Fan identification

Sports fanhood has fascinated researchers for many years, due to its unique characteristics. In contrast to other fanhood practices, sports fanhood reflects deep, fundamental elements of a fan's identity and offers concrete opportunities to affirm and reinforce their identity. As a result, sports fanhood becomes one of the most stable elements in a sports fan's life, and fans display extraordinary loyalty and willingness to make significant sacrifices for their favorite team, in the form of time, money, and even health. Sport is attributed a major role in reinforcing fans' sense of belonging. Because athletes and teams represent much so many facets of their fans' identity (e.g., political ideology, social/economic status, geographic affiliation), sports settings have become sites where fans can come in touch emotionally and physically with their chosen community. Across the world fans are involved in demonstrations of support and ceremonies of an intensity found in the religious sphere.