There are a number of factors that influence our rooting interests in sports over time. With the continued rise of “bandwagoning”, as athletes and teams become more intertwined with popular culture and stay at the forefront of mainstream media, the lines of fandom have become blurred. Today’s modern sports world, filled with worldwide internet, DVR, YouTube videos, and 24/7 SportsCenter, allows fans to be connected from coast to coast and across the globe – thus opening up options to root for players and teams beyond the local market.
In recent years, we have seen an explosion in fans for successful teams such as the Seahawks, Patriots, Broncos, Warriors, Heat, Cavaliers, Blackhawks, and more. Do you see the trend? This isn’t surprising, nor is it new, as most people want to associate with success. How do you think the Yankees grew to become the most recognizable franchise in American sports? A World Series dynasty.
With so many presumptive “bandwagon” fans, the question always rises. Are they even true fans? Or are they simply “fair-weather” – around for the success and gone at the first sight of failure? In the end, who a person roots for is not up to us. We may not agree or we may doubt their sincerity. However, what if one wanted to legitimately switch allegiances?
With this in mind, I believe there is a cycle throughout our life in which select “windows of opportunity” open up over the years, where selecting and/or switching allegiances is permitted. This takes into account that there are other fandom factors that impress upon us during our lifetimes, including personal relationships, home relocation, and travel. Aside from these periods of time, a fan is locked into his or her fandom, with unwarranted changes falling under the “bandwagon” section.
The initial window of fandom is open from when a child starts watching or playing sports. Rooting interest may be determined by family loyalties, through youth teams, or a role model “superstar” player. Children are quite impressionable, especially at a young age, so the window stays open until the end of elementary school. There is ample time for kids to move around and find what team they can connect with and root for – and this bouncing around happens rather often. One day, it’s Team A because their best friend loves them. The next, it’s Team B because Cool Uncle Steve gave them a poster. But as sports become more serious, both in personal competition and rooting interest, so does the ability to latch onto a franchise. Ever wonder why almost every team gives something away to kids 13 and younger who attend a ballgame? It’s all about forming that emotional connection early (and taking their money later – but that’s for another discussion).
Following this, the window remains closed until high school graduation. At such a pivotal cross-section of a young adult’s life, the options open up once again. Often times, fan loyalties change or adapt based on a move to college, in a new city with new friends and a new lifestyle. While NCAA Athletics, especially schools with D1 programs, dominate the college landscape, geographical proximity to new major league teams can be enticing, especially if loyalty to a team wasn’t cemented as a child. On their own for the first time, college students can question how truly they connect with the team they root for – and can flip-flop during freshman year in the mind of being on your own, trying something new, and making it your own. After year one, however, the window slams shut again.
Subsequent other windows open following graduation of undergraduate and graduate programs, albeit for a brief period. This primarily allows new adults to assimilate into the town or city that they have decided to settle in and begin their individual lives. As relationships grow and eventually following marriage, one has the opportunity to align rooting interests with their partner and family, again often depending on geographical location or if one partner (or family) has a stronger loyalty than the other. However, relationships involving partners from rival fan bases can be an interesting dynamic.
The cycle comes to an end after this, barring any other unforeseen circumstance. Reaching this stage in life, the ability to switch teams on the fly seems fickle. At this age, fans understand the complexities and simplicities of being a sports fan. The overwhelming emotion that seemingly shouldn’t impact us. The experiences that somehow still can make or break our day and mood. Sports have become a way of life for most of us, and finding the right fit just makes it even better. They provide an outlet to escape from the real world and all of our problems; we dwell on the team’s failures and rejoice the successes. They really do epitomize our way of life. The real windows of changing one’s fanhood do not open often; when they do, however, the opportunity is there for the taking.
It should be said that most fans fall in love with a player, a team, a city, or the emotions of past events that changing just becomes too difficult or isn’t even an option. That is the path that I hope to stick with over the years, but if anyone needs an out from the constant disappointment or misery, just remember there ARE some legitimate ways to go about it. Just don’t claim you’ve been a fan forever and people will let you be.
