Summer can be a hard time for sports spectators in Utah. From the time the Jazz are eliminated from the playoffs in May until kickoff begins for college football, one has to get creative to get there local sports fix. Sure there are other sports but none that draw the magnitude of crowds that college football and NBA basketball do in the Beehive State. Here is a Summer Survival guide:
Step 1: Work out!
Summer time is great in most of Utah. The elevation is high enough that it normally doesn’t get too hot until you go down to the deserts of Southern Utah. That being said, it’s a perfect time to hike, run, walk or throw any type of ball.
We spend hours watching other people live their sports dreams on TV. Why not live your own dream? The world is your oyster.
Step 2: Go see a baseball game
Baseball is an American pastime but it’s difficult for the average sports fan in Utah to get excited when no MLB team exists in the state. Still, Triple A baseball is a level not too far below the Majors and that’s why a Salt Lake Bees game is the perfect family event.
There are usually fun activities for kids to do. You can have classic baseball food like peanuts and hot dogs. There is a grassy area for cheap general admission tickets where you can lay out and possibly catch a home run. And if the score is lopsided, do not leave until after the seventh inning so you can join in the tradition of singing “Take me out to the ball game.”
The Bees are the Triple A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Their current record is 45-45 which is good enough for second place in the PCL Pacific Southern Division. They are only 5 games behind El Paso for the Division title so it will be interesting to see how the end of the season pans out. Go support the Bees and maybe you could even get a picture with Bumble the mascot. Or a high five.
Or not.
Step 2: Get excited about the Jazz offseason
Ok maybe it’s not exciting to get bounced out of the playoffs but the Jazz have had a successful offseason. Jazz social media is always fun to follow from contract extensions, to #WallpaperWednesday to Summer League highlights.
The Jazz had a successful NBA Draft as they selected Grayson Allen with the 21st pick. He has been a well rounded player when he has played. The Jazz finished hosting a quick Summer League with a three way tie for 1st with a 2-1 record. They are now in the middle of Summer League play in Las Vegas. It’s only a 6 hour drive for the majority of the Wasatch Front so fans with some free time should support them!
Step 4: Watch Soccer
If you believe then just stand up on your feet
And shout it loud “REAL!”
Here at the riot the battle hymn’s begun.
We’re here for RSL!
Ok, maybe you don’t know the lyrics to the anthem of the Salt Lake based major league soccer team but know that games are great opportunities. It is even more fun to get box seats with a family or business and eat a bunch of food while you cheer for the home club. The season starts in spring and runs through the summer and the playoffs are in the fall.
Step 5: It’s ok you can countdown to football season
It might be hard for a lot of sports fans to get excited about some of the previously mentioned steps but that’s ok. There are plenty of summer sports camps to send your kids to so they can be just as crazy about sports as you.
College football has a lot of summer practices and will sometimes hold open scrimmages for fans to see and get autographs. There are plenty of preseason predictions that fans can look at and countdown until all the predictions get thrown out the window when the season starts. Here is one prediction: Sports will continue to amaze everyone throughout 2018!