Sports fans will follow their team through thick and thin. The problem is that for most fans, the thin moments greatly outweigh the thick. Every sports fan knows the crushing pain of experiencing defeat after defeat and of living with the understanding that glory days are very far away.
But you need to go through those moments to appreciate the good times. When those moments come around, you won’t take them for granted! If your team reaches a final, and are within touching distance of a trophy, then it’s important to do it right. These moments don’t come around all too often.
In this blog, we’ll run through some useful tips that’ll ensure you can make the most of the occasion.
Going to the Game
The first piece of advice we have is: try to go to the game. Every major sporting final is a moment in history, and if you’re there, then it’s something that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Of course, unless you have friends in high places, then you might find that it’s difficult — or even impossible — to get a ticket. But if one should happen to come your way, it can be worthwhile spending some cash to make it yours. If your team wins, then it’ll be one of the standout moments of your life.
Attending a Game Party
But let’s assume that you can’t be there. Does that mean that you can’t go big? Not at all! There are plenty of options for people who can’t be there in person. One such option is to attend a game party. If you live in an area close to your team’s base, then there’ll be plenty going on. Indeed, you could probably just go down to any local bar and watch the game with like-minded fans. If you don’t live close to your team’s area, then look to see if there’s a fan club in your city. If it’s a big team, then there probably will be!
Hosting at Home
Not everyone wants to go to a bar to watch a game. They can be crowded and expensive, after all, and they’re not exactly kid friendly. Another option is to watch the game at home. But we don’t mean just tuning in in the same way that you would tune into any other game. This should be an event. You can rent a projector, decorate your home, make loads of snacks, and all around create a party atmosphere.
If you have friends who are also fans of your team, then invite them around. It’s much more enjoyable to watch big games with people that you know are equally passionate about the team. Plus, they’ll contribute to the atmosphere and will likely bring their own fun elements to the day, too.
Pre-Final Fun
When a trophy’s on the line, you should try to make the experience as long and fun as possible. There’ll be plenty of pre-game fun to be had! Indeed, you can start getting excited in the week (or more!) leading up to the game. There’ll be podcasts, interviews, videos, and so much more for you to enjoy. When there’s history on the lines, there’s always a lot to be said. This will help to build the hype and ensure that you experience the game to the fullest.
On the day itself, get started with the fun as early as possible. If the game starts in the afternoon, you can get started in the morning! A big breakfast, getting out to soak up the atmosphere, and reading the sports section of the newspaper are all good ideas.
Ready to Celebrate
Many fans don’t want to think about winning a trophy. They’re too nervous and don’t want to jinx victory by getting ahead of themselves. However, while you’ll want to avoid getting too deep into planning a victory march, you should be prepared in case your team pulls it off. If that happens, you’ll be in celebration mode, so make sure you’re ready to celebrate! If you stock up on champagne and arturo fuente cigars, you’ll have the ideal way to enjoy the team’s success. It’s always worthwhile having the name of a bar in the back of your mind just so you can go out and celebrate with other fans if you win.
Communicate With Friends
There’ll be friends who you can’t watch the game with. Thankfully, in this day and age, that doesn’t mean that you can’t share the experience with them. Create a Whatsapp group of all your team-supporting friends, and stay in touch throughout the game. It can really add to the experience.
Enjoy the Occasion
It’s the journey that counts, not the destination. All too often, fans deny themselves joy by focusing too much on the outcome. But it’s how you get there that counts. If the team has given their all, then you can’t ask for anything else! So try to enjoy the game as much as you can. You’ll be hoping for victory, of course, but even if you don’t get the result that you want, you can be proud of the team.
Welcoming the Team Back
Finally, let’s say the team does win. They’ll be returning as heroes! If you live in the area that they’ll be returning to, look at clearing your schedule so you can welcome them back. It’s not easy to win a major trophy, and plus, they’ll have given you an experience that will live long in the memory. The least you can do is cheer them on as they return home after a hard-fought victory.
Conclusion
It’s not always easy being a sports fan, especially if you support a team that does not historically get within touching distance of a trophy. Now that you’re in that position, have fun with it. There’ll be many seasons when you don’t get to this position. You’ve supported the team during the tough moments; now, you get to enjoy the other side of the coin!
