Sports are a favorite activity around the world, and fans of professional sports teams often become deeply interested in their favorite teams. In the United States, favorite sports are football, soccer, basketball, hockey, and baseball, although there are others that are also enjoyed. Fans of these sports often engage in their hobby in ways beyond watching matches on TV, and many of these ways involve social occasions and events centered on games. Here are some of the activities many American sports fans enjoy:
Betting on Games
Betting on games, players, and tournaments is a favorite activity for fans. Whether this involves friendly office bets, formal sports betting situations, or on-the-spot bets during watch parties, many fans enjoy betting as a way to get invested in the game and show their support for their favorite players. Websites like thegruelingtruth.com often showcase the different ways to bet on games online.
Watching Games Together in Sports Bars
For many fans, watching games alone just isn’t as fun as watching them together. Meeting in sports bars where they can cheer their team’s wins and commiserate about their losses together with other fans is a favorite way for many people to watch games. Watch parties are common, and often include large groups as well as a lot of food and drinks. Watching matches and games in sports bars and watch parties is especially common for important games such as playoffs and championship games.
Participating in Fantasy Sports Leagues
Devoted sports fans sometimes engage in fantasy sports leagues with other fans. In these leagues, participants become managers of their own virtual sports teams. They choose real players to “compete” and scores are compiled based on the real players’ statistics and scores in real games. Fantasy sports leagues can be very competitive, fun, and interesting for sports fans, and their ability to choose the best players and win games is based at least partly on their knowledge of the game and the statistics of real players.
Tailgating Before Games
Tailgating is a fun way for fans and friends to meet, hang out together, and enjoy the prelude to their favorite team’s games. When tailgating, fans often meet in the parking lots near stadiums or ballparks and spend the day barbequing, partying together, and drinking their favorite drinks. This activity is called tailgating because it often takes place on (or near) the tailgate of a pickup, which is used as a table to grill and serve food.
Playing Pick-Up Games with Friends
Pick-up games are games played with friends outside of official leagues or teams. Many sports fans enjoyed playing sports themselves in high school and college, and still enjoy playing in a less formal way as adults. Meeting up with friends to shoot some hoops or throw a ball around is an important and cherished activity for many sports fans.
Collecting Sports Memorabilia
Many sports fans enjoy collecting memorabilia like baseball cards, hats, gloves, balls, and other equipment that is connected with specific players. Sometimes this memorabilia is autographed, but not always. Sports memorabilia can become very valuable over time, especially if it is rare, but many collectors aren’t collecting as an investment. Some fans simply collect because they enjoy the treasure-hunt aspect of searching for all their favorite pieces, because they are fans of specific teams or players, or because they enjoy displaying their items. For fans of sports, collecting memorabilia is a fun, interesting, and satisfying hobby.
Wearing Team Gear
Sports fans all over the world enjoy supporting their favorite teams and players by wearing jerseys and other gear in their team colors or with their favorite players’ numbers and names on them. Fans are often seen wearing this gear on important game days, especially if they are attending a gaming event in person. Some teams have well-known mascot symbols that have become popular to wear, such as when fans in Wisconsin wear large cheeses on their heads and call themselves “cheeseheads” in support of their state’s team.
Analyzing Statistics and Strategies
Sports fans love to analyze and discuss games, strategies, coaches, and plays. For die-hard fans, talking about strategies, discussing players and coaches, and arguing about different games and matches, including disappointing games and famous failures, is common when fans get together. Even fans that support the same team often get into heated disagreements about players and plays. Many fans store considerable amounts of facts, statistics, and records in their heads which they enjoy bringing up during these discussions and debates.
Playing Sports Video Games
Video games of various sports have become increasingly popular over the last few years. Sports fans and video game aficionados alike enjoy playing these video games. While the exact gameplay, strategy, and amount of skill needed for each game can vary, the games in general are based on different sports such as football, soccer, and baseball. Some games involve more strategy and are focused on how to win, while others are more about physical skill. Some games can even be played on VR headsets.
Following Teams and Players on Social Media
Some fans enjoy keeping up with the day-to-day activities and posts of their favorite teams, players, and fan groups on social media. Knowing what is happening during training, games, and during the off-season can help fans stay connected with their teams and each other. Social media can also be home to heated debates and discussions about the various games, the performance of favorite (or not-so-favorite) players, and the progress of teams throughout the sports season.