15 Unique Ways to Enjoy a Sporting Event If You Can’t Be There in Person
One of the biggest decisions a fan makes when preparing for any sporting event is how to enjoy it. There are so many different ways to experience a sporting event and it’s something you can fully customize to your liking – there are no limits and you can do as your little heart pleases.
For many fans, the ultimate experience involves purchasing a ticket to view the sporting event live and in-person. This puts you amongst the tens of thousands of fans either cheering for or against your favorite team. You’ll get to take in all the amazing sights and sounds in real time.
Unfortunately, this can prove to be rather expensive, especially when you factor in food and beverages. You’ll also miss out on the play-by-play commentary and will likely miss certain aspects of the viewing experience. It’s an unforgettable experience, but it’s infeasible to many.
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Unique Ways to Enjoy a Sporting Event
Whether you have no interest in or don’t have the means of going to a sporting event live, you can rest easy knowing there are dozens of unique ways to enjoy the experience from afar – especially in this day and age, where new technology and the internet make anything possible.
You don’t have to be at the actual sporting event to have a good time – in fact, many people prefer coming up with their own creative ways of enjoying the moment. Some ideas might sound more boring than others, but there’s something out there for everyone, so long as you look for it!
Don’t worry, we’re going to detail some of the unique ways we like to enjoy a sporting event – whether it’s March Madness, the Super Bowl, the Little League World Series, or the Masters Tournament. Who knows, maybe you’ve already experienced some or most of them!
15. Cable Television at Home
Alright, we’re going to start with the basic ones and they might sound like boring ideas to some, but trust me when I say it’s as unique an experience as you make it! This is more for those that want to sit back, relax, and watch the game by themselves – there’s nothing wrong with that!
Of course, you have to make sure the game is on cable television, first. If it is, then you’re in luck because television networks go above and beyond to make every sporting event an enjoyable experience from home. Make yourself a snack, get in something comfy, and enjoy!
14. DVR the Game & Watch it Later
So, the sporting event you’re interested in is available on cable television. Unfortunately, you’ll be busy when the game starts and won’t be able to watch it. Don’t worry, that’s where DVR comes in to save the day – allowing you to tape the sporting event now and watch it later.
DVR stands for digital video recorder and it was invented in 1999. Since then, the technology has improved and is now available through most cable providers. What makes DVR-ing sporting events so special is the ability to fast forward and rewind as you please – isn’t that amazing?
13. Go to a Sports Bar or Restaurant
Going to a sports bar or restaurant is always an enjoyable experience, so long as the food is good and the company is even better. And while you can go to a sports bar or restaurant any day of the week, there’s no better time than on game day – let’s just hope they have it on!
It doesn’t matter where you live, you’re bound to find a sports bar or sports restaurant on every corner. Even better, they’re all unique in their own way and some are even geared towards certain sports or teams. Find a sports bar you like, grab some friends, and enjoy the game!
12. Listen to the Play-By-Play on the Radio
Let’s take things back to the 1920s, when commercial radio was starting to make waves in the sports world. People would sit by their radio and listen to the play-by-play with total excitement – no visuals, no graphics, no pictures. All you had was a soft voice telling you what happened.
Today, that might sound boring and dull, but it provides a nostalgic and vintage setting that you can’t get elsewhere. In fact, many people today have no idea what that experience is like, so why not take a stroll down history lane and enjoy the game as people did nearly 100 years ago.
11. Download a Streaming Service
The radio is cool and cable television is even cooler, but this is 2022 and we have something much more elaborate to enjoy – live streaming. In the world of sports, live streaming brings games and sporting events to your TV, phone, tablet, and any other device you’re watching on.
You have a lot to choose from, whether it be ESPN+, Sling, Hulu, FuboTV, DAZN, Peacock, YouTube TV, or any other streaming service. Like they often say, if it’s not on cable television, then there’s a good chance you can stream it – somewhere, somehow, it’s available for you.
10. Host a Viewing Party With Friends & Family
Earlier, we mentioned how much fun you can have watching the game by yourself at home. While there’s nothing wrong with that, sometimes you want company to enjoy the game with. For those occasions, why don’t you invite some friends and family over to watch it together?
Whether the game’s on cable television or you’re streaming it, having friends and family over is always a good idea. You can ask them to bring food, beverages, and games to play at halftime. Memories will be shared, even if you have people over that are rooting for the wrong team!
9. Go to a Sportsbook & Place Some Bets
If you’re a sports junkie that wants a true viewing experience, then there’s no place like the sportsbook – whether it’s inside a casino or a stand-alone venue. Not only can you watch the game, but you can place bets on the game, in hopes of leaving with some cold, hard cash!
The sportsbook is an excellent place to be if there are several games on that you’d like to watch simultaneously. Since most sportsbooks have a wall that features dozens of televisions, they’ll put on as many games as they can – ensuring there’s a game on for everyone to enjoy.
8. Follow the Game by Playing Daily Fantasy Sports
If traditional betting isn’t your thing, but you still want to have a little fun while staying up-to-date about the sporting event, then we suggest trying daily fantasy sports – or fantasy sports, in general. It not only allows you to follow along with updates, but makes it more enjoyable.
Most daily fantasy sports require you to pick several athletes as ‘your team.’ You’ll gain points depending on how those athletes perform, which are then compared to other fans playing. At the same time, you’re receiving real-time updates from the games as they’re happening.
7. Follow the Updates on Social Media
Social media plays an enormous role in most people’s day-to-day life – including mine. It’s something we’re checking during all times of the day. Sometimes we’re checking in on friends and family, but other times we’re keeping tabs on our favorite sports team or favorite athletes.
Thanks to social media, fans are closer to the action than ever before and if there’s ever a moment where you can’t be at the game or watch it at home, social media has you covered. Other fans, beat reporters, and sports news accounts are always keeping people in the loop!
6. Start a Group Chat With Friends & Family
Every sports fan should have a sports-related group chat with friends, family members, or like-minded individuals – especially if there’s a team everyone follows together. It gives you an opportunity to vent about your team and share your opinion with people that are ready to listen.
For example, I have a group chat with my father and brother, where we keep tabs on the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. Every now and then, I might be busy and unable to watch the game, but that’s okay because my brother and father will send me text updates regarding the game.
5. Follow the Play-By-Play on ESPN’s Gamecast
ESPN has been the worldwide leader in sports for over four decades and they show no signs of slowing down. When you need updates regarding your favorite team, athlete, or sporting event, ESPN should be the first place – and oftentimes the only place – you should consider going.
In regards to keeping tabs on a specific sporting event, ESPN has this thing called a ‘Gamecast’ and it’ll save your life. Not only does it give you play-by-play updates in real time, but you can view the box score, stat sheet, and even watch highlights as they happen. I use it all the time!
4. Catch the Highlights After the Game
I don’t know about you, but this is something I do every single day, even if I was watching the game live. It could be on social media, YouTube, ESPN, or the regular news, but somewhere someone is giving a thorough or brief recap of the exact sporting event you’re interested in.
The recap is fit with highlights, stats, quotes from the post-game press conference, opinions, and even a look ahead at the next game. Whether you want to relive what you already witnessed or want a quality update on what you missed, don’t overlook the highlights/recap.
3. Enter the Sports Metaverse (Virtual Reality)
With the technology we have today, anything is possible. One of the newest additions to the sports world is virtual reality. What started with VR sports games has now expanded to live streaming – meaning you can watch live sports games and events in a virtual reality setting.
The experience is unlike any other and will give you the impression of being at the game – even though you’re sitting at home. There are still some kinks that companies are working through and the technology is rather new, but it’s 100% worth a try, if you’re after a new experience.
2. Host a Virtual Watch Party
This is something that gained a lot of popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially since people wanted to be together, but not together. With the emergence of Zoom and other video chat apps, it was only a matter of time before the sports world took notice – and they did.
With virtual watch parties, you can join a party that includes all your closest friends and family members, then share your screen with them – what’s on that screen is up to you, but many people started to cast the sporting event and proceed to watch it with everyone in their party.
1. Go to TopGolf
There’s nothing better than getting to watch your favorite sports team, all while drinking beer, eating some good food, and hitting some links. If that sounds like paradise to you – which it should – then you need to head over to your local TopGolf and enjoy the fun experience.
Most of the bays at TopGolf feature a television, which is fit with most sports channels – as well as other networks. You’ll not only get to keep a tab on the game, but you can challenge your friends and family (or date) to one of several different games of golf – now that’s what I call fun.
Which Upcoming Sporting Event Are You Excited to Watch?
This is an exciting time for anyone looking to test some of the ideas above on an upcoming sporting event – there’s a lot happening in the next few weeks. For example, the PGA’s Tour Championship takes place August 25-28 and the US Open (tennis) is August 29-September 11.
The 2022 NCAA Football regular season kicks off on September 3rd, NASCAR’s Southern 500 is on September 4th, the 2022 NFL regular season kicks off September 8th, and the Laver Cup begins on September 23rd. With so much to look forward to, how will you be taking it all in?
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Personally, I like to sit at home in my man cave – sometimes by myself, other times with friends and/or family members. Of course, the food is always a must-have when enjoying any sporting event – whether you’re at home, at a restaurant, or at the stadium. Either way, happy times!
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