GAME ON! A NEW TWIST ON ST. LOUIS SPORTS, DRY JANUARY AND THE PRICE OF A BEER

From Mizzou Football to the Chiefs, and St. Louis CITY SC, Hippos Cannabis Is Giving Adult Sports Fans Another Option

By Grayling Holmes

Last week, my friend Cassie and her partner called with some news they thought would be right up my alley.

"Grayling, we've got something new you need to try!"

Now, when Cassie calls with a recommendation, I listen. After all, she's the one who introduced me to something called Dry January last winter.

Dry what?

I had never heard of it! (Yeah, I'm a nerd)

For the uninitiated, Dry January is the annual challenge of giving up alcohol for the entire month. Thirty-one days. No cocktails, no wine, no beer. Not even a celebratory glass of champagne.

And guess what? I passed with flying colors!

For someone who spends a considerable amount of time attending galas, receptions, dinner parties, and charitable celebrations throughout St. Louis, that was no small accomplishment.

Cassie also introduced me to THC breath spray, which I subsequently picked up at Hippos Cannabis in Chesterfield. It became one of my preferred alternatives to alcohol at appropriate social occasions, from gatherings with friends to family celebrations such as Memorial Day.

Of course, cannabis isn't the same as abstaining from all intoxicants, and it certainly isn't appropriate everywhere. But the experience got me thinking about how many of our social traditions revolve around alcohol.

Which brings me back to Cassie's latest discovery.

Beer, Ballgames and Sticker Shock!

Let's talk sports.

If there's one thing St. Louisans know how to do, it's support our teams.

From the Cardinals at Busch Stadium to the Blues on the ice, St. Louis CITY SC on the soccer pitch, and Mizzou football, our sports enthusiasm runs deep. Like in bygone days when the Cards were winning pennants and the WHOLE town became Cardinals fans -- the whole city was on fire; St. Louis CITY SC is doing the same thing now. Their historic 21 game winning streak just cemented their gloried place in the Major Soccer League, quite an achievement for such an young franchise. Although Atta hadn't come out yet during the summer when I was cheering the Cards at Bush, both during the rare winning games, and the losers, I just had the THC breath sprays and "ice cold beers" as the beer hawkers were always yelling out.

Throw in the Kansas City Chiefs, whose devoted fans extend well beyond Kansas City, and you've got a calendar packed with reasons to gather around the television or head to a stadium.

My cousin Beverly is a diehard Raiders fan, so I know firsthand that football loyalties can be fiercely personal no matter what their team. It's not just local teams. Sunday Night Football is marching down the field to Super Bowl Sunday. It's GAME ON! throughout the land.

And what accompanies practically every game?

Beer. Lots of it.

Tailgating parties, sports bars, stadium concessions, and living-room watch parties all seem to have one thing in common: adult beverages flowing almost as freely as the conversation.

But have you checked the price of a stadium beer lately?

Twelve dollars for a big draft? WHAAAT?!

I remember sitting at Busch Stadium thinking about how much money I was spending just to enjoy a cold one while cheering on the Cardinals.

When the Redbirds were winning, it was cause for celebration. When they were losing, well, let's just say the beer wasn't making the scoreboard look any prettier.

I couldn't help wondering whether there was a more economical way to enjoy the festivities without automatically reaching for another overpriced brew.

As it turns out, Cassie had something new to show me.

Introducing Atta Gameday

Her latest discovery was Atta Gameday vapes, a new cannabis product available through Hippos Cannabis.

And this time, the packaging practically screams team spirit.

The collection features compact, rechargeable cannabis vape devices with designs inspired by Missouri football loyalties.

Black and gold for Mizzou fans. Red for Chiefs enthusiasts.

Now that's clever marketing!

Rather than looking like an ordinary vape device, Atta Gameday incorporates the colors and personality of football fandom into its presentation.

Cassie had given me a sample to examine, and I was intrigued by the concept.

I couldn't help thinking how interesting it would have been to know about this alternative during baseball season.

But with football underway and hockey and soccer commanding plenty of attention, there are still countless opportunities to rethink the usual game-day routine.

A Little Flavor With Your Football

According to Hippos, the Atta Gameday collection includes several distinctive flavor profiles.

Fun Mints offers a crisp, peppermint-inspired experience, while Mango Tango brings a tropical twist. Badass Blueberry rounds out the lineup with a sweet-tart berry profile.

The devices are compact enough to fit into a pocket or purse, and each comes prefilled with 0.5 grams of cannabis oil, with a USB-C charging port.

For adults who already use cannabis, the concept offers a different option from the usual alcoholic beverages.

But there are important distinctions worth understanding.

Cannabis affects people differently from alcohol, and THC products can impair coordination, judgment, and reaction time. The amount of oil in a device does not indicate an individual dose or its THC potency. Anyone considering a product should check its label and speak with a knowledgeable dispensary associate.

And while cannabis may be an alternative to alcohol for some adults, it isn't a substitute for a sober Dry January if the goal is to avoid intoxicating substances altogether.

There's a Time and Place for Everything

Now, before anyone gets the wrong idea, I'm not suggesting that sports fans start vaping in the stands at CITYPARK, Enterprise Center, Faurot Field, Arrowhead Stadium, or Busch Stadium.

Cannabis consumption is subject to venue restrictions and Missouri law, including restrictions on public use. These products are better considered for lawful private settings where the host permits them.

And please, don't drive after consuming THC. Just as with alcohol, impaired driving is dangerous.

The point isn't to replace one excessive habit with another.

It's to recognize that adults have choices, and that enjoying a football game or a gathering with friends doesn't have to revolve around drinking beer after beer.

A terrific party can be built around delicious food, spirited conversation, great company, and plenty of alcohol-free options.

In fact, that was one of the most valuable things I learned from my first Dry January.

You don't have to drink to have a wonderful time.

Hippos Brings the Game-Day Conversation to Chesterfield

For those curious about Atta Gameday, Hippos Cannabis operates a dispensary at 17409-G Chesterfield Airport Road in Chesterfield.

Adults 21 and older can inquire about the collection, its flavor profiles, THC potency, and current availability.

I appreciate that Cassie continues to introduce me to new ideas, particularly ones that challenge the assumption that every celebration requires a cocktail.

And if there's one thing I've learned from covering St. Louis society, it's that traditions are constantly evolving.

Here's to a Different Kind of Game Day!

Whether you're cheering for the Tigers, rooting for the Chiefs, following the Blues, or passionately supporting St. Louis CITY SC, the excitement of sports is about far more than what's in your glass.

It's about the roar of the crowd, the suspense of a close game, the camaraderie of friends, and those unforgettable moments when your team pulls off an impossible victory.

So thank you, Cassie, for another interesting discovery.

And to my fellow sports enthusiasts: enjoy the game, celebrate responsibly, and remember that the best part of any winning season is being able to enjoy every moment of it.

Game on, St. Louis!

Hippos Cannabis: hipposcannabis.com

Editor's note: Cannabis products are intended for adults 21 and older. THC can cause impairment and carries health risks. Consumption is prohibited in many public venues, and driving while impaired is illegal. Cannabis should not be combined with alcohol.