What is the youngest a child should be at a sporting event?

Prior to having children, I always said you should not take a child to a sporting event before they are 5, or old enough to remember. My theory was that any younger, the child gets nothing out of it, and they are just an annoyance to the people around them.

Now I have a 20 month old boy (Henry) and my own eagerness to take my son to his 1st sporting event has overtaken the reasoning I mentioned above.

Today, I am taking Henry to see the Sioux Falls Storm's home opener. It is semi-pro indoor football, but here in Sioux Falls, the Storm are a big deal. They have won 4 consecutive championships. It should be a sold out crowd of 4000 plus today.

I am so excited to take Henry. He loves football. We eat Sunday lunch in front of Vikings games during the season, he loves wearing his purple.

In the back of my mind, however, I keep wondering if it is a good idea going against my original feelings on the minimum age to take kids to a game.

I justify it in my mind by thinking that even if Henry only sits still for half the game (with the aid of snacks and toys) it is still some exlusive time that he and I can spend together without his Mum or newborn sister. I know he will love that. I know he will enjoy the loud noises and introductions. We will have a good time, but I also know that this will be a great memory for me, and Henry will likely never remember it.

Is he too young to go to the game? Am I being selfish taking a 20 month old to a football game? I guess I will find out this afternoon