We've gotten rusty, probably.
Rand: The pros and cons of where to watch Game 7
April 30, 2014 at 5:09AM
Many Minnesota sports fans haven't been invested in a series since 2010, when the Twins went meekly into the night against the Yankees. We haven't seen this level of drama since the Vikings vs. Saints NFC title game after the 2009 season. And we haven't combined a series of games plus drama for a decade, since the Wolves made their one postseason run.
With so much at stake in Game 7, how should a sports fan watch the Wild at Avalanche game Wednesday night? Assuming you don't have a prior commitment, there are four main options. All have pros and cons:
At home alone
Pros: Limited distractions, and you control your environment. Yell as much as you want. Get angry as much as you want. This lets you have maximum focus on the game itself.
Cons: The aftermath is pretty unsatisfying. If the Wild wins, there is nobody physically there with whom to celebrate. If the Wild loses, you are stuck alone in your own numb stupor.
At a home with a group
Pros: You still have pretty good control over the environment — snacks, drinks, seating, volume, etc. — while also eliminating the cons of watching all by yourself.
Cons: Not all sports-watching gatherings are created equal. If you are the type of fan who takes this game very seriously and you get stuck in a room with others who are not, the tension of the game could be usurped by frustration with your surroundings.
At a sports bar
Pros: If you've dedicated a block of time to watch the game outside your home, chances are the fans who join you will share your passion. One of the best games I ever watched at a bar was the 2012 Vikings regular-season finale vs. the Packers. Classic game, great crowd.
Cons: You have limited control over the environment, and if you are going with a big group you risk watching the game from an awkward angle.
Go big and fly to Denver
Pros: If you go all out and the Wild wins, it's the experience of a lifetime.
Cons: As of Tuesday afternoon, the price of a one-stop flight to Denver leaving at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday and arriving in time for the game was $433.
The cheapest game ticket on StubHub was another $75. So we're talking more than $500 minimum. If the Wild loses, you'll have lament on multiple levels. It's truly a go-for-broke move.
Michael Rand
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Kirill Kaprizov had three assists after going two games without much offense and taking a cut to the face.
