Chaperone Needed-Opportunist present

For 6 plus years now I've needed a "chaperone" to attend my own kids games/events and what not. If one is not with me, I'm "cornered" by an opportunist. Today I decided that I'm done hiding what goes on when I'm left alone at any of my own children's events.  Right or wrong, I'm done pretending and I'm done covering and hiding the ugly truth for someone else. Before being with my husband, my Father attended all the events with me. 1. Because he enjoyed seeing the girls do their thing, but 2. Because he knew that if someone (anyone) wasn't with me that the opportunist would take advantage. Now I have my husband attend most things, but of course there are times in life that someone can't always be right there, sitting or standing next time. And trust me, for a woman such as myself, who is strong and independent it upsets me more that I "need" someone just so that I'm not confronted or dealing with nasty comments (you wouldn't even believe the comments).
I always thought that as time goes on thing would settle, the dust would be gone. But it turns out this type of opportunist is one that won't give up, thrives off these times and is none the less a person that will never be an actual adult, regardless of age. So what am I suppose to do? I can't run, I can't hide, I can't not attend the events and I can't take it. When my "chaperone" isn't there, my skin crawls, I wait for the comments, I hold back what I'd love to say (because I'm an adult, the bigger person), I ignore, but how long do I need to continue doing this? All I want is to go to my children's events, be happy, watch them and then go home with the kids.
I always sit/stand there thinking, "Do others know what's happening?" " Look at all these other people, happy to be at the events, getting along, smiling and not on the verge of tears".  I don't like to compare, but when I'm caught in these situations I feel like that battered woman, who can't say a thing, can't yell out and can't get the heck out, I'm trapped. Of course, I'm not being "battered", but the feelings that go through a person's head in my shoes, is the same-I can promise you that. I can promise you that you'll see me looking the same and smiling, but it's to hide what's occurring or what has. And if you were in my head, you'd feel the overwhelming anger that I'm holding back as my heart is racing, the sadness as the tears are forming, the chills as the hair on my arms are rising and at times, the fear. Perhaps I should make light of the situation, bring a sign "Chaperone needed--opportunist present".