The crazy story of a college football fan who searches for only the worst seats in every stadium

M ichael Barker ’s obsession with college football changed the moment he realized he had paid hundreds of dollars for a seat that barely let him see one of the biggest moments of the game.

In 2018, Barker bought a $250 ticket to watch Washington State face Oregon , a bargain compared with average prices that had climbed above $700. Once he reached his seat, however, he discovered a giant light pole blocking part of the field.

The obstruction hadn't been disclosed, and it eventually cost him a clear view of a six-yard Washington State touchdown. Barker could only tell what had happened by watching the fans around him throw their arms into the air.

“After that, I wanted to warn people about obstructed views because of how I was impacted,” Barker told ESPN. That frustration became the foundation for an unusual mission.

Barker searches for seats fans should avoid

The California real estate agent has since visited 222 college football venues, including all 134 FBS stadiums, while using social media to document sections where architecture, press boxes or support structures can ruin the experience.

His preparation can begin months before a game. Barker studies photos and seating charts, returns to venues when necessary and identifies areas where a press box or stadium structure may interfere with the view.

At Indiana’s Memorial Stadium , he estimated one seat allowed him to see only 64% of the field. At Ohio Stadium , the problem was even worse, with one seat offering a view of only one end zone, roughly 8% of the playing surface.

“You don't know what happens until you put your butt in the seat and you look and can't see the field,” Barker said. “I felt bad for them, but if I can help in any way, then it's worth it.”

His work has also highlighted cases where fans say the obstruction was not clearly disclosed before purchase, including two supporters he encountered at the 2023 Cotton Bowl who could see only around 30% of the field.

The mission comes with heavy travel cost

Barker ’s schedule is as demanding as the stadium research itself. During college football season, he travels to four to six games per week and sometimes attends two or three in the same day. He estimates the entire operation costs about $35,000 per season.

To make that possible, he cuts expenses aggressively. Hotels are often replaced by rental cars or airport floors, while food is bought from grocery stores instead of inside stadiums or terminals.

“I joke that whatever rental car I get, I put the word hotel in front of me. So Hotel Camry, Hotel Jeep,” Barker said.

His online following has also become an important part of the project, with supporters sometimes helping him find tickets or navigate new campuses.

“I would not be traveling if it wasn't for social media,” Barker said. “People are awesome... I have friends all over the country, and it's all because of Twitter and college football.”

Barker has already completed the full FBS stadium circuit, yet he has no plans to walk away from the mission.

“I want to keep doing this as long as I can,” he said. What began with one badly positioned light pole has turned into something much bigger: a nationwide effort to make sure the next fan knows exactly what they are paying to see.