What It's Like to be a Sports Fan During Covid-19

By: Brody Rosas '22

(Image courtesy of sportsbusinessdaily.com)

During times like these, being a sports fan is not easy. In terms of actually watching the games from home, it’s not very different. However, the environment that the players compete in has drastically changed. For instance, the NBA has swapped over to digital fans instead of live ones. The arena is much more quiet, and it feels more like a scrimmage rather than an actual playoff game. Additionally, players have struggled with staying in bounds because they are so used to having fans right along the court. Because there are no live fans, the players can be heard speaking clearly with each other, and the squeaking of their shoes is louder than the actual cheering of digital fans. Even though the playoffs have been intense, the games feel underwhelming due to the lack of cheering and hype of the crowd.

My dad and I will usually buy tickets to one or two games per year, so not going to any doesn’t feel too bad. For sports fans who buy season tickets to their favorite teams, this year is a complete disaster. Season tickets allow fans to attend their favorite team’s games throughout the entire season by paying an initial fee of around $8,000. Although there are a lot of games, highly dedicated fans will get a lot out of the tickets, and the price is worth it. However, because most sports are now playing without fans, people are unable to get tickets to the games. This results in a lot of frustration and a sense of loss for those who usually buy season tickets to watch their favorite teams.

11th grade Rams fan Alec Zebert says that being a fan in these times makes it “harder to appreciate the games” because “the stadium feels isolated”.

Although sports are still going on, being a dedicated fan has proved to be a struggle throughout this year. However, being a sports fan is still worth it for both myself and many other fans. The games are still going on, so at least we have something to cheer for. Although it may not feel like the games are as exciting, dedicated fans will still support their teams because of their love for the sport, regardless of the environment the players are competing in.