36th Annual Student Research Conference
The Social Meaning Of Sports Fandom
Tycho E. Wagner
Dr. Brian Ott and Dr. Amber Johnson, Faculty Mentors
Athletic competitions are often the reason for thousands to gather in temples of sport that we call stadiums and arenas, all for a chance to watch their favorite players and teams compete. Research has examined what factors make people likely to enjoy watching sports, how national identity impacts sports fandom, and even how people behave at sporting events. While we know that sports fandom is widespread and has received attention from existing sociological research, there is not a large base of research examining what it means to individuals in terms of their relationships and identity as members of society. To gain insight into the meaning people attach to their fandom, and to fill gaps in existing research, I have conducted semi-structured interviews. Through these interviews, I found that sports fandom is a tool to aid social cohesion among families who support the same teams.
Keywords: Sports , Fandom, Social cohesion, family
Topic(s):Sociology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 303-6
Location: SUB Georgian Room B
Time: 2:30