American sports - which one to watch live?

[Uppy89]

I appreciate this is a very subjective question but I am travelling to Chicago in May and would love to catch some American sport whilst over there but what one do people recommend as a tourist and American sport rookie? In this country, I have a season ticket at the football and watch probably 10 rugby union matches a season live so that is the sort of thing I enjoy.

I understand the basics of all of them so was looking more at the atmosphere and general viewing experience...

It looks like the Bulls for Basketball, Cubs or White Sox for Baseball or Bears for American Football so any thoughts and experiences on which one to go for would be appreciated.

[Brummiebeau]

Hi OP
You should be able to see a couple bits which is good

NFL season is finished until Autumn
NBA - Bulls schedule finishes End of April so unless they are in post season you won't see them
You should be able to get Baseball tickets as the season starts soon.
Chicago Fire should be playing when you are there for you to get your soccer fix

Enjoy !

[J6542]

Watch a game of baseball on the tv before you buy tickets, games can take a long time without much happening. I have games on while I am doing other things in the house, I don’t think I could sit through a whole game without something else to do. It’s a pity you are going at the wrong time of year for American football, since the atmosphere at some of the college games looks amazing. 8 of the top 10 largest stadiums in the world are college stadiums.

[Blib]

J6542 said:

Watch a game of baseball on the tv before you buy tickets, games can take a long time without much happening. I have games on while I am doing other things in the house, I don’t think I could sit through a whole game without something else to do. It’s a pity you are going at the wrong time of year for American football, since the atmosphere at some of the college games looks amazing. 8 of the top 10 largest stadiums in the world are college stadiums.

I agree with this.

I really enjoy watching baseball on TV and I've been to quite a few baseball games in the US over the years. Some have been slugfests, others were not so exciting. The casual observer will miss the nuances inherent in the game.

But, for a taste of 'real America' not much beats a baseball game.

[aeropilot]

I was visiting friends in San Jose, back in May 2007, and my mate got tickets to go see the San Francisco Giants play in Major League Baseball at the A,T & T stadium on the waterfront in San Fran.

I didn't have a clue what was going but it was a great experience to see a MLB game live.
Shame I was 10 years too late to have seen it at Candlestick Park though.

So, as said by others, given baseball will be all that's on offer for a May trip, I'd definitely try catch a MLB game when over there.

[Challo]

Uppy89 said:

I appreciate this is a very subjective question but I am travelling to Chicago in May and would love to catch some American sport whilst over there but what one do people recommend as a tourist and American sport rookie? In this country, I have a season ticket at the football and watch probably 10 rugby union matches a season live so that is the sort of thing I enjoy.

I understand the basics of all of them so was looking more at the atmosphere and general viewing experience...

It looks like the Bulls for Basketball, Cubs or White Sox for Baseball or Bears for American Football so any thoughts and experiences on which one to go for would be appreciated.

OP your really only going to watch Baseball, or MLS. Baseball is ok, and normally tickets will be cheap.

Worth a watch for the experience

[DaveTheRave87]

The Chicago Cubs baseball team play at Wrigley Field, worth a visit for the history alone.

They play a lot of Friday afternoon games and the ball park seems half filled with people skipping work. There's something idyllic about it and it's towards the top of my sporting bucket list.

[Cotty]

If anyone in the UK wanted to watch some live American Football the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars are playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembly Stadium this year.
You can register you interest in tickets in the link below
https://www.nfl.com/uk/international-games

[48k]

Cotty said:

If anyone in the UK wanted to watch some live American Football the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars are playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembly Stadium this year.
You can register you interest in tickets in the link below
https://www.nfl.com/uk/international-games

My 5ps worth is that unless you are fully au fait with all the rules and nuances, American Football is a much better sport to watch on TV rather than live. Having commentary, replays and explanations with lines drawn on the screen is invaluable. You miss so much seeing it live unless you really understand the sport.

[jazzybees]

48k said:

Cotty said:

If anyone in the UK wanted to watch some live American Football the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars are playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembly Stadium this year.
You can register you interest in tickets in the link below
https://www.nfl.com/uk/international-games

My 5ps worth is that unless you are fully au fait with all the rules and nuances, American Football is a much better sport to watch on TV rather than live. Having commentary, replays and explanations with lines drawn on the screen is invaluable. You miss so much seeing it live unless you really understand the sport.

You are right, regarding that you miss so much watching the game live. (Just like cricket, you can’t see that ball when it’s been bowled or hit)
But the atmosphere is so much better watching live than on tv.
I don’t think you need to be fully au fait with all the rules and nuances.
All you need to know whichever team you wanna win. As to put that ball in the end zone more times then the other team.

[jazzybees]

I would like to see a USA ice hockey game.
I still can’t get my head around the fact, they are allowed to fight.

[mattfuey]

jazzybees said:

I would like to see a USA ice hockey game.
I still can’t get my head around the fact, they are allowed to fight.

I went to see Rangers vs San Jose Sharks when in New York in October, great to watch live.

The speed they play at was crazy, was tough to keep track of the puck at times.

[C5_Steve]

As pointed out depends on when you're visiting and what's actually on but I'd highly recommend seeing a basketball game. I've seen several live and they're really good.

Easiest sport to understand if you have no knowledge of the rules (compared to baseball/football), non-stop action and every quarter they have some kind of entertainment with the crowd as well as whatever they do for half time.

[belleair302]

I don’t know what you went to see but NHL (ice hockey) is excellent live and NASCAR is also an amazing live event. Baseball to me is dull and I don’t get basketball whatsoever live or on TV.

[jazzybees]

Baseball games in London.

This coming weekend. Saturday 8th June and Sunday 9th June.

New York Mets vs Philadelphia Phillies.

I’m looking forward to it.
Should be a great atmosphere.

Anyone here going.

[Alex Z]

I’d got it on my list of things to possibly do, but hadn’t got any further than that.

I expect it’s sold out by now.

[mikef]

Alex Z said:

I’d got it on my list of things to possibly do, but hadn’t got any further than that.

I expect it’s sold out by now.

I don’t think so, I got an email this morning reminding me to buy tickets (previous attendee and MLB.com subscriber)

This was the link

[mikef]

ps: for your first game of baseball, go with someone knowledgeable who can explain the plays to you, or at least read up a bit first (search Amazon for “watch baseball” for a few books) - or you will likely be bewildered and bored, which would be a shame

[jazzybees]

mikef said:

Alex Z said:

I’d got it on my list of things to possibly do, but hadn’t got any further than that.

I expect it’s sold out by now.

I don’t think so, I got an email this morning reminding me to buy tickets (previous attendee and MLB.com subscriber)

This was the link

Yes , they still have tickets on sale.

Thank you for the link.

[jazzybees]

mikef said:

ps: for your first game of baseball, go with someone knowledgeable who can explain the plays to you, or at least read up a bit first (search Amazon for “watch baseball” for a few books) - or you will likely be bewildered and bored, which would be a shame

That’s good advice.
I will definitely brush up on it before going.