Going to the Game
Clydesdales On Opening Day
Opening day is just around the corner, and there is no better day of the year in my opinion. Busch Stadium will be back in full swing with over 40,000 visitors opening her back up for the new season.
Growing up in southeast Missouri it was always such a treat to go to a ballgame. We would only go to four or five games a year. Two or three of those would usually come during one weekend. It was always such a treat. Getting to the game an hour and a half early to try and get autographs along with watching everyone take batting practice. It was always such a highlight walking up to Busch Stadium to see what Ozzie or Willie might do that day. I was able to catch a few games on TV, but for the most part, going to a game was the only way to catch the entire game.
With every game being on TV now, I feel like the feeling of going to the game has changed for me. It’s so easy to watch a game at home and catch all the action. Going to a game, with the parking and walking and dealing with all the people can be tiring. I still love going to a game and taking my family. It seems like being a season ticket holder and attending as many games as I do has taken away some of the luster. I usually attend one Cards and Cubs game at Wrigley every year and never go in late and always stay through the last pitch. I think I enjoy going to this game so much every year because it reminds me of how I attended games as a kid. Going early and staying the entire time, completely glued to the action from innings one through 9.
It seems now as a season ticket holder, there are more and more times when I get to my seats in the middle of the first inning. Many games, especicially ones that are blowouts, I leave after the sixth or seventh inning. I know I have tickets either the next day or the next week and what’s the big deal in missing an inning here and there.
I’m kind of concerned of what I’m going to pass this along to my son and daughter. Will they take it for granted that we have season tickets and not appreciate the games? I hope I can keep things exciting enough so they think it is a treat to go to a baseball game, not just another form of entertainment.
I wonder if I give up my season tickets and just pick 5 games a year to go to, if that would make the experience more of a special occassion for me and my family so I don’t take for granted how lucky I am to be a Cardinal fan and a full season Cardinal ticket holder.
Matt Wilson
Pictures from Matt Wilson
View From My Seats In Section 595
Filed Under: Baseball • Uncategorized
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I have had similar thoughts. But if you want to get rid of your 4 seats together in the row behind us in 595, please let me know – I’ve been trying to get 4 together for a couple years now
try living in KC. sure, i get 3 Cards games here a year, but even with 3/4 of the K in red it’s no Busch Stadium. last year was the first year in ages I didn’t make a Cards game – and it sucked.