Just the other day we noted the decline in football attendance in the first month of the season. FBS football games are down 3 percent compared to this point of the season last fall, and down six percent from 2011. There are always a number of factors that go in to those numbers. How many games are played in the largest stadiums in the country is often part of the equation, as are the costs tied to attending games such as parking, food and beverage inside the stadium (and of course the traditional selections for before and after the game), as well as tolls. It adds up.
This is why many fans may prefer to watching football on television, from the comfort of home. According to data compiled for a survey by Team Marketing Report, 74.24 percent of those who responded said they prefer to watch football on TV over attending a game in person. The data is supported by the notion that football is viewed as the best sport to watch on TV. A total of 78.79 percent of those who responded said football is better than baseball, hockey and basketball on television.
None of this comes off as too surprising. While this nation clearly loves football, the benefits of watching at home outweigh many of the benefits to attending a game in person for many. Instant replay, the ability to switch from one game to another (and to another and to another etc.) adds options just not available in a stadium.
There are many benefits to attending a game in person though that can not be captured through television. The traditional pre-game show performance by the home team’s marching band is as much of the tradition and pageantry that makes college football unique as anything, and it is rarely broadcast on television. Instead, those at home get to hear some talking heads tell you all about the news that has been covered during the week by multiple outlets, including this one. At key moments in a game there is a certain buzz inside a stadium that does not quite translate on TV either, as good as the technology is.
What side of this are you on? Would you rather see a game in person or watch from the couch or recliner on a Saturday afternoon?
