Eyeball Fans

Another view of sport fandoms is what attracts the fan to the sport and research found that what entertains the fans the most is watching their favorite team win, watching a rival lose, or even watching any violent sport. (Wann, 2008 pg.7) Fans as consumers have been found to watch sports based on it being seen as a form of enjoyable entertainment. These fans are minor fanatics who will support teams but won’t let outcomes affect their mental state or self-esteem. These fans will also go to sporting events with their families not because they are fans as a whole but because it is an activity that the whole family can enjoy. So, when it comes to these fans research has found that sports do not affect their lives while they can still participate

They typically don’t go out to the actual sporting events but they will watch highlights of favorite players on their cellphones. (Rein, 2006 p.83) These fans also may not spend their money on advertised sport products but they spend so much time watching games that they are the primary audience of sports viewers. These fans are then minorly affected by sports and will spend limited amounts of money but will spend more than average amounts of time watching the games. Fans on the involvement ladder that are seen by businesses as “Wallets” are people who will spend money to partake in a sporting event. These fans buy annual products such as video games and products such as the NFL Sunday Ticket. “Wallets” are the most sought after fans in the business because they are known to purchase more expensive home entertainment systems to get closer to the game and they will personally spend more money to spend at the actual game or have fun after at the bar. (Rein, 2006 p.84) These fans are affected by sports increasingly more by the fact they spend more than any other

These fans are fans that buy courtside tickets, invest their personal money into teams, or even donate to collegiate athletic programs because they want to be included in the inner circle of the sports world. (Rein, 2006 p.86) These fans have a more exclusive way to experiencing sports that many fans do not. The final and highest ranked tier in the fan involvement ladder are the “Ensnared” fans. These fans are supporters who have an identity within the team and represent it in a way no other fan can. Sometimes these fans can even be a problem to sports as they can be too involved with the team and can become violent towards other fans to defend their team’s image but hurt it at the same time. It is referred to as “Hooliganism” in soccer when fans decide to act out towards opposing fans after the game due to an unwanted outcome. No other fan is affected by sports as much as ensnared fans