Sports Events on the Cheap

We are big baseball fans here in the BrownThumb house (you’ll see how crazy we are in a bit). We love going to live games, but the ticket prices make this an occasional treat. We recently had the opportunity to attend a San Francisco Giants playoff game. Here’s how we got the most out of our trip for the least amount of money.

Dress for less.

I don’t own any Giants shirts, team jerseys, or fan gear. But I couldn’t imagine going to the game without rockin’ the orange and black. Thanks to my friendly neighborhood Target, I got this great orange tee for $7. It’s nice enough to wear under a suit jacket at work too—and I couldn’t do that with a Lincecum jersey.

Pack your snacks.

I checked the website and AT&T Park allows small, soft-sided containers with your own food and drink. Our local ballpark requires bottled water to be factory-sealed, which is why we didn’t pack our Camelbaks. (I see that horrified look on your face! “Bottled water? What was she thinking?”) We brought water, sunflower seeds, and baby carrots to munch on during the game.

Eat before entering.
Ballpark food is delicious, but oh-so-expensive. We saw a crab sandwich for $15 and a soda for $6! Sandwiches from home are the cheapest way to go, but a fast-food dinner or local eatery will be less than what you’d pay at the game. Extra bonus: you don’t have to balance the food on your lap while eating.

Skip the drinks.

I’m not talking about water--buying a beer at the park will bankrupt you! AT&T Park has a designated driver program that gives you a free soda if you pledge not to drink during the game. The wristband identifies you to the concessionaires, and you turn in a ticket to get your soda. Although neither of us drinks, it seemed ethical to only name one designated driver. We rode in one car, after all.

Win your way.

The best way to go on the cheap is to win your tickets! Although this isn’t possible all the time, we were lucky enough to be chosen as “Sacramento’s Biggest Giants Fans” by a local radio station. See how BrownThumbPapa has his Giants hat on in this wedding picture from long, long ago? That sealed the deal and won us the tickets.

How do you "do sports"? On the cheap or the sky's the limit? Tell us in the comments!