First Dates During the Playoffs? A Survival Guide for a True Fan

So, the playoffs are on. Your team is in it to win it, but you also just matched with someone who looks... promising. What now? Cancel the date? Miss the game? It’s a classic dilemma. This is your guide to having a first date during a big game—and actually making it work.

Finding Your MVP Online

It all starts on the dating app. Your profile is you're sales pitch, so don’t mess it up.

Crafting Your Profile

Show you're a sports person without being obnoxious. A picture of you at a game is fine, just maybe not the one where you're screaming with ketchup on your shirt. Use the bio prompts. Mentioning your team or a love for the "playoff atmosphere" works. The goal is to seem like a normal person with hobbies. Your profile isn't just another listing in a sea of a nasty hookup site, it's your chance to show you have a personality beyond the box score.

Spotting a Match

Look at their profile... closely. Do they mention sports? Great. If not, don’t panic. Look for clues that they're open-minded. Do they like trying new things, going to busy places, or seem adventurous? That’s your green light. You don’t need a superfan, you just need a good sport.

Bringing It Up

Don’t open the chat with "WANNA WATCH THE GAME???!!!". Be cool. Ask something like, "Any plans this weekend with the finals going on?" or "My team's playing so my stress level is sky-high lol. You into sports at all?". Their answer tells you everything you need to know.

Asking Them Out Without Sounding Desperate

How you ask is key. Don’t make them feel like a backup plan to the game.

Pick the Right Venue

You have two choices. If they're a fan, a sports bar is an obvious win. If they’re on the fence or not a fan... pick a cool brewery or a restaurant that just happens to have TVs. This gives them something else to focus on if the game is a dud.

The Invitation

Frame it right. Not, "I have to watch the game, so you can come if you want." Try, "I know this awesome spot with great food that'll have the game on Saturday. Wanna check it out?" The focus is on the place and you, the game is just background noise.

Game Time... How Not to Blow It

This is it. The actual date. Don’t be a clown.

Your date is the main event, not the game. Seriously. Your attention should be 80% on them, 20% on the TV. Ask them questions. Listen to their answers. Remember why you swiped in the first place. The whole point is to meet someone new, maybe someone different. The many benefits of online dating include meeting people who don’t share all your passions, which can actually be a good thing.

And manage your emotions. A high-five is fine. Spilling you're drink and yelling at the screen is not. Show passion, not a complete loss of control. If they ask a question about the game, answer it simply. Don’t give them a 10-minute lecture on the infield fly rule. Use commercial breaks to talk about something else completly.

After the Whistle: Did You Score a Second Date?

The date's over. Now what?

• The Follow-Up. Text them later that night. But make it specific. "Had a great time tonight. That final score was nuts, but hearing about your weird job was way better. Hope you got home okay!". It shows you were actually listening.
• Reading the Signs. You gotta look for real signs of mutual interest. Are their texts just one-word answers, or are they asking questions back? Quick, thought-out replies are a green light. Slow, dead-end messages... red flag. You'll know.
• Plan Date #2. The second date should NOT be another sports thing. This proves you like them, not just having a buddy for the game. Use something you learned. "Since you said you love tacos, we should definitely hit up that place we talked about this week. You free?"

See? It's not that hard. You can watch the game and meet someone awesome. Just be a decent human about it.