My response to this article: Los Angeles-area sports suffer a loss off the field in today's (6/8/10) Daily News:
Newsflash: Los Angelinos can't AFFORD to go to sporting events the way we used to... Shocking! In all seriousness, I know all about it. I'm one of those Southern Californians who can't afford to get my rear to a game as often as I like. I can't speak about any other sport, but as an intense Dodger fan, I can attest that it's getting to be a challenge to attend a game at the Ravine.
Only 3 years ago, it cost $10 to park my car. Right around the time we signed the disastrous Andruw Jones, the parking fee increased to an outrageous $15. (This is actually the more affordable option for me, as taking the Metrolink will cost me $17 each way, per person.) So even before I've stepped into the stadium, I'm out almost a 20 spot. I happen to be really good at finding discount Dodger tickets (legally!), but still, a seat in Infield Reserve (3 levels up, behind the plate) costs me around $20 minimum. I have 2 kids, but for the sake of simplicity, let's say I only bring my son. Now I'm out an additional $40.
Let's be realistic here: One can't go to Chavez and NOT have a Dodger dog. Those are $5 each. Add a soda, another $5 each. (I'll be dreaming about having an adult beverage, which is $10 and up, but since I'm hypothetically with my kid, I'll pass.) We can't live without garlic fries, so throw in around $5 more. I'll do the math for you: For 2 people to sit right below the nosebleeds and actually eat dinner, the cost is around $100.
At this point, I have to convince my son that he's not going to get hungry again (not even during the 14th inning of an an extra inning game) because peanuts are over $5, a pint of ice cream costs more than what I'd pay for a quart at the store, and a bottle of water costs more than a gallon of gas. I could always mosey on over to the Carl's Jr. in the stadium, but that's double the price I'd pay if I had driven through the actual restaurant on my way to the Ravine.
The sad truth is, even if I'm given free tickets, it's sometimes still too expensive for me to go. I have wonderful recollections of going to Chavez Ravine as a child, and naturally I want my own children to have those kinds of memories as well. I want them to see Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp in action, the way I couldn't wait to see Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Garvey take the field. I want them to learn patience by sitting through all those innings, and discover that they don't need explosions and violence to be entertained.
I don't mean to sound bitter, because I'm not. I love my boys in blue. Ask my friends - check my Facebook page! - I'm ALWAYS cheering on my Dodgers. (To be honest, if the Dodgers had any sense, they'd have given me a job already, because I'm a one-woman positive-publicity machine!) I still go to games as often as I can afford it. As the article mentions, however, it's not nearly as often as it used to be.
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AMEN! Well written and I think you should submit this to the Daily News AND the Dodgers! You SHOULD be working in their PR dept...or you should just be a writer for the LA Times or something because you have mad skillz that go well beyond grocery shopping, my dear friend. (Ya hear me, Dodgers, Daily News and LA Times??? Someone hire this woman!)
ReplyDeleteIt's sad when you are given tickets and you still can't afford to go. However, knowing you, you always find a way. :0)
ReplyDeleteAs Amber said well written and to the point. Proud of ya for voicing it.
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