Home Comforts

What’s wrong with stadiums and why is home more comfortable?

Sadly, but it’s true – stadiums are losing patrons.

What do stadium officials or event organisers have to do to get your butt back on their premises?

Sport enjoyed from the comfort of our own home is much more convenient and accessible and not to mention, more cost effective. There’s no worry of transport on how to get there and back home again. There’s no worries of endless queues of people waiting to be fed with sloppy food or hydrated with diluted beer. And there’s no contending with the crowds. And if we’re talking about comfort, the couch is pretty comfy compared to the cold plastic flip seats that most stadiums have. This altogether results in our justified yet preferred need to stay home to watch the game, with home comforts at our fingertips.

The comforts don’t just stop there – instead of having a 10ft tall, loud and obnoxious patron in front blocking your view, you instead can get 20 different camera angles all from your television, gaining full view and better access to every score and every foul.

“There is no denying that all stadium food is regrettable after the first bite, and you have to set up a second mortgage just to have some heavily processed soggy chips.”

There is no denying that all stadium food is regrettable after the first bite, and you have to set up a second mortgage just to have some heavily processed soggy chips.

When you’re at home, it’s a different story. At home the sky is the limit, with your choice of snack and beverages, served the way you like it and when you want it. And if you have guests over, you can bulk buy food to suit everyone, or mates can bring their own snack. But more often than not, you’re left with leftovers.

Now let’s not forget about the line for the toilet, another messy situation for many. I’ve been to a few stadiums over the world and are yet to find one that has this problem solved.

The cost of ticket prices is another reason that keeps the patrons at home. Where to begin! Logic only screams “Hey if you lowered the prices you’d get a bigger crowd”, but maybe theres just more to it, like how much is a stadium to build? How much does it cost event organisers? Furthermore, how much of tickets sales actually go to the athletes?

But is that not all offset by sponsorship and broadcasting deals? A stadium is no different to a movie theatre where brands shove products down your throat.

And to be honest a few fireworks, and an out-of-tune rock band just doesn’t cut it anymore. Fans expect more.

What bloody happened to smaller suburb-based games. Isn’t this where the love of the game started for all of us? Sitting on the embankment, being close to all the action?

From what I’ve heard, in America and possibly other places around the world, they’re making the effort to streamline and create a better stadium experience of all the issues expressed.

For instance, at some USA stadiums, once entered into the premises, you can log into the stadium app, enter your seat number and request seat service. Relinquishing the need to get up from your seat, allowing you to never miss a moment – how good is that.

However, let’s talk about what the comfort of home is unable to offer, and thats atmosphere. Okay, your surround system can’t duplicate the feeling of being a part of the crowd and witnessing the moment your team wins – that moment belongs to stadium – memories or in-the-moment feelings you just cant beat.

How about interaction for kids – sure they want to see their idols, but they’re yet unable to fully understand the workings of sport. Some stadiums now supply playground ferris wheels and even mini-putt.

Lighting effects is also now something patrons can have full interaction with. There’s an app patrons can log into, to change the lighting in the stadium, maybe in sync with their favourite teams. This concept is used at events on bridges and NYE lighting shows.

For us to spend the money and make our way to stadium gates, we expect more, and we need to feel a certain way. It needs to feel more worthwhile; at least more than expensive soggy chips and cold plastic seats.