I got an e-mail last night from my Uncle in Ohio talking about Jay Bruce, and how impressive he was in his first two games. I began thinking to myself, "I wonder if my wife and I could go up for a Reds game this summer?" I haven't been in Ohio since 2003, and that was for my 20 year high school reunion. I did catch a game at GABP while I was there though. A loss to the Marlins no less, uggh! So again, thinking, is it worth the money to take a long weekend to CTown to see my last place Reds. Hmmm! Lets do the math
It is 407 miles from my home in North Georgia to Cincinnati. The car gets 22mpg highway, on about a 15 gallon tank. OK! Thats 814, just to get to the park in back, but have to stay in Dayton with family to save on hotel. Wait? Is it cheaper to stay in Newport than the extra 220 miles for two trips to ballparkl from Dayton? OK, have to do some more math?
OK, here it goes. Time to do some cipherin' as they say here in Joja!
Gas - 3.89 a gallon - 1034 miles, rounded up to 1100 for Skyline and White Castle trips (crap, forgot about that extra expense!) OK, back to the gas. 1100 miles/22mpg=50 gallons! wow that seems like a lot. OK so thats rougly $194.50 for gas. 4 tickets to a Reds game. They dont have to be great seats, Outfield or Upper deck don't matter. Lets see what they have? OK, splurge a little and get some decent seats for one game, and cheap seats for another. Couple of infield box seats for game one. $42 a piece. $84 bones. Couple of Moondeck seats for game two. $22 a piece. $44 for second game, OK. Have to park. Crap! OK, gonna figure $8 a day. Don't mind a little hike before the game. Another $16. Food at the ball park! Lets see. I have eaten nothing but Skyline and White Castle since arriving in Ohio. Wait! I did have a Marions pizza in Dayton my first night back (no charge there, haha! Uncle Paid!) Let's have the old standby. 2 dogs, 2 cokes, 2 peanuts. havn't been to the ball park in a while, I'm figuring I just dropped $16. OK, I can take it. OK, weekend series is over and dropped about $100 on eating out for two days. Not to mention the extra $5 had to spend on some Pepto-Bismol. So I had a good time, got to see some family in Dayton. Got to catch a couple of Reds games, win, lose or draw, doesn't matter. Stayed with family for free. Lets see if it's worth it!
- Gas - $194.50
- Tickets - $126.00
- Food - non ballpark - $100.00 (I'm a fat guy)
- Food ballpark - $32.00
- Parking - $16.00
- MIsc - $100 (wife shopping)
- Pepto - Bismol - $5.00
FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS!!!!!! 573.50
Do I really love the Reds that much? Probably. Do I really miss my family that much? Probably not! Do I factor in what happens if it rains, and the game gets canceled? I'm thinking this will take place in July. Hmmm, shouldn't be too hot in GABP in July. Only like sitting in a sauna. Damn! have to get someone to watch my Dogs!!! Forget it! Thank goodness for DirecTV and Air Conditioning! Good Luck Reds! I'll be cheering you from the living room!