I know this is a crazy question.  But sometimes I actually wonder if the
earplugs don't contribute to tinnitus.  For example, I rode motorcycles
for 30 years without noticeable tinnitus.  Finally I began to use
earplugs, and then I took a motorcycle vacation during which I wore
earplugs. Thereafter, I had tinnitus.  

Now, when I go to a game, I always wear earplugs.  Baseball and football
are played here (Minneapolis) in a closed covered stadium, and it's
loud.  With earplugs it's much more pleasant, but again it seems my
tinnitus is worse after a game, despite the earplugs.  That seems odd,
as the noise does not seem excessive with earplugs in place.  Hence I am
wondering if the plugs themselves could be exacerbating the problem.

Does anyone else notice this?  The games don't seem that loud. Has my
hearing become this fragile?

Also, I have less trouble insert an earplug deeply in my right ear.
Presumably this confers greater protection, yet it seems my right ear is
now worse than my left ear.

I know it's a crazy idea, and I'll be the first to say: USE EARPLUGS.
(Or maybe USE EAR-MUFFS.)