Do you prefer watching NFL games live or on TV

Either works for me, I love being at a game the noise, crowd, music and overall electricity of watching a game... I have gone(as I buy seats on a game to game basis) to several games and had "corporate" seats, that sucked as families in new Patriots garb watched the game "politely". I also take the train from Providence, and traffic is not an issue for me.

However, there is much to be said for being home, listening to the game, having access to the computer, having a bathroom and drinking and eating whatever The "traffic after the game is much easier to deal with". A few friends mixed in who know football make is even better.

TV. I don't feel like taking a international flight every game.

In all seriousness, this is discussion is really interesting to see for me, as most of the fans here don't feel like they need to go to the stadium to support the team.

Here in Brazil, whenever we're talking about soccer, many fans have a condescending attitude against folks who would rather stay at home than paying a ticket for game. Yet, most games here are half empty while there they are always packed full.

/PersonalThoughts

Never had the chance to watch live football.

so...TV?

TV no question.

Live NFL games are not as fun to go to. You're not close enough to the action, a lot of play stoppage (timeouts, TV timeouts, general Ref skull****ery), dealing with idiot drunk fans, traffic, expensive as hell ($10 for a beer?) not to mention ticket prices as well as food cost. The atmosphere is great, but not worth all the headache.

Meanwhile, I'm sitting at home with a large HDTV where you get a clear view of every single play, surround sound, unlimited food -- better than stadium food to boot, no bathroom lines, and I can switch the damn channel and watch another game when there's a 15 minute play review.

Plus I don't live in MA anymore so tack on travel and accomodations.

I will say this about being at the stadium, when you are in a tight game, the electricity can be incredible especially if you're in a stadium where the crowd is completely into it. I was at the Ravens/Pats game in Baltimore in 07 when we came from behind and beat that team. The game where Bart Scott went bat$hit and threw the flag. The atmosphere and electricity was intense. It was incredible. The crowd was so into it. I also went to the AFC championship game that same year in Gillette and although the game had more meaning being a SB birth was on the line as well as an undefeated season, the electricity and atmosphere was not close to how crazy M&T was on that Monday night. The crowd was pretty good, but not crazy.

You take cost out of the equation and it's no contest. I agree that the luxury box solution is ideal, as the one thing I miss from the seats is replay. There are definitely plays that you want to see over and over from a variety of angles, and there are plays where I am focusing on a specific battle where I miss the action and would not mind seeing it again. However, even with that limitation, I would still choose to focus on Revis several times a game, even though I know that ball isn't going to be anywhere near him. Having that sort of option on any given play is the way to see the game if you care about how it's played.

It's the cost that keeps me away from the games. It's not much different for my family who know that I'm pretty much checked-out for the 10 hours that football is on television on Sunday, but I'd gladly skip the other games more often for the game-day experience in Foxboro. It's not the cost of beer and food either, as I'll have got those fronts pretty well covered by kickoff, but ticket prices sure do add-up these days.

For the local folks who complain about convenience, you're simply not doing it right. If you're willing to walk a ways, you can avoid the worst traffic hassles. Taking the train is also an excellent option, although that can put a hurting on your tailgate, if you aren't a professional.

Live hasn't been better than TV for about 10-15 years.

Deus Irae said:

Live hasn't been better than TV for about 10-15 years.

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I have a friend whose wife believes that. She weighs about 300 pounds.

pencilneckgeek said:

For the local folks who complain about convenience, you're simply not doing it right. If you're willing to walk a ways, you can avoid the worst traffic hassles. Taking the train is also an excellent option, although that can put a hurting on your tailgate, if you aren't a professional.

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I haven't been stuck in Gillette traffic for years

I prefer to watch the games live on YOUR TV, with easy access to YOUR food and beer....I chip in with nonstop cogent remarks,interspersed with grunts, yowls,wall pounding, feet stamping and other assorted rhinoceroid behaviors.

Live - because I don't like all the ad's...

I enjoy having the Sunday Ticket, since I am an out of town customer following a team out of my market.

That said, nothing beats being at the big, hyped up, live games.

fleabassist1 said:

Live - because I don't like all the ad's...

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The Mute button and time delayed FF makes them moot

Although I do go to one game a year and I love it I prefer the TV. Watching a game on TV takes three hours vs the six hours you spend going to the game.