Why do people flock to stadiums to watch sports on beautiful summer or fall days? Do they enjoy watching the action and the thrill of sitting on the edge of their seats for a game-winning play? Or is it more of a social event? A time to share an experience with like-minded friends and escape reality for a few hours. I find it hard to believe, but maybe fans come for the high-priced beer and other ballpark treats.
I’ve asked myself the question many times. My wife and I are frequent fans at Twins baseball, Gopher football and Minnesota United soccer games. We occasionally enjoy Husky hockey, Rox baseball and Gopher hockey, too.
No matter the team or the venue, the question is the same – why do they come and why can’t they just sit still and watch the game instead of constantly coming and going from their seats, disrupting the views of other fans who have to jump up and down to let them pass?
For most of my adult life, I watched sports through the lens of a camera in my job as a photojournalist. At the game, I focused on getting the most newsworthy photo and meeting deadline. I rarely saw the end of night games so I could meet morning-paper deadlines. Now I have no such responsibilities. I can just enjoy the action.
Why can’t others sit still? Why the need to run back and forth to get drinks and food during the game? When college football games stretch to more than three hours and the “full-media timeout” is 3 minutes, 15 seconds, I might understand the urge to rush to the concessions stand while still not missing a big play. With video reviews and timeouts after scores and change of possessions, impatient fans may be tempted by treats. What I don’t understand is why hundreds of Gopher football fans gather at the stadium’s west end plaza for conversation during the game. (OK Gopher football critics, insert your snarky comment here.)
The pace at Twins games is even more leisurely. The average Major League Baseball game runs 3 hours and 5 minutes. The average time of a game hasn’t been less than 3 hours since 2015. Recent league actions to speed up the game still leave plenty of time to wander around. And theoretically a baseball game could go on forever.
These built-in delays and interruptions don’t happen in soccer.
When the whistle blows to start a 7:10 p.m. Minnesota United soccer game at Allianz Field in St. Paul, it’s a near certainty that you’ll be heading home just after 9 p.m. Soccer games are played in two 45-minute halves with no time outs. The official can add stoppage time at the end of each half to account for when play stops because of an injury, a goal or disciplinary action. It’s usually one to four minutes.
Unlike baseball, nasty weather won’t stop the action. During the Loons’ home opener on March 5 this year, snow, rain and sleet pelted fans and players for 54 minutes before a lightning strike finally stopped the action for 75 minutes. When the thunderstorm cleared out, play resumed.
Why can’t fans load up on treats and then sit still for 45 minutes? Unless you’re under the age of 5 or suffer from a bladder condition that should be no big deal.
Even more baffling, why do people leave their seats in the last minute or so of play? A goal can be scored with lightning speed and it’s not unusual for a game to be decided during stoppage time. Unlike football and baseball, there are rarely large leads in soccer. Turning away from the action for even a few seconds might mean missing a dramatic moment.
Sports fans please take your seats and enjoy the game. The food and drink will still be there when the action is over.
