Now that the 2016 All Star Game has come and gone, regular MLB action is getting back to normal. The second half of the season is here, and the drive to the postseason is in full swing. If you are planning on going to a baseball game, be prepared for the busyness that is the second half of the season. There are a number of things to think about, and if you are prepared ahead of time for them, your friends and your family will enjoy themselves much more when you finally get to the game you’ve been waiting for all year. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you go.
Parking is always a hassle at major sporting events, and in the second half of the season, especially for the teams that are doing well, it will be even tougher to find a great spot. Either show up to the game well before the gates open up to secure a great spot, or park offsite and commute via public transportation to the game. Know what you’re doing ahead of time so there’s no last minute panic or rush. Also, bring about $20 or so in cash with you in case you will need to pay for parking or shuttle service.
Concessions are always a highlight of the game, but waiting in line is not. You can’t bring any food or drink into stadiums with you, but you can eat well ahead of time so that you aren’t caught off guard in the third inning when you’re hungry and you need to wait in line for an hour to get a couple hotdogs. Eat well, but also plan your snacks accordingly. If you want to eat some popcorn in the seventh inning, know that you might need to go grab it a little before then. Again, bring some cash with you so that you can get some food from the vendors in the stands. They are a bit more expensive, but they save you the hassle of waiting in line and missing the game. Depending on the size of your group and who you will be responsible for paying for, you will probably want about $10 to $25 per person. You can certainly bring more if you plan on eating a lot at the game, but this is a good guideline for snacking with convenience.
Hopefully, the weather for most games will be great for the rest of the year, but there’s always a chance of rain. And if you’re going to a night game, it can get pretty chilly sometimes. Even if it’s 90 degrees out when you get to the game, but night you could be wishing you had something heavier on to keep you warm. Bring clothes for you, of course, but be sure to bring extras for your family or your friends. No one wants to hear their buddy complain about being cold, so grab an extra sweatshirt to save yourself from this. You’ll be the group hero, and you want have to listen to a grown adult whine.
These guidelines go for pretty much every single sport, but baseball is unique because it takes place mostly outside, and mostly during the nicest months of the year. That doesn’t mean that conditions will be perfect, so be prepared ahead of time and figure out these little logistical details. By the time you get to the game, you will have pretty much nothing to worry about except whether or not your team will win.
And that’s most of the fun of going to a game anyway!