It’s a fact—we Americans love our sports and a lot of us feel a real sense of pride when watching games on TV or attending a match. But some sports fans take their team loyalty to extraordinary heights, as supporting their team is a way of life for them that influences their homes, relationships & even major life decisions. Here are ten unbelievable ways some Americans treat their sports teams almost like a religion. Just remember, we’re not here to shame anyone and if you want to support your team in this way, then there’s nothing wrong with that.
Featured Image Credit: ArturVerkhovetskiy/Depositphotos.com.
Building Elaborate Home Shrines to Teams
Some die-hard fans dedicate entire rooms—or even their whole houses—to their favorite teams, filling these spaces with jerseys & autographed memorabilia. They may even paint their walls in team colors and get themed furnishings because they care so much about their team. Rather than having these shrines just for display, they become places where fans watch every game and host viewing parties.
Making Pilgrimages to Historic Team Sites
Fans sometimes travel across the country to visit every important location related to their team, such as touring old stadiums or the hometowns of legendary players. These trips become a kind of personal journey or pilgrimage that allows fans to connect with their favorite team’s history. Some fans plan these pilgrimages to coincide with anniversaries of famous games or championships.
Observing Strict Game Day Rituals and Superstitions
Many supporters have detailed routines they follow before every game, which might include wearing a specific jersey & eating certain foods—perhaps arranging memorabilia in a particular order. They believe these rituals influence the outcome of the game and it’s especially important for them to follow these routines if the team is on a winning streak. Fans are especially careful not to change anything in their routine, for fear of causing their team to suddenly lose.
Incorporating Teams into Wedding Ceremonies
Some couples make their team loyalty into their wedding plans, as they hold their ceremony at a stadium and use team colors for decorations and flowers. The most loyal fans will make sure their wedding cakes are created to resemble team logos or mascots. It’s a way for them to share their passion for the team with friends & family on their special day—they just feel so proud.
Tattooing Team Logos and Icons Prominently
Some fans get large tattoos featuring team logos or images of star players in visible areas like on their arms & legs. For some, they don’t stop at just one tattoo—they might have several, each one representing a different championship win or significant moment in the team’s history. These tattoos become a permanent way for them to show off their unquestionable support.
Legally Changing Names to Reflect Team Loyalty
It might be rare but it does happen—some fans have legally changed their names to include references to their favorite teams or players, adopting names like “John Maverick” or “Lisa Patriot.” Doing so allows them to show off their dedication in a very personal way and this change helps them to really commit to their team. They carry their team spirit with pride in every part of their lives, including on legal documents.
Refusing Significant Life Opportunities Conflicting with Games
You’ve probably heard about fans missing important family events because of an important game—some of them take it one step further by postponing major life milestones because their team is playing. Whether it’s a wedding or a surgery, they’ll reschedule them to make sure they don’t miss a match. Their team’s schedule takes top priority and everything else simply has to find a way to fit around it.
Holding Funeral Services with Team Themes
Families sometimes honor a loved one’s passion by making parts of their favorite sports team an element of funeral services, including dressing the deceased in team apparel. They might also decorate the venue with team colors & memorabilia or play the team’s anthem during the service. Essentially, it works as a final tribute that just goes to show how much the team meant to them throughout their life.
Establishing Fan Clubs Functioning Like Congregations
Most fan clubs work a lot like tight communities, where members gather regularly to watch games, socialize & support each other under the team’s banner. They hold charity fundraisers and volunteer together in a way that creates a sense of family connected by their shared team loyalty. Honestly, is there anything wrong with that?
Spending Life Savings to Attend Historic Games
Numerous fans have spent their entire savings to attend landmark games like the Super Bowl or the World Series because the massive financial cost is worth it to them. They feel that witnessing these events in person is priceless and being there during an important moment in the team’s history is worth any sacrifice. Later, they’ll cherish the memories for a lifetime, so it’s well worth the cost for them.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us on MSN.
Read More:
