Why do people leave early?  Do they leave a movie 10 minutes before it’s over?  Do you stop reading a mystery novel before you find out who did it?  Are you so busy you can’t wait 5 min injury time?  Are you too important to support your team by staying?  Maybe you’re a doctor due in surgery and you’ve delayed it long enough. When you are embarrassed your team is down 3-0 even that shows you are a bandwagon jumper only along for the ride when its going good.  Would you want to miss your favorite player score the best goal ever even though your team lost.  I bet the Turkish fans who left early to avoid fight traffic rush hour during the Euro Cup must be really happy they saved those few extra minutes.  

As an example, AC Milan vs Real Madrid was a boring first half (Champions League 09/10) but had a very exciting second half.

Don’t think I don’t know what I’m talking about.  Vancouver is different than other cities, due to poor planning of city streets and not enough public transit.  Not to mention that all our big venues are located in the heart of downtown, full of lights and one way streets and if one or more events are on at the same time, good night, it’s worse than rush hour on a rainy Friday of the long weekend.

No give me the last few minutes of glory and the chance to get the game ball or an autograph.  Besides I wouldn’t want my team to look up and see a bunch of empty seats.  I want them to know I are here.  I am supporting their hard work until the bitter end, we’re in it together.  Maybe because if I could be on the field I would.  If they wouldn’t leave the field then I won’t leave my seat.