I can only speak of myself and those who are seasonticket holders around me. Some won't make all the games because of work or private circumstances (marriage, expecting babies etc). But otherwise they all continue to go. For us it is a life style. It is an all day event. You get together with people, drink and eat and have a good time.
During the last game we had our own fun and celebrated first downs like we have just made the playoffs.
It is all about attitude and how you look at the games. For us it is entertainment. And to be honest going through hard times together will make the good times so much sweeter.
Most people who do not go on a regular basis, have very little investment in the team besides watching them on TV on Sundays and/or even became very recent seasonticket holders do not understand that Sunday's at the games in the stadium is a lifestyle. I grew up loving the Dolphins and I handed it down to my son. Now, in his 30s he continuous to tailgate with me and his friends who grew up like him joined my friends who began to love the Dolphins when we were a better team.
And like
@Albert Romano said: there is so much more to see and enjoy that even the cheerleaders become an afterthought.
For us it is not a waste of money. It is part of the entertainment budget.
Let me give you an example of a young college student becoming a seasonticket holder despite the fact that she is struggling with money but would rather spend the money on seasontickets than a night or two out partying.
After the recent relocation I was seated next to a gentleman who was a seasonticket holder for 20+ years. That was in 2015. He always came with his daughter which I really didn't pay much attention to since she sat on his left (I sat to his right). Last year's preseason (2018) some lady was sitting next to me whom I have never seen before. Since most in my area are long time season ticket holders I was curious and struck a conversation up with her. It was his wife. She told me that the previous March her husband past away. Since the new rules of seasonticket holder renewals are from Nov to Nov and the tickets were already paid for they decided to keep them for last year.
During the regular season I actually met his daughter which was hidden from sight in previous years. She told me that she doesn't know what to do with the tickets. Her mom is not that big of a fan to go to every game but she grew up loving the Dolphins and it has become a big part of her life. She dances (to everyone's delight around us), cheers and just has a good time. I said to her "[name redacted], you really think you can give that up. You have way too much fun." And with a big smile she says " You are right". She took over the tickets, renewed them and last year she became a part of our tailgate group as well. She can't make it to every game because of her college and part time work but she is exactly the person people on FH wonder "who wants to go to the games when we suck".
The home opener she didn't make it because of work but her mom came instead. After the game she texted me: "I can't wait for next week to see you all again."
That is the attitude of a seasonticket holder.
