The trials and tribulations of die-hard sports fans

It was a boisterous night time in Philadelphia on Feb. 9 when Dan Starke, a freshman learning sports journalism, marched down Broad Street. Fans decked out in inexperienced had been packed shoulder to shoulder so tightly that he could not see previous the individual in entrance of him.

“Yo dude, let me get on your shoulders,” Starke stated to his good friend. “I want to see.” 

Garbage vans barricaded the world, enclosing hundreds of Eagles fans to 1 road. 

“Eventually, it got to the point where fans couldn’t even move,” Starke stated. “I climbed on top of a garbage truck, and then my friend climbed a pole.” 

Unlike the Eagles’ Super Bowl win in 2018, the Philadelphia police shunned pulling fans off the poles whereas cheers and loud noises erupted all through the night time. 

At sporting occasions, there are a number of differing types of fans, which generally fall underneath three classes: informal fans, bandwagon fans and die-hard fans. Casual fans attend a number of video games and might not present enthusiasm the complete time — they make up the bulk. Bandwagon fans are supporters as a result of a group or participant is performing effectively, however when the group loses, they’re rapidly off to the following group.

“Going to all of the games, traveling wherever the team goes, being there and supporting them,” Branden Tsethlikai, a 37-year-old die-hard Eagles fan, stated. “To me, that’s what a die-hard fan (is).” 

Sports have the facility to unite individuals of all backgrounds and additionally tear them aside. Historically, individuals have participated in sports for round 15,000 years, documented by cave drawings of wrestling matches and races. From the primary historical Olympics in 776 BCE in Greece to the gladiator video games from 105 BCE to 405 CE in Rome, to soccer in 1800s England, sports have advanced, however one factor stays the identical: their respective die-hard fanbases. 

Tsethlikai is from the Zuni Pueblo reservation in New Mexico. Since New Mexico does not have skilled sports groups and his household wasn’t eager on sports, Tsethlikai didn’t change into a sports fan till center faculty, when he started enjoying and watching soccer. 

“I became a big fan of the Philadelphia Eagles around 2000 because I liked the colors, the whole idea of the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, and what the eagle represents and symbolizes,” Tsethlikai stated. 

Starke turned a die-hard Eagles and Philadelphia Flyers fan in eighth grade throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when there was “nothing to watch.” Influenced by his dad, a religious Flyers fan, Starke turned one too. 

Both Starke and Tsethlikai really feel in another way about violence within the Eagles’ fan base. 

“Most Philly sports fans already have a bad rap for things that have happened 20 to 30 years ago,” Starke stated. “I still think that is a little ridiculous for people, like ‘Oh, you threw snowballs at Santa Claus.'” 

The Eagles are usually recognized for having a “passionate” fanbase, in response to Starke. 

“People tell me, ‘(Sports fans) from Philly are crazy or they’re ridiculous,’ Starke said. “We simply have ardour.” 

Tsethlikai related with the Eagles West fan club at Rockbar in Scottsdale. 

“It was a good feeling to go there and know there are other Eagles fans,” Tsethlikai stated.

Starke often hears opposing fans swear at one another, however has not seen bodily violence at a sporting occasion.

“I have seen videos when the Eagles won the Super Bowl of people starting fires,” Starke stated. “I didn’t personally witness it, but it definitely does happen.” 

Tsethlikai’s expertise as an Eagles fan who’s bodily distant from Philadelphia stays regular. 

“Even when the Eagles came out here to State Farm Stadium, I never saw or experienced any hostility or violent acts,” Tsethlikai stated. 

When Reddit customers within the r/ASU neighborhood had been requested about violence at sporting occasions, one consumer responded saying: 

“Violence has no place in sports and rivalries… though an exception in the case of UofA might be made,” an nameless Reddit consumer stated. “In the 1986 Territorial Cup, UofA beat ASU, spoiling their undefeated season and keeping them (temporarily) from the Rose Bowl. As if the taunts from the UofA fans in the stands weren’t enough, UofA fans had the audacity to rush OUR field and try to take the goal posts. Collective groans and audible sighs turned to wild cheers as the police and DPS, both foot and mounted units, set upon their students with batons and tear gas. A nice little concession for a truly sad day.” 

Mob mentality

Throughout millennia, fans proceed to indicate as much as assist their groups, however with this ardour comes battle.

“At the end of the day, you need your fans to buy into the rivalry. There needs to be a starting point that ignites it,” Mihir Sinhasan, a senior learning sports journalism, stated. 

Many rivalries are geographically primarily based, just like the rivalry between ASU and UA. Some rivalries are primarily based on the place the bulk of fans dwell, with many BYU fans situated within the Valley. different rivalries might even be politically motivated, in response to Sinhasan. 

His household immigrated to the United States from India, the place the most well-liked sport is cricket. India and Sri Lanka are set to host the cricket world cup in 2026.

“India and Pakistan have the biggest rivalry in all of cricket because of the political differences they’ve had over the past 75 to 80 years,” Sinhasan stated. “A lot of the disputes that they have in politics translate to sports.” 

If Pakistan makes the ultimate, Sri Lanka will host it, on account of India and Pakistan’s intense rivalry. 

Recently, ASU soccer began a rivalry with BYU. Tension elevated between the groups when Sun Devil fans rushed the sphere one second early throughout the second-to-last 2024 common season recreation. With each groups’ latest transfer to the Big 12 Conference and many BYU fans residing in Arizona, the rivalry continues to develop. 

Sinhasan witnessed some ASU fans taunting BYU fans and their gamers, whereas most rushed the sphere. 

Although unruly sports fans are a minority in comparison with all sports fans, they could look like the bulk on account of their information protection and their social media presence. 

“BYU fans have started telling themselves, ‘Hey, ASU fans are not good. If they win, they’re going to be rowdy,’ in Tempe, a very big party school,” Sinhasan stated. “It shows in their fans.” 

Groups of fans and gamers are likely to observe a pacesetter, in response to the Harvard Business Review. 

“The coach is often the (chief), as a result of the coach will speak to the gamers throughout follow and throughout their movie periods and say, ‘Hey, this rivalry has historical past.

The individuals care about this rivalry, we should always care about it as a lot as they do, as a result of it is deep and it is historic,'” Sinhasan stated. 

The darkish aspect of die-hard fans 

Die-hard fans will usually get tattoos of their favourite groups, identify their children after their favourite gamers, spend hundreds of {dollars} on their groups and generally, even take part in violence. 

Alisia (Giac-Thao) Tran is an ASU affiliate professor within the School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology with a concentrate on pupil athletes and minorities. 

“Sports are meant to connect people and give them a sense of exhilaration, but they’re not meant to threaten and create violence,” Tran stated.

In a 2023 survey by Sportsbook Review, 39% of NFL fans stated they witnessed crimes at or round a stadium, together with bodily violence and public intoxication. Factors reminiscent of alcohol and cell sports betting have led to increased charges of violence at sporting occasions. 

Eighty-four p.c of Americans say they drink alcohol whereas watching soccer, in response to the Harris Poll. 

“I never went to a Bengals game in Cincinnati (as a kid) because of the fights that happen and you’re in a situation where people may be drunk,” Sinhasan stated. 

Alcohol consumption at sporting occasions is frequent and even inspired by the group companions and commercials. 

“There’s a million advertisements for alcohol everywhere around the arena,” Starke stated. “They (vendors) are walking up and down between the stands, selling alcohol too.”

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts discovered the Dallas Cowboys made $36 million in revenue from alcohol gross sales in 2022. Alcohol gross sales usually drive the very best revenue margin for groups, about 90%. 

Alongside elevated alcohol consumption, cell sports betting has surged previously eight years. The Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018, which prevented sports betting from increasing. Sports betting is now authorized in 38 states. 

Tsethlikai, who works at an Arizona on line casino, witnesses prospects wager on sports each day. 

“(When they lose a bet) it’s just the usual: swearing, cussing and ripping up their bet slips,” he stated. 

Research revealed within the National Library of Medicine discovered that home violence charges can improve by 10% after an upset loss, with a University of Oregon research saying this improve is highlighted extra in states with cell sports betting apps. 

“People’s testosterone (levels) will raise when they’re (just) making a bet on a coin toss,” Tran stated. 

Dopamine “feel good” ranges additionally improve whereas sports betting, in response to Tran. The wins can really feel nice, however the losses after a sports wager might result in intimate associate violence (IPV) in a number of instances. 

“IPV can really (highlight) how people justify or rationalize a behavior,” Tran stated. For instance, somebody might say to their associate, “‘All the alcohol made me do it. You talked when I told you not to.'” 

Most research relating to violence at sporting occasions pertain to soccer, a full-contact males’s sport.

However, unruly conduct at ladies’s sports additionally happens. For instance, throughout a number of WNBA video games within the 2025 season, individuals threw intercourse toys at gamers, sparking backlash.

MJ Simpson is a Phoenix native and former Phoenix Mercury hip-hop dancer from 1997 to 2001. 

“Those young men who were part of the cryptocurrency world, who were dared to do it, really soiled the experience that the WNBA protects and has, which is that this is a family-friendly sport,” Simpson stated. 

Simpson stated all through her 28 years of being a Mercury fan, she has by no means witnessed violence on the video games. The WNBA, which caters extra to ladies and LGBTQ+ people, has created a “safe space,” in response to Simpson’s good friend. 

“When I went to the last Cardinals game, I swore I was never going back,” Simpson stated. “I felt like there was too much alcohol and too much testosterone for way too big of a crowd.” 

Around 45% of ladies don’t really feel comfy alone at their NFL group’s stadium, in response to Trine University. 

Some fans really feel protected in a household surroundings, whereas others savor the rivalries. 

“I enjoy the game more when everyone’s going crazy,” Starke stated. “Even if we lose, if we’re energetic about it, it’s fun!” 

Ultimately, die-hard sports fans watch sports for a purpose. 

“We watch sports to let go of everything else that’s going on in our lives, for us to take a break and to just relax,” Sinhasan stated. “That’s the beauty of sports, because we can all unite (around) that one thing.”

Edited by Leah Mesquita, Natalia Jarrett and Abigail Wilt. This story is an element of The Herd Issue, which was launched on November 5, 2025. See the complete publication here. 

Reach Bella Keenan at [email protected] and observe her on Instagram @bellakeenanreports. 

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