The Good, Bad and Worse: Fan Behavior

Alex Easton, staff writer

Fan interactions are defined as various ways a fan engages with their favorite teams or brands. There are lots of interactions that can happen such as a fan liking a post on a social media site, a fan going to a game or a meet and greet after a event to meet the players or other important figures.  

“I’ve had lots of fan interactions with my favorite teams, I loving going to the Georgia games and the tailgates before,” says Ewan Bolt, a junior. His Interactions with his favorite teams have shaped him into a Georgia super fan “I go to almost all home games at Samford stadium.”  

This interaction conveys how important it is for good fan interactions that can leave a lasting impression on the person, which establishes a connection to the team which grows the fan base. 

Although fan interactions can be significant for growing a bond with their team, some fans take their allegiance to a team to farther lengths than others. These types of fans are known as super fans.  

These super fans take their allegiance to the next level; they create strong atmospheres in the stadiums. But these Super fans, although seem great, they can have very poor effects on the team and city they represent.  

For example, the Philadelphia Eagles had fans climbing light poles and causing havoc in the city. As a result of these celebrations the city of Philadelphia decided to grease the light poles so unnecessary injury would be prevented. 

Another great example of a poor fan interaction is bottle gate during week 14 of the 2001 NFL (National Football League) season. This game between the Clevland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars turned bad during the fourth quarter. Where the Browns were hoping to keep their playoff dreams alive, but the referee’s called back a fourth down conversion from two plays ago, causing the home crowd of browns fans to erupt in anger throwing bottles and trash onto the fields.  

Although these poor interactions can result in subsequent poor views on the team and sport to be formed. But these opinions that are formed should be very candid because not all fan interactions are terrible.  

The Buffalo Bills and their super fans, the Bills Mafia are a great example. These Bills fans often topmost fan bases by leading with a strong example. These fans are known for being very charitable, often donating to opponent’s foundations, raising millions for local and national charities.  

One of the most recent events of a great fan interaction, is the Toronto Blue Jays’ fans donating to the Seattle Children’s hospital after they beat the Mariners. This event shows the great sportsmanship of the Toronto fans donating to the Seattle Children’s hospital after they beat the Mariners in a grueling seventh game defeat to send whoever won to the world series.  

Another very recent but long-standing tradition of Texas Tech throwing tortillas on the football field at every home game. This long-standing tradition begun in the late 1980’s but has now been recently prohibited because of the Big 12 (College Football Conference) fining the school every time the fans carried out the tradition.  

Fans interactions, although some bad, the majority are great. the fan donating to opposing  players charities and team funded foundations, the ability for people to join under a common image of a team shows how important fan interactions are.