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Post by Micah008 on Jul 19, 2010 20:56:57 GMT -5
Just wondering if I can learn a bit from you guys that have been around this sport a little longer. We are trying to decide how many season tickets to get for next year, and if we want to upgrade to the front row (right on the 25) compared to row 9 that we are in now.
I know everyone has a different situation, but I would like to learn how some of you guys do things... just to give us ideas.
We will always have at least 2 of us (my wife and I) going to games... but if it is like this year there are other games where we will want to bring 3, 4, 5, 10 and even 26 to a game (group from work went last year).
A few questions for thought.... - How do you guys handle bringing extra people to a game, beyond your usual season tickets? - Do you ever just give away or sell your 'normal' seats to sit with a larger group elsewhere? Or, if you bring others, do you just sit separate from them? - Do you buy extra season tickets for this kind of thing? Or just get extras when needed? - Is the Front Row really worth it? Or is it tougher to see the entire field since you are so close? - Any issues with a 3 year old in the Front Row? (He would sometimes be the third with us)
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Post by Banana Cat on Jul 19, 2010 21:29:44 GMT -5
Each seat offers a different perspective. I've sat in the rafters with a video camera to get shots of the entire field and observe x's and o's. I've sat in the middle part with the walkway behind me so that I could stand all game long and not have to worry about obstructing anyone's view. The last two years I sat on the wall. I prefer the wall nowadays because you feel like you are really in the game. My 12-year-old daughter (been coming to the games since she was 5) loves the wall, but I'm always ready to jump over and cover her when players come our way at high speeds (better me on top of her than a helmet or a cleat). So far no one's landed in my or her lap, but I brought a friend and his wife for one game this year and they had players in their lap twice, a ball ricochet off the wife's face, and a ball go over our heads that was catchable if we had jumped in time. They had a heck of a first game...lol. I've seen kids in the front row get clobbered by players and come away crying (usually getting a game ball to ease the pain...lol...yeah that'll help). I saw a girl get knocked out in Evansville. I've seen a lot of players go over the wall, but most of the time no one gets hurt. So for the 3 year old, either be ready to protect the kid every time players come your way, or for the games you bring the kid sit up a row higher or something. If it's normally just the two of you, get 4 seats...2 on the front row, 2 right behind that...and one of you can sit in the second row with the kid if you're worried about it.
I've bought 4 season tickets the last three years. Normally it's just my daughter and I, so for the two extras we either bring visiting family, her school friends, my friends, or people from work...always trying to increase the fan base. I like bringing people for the first time anyway, especially on the wall, and watching them take it all in. I've had big groups a few times and those times I did sit in a section to accommodate the whole group. Since I've been on the wall though I've had 5 max and managed to get everyone on the wall. Since I've been on the wall my thoughts are "I'm staying on the wall" so if I did have a big group I'd let them know up front that I have two extra seats on the wall, the rest of you are sitting here. Depending on attendance, they can sometimes sneak closer after the first quarter as well. The Beef also have one endzone where you can stand and they have tables, if your arena had something like that you could get the group happily into that as well and still be on the wall. If the group needs to be babysat, then sit with them in a group area and perhaps rotate people in and out of the front row between quarters to give them all a different experience.
In the past for extra tickets other than my season tickets I bought them the week leading up to the game. I've been stiffed too many times from people saying they'd go and then can't make it for some reason or other, so I don't buy them too far in advance anymore...2-3 days out for me (if you think you'll have a hard time getting seats where you want then get them farther out).
Only you can determine if the front row is worth it or not. If you like the action, then yes. If you want to see more of the field of play, then sit a little higher. I've seen so many games that I don't really need to see the whole field of play, I want to be more closer to the action and be able to heckle and interact with the opposing players. My daughter and her friends love the wall because they can interact with the players as well. If you and your wife aren't interested in that, then sit up a little higher for a better view of the field.
Have fun out there.
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Post by Micah008 on Jul 19, 2010 22:19:38 GMT -5
Thanks BC. Some things in there that I had considered... but a few new ones that I hadn't.
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Post by Micah008 on Jul 20, 2010 21:21:36 GMT -5
Ended up deciding to upgrade to the front row... 3 seats right on the 25 yard line. Looking forward to it already. Thanks for the input.
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on Jul 21, 2010 14:08:13 GMT -5
Like BC I've sat nearly all over the various arena's I've traveled. and agree, for me, the front row is nice, but you miss some of the near side action at either end..
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Post by BNDC on Jul 21, 2010 14:56:49 GMT -5
Front row is it's own experiance. In my opinion it is not worth buying seat in rows 2 thru 5 because, especially two, because you pay about as much for front row, miss alot of action, and just dont get the same experiance. In the Tyson rows 2 and 3 don't have cup holders and seem shorter on leg room than normall fors.(the first 3 rows at the Tyson are retractable)
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Post by Micah008 on Jul 21, 2010 15:58:50 GMT -5
In La Crosse Rows 1-3 are the same price, and 4-6 are a very small difference, and then in 7-8 you have a railing in front of you, so it essentially was either row 1 or row 9 for me. I am sure I will love row 1, we will see how the wife likes it.
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Post by BNDC on Jul 21, 2010 19:21:18 GMT -5
Also depending on your arena, 1 side of front row sucks because you cannot see the down markers.
In Sioux City the side you can see the down markers is the visitors side, which works for me because I can talk trash to the visitors.
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Post by Micah008 on Jul 21, 2010 20:25:41 GMT -5
In La Crosse only one side of the arena even has rows 1-6. In the endzones and other side it really starts at 7. The first 6 rows are collapsible all around, but the field it so large that they can only have one side down. Because of this, the field is tucked against one side, meaning there is only one side I would ever want to be at anyway (at any level)... since on the side the field is up against you can't see as well.
The down markers are done along the side that actually has rows 1-6, otherwise 1/3 of the arena wouldn't even see them.
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Post by CF4L on Jul 21, 2010 20:26:20 GMT -5
I love my front row seats. Great interaction with the players and you feel like you're in the game some times.
I saw you have a little kid and the only worry I would have is sometimes players come over the boards and it can be a dangerous spot being down so close. I know friends of mine who sit across the way front row had their son take a helmet to the head when a player went crashing into the boards. He was ok, but got a nice bump on the head.
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doobi
Team Captain
Posts: 443
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Post by doobi on Jul 23, 2010 12:42:37 GMT -5
Micah, watch your son close and be real careful if the wife gets a little prego. When we were expecting, Damon Mothershed came over the wall and my wife took helmet right in the stomach. That is when we moved out of the front row seats that I had had since the opening of the Tysen.
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Post by Banana Cat on Jul 23, 2010 12:52:12 GMT -5
Like I said, be ready to cover your kid/wife if action comes your way...better you over them than a helmet/cleat.
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Post by Micah008 on Jul 23, 2010 15:43:20 GMT -5
She is actually 'prego' right now... but she won't be anymore by the time the next season rolls around (due in October).
Our 'compromise' plan is to only take our son (or kids) to one or two games, and we will get different seats for those games that are higher up (and give away the front row to friends). For the rest of the games where we sit in the front row it will just be us, and we will get a babysitter. (It gets late for kids anyway... especially since the Spartans did 7:30 games last year)
I will be ready to 'cover'... but even if it doesn't go over well, and we switch away after next season, I at least want to experience the front row for a year.
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Post by Banana Cat on Jul 23, 2010 18:47:28 GMT -5
Front row is addictive, if I'm ever in a town again that has a team (c'mon Oregon...step it up) I'll be getting front row again. I know a lot of people that leave at halftime because of small kids. My daughter was 5 when I started bringing her, but we never left early (even though some games she fell asleep the last few minutes of the fourth quarter...suck it up girl). I had to carry her out of an away game at Sioux Falls once (I carried her a lot, but that time she was out like a sack of potatoes). There were a few times she complained about the cowbell ringing, but she adjusted and learned to love the games (it's not like I locked her in the basement or anything ). I call it family bonding and the state must agree with me since I do have full custody...lmao. Her favorite part is always going on the field at the end of the game, so suffering through the second half was always worth it she lied said...plus I usually bribed her with sweets and soft drinks, or presents afterwards. Probably the worst for her was a three day weekend where we went on the road and hit three games in three days back in 2005...rotflmao. We saw the Louisville Fire play the Quad City Steamwheelers (AF2), then the Omaha Beef play the Lexington Horsemen (UIFA), then the New Jersey Xtreme (pitiful team) play the RiverCity Rage (NIFL). When we got to Saint Charles to watch the last game I'll never forget my daughter saying "another football game???," pout, pout, pout. She did like the Arch though.
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Post by CF4L on Jul 23, 2010 23:11:06 GMT -5
Front row is addictive, if I'm ever in a town again that has a team (c'mon Oregon...step it up) I'll be getting front row again. I know a lot of people that leave at halftime because of small kids. My daughter was 5 when I started bringing her, but we never left early (even though some games she fell asleep the last few minutes of the fourth quarter...suck it up girl). I had to carry her out of an away game at Sioux Falls once (I carried her a lot, but that time she was out like a sack of potatoes). There were a few times she complained about the cowbell ringing, but she adjusted and learned to love the games (it's not like I locked her in the basement or anything ). I call it family bonding and the state must agree with me since I do have full custody...lmao. Her favorite part is always going on the field at the end of the game, so suffering through the second half was always worth it she lied said...plus I usually bribed her with sweets and soft drinks, or presents afterwards. Probably the worst for her was a three day weekend where we went on the road and hit three games in three days back in 2005...rotflmao. We saw the Louisville Fire play the Quad City Steamwheelers (AF2), then the Omaha Beef play the Lexington Horsemen (UIFA), then the New Jersey Xtreme (pitiful team) play the RiverCity Rage (NIFL). When we got to Saint Charles to watch the last game I'll never forget my daughter saying "another football game???," pout, pout, pout. She did like the Arch though. you're a good Dad, BC!
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