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FINDING BETTER WAYS
TO SPEND MONEY |
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"Let's go to a Warriors basketball game at Chase
Center," one of my son-in-laws exulted after a few drinks a couple of
weeks ago at a family party. "Just the guys---and I'll organize
everything."
Since I had also consumed a few drinks, I quickly consented.
Sounded like fun at the time. A night out with my sons and son-in-laws
watching the game I loved. Damn alcohol.
"I bought the tickets," my son-in-law announced a
couple of days later. "You owe me $400."
"I'm not paying for everyone! You can all buy your own
tickets," I replied.
"We are," he said. "It's $400 each."
"WHAT??!! ARE WE SITTING ON THE WARRIORS BENCH??!!"
He tried to explain as gently as he could. "We're on the
first level, but pretty high up. Courtside seats are $2500."
I've heard about outrageous prices for playoff games, but
this was a regular season game against the Los Angeles Clippers, on a
Tuesday night. Who pays $400 for one of those seats?
We did, along with some 18,000 other knuckleheads, since it
was sold out. But off we went a week ago Tuesday, and I was determined to
somehow get my money's worth.
I had everyone meet me at my office on the waterfront at 5:30
for the 7:00 game. I was determined to get to Chase Center in time to
watch Steph Curry do his pre-game warmup. That would help amortize the
cost.
I offered to drive and pay for parking, and my boys quickly
accepted. We piled into my car and headed down the Embarcadero for Chase,
right into rush hour traffic. My anxiety level rising, I tried side
streets and shortcuts, to no avail. See ya someday, Steph.
As we finally inched closer to Chase Center, I began looking
for parking, like the amateur I was. There was no parking, except for the
garage next to the arena.
"I'm reserving a spot for you," my son-in-law
announced from the back seat as he manipulated his iPhone. "Here we
go, do you want VIP parking for $159 or the regular parking garage for
$100."
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!" I cried, my hands
tightening on the steering wheel. "THAT'S INSANE!!!"
"They're going fast," he patiently replied. "I
need to reserve something now."
My head slumped onto the wheel. I told him I wanted to park
with the commoners for only $100. No VIP for me.
After waiting ten minutes to get into my $100 parking space,
we walked down the stairs and across the street into the beautiful Chase
Center. It was 6:40 when we sat down. Steph was back in the locker room,
his pre-game routine long complete. I needed a beer.
$16.75 FOR A BEER!!" I cried to the concession worker.
"YOU'RE JUST GIVING IT AWAY!"
A little food would ease the pain, so I ordered an $11.00
soft pretzel, which was anything but soft. Stale would be a better
description. It didn't ease the pain.
Beer and pretzel in hand, I sat down in my $400 seat and
watched the game unfold. I could see the action from my
close-to-nose-bleed seat, but it was much clearer on the big screen that
hung over the court. I kept catching myself watching the screen instead of
the actual game. Just like at home.
Except I wouldn't have had the pleasure of listening to some
idiot a few seats over screaming stupid comments at players who couldn't
hear him. But he had an audience, and unfortunately it was me.
Meanwhile, the game was a blowout as the Warriors quickly led
by 20. Any excitement over the outcome was quickly dissipated. I drank my
beer and considered throwing my stale pretzel at the heckler, which would
surely have incapacitated him with a direct hit.
We stayed until the end, because I wasn't about to leave
early at $400 a seat. The Warriors won easily, and the crowd filed out. I
looked for mink coats, tuxedos, diamond bracelets and Rolexes on the
departing crowd, and only saw people like me.
"How do all these people afford to attend these
games?" I said to my sons and son-in-laws as we walked to our $100
parking place. "I don't get it."
No one had an answer. Disposable income is a beautiful thing.
But as I sat behind the wheel waiting in a line to get out of the parking
garage, I thought about the many ways I'd rather spend my money and my
time. As much as I love most professional sports, there will be no more
attendance at Warrior games for me. |
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