7 Tips for Attending An American Baseball Game as a Tourist
An American baseball game is such an incredible thing to attend when you haven't been before. As a Briton who enjoys watching sports like football and ice hockey, we thought it would be an amazing opportunity to go and attend a baseball game while we were in San Francisco.
We had never seen a baseball game before, whether in England or otherwise, so we didn't really know what to expect until we got there. But now we've been there, done that and bought the T-shirt, I thought it would be a good idea to give you some tips for seeing an American baseball game as a tourist. So let's dive right in.
1. Wear layers
No matter the time of year you go, you should attend a baseball game wearing layers. This is because they're often held outside and the games can last hours. When we went, the game lasted for nearly three hours. So make sure that you dress appropriately for the experience.
Even if the sun is shining, it's likely to cool off as the afternoon goes on and the evening draws in. Most seasoned baseball game goers bring blankets and flasks of hot beverages, regardless of the time of year. Make sure you go prepared if you're looking to have a comfortable experience.
2. Go & buy some classic food items (& make sure one of them is a foot long hot dog)
It wouldn't be a classic American baseball game without tasting some of the classic foods available at the stadiums. Some of those food items include foot long hot dogs, a tray of nachos, some garlic fries and anything cheesy.
You should do some research into which foods you should try before you go, just so that you can get the most out of your American baseball game experience. It wouldn't be an authentic experience without a tray of delicious American treats.
3. Pay attention to the signs around the stadium & bring your ticket with you when you get up
The signs that are up and around the stadium will tell you where you need to go, where the food is, where you can get merch from and the way to the car park, to name just a few things. Baseball stadiums are very big, even the small ones are difficult to navigate around, so pay attention to all of the signage to avoid getting lost.
Also, make sure you bring the ticket with you, either on your phone or in your hand. This way, if you do get lost, you can ask someone who works there how you can get back to your seat. Although, you should make a note of where your nearest loo is before you take your seat to avoid getting lost.
4. Store snacks & bags under your seat
There's quite a lot of space between your knees and the seats in front of you. You also have cup holders so you don't have to worry about knocking your drink over. However, you should still push all of your belongings under your seat.
Despite there being a lot of space between you and the person in front, it's still the kind thing to do to stand up and let people past you. It's frowned upon to leave obstacles in people's way when they're trying to get to their seat.
The done thing is to put your items under the seats rather than out in front of you. It's a small thing, but it can make all the difference when it comes to either standing out as a tourist or seamlessly blending in.
5. Locate the screens & do some research beforehand
The screens at a baseball game are imperative to helping you understand what's going on, especially if you aren't 100% sure of how a baseball game works. It'll help to do a bit of reading up about the point system before heading out there. this way, you'll be able to understand how points are scored as well as when to cheer and when not to react.
6. Stand up when the American National Anthem comes on
Just as you'd stand when the British National Anthem plays, you need to stand when the American one comes on before the game is played. This is something you should do if you're wanting to blend into the crowd. Also, if you don't stand up, you may end up fetching some dirty looks. Of course, you might not be able to stand, but if you can, make sure you do, even if you aren't American.
7. Don't take sides
It's not common for a British person to support an American baseball team. Many Americans will understand that you're a tourist looking to have an amazing experience that you simply cant get over here.
In fact, they're all very friendly and we had an amazing time at the San Francisco Giants Oracle Park Stadium. But it's always better, if you want to slip under the radar, not to choose a side. Just enjoy the game and clap when other people do. It's the courteous thing to do when you're watching an American baseball game for the first time.
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post? Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips for attending an American baseball game as a tourist and I'll see you again very soon with some brand new content!
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