Sleeping in the Stands

SI Staff | May 27, 2011

Sleeping in the Stands /

Sleeping in the Stands

For many fans, attending a live sporting event is a riveting experience far superior to sitting on their couch and watching the game at home. Other fans, however, mistake the stands for their coach at home. This gallery is a tribute to those fans. In this photo, the Mets provide another exciting day of baseball for one of their fans.

A tennis fan uses five seats to stretch out and nap during a match between Danai Udomchoke and Juan Carlos Ferrero at the 2007 Australian Open.

A rain delay at the 2010 College World Series provided the perfect opportunity for this baseball fan to catch up on his sleep.

This New Zealand cricket fan had trouble staying awake during a match against the West Indies so his friends tried to wake him up by dousing his hair in suntan lotion. It didn't work.

As fans clamor to get a good view of the 16th green at Bethpage, a fan escapes to a less populated area for a quick nap.

This Gator fan may have enjoyed himself a little too much at "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" and didn't save enough energy for the game against Georgia.

It's not always the fans who have trouble keeping their eyes open. In this photo, a TV cameraman appears to doze off as Justin Rose tees off on the 13th hole of the 2008 Masters.

Chicago White Sox fans camp out on the outfield grass of Comiskey Park during the "White Sox Sleepover," a fundraising event put on by Chicago White Sox Charities.

A fan sleeps among empty rows of benches on the Grandstand Court during the 2007 U.S. Open.

The excitement of the Masters isn't enough to keep this golf fan from catching up on his sleep.

Rapper Ja Rule's young son catches some Z's during a Heat-Knicks game at Madison Square Garden.

This sleeping fan provides amusement for those surrounding him during the first half of a Tottenham-Middlesbrough match.

Even front row seats at the U.S. Open weren't enough to keep this fan's interest.

USC may be one one of the nation's most exciting college football teams, but this fan couldn't stay awake long enough to enjoy the game.

Even Tom Brady couldn't keep this Patriots fan's eyes open as he dozed off during a 2004 Patriots-Jets game.

An entire family used the stands of Arthur Ashe Stadium as their bed during the 2002 U.S. Open.

A five-set match between Arnaud Clement and Sebastien Grosjean at the U.S. Open proved to be a snoozer for this tennis fan.

A five-overtime extravaganza between the Flyers and Capitals in 2000 was too much for this fan.

Cricket may be India's biggest sport, but it wasn't enough to keep the attention of these fans.

Racing fans nap in the stands during the Formula One Grand Prix of Malaysia.

Most tennis fans would kill for a ticket to Wimbledon, but these spectators used it as an opportunity to catch up on their sleep.

New York may claim to have the nation's most passionate fans, but this Giants fan couldn't muster enough strength to stay away during a 2009 Giants-Eagles playoff game.

Published May 27, 2011

SI STAFF