Why You Should Always Grab the Schedule First
Decided to catch the Bangladesh Baseball League opener next year. Figured I’d just show up in Dhaka and wing it like I usually do. Big mistake.
Started my “planning” by scrolling social media clips from last season. Got hyped seeing those crowd shots and home runs. Thought how hard could it be? Booked my flight immediately after watching a 30-second highlight reel. Already picturing myself munching local snacks behind home plate.
The Reality Check
Friend from Chittagong asked me three days later: “Which stadium you heading to on opening day?” Blank stare. Didn’t even know there were multiple venues. Panic downloaded the league app – which crashed twice.
Finally found the schedule buried under news articles. Turns out:
- Opening triple-header across three cities
- First pitch at 8am local time
- Tickets split between online sales and walk-ups
- Dhaka game was the late slot at 7pm
Disaster Recovery Mode
My original flight landed at noon. Perfect for… absolutely nothing. Had to:
- Pay $90 to change to redeye flight
- Beg hostel for early check-in at 6am
- Hunt down mobile payment app for e-tickets
Worst part? Almost bought premium seats behind dugout – until local fan warned me that section gets monsoon drainage. Got cheaper tickets behind third base instead.
Lessons Smashed Into My Skull
Five takeways from my near-disaster:
- Asian leagues love morning games always check first pitch time
- “Opening Day” often means multiple games in multiple cities
- Google Translate can’t read stadium maps in Bangla
- Local weather determines best seating sections
- Never trust promo videos to show logistics
Sitting here now with confirmed itinerary and dry seats secured. Moral of the story? Checking the damn schedule isn’t boring adulting – it’s survival.