Clear eyes, obstructed views, bad seats: Satisfy the fan who

Kalan Hooks, ESPNOct 29, 2024, 01:34 PM ET Michael Barker keeps in mind the most iconic play that he missed since of a blocked view.When Barker was

trying to find a ticket to view the Gardner Minshew-led Washington State Cougars take on the Oregon Ducks in 2018, the average cost was over$ 700. He wound up discovering one for$250, but it came with an unforeseen problem.Once he got to his seat, he was surprised to discover a giant

light pole blocking his view of the game– a blockage that wasn’t marked on the ticket. It ended up triggering him to miss a 6-yard goal pass in the reactionary corner of the Washington State end zone.The just thing Barker could see were his fellow fans tossing their hands up in excitement after the play.”After that, I wanted to caution individuals about obstructed views because of how I was affected,” Barker told ESPN.Barker, a California real

estate agent, took three weeks off work in the summer season of 2017 to search college football stadiums– and to go to the

Stanley Hotel in Colorado, which partially motivated Stephen King’s novel” The Shining.”He checked out 99 schools, which offered him on the concept of taking a trip to different college schools to attend college football games with a specific objective: helping fans prevent subpar viewing experiences.Instead of the best seat in the house, he looks for the opposite.”I started to light fires on social media, and ever since we sort of branded it as obstructive-view signals.

And now it’s my responsibility to do that at every arena,”Barker said.Since starting his journey, Barker has gone to 222 college football venues, consisting of all 134 FBS stadiums– a turning point he reached by seeing the Kennesaw State Owls upset the Liberty Flames last week. Shot of the Night Fifth Third Arena-Kennesaw, GA – 1st profession @kennesawstfb game – FBS school # 134 out of 134 – Video game # 44 of the 2024 season pic.twitter.com/T7yI301cBl!.?.!— College Football Campus Trip (@cfbcampustour)October 24, 2024 BARKER’S PREPARATION FOR an arena see begins seven months ahead of time. It

includes looking into images and seating charts. Along with an online search, repeat arena check outs have been some of his
most helpful work. When Baker checked out Indiana’s Memorial Stadium in April for the Hoosiers’spring game, arena officials wouldn’t let fans on the home side of the arena where journalism box resides. However he was still able to identify where journalism box protruded. He took out his phone, snapped a picture from throughout the field and made a note of the potential obstruction.Months later, Barker went back to the arena when Indiana handled Western Illinois throughout the routine season. As soon as the gates opened, Barker ran over to the left of the press box and beinged in Section 108, Row 41, Seat 104, where he estimates just 64 %of the field might be seen. He could not see the action up until the line of scrimmage moved past the 25-yard line towards midfield.He also recalled an experience at the 2023 Cotton Bowl in between Missouri and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium. He faced 2 out-of-town fans who were greeted with obstructed views that they stated weren’t kept in mind on their tickets.According to Barker, both fans could view only about 30 %of the field.To avoid other fans from having the same experience, he took a photo from each area and described the fans ‘experience on Instagram. “You do not know what takes place till you put your butt in the seat and you look and can’t see the field. I felt bad for them, however if I can assist in any method, then it deserves it. “Obstructed View Alert Sections 438, 417 & so on One of SEVERAL obstructed views in AT&T Arena’s 400 level. In 438 a fan took a trip from Missouri & paid$170. In 417 the ticket was donated to a veteran.

30 %of the field is obstructed & absolutely nothing was divulged prior. Inappropriate! pic.twitter.com/frvgbPEUtt!.?.!— College Football Campus Tour(@cfbcampustour)December 30, 2023 That wasn’t Barker

‘s only blocked occurrence including the Buckeyes.Of all the unacceptable seats Barker has actually occupied, he says one of the worst is at Ohio Stadium. He went to Ohio State when the Buckeyes handled Michigan State on Nov. 11, 2023, and

beinged in Section 11C, Row 41, Seat 31– the greatest row in the stadium.The ticket

for his seat was listed for sale with an “blocked”note due to the fact that the press box jutted out near the row. Barker could see only one end line, which amounts to 8% field visibility.Obstructed View Alert Area 11C Row 41 Seat 31 Amongst the various obstructed views at Ohio Stadium, this is the outright worst. 8 %field visibility due to the press box intruding 20+rows into the stands. Was advised seats were for sale, but identified obstructed.

Buyer beware! pic.twitter.com/hBq5S8DHFp!.?.!— College Football Campus Trip( @cfbcampustour )November 12, 2023 That exact same day, he encountered 3 fans who unknowingly acquired season tickets with obstructed views. According to Barker, this detail wasn’t revealed on the sale listing.

Ticket circulation companies like SeatGeek and StubHub list whether a view is obstructed when selling a ticket, but whether a view is defined as such is usually as much as individual venues, according to their aid pages.”He tried to decrease it and state

,’Hey, I might see the videoboard and it’s not an issue,'”Barker stated of his interaction with among the fans. “… You don’t want to get ripped off at an event. And if I could help anybody out with that through social media, then I feel honored to be able to do that.”DURING COLLEGE

FOOTBALL SEASON, Barker takes a trip to four to six games each week– sometimes participating in two or three in the same day. The trips can get pricey.”I live in California, and it’s the hardest place to take a trip due to the fact that like 80 %of programs are east of Texas,”he said.Barker self-funds his journeys, which leads him to budget as frugally as possible. When he flies to a game or rents a car for transportation, he avoids getting a hotel space. Instead, he oversleeps an airport or inside a rental car to keep expenses down.Editor’s Picks 2 Related” I joke that whatever rental cars and truck I get, I put the word hotel in front of me. So Hotel Camry, Hotel Jeep,” Barker said. Barker estimates he spends an average of$ 35,000 on travel per season.Barker invests roughly $150 on one-way airline tickets around 15 to 20 times each month, averaging about$2,250 to$3,000 month-to-month. He likewisespends approximately $60 each day on a rental car, amounting to about $1,080 through 18 college football game days each month.When he gets here in a city for

a football game, the first thing he does is locate a supermarket where he invests about$25 on food that can last him through the day. To conserve cash, he set an individual guideline: No purchasing food at airports or during games. Paying for parking is likewise off limitations in his effort to stretch every penny.He frequently goes through the process of getting a media credential for arena access, but if denied, he counts on his social media fans for tickets.”When I put my schedule out weekly, there’s a community of people that want to assist me out,” Barker said.pic.twitter.com/ipMXMLMbZ0!.?.!— College Football School Trip (@cfbcampustour)October 28, 2024 Though Barker’s quest

is self-funded, he spends for his travel and costs with airline charge card, which assists him rack up points to help with overhead.” If you want to go to 80 college football games, then you eliminated all those other costs and you do it as cheap as possible,”he said.Barker’s thriftiness was on complete display screen when he went to Eastern Washington’s season-opening home match against Monmouth. Barker took a$2 bus trip from Spokane International Airport to the school. Once he got here, he consulted with Kelsey Hatch-Brecek, Eastern Washington’s director of alumni relations, with whom he linked by means of social media and who provided him a trip of the campus.Not having a hotel space to

save his valuables, Barker placed his backpack in the alum’s lorry throughout the trip. He collected it as soon as the game concluded before catching the last bus from Eastern Washington back to the airport. Though his flight didn’t leave until 5:30 a.m. the next morning, Barker came to eviction at 11:30 p.m. and

waited there overnight.Eastern Washington beat Monmouth that day, however it was Barker’s pockets that won in the end. He determined that a hotel

and rental car would have cost him$210, however he spent just$ 4 on transportation and” lodging.””So it’s not enjoyable. Nobody likes to sleep on the floor in the airport.

But these are the example that if you love travel, if you enjoy college football, and you’re trying to be, you understand, as

cost-effective as possible, you’re willing to do these things, “Barker said. Throughout the 2023 season, Barker estimates he lost 11 pounds from the stress of taking a trip and bad nutrition.THE CURATOR OF @cfbcampustour on X and Instagram credits his online followers for keeping his mission alive.”I would not be traveling if it wasn’t for social media, because the community that is out there, you understand, I’ve had the ability to develop around myself,”Barker said.”People are awesome. … I have buddies all over the country, and it’s all because of Twitter and college football. “When you go to these individuals’s town for the very first time, they see it in their idealistic view because they graduated from there. So when you meet them, they’re attempting to offer you the experience to see it through their eyes. And that’s unique because that’s

their experience. And, you understand, my account is practically like I’m showcasing these locations for people, ideally to inspire them.” Barker prepares to keep chronicling arenas for the love of his followers and arena infrastructure. “I wish to keep doing this as long as I can,”Barker stated.” And once again, I’m simply grateful to be able to, you understand, showcase this things on social networks, since in my viewpoint, college sports, college football in specific, is the best sport in the world. “