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How to Wear Business Dress in Box Seats

Are you the type to don body paint and a foam finger on game day? That is certainly your prerogative, but if you’re going to be enjoying the game with co-workers, clients, or professional contacts from box seats, your spirited ensemble probably won’t fly - not in the box seats, and not later on when your painted chest is featured on your company’s social media pages (what happens at the stadium does not always stay in the stadium).

Sporting events are usually thought of as casual environments to unwind and have some fun, but when you’re with colleagues you’ll probably want to dress more for the networking you’ll do with box mates and less for your team.

Here are some tips to make sure you’re on the right track.

Take it Down One Notch

You don’t need to wear a tux to the game, but you shouldn’t show up looking too casual either. A good rule of thumb is to dress down one level from whatever you consider normal business attire. So, if your company’s running the box, and your company’s dress code is typically Business Formal, shift it down to General Business but probably not Business Casual. If you’re going to be a guest in a box owned by a company whose dress code you’re not familiar with, it would be worth making a call or two to find out what’s appropriate.

Make Sure it’s Flexible

Taking in a game from box seats may be a more subdued experience compared with watching from the stands, but that doesn’t mean you should anticipate, and dress for, motionlessness. Cheering, clapping, and walking around are all part of the common box seat experience. Wear something that allows you to move around easily without having to pay much attention to how it looks. If you plan to wear a jacket, for example, it would be a good idea to choose one that can stay unbuttoned—like a blazer or a sportcoat. Also, a word to the wise: tucking in your shirt every few minutes can be a nightmare, especially if you’re eating messy finger foods. Go with a shirt you can leave un-tucked, if appropriate.

Assume You’re Going to Spill

Box seats are cleaner and roomier than bleachers, but not by much. Between your sauce-covered fingers and all those people navigating their way around you, it’s safe to expect a few spills. If you ever want to wear your game attire again, choose clothing articles that are relatively easy to clean, like cotton or polyester. Wool, silk and linen materials, on the other hand, are much less accommodating when lifting stains.

Give Friends a Heads Up

It’s helpful and considerate to inform a spouse or friends you bring about choosing to wear event-appropriate attire. Box-seat dress standards vary widely, so it’s possible your guests may visualize a very different ambiance than the one you have in mind. It’s best that they know very clearly what to expect ahead of time. No one likes to feel under or over-dressed.

Just remember: it may be a social event in a casual setting, but business rules still apply. It’s best to leave normal sports attire at home, unless you know it’s how others will be dressing, too.