Why Do We Get So Invested in Sports?
Some sports games mean more than others. An ordinary game’s results could be forgotten in a few days, whereas a defeat against your rival can linger for far longer. The conversation after that final whistle, the arguments and anger over a result that you will remember long after the season has ended.
A sporting rivalry comes with a sense of power, and it transforms a game into something bigger. The game becomes more than just a score; it’s something that history has shaped, a sense of identity for some and a powerful sense of emotions that fans carry with them long before the players even walk out. But why are fans so invested in these specific matchups, and why can beating one specific team mean more than any trophy?
It’s More Than Just a Game
For many fans, supporting a team goes past just enjoying a sport; it becomes a part of who they are. That sense of team loyalty can grow from watching teams with family, representing a team at some point in your life, or just a specific bond that can grow, but that connection can last a lifetime.
Many psychologists have explored the idea of a social identity theory that looks into how people understand themselves through the group they belong to. When fans feel a strong sense of identity towards a team, their successes can feel personal, whilst defeat can feel like a reflection of the group they represent.
​A study conducted by Wann and Grieve that was published in 2010 explored how team identification, and the threats to social identity, can influence fans’ perceptions of their rivals but also fellow supporters. Their research found that supporters may judge their fellow fans more favorably than fans of their opponents.
This can become really interesting when rivalry gets involved. Losing anytime is of course disappointing, but when you lose to your biggest rivals, it can feel like the group you identify with has been challenged and lost. The result becomes about more than just points, and instead the match becomes personal.
​History Is What Creates a Rivalry
​Not every game between two successful teams becomes a rivalry. History is often what separates those routine fixtures from the games fans either love or dread.
​For example, the El Clásico lights a fierce rivalry that dates back to the first match in 1902 between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Although the fixture brings together two of the biggest football clubs, it goes far beyond that. Like most rivalries, it extends beyond the sport, and the El Clásico rivalry was born from a difference in politics, culture, and regional identity. The success of both clubs and their players has changed this rivalry into something worldwide.
​Then you have the classic Ohio State University and the University of Michigan rivalry. From covering over the other school’s letter in words on campus, it’s a rivalry built on generations of competition. The meetup is considered to be known as “The Game” and dates as far back as 1897 so it holds meaning to students, alumni, and supporters beyond the school’s perimeter. For many, the results of the game feel like a new chapter that they can have a connection to even if they weren’t there in the beginning.
Rivalries can become so compelling because it’s more than just the current game. It brings old arguments back to play and years of history, and an expectation follows every time those teams meet.
​The Role of The Fans
​From wearing team colors and learning chants, rivalries are a place of belonging for some; they find sharing those highs and lows a way to connect with others. Sports are able to bring together fans from across the globe, and this was incredibly prominent in this year’s World Cup. Fans from all over came to support their country and celebrate wins and mourn defeats as a united front, no matter their differences.
​Rivalries are important, but there has to be a level of distinction. Rivalries can give supporters a stronger sense of connection to their community, but where can that line be drawn between two groups of fans before chaos erupts?
​The healthiest of rivalries allow both sides to celebrate and grieve without turning the opposition into an enemy beyond however long the match is.
​Why Rivalries Will Always Matter
​Ultimately, rivalries have stood the test of time because they bring people together, and they make a sport more meaningful to a group of people. That sense of identity and connection to previous generations is something that travels beyond that final whistle.
​Sports can be more than what happens during the game; it can be about the people watching and the memories they make whilst supporting that team. A win against a rival may not mean anything more than a win against any other team on a leaderboard, but to supporters it can make all of the difference.
​That’s why rivalry is so important; the score can tell us who won, but the history and the fans are what matter most in keeping sports alive.
Source:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3200/SOCP.145.5.531-546