Taking a hamper to a sporting event. Inappropriate or not?

It’s the important matters of the day that we discuss over dinner at work.

• It depends entirely on the event of course. I don’t own a hamper, but I can’t help but think that if I did, I’d be taking it to a cricket match.

  Comment by Roo Reynolds — August 16, 2007 @ 1:19 pm

• I agree with Roo - context is everything. Polo: you get turned away unless you have a hamper (unless your manservant is bringing it). Darts: you get beaten up if you have a hamper (unless it’s a hamper full of pork scratchings and ale, but even then, best not call is a hamper).

  How about that for some flagrant stereotyping.

  Comment by Nick O'Leary — August 16, 2007 @ 3:55 pm

• Related: Taking a hamster to a sporting event. Inappropriate or not?

  Comment by Mikey J — August 16, 2007 @ 4:16 pm

• I agree, it is all about the context.

  My theory was that you can categorise sports events by the people that attend, and you can categorise the people who attend by the stuff they take with them.

  Some sporting events aren’t really about the sport as much as the social occasion that goes with them. Wimbledon, I suggest, is more of a social event with a sideshow of a tennis match, where as a none league football match, people care more about the game than the social occasion.

  People would never take a Hamper to a none league game, at most they’d take a hip flask and buy a pie at the game. Wimbledon would definitely be the hamper crowd.

  For the record, I’m with the none-hamper carriers. And the Hamsters Mikey.

  Comment by Darren — August 16, 2007 @ 4:55 pm

• why would you bring your laundry to a sporting event

  Totally appropriate to bring hamsters, though.

  Comment by kellysmack — August 16, 2007 @ 9:39 pm

• Heh, ok I was definitely meaning the English definition of hamper, as in a big wicker basket that you put food in, not your washing. Besides I’m sure at American events you are well catered for whatever your food requirements may be.

  Comment by Darren — August 17, 2007 @ 7:42 am

• That’s entirely the point, it has to be a wicker basket type of hamper. I seem to remember Daz saying something about you having to take it inside the sporting event too, I wonder whether Henman Hill is really considered inside Wimbledon? This argument stemmed from whether it’s permissable to eat your hamper contents before entering the event or not

  Comment by Graham — August 19, 2007 @ 6:25 pm

• But isn’t going to any sporting event a social event, unless you go on your own and be one of those crazy people who yells to the pitch/field/court etc as though their comments really will make a difference to what the players are doing, and then going home straight afterwards?

  Hampers in carparks - will get them at horsey events, and possibly even at rugby union. Can’t see it happening at a league match though. Think it might be one of those north-south things again. Maybe because the weather is better down here?

  Comment by Beth — September 5, 2007 @ 12:52 pm

• I would agree that any sports event is a social occasion, but I think in some sports it’s more important than the actual action that’s going on.

  I don’t think any fans who take a hamper are going to be unable to sleep the night before because of nerves about what the outcome of the event will be. They’ll be more concerned about having the right utensils and wine glasses.

  Comment by Darren Shaw — September 5, 2007 @ 8:11 pm

• is a sandwich and a packet of hula hoops (and an apple for me) in a Sainsbury’s bag considered a hamper?

  Comment by Hanan — September 9, 2007 @ 8:17 pm

• No that’s fine, you could take those to any sporting event.

  Comment by Darren Shaw — September 9, 2007 @ 8:43 pm