Moving to a new city can be an overwhelming process between the actual move, meeting new people, and getting acclimated to the new area. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to mean a complete upheaval of your life, even if you’re leaving behind your favorite local sports team. There are many ways you can enjoy the sports events you love from another town. The key is to keep an open mind and get a little help from technology.
Remember that moving is often a stressful time, so it will be helpful to have an outlet such as your favorite sport—whether it’s playing or just spectating—to get you through. FF Winners shares some great ways you can enjoy your fandom even after a move to a new city.
Meet New People
Living in an unfamiliar place can be tough, especially if it’s the town of a hated dynasty. Let’s say you move to Santa Cruz, you may want to clear out the Warriors, Giants, and 49ers energy to make way for your sports posters, logos, and banners. If you’re still looking for the right place to live – and the right living room to throw Superbowl parties – start hunting! The housing market in Santa Cruz is hot with houses selling within 25 days. Prices are up over last year, but they’re currently in a dip from the recent increase, so now is a great time to buy.
Despite thinking of the fans in your new city as the enemy, it’s important to get social and find sports fans of any stripe whenever you can. Check out local breweries and sports bars and hit up local games whenever possible. Even if it’s a team you’ve never heard of, you might find that you enjoy going to a physical game with other fans. The thing is, the longer you’re in your new city, the easier it will be to root for their teams, even if you harbor an undying love for the teams of your old city.
You can also use technology to your advantage with apps like Fanatics or FanWide, which allow you to connect with nearby sports lovers and find out where you can watch your favorite team play on television. You can even find out which bar or restaurant has the most patrons who love your team via check-ins, so you don’t have to worry about walking into a room filled with fans of the Bears if you’re a Cowboys fan. Many people also turn to Facebook and Instagram to connect with other fans.
Find Your Favorite Fan Fare
It’s called comfort food for a reason! Your favorite snacks can make all the difference when you’re in a new house in an unfamiliar city, so stock up on all the things you like to eat while watching your favorite team. If you’re moving to a different state or country and aren’t sure you’ll be able to find what you love there, buy a few of each item before the move so you’ll have it on hand and look online to see if you can have it shipped to your new place later.
Get Out and Explore
If you’re married or have a significant other, make a date to do some exploring around town in the first week and see what sort of sports-ve friendly places you can find. Try the local mall, pubs, sports bars, and even local museums, which can help you learn about the history of your new town and any sports teams it’s home to. The bonus? These are all family-friendly events that you can plan for year-round, depending on how many different sports you’re into.
Connect with Fellow Fans
Moving away from your favorite team can be disheartening, but if you stay connected with sports apps and cable channels that allow you to watch all the games, you’ll be able to keep up-to-date with their wins and losses and support them no matter where you are.
Keep an Open Mind
Even if you’re far away from your home team, you can show them your love and support no matter where you live. Keep in mind that attending local games or enjoying other teams doesn’t mean you’re turning your back on your favorite. Sports fandom can be a very personal thing connected to our identities from a young age, so it’s important to remember that you don’t have to give it up just because you’re in a different city.
You’ve always had the sports bug, and who knows? Your love of sports could even become a career. Having lived in at least two sports cities, you’ve had some pretty good looks at the sports leagues and an understanding of how avid the local fans can be. Consider starting a sports blog or becoming a sports journalist. While there’s some competition out there, you’ve never been afraid of an opponent, right? Why start now?
Relocating to a new town can be hard on everyone, but if you look for all the positive things it can bring, you’ll be able to enjoy this new chapter of your life even more. If you do some exploring, you’ll find plenty of places to enjoy your favorite sports teams and maybe even find some other displaced fans. And keeping an open mind may help you appreciate your new local teams, too.
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