant sell, i cant say but it was probably a contributing factor to the split

im a huge sports fan but only get to maybe 1/2 dozen games a year and buy my tickets off stubhub for super cheap, last game i went to were $22 seats and i paid $12. i wear my teams gear but buy off ebay at huge discounts compared to the fan stores

[41Fin]

My one weakness is soccer

I try and go to one DC United match a month, as many USMNT matches that I can both home and away and atleast one Redskins away game with a group of friends from college.

Atleast 10 jerseys in my closet. I collect soccer kits, mostly USMNT players club jerseys and try and buy when they go on sale after the season.

Every time my wife and I go to a new country I plan a trip to a soccer match in the city we are staying in.

I don't buy food/drink inside the stadium though. I went to a soccer match in Spain (Atletico Madrid) and saw that they were selling beers for 3 euro and I haven't bought anything at an American Stadium since.

[Fishindude77]

Not the popular mainstream sports, but I do blow a lot of time and money on my hunting and fishing pursuits.

[DaveInPgh]

However, I think your question can easily extend to things other than sports, especially other fandoms.

A news story about discounted US Open gear is what made me think of the topic. I am personally not a golf fan, but I was sitting there thinking that even if it were a sport I followed I can't imagine the discounts being large enough for me to consider buying anything.

And of course a couple weeks ago the big craze here was the Stanley Cup Champions gear. I am happy they won but not willing to spend money to show it in the form of a jersey or t-shirt.

But you're absolutely right, this can easily extend well beyond sports.

[disneysteve]

And of course a couple weeks ago the big craze here was the Stanley Cup Champions gear. I am happy they won but not willing to spend money to show it in the form of a jersey or t-shirt.

I never quite understood that one either. My wife used to be a manager for a sporting goods store. When a local team was in the championships, and especially when they won the title, the store was swarmed with customers snatching up every shirt, pair of pants, banner, hat, whatever with the championship logo. That lasted about a week and then it quickly died down and after another week or so, the store put all of the remaining stuff on sale for 50% off or more to get rid of it since it wasn't merchandise they normally stocked, they had nowhere to put it, and nobody really wanted it 2 weeks later.

[97guns]

both my teams come up short, warriors and sharks game 7 of the finals

[kork13]

I'll preface by saying that I'm not a sports fan at all. First... No, I don't waste my money on overpriced swag from random sports teams with which I have no association or influence.

But I truly cannot understand the mindset of sports fans. It's bewildering to me. How can mass numbers of people be so obsessed with a sports team that when "their team" loses, it ruins their day (or week... or year). And when the team wins, they brag & go nuts (or worse... Fights? Riots? Destruction of property? Killing people? Ridiculous.) And for all of this, these people had absolutely nothing to do with the result of the game/match/etc! They're spectators, with zero input or influence upon the players!

Professional sports are most assuredly very successful businesses for those who own/operate them. Anyone who clings to the fantasy that it's "for the love of the game" is living a farce.

[msomnipotent]

I'm a long-time Chicago Blackhawks fan. I don't go to the games because of the cost. I can either take my family to the game for a few hours, or I can take them on a vacation. I spend some money at the fan shops, but mostly for gifts. The hockey jerseys are practically indestructible, so I don't mind spending money on them. I have one from 1991 that still looks good as new, except for all of the players' signatures on it. Yet another fine reason to buy a jersey!

[AJ444]

Don't spend much on apparel anymore but I'm on the season ticket wait list for my NFL team and go to a couple of games a year. I've been to a couple World Series games and various playoff games in other sports as well.

[moneybags]

I went to a Cubs game recently. It was just DH & me. We didn't buy any food, drink or souvenir. I was slightly thirsty, but refused to pay $5.25 for a water bottle! There was a family of 3 in front of us, I added up their tab (always incorporating budgeting into my activities ) for the day to be $300.00. That's a lot of money for a few hours at the ball park.

[disneysteve]

There was a family of 3 in front of us, I added up their tab (always incorporating budgeting into my activities ) for the day to be $300.00. That's a lot of money for a few hours at the ball park.

Have you been to a Broadway show recently? $150+ per person for orchestra seats. So you're in for nearly $500 for 3 and that's without a meal, snacks, drinks, transportation, or parking.

[ESMonitor]

Thanks for asking. I had been wondering the same. When I was younger I went to a lot of SEC college football games. Back then I was more of the Willie Nelson mindset about money. I would keep 1,000 saved to the side and any income beyond that pretty much ended up being spent. Those were fun times but yeah it was a lot of money spent on tickets, restaurant and bar tabs.

I have been pondering on buying the UFC 200 pay per view coming up July 4th week. I think to get in HD is $65. Pricy but it's under serious consideration because it's a legendary card.

[41Fin]

I went to a Cubs game recently. It was just DH & me. We didn't buy any food, drink or souvenir. I was slightly thirsty, but refused to pay $5.25 for a water bottle! There was a family of 3 in front of us, I added up their tab (always incorporating budgeting into my activities ) for the day to be $300.00. That's a lot of money for a few hours at the ball park.

Baseball games are dangerous because the tickets are so cheap. I have co workers who always want to go to Nationals games because you can get into the stadium for $10 or so.

More often than not, those $10 tickets end up costing $50-60 when you factor in parking/ transit, food & drink. Plus plenty of people go to games just to drink. If I drink at a game I brought it with me.