Football season is finally here once again. With everything from college to pro football games, if you’re a football fan there’s a good chance that you will be traveling to a football game.
In order to have the best football travel experience possible, follow these tips below.
Have a Plan
Make sure you by your tickets from a legitimate source. Check hotel availability before you buy tickets as some hotels sell out a year in advance. Restaurants are also packed, try and make reservations if you can. Use Yelp to give you an idea of where you want to eat. Bring snacks to have at the hotel. Pack comfortable shoes because there will be a lot of walking. Arrive early! We recommend at least 2 hours prior to the game so you have time to park, get some food and enjoy the pre-game ceremony and team warm ups. Sounds crazy to think ahead about bathrooms lol, but you can end up missing a quarter of football, especially in line for a women’s restroom. The best time to go is prior to the game and 5 to 10 minutes before half time, so you don’t miss a lot of the game while avoiding the long lines.
Don’t Cut It Too Close
This is clearly an extension of having a plan! No matter if you are flying in or driving to the game, it’s important to be mindful of your time. Traffic will be extremely heavy, especially around the stadium. It’s important to plan for this. If you are driving to the stadium, make sure you plan for plenty of time to get there, find parking and walk to the stadium. If you are going to Uber still give it time and the driver will likely have to leave you several blocks away so allow time for that.
Be Prepared For The Weather
Your football experience can be easily ruined if you aren’t prepared for the weather. If it will be extremely hot you need to pack sunblock and a hat. Make sure you wear light colored clothes or at least a lightweight t-shirt under your team jersey to absorb sweat. For cold weather, you will need things like scarves and mittens. Make sure you layer your clothing and don’t forget to wear thick socks to keep your feet warm as well. If you find that it will be rainy, don’t forget a poncho. You might find that waterproof shoes are helpful as well. While you might not think the weather conditions aren’t that important, remember that you will be outside for an extended period of time and the last thing you want is to not be able to enjoy the game because you are uncomfortable. Some stadiums may sell things like sunscreen, but they are extremely expensive so you’re better off bringing your own. It’s important to note, that you should check the rules of the stadium beforehand so that you can find out what items are okay to bring and what items you will need to leave at home.
Have Cash
While most concession stands will take credit cards, some of them might only take cash. Also, you will often find that there are separate lines for credit cards and cash. Since a lot of people don’t carry cash on them, the cash lines are often shorter. Make sure you have plenty of small bills on hand.
Don’t Forget Your Binoculars
No matter where you are sitting at, it can be difficult to see all of the action going on. This is why it’s important to invest in some decent binoculars. Just make sure that they aren’t too heavy and that they are easy to carry around your neck.
