10 rules for Charlotte Knights baseball fans
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It’s finally baseball season, and if you didn’t know it, a picture of BB&T BallPark should be listed beside “perfect” in the baseball dictionary. As a former baseball player and former fan of the game*, I have attended my fare share of games throughout America and I honestly believe that nothing can touch our uptown ballpark.
With the goal of making attending games more enjoyable for you, and more importantly the people around you, here are 10 rules I recommend to follow as a fan.
(1) No cursing. Shouldn’t have to say it but we all have “that friend” whose grasp of appropriate adjectives tends to disappear after a beer. Remember, if you can see a kid they can probably hear you (not sure if this is true, but generally a good policy to have).
(2) Know when to ask for an autograph. Either get to the stadium before the team starts warm ups or wait until after the game. Would you want someone to beg for your autograph while you are typing up a memo to corporate? Also unless you are below the age of 12, please do not beg a grown man for an autograph, it’s a little creepy.
(3) Be creative when heckling. Don’t just tell someone they are stink, rather find a random fact (family is off limits) or have fun with them on the field. The goal isn’t to see how mean you can be, it’s to distract them from the game. (Also, please see rule #1).
(4) Unless you are below the age of 16 (or with a kid) don’t bring a glove. Nothing is more impressive than snagging a foul ball with a bare hand, and nothing is more boring than catching one with a glove.
(5) If you catch a foul ball give it to a kid. There is nothing special about a baseball if you are an adult, but for a kid it can be mind blowing. Plus no one looks cooler than the person who snags a foul ball with a bare hand then hands it to a kid like it’s no big deal.
(6) When the game is happening keep your eyes on the field. Seriously. Foul balls are a real thing and I don’t want you to catch a laser to the face.
(7) Unless you have to, don’t get up during an inning (this rule includes the wave which should be banned from all sporting events). Baseball has plenty of breaks for you to go to the bathroom, get food/beverages, etc.
(8) If you are going to take a group photo wait until in between innings. Seriously no one wants to see a group selfie while the game is going on. (Also see rules #6 & #7)
(9) Know that you are going to have to spend some money at the stadium. By now we all know that BB&T BallPark has some expensive items, but complaining about it does nothing. Just bite the bullet and realize how great a stadium it is, and how its pretty neat that you can drink craft beer brewed in Charlotte at the ballpark.
(10) Don’t miss the first pitch. Seriously. Nothing is more frustrating about Charlotte sports fans than their belief that every sporting event starts 15 minutes after the time stated on the ticket.
*Games should not last 3-4 hours or have 1,378,262,388 delays during them