Sports pose an interesting dilemma that you don’t often find in other areas of entertainment. You can watch your favorite movie from home, or you can go to the theater, but you will probably never have the chance to go see a filming session for a Hollywood movie. That’s fine, but when it comes to sports, it’s a lot different. Most people have nearby access to a major sports team, and it makes it easier to get to a live game once in a while. There are benefits to going to a game, and there are benefits to staying home and watching the game on your television or computer.

The biggest draw to going to a live game is the atmosphere. There is nothing that comes close to sitting in the stands, eating a hot dog, drinking something cold, and listening to thousands of people cheering. It’s something that every sports fan should experience at least once in their lifetime.

With all of the great things that you hear about live action games, there are still some big benefits to watching a game at home. Lower costs are one thing, as are the quiet and familiarity of your own living room. You won’t have to stand in line to use the restroom, and the food can be just as good if you put some effort into it. However, the main difference is that you can watch more than one game at a time, if you wish. Sports shows are always flipping to update you on other games, and even other sports during breaks. You can see highlights, watch a separate game on another device, and read news updates with ease as they are published online. Some people really enjoy this aspect of sports, and it’s not something that’s easy to do at a stadium.

With technology, like smartphones and tablets, you can get this, although it’s not always easy. However, the biggest benefit to watching a game at home is that you can get a better view in the vast majority of instances. Buying an upper deck ticket will give you the atmosphere, but never the view of a zoomed in professional camera. You can get top seats, but these can be extremely expensive and most people will never spring for them. Again, something that a sports fan should try to experience in their lifetime is getting an executive suite at a game. Usually, businesses and wealthy individuals purchase these for a year, but the bigger teams will keep a few open for people to rent out for a night or two. These go quickly, and you will need to act fast to get one, but it’s an amazing experience. Pro teams will often provide catering for suites, too, which is a nice perk.

Really, it depends on what you are looking for. If you just want to hang out on the couch and relax with your family, staying home is a great way to get this. But, going to a game is an event, a special experience that you will remember for years to come. If you’ve never been to a game before, try it out and then go from there. Watching on TV is great for most of the time, but the real fan should at least know what a live game is like. You’ll be glad that you did.