I love sports. Whether it be baseball, hockey, football or the occasional basketball game, you will always find me cheering on my favorite teams at a sporting event. Since I have grown up, the tradition of attending games has stuck with me and will probably stick with me throughout my life. Specifically, I have an undying love for America’s favorite pastime, baseball.

Baseball has, and always will, hold a special place in my heart. In all honesty, once baseball season ends I spend the rest of the fall and winter months longing for baseball season to begin again. There is not much that I look forward to like I do the beginning of baseball season. After attending my 10th Opening Day game this year, I have found my excitement for the 2018 baseball season rapidly growing. Here are reasons in which you should be excited for the beginning of the 2018 baseball season, too.

For starters, baseball fans and non-baseball fans alike can agree that the atmosphere of a baseball game is undeniably different from any other. Between the food, the beer, the unique aesthetic of each stadium and the game itself, there is a lot to keep fanatics and casual fans alike busy and content. Speaking of the food and beer, there are so many delectable options that everyone and anyone can enjoy at any given stadium.

Throughout my life, I have visited 16 different ballparks, located in 16 different cities and that have an array of food and drink options. You can always try a new dish or stick with an old favorite. Whether you go for traditional favorites like hot dogs, peanuts or crackerjacks, or you go for a more sophisticated new favorite, you will not be disappointed.

Additionally, it can be argued that a baseball game can double as a social gathering. When you attend a game with your friends or family, there are endless things to talk about and it is hard to get bored. If you attend a game alone, you could always talk to your neighbors. The people in the seats next to you and in the rows surrounding you won’t bite, you all share a common love for baseball, or attending baseball games at least.

Not for nothing, the 2018 season might simply give you hope for one of your favorite teams to win it all with a World Series victory this upcoming fall. Maybe your favorite NFL team continually fails you, or your NHL and NBA teams haven’t been looking so hot, or unfortunately, maybe any combination of the three. With a new sports season, comes an array of new hope for a team to reign successful.

A fresh start, a new beginning can mean everything to a city that is used to facing defeat year after year. However, regardless to how your team ends up doing in the end it is important to remember to have fun and to enjoy baseball seasons while it lasts. You may not be able to control the game score, but you can control how enjoyable your experiences are.

With these reasons to be excited in mind, have hope in your team and sport their gear proudly. No matter what happens, remember to enjoy the ride while it lasts because the 2018 baseball season will be over before you know it.