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T RAVIS & A S HL E Y COMMON FACTOR: BOTH ARE RUNNERS – TRAVIS COMPETES IN TRIATHLONS; ASHLEY RUNS HALF MARATHONS. DATE LOCATION: SIOUX FALLS STAMPEDE GAME
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shley met Travis near the box office at the Denny Sanford Premier Center for what would be an evening of firsts. For both, it was their first Stampede game. It was also each of their first blind date. “She seemed pretty cool,” said Travis, when asked for his first impression. “She’s cute.” Beforehand, Ashley, who works at Nichols Media, and Travis, general manager of a Jimmy John’s, both said that they were most nervous about maintaining conversation with a stranger. However, when they took their seats minutes before
the puck dropped, the two began chatting easily. “He lives in Brookings,” said Ashley. “I went to school there, so we talked about that. It went pretty well.” The pair was forced to put their conversation on hold a few times, however, because the Stampede had an excellent first period. Each time they scored a goal, the arena would explode with applause and synchronized shouting. “Every time everyone starts clapping, you lose your train of thought,” said Travis. “At a sporting event, you lose focus,” Ashley agreed. “But I think the Stampede game was a good first date. It’s not like you’re sitting across from the person and feel like if there’s a
quiet moment you have to fill it.” After the first period, they went to the concourse to procure refreshments. Between the second and third, they explored the new building. Although it was their first game, they enjoyed listening to the diehard fans around them. “I had fun at the game,” said Travis. “There were people behind us who were really into it and knew everything about it. There had just been a trade and he knew all the stats about both players traded.”
When the game ended, they decided to say goodnight. “I found out one of my friends was at the game,” said Ashley. “So we exchanged numbers and I went out with my friend.” After the date, Travis said he’d see Ashley again, although he admits their opinions differ on some fundamental things. “She likes the bigger city, like Sioux Falls, over the smaller town, like Brookings. I like not as much traffic,” he said. Ashley had fun on the date and thinks she and Travis have potential, but only in a platonic sense. “I think we’d be better off as friends,” she said. “The blind date wasn’t awkward at all, but I didn’t see it as a romantic connection, either.” Verdict: Two weeks later, the pair has not talked. However, both say they would recommend blind dating to their friends.