Prediction Fan Loyalty

[maxiboy238]

Interesting discussion I heard on a podcast

With player loyalty declining as the decades and generations go by will we see the same with fan loyalty?

For future generations are we going to see fans following players rather than teams like soccer and NBA.

especially some Victorian clubs losing a bit of their identity from the transfer of suburban grounds like Carlton and Essendon, North Melbourne and western bulldogs What are the stories and traditions they pass onto their kids.
And now more teams in the comp, I guess more options of team to support


fans will still support teams no doubt but honestly I can’t the upcoming generations sticking with their side through thick and think

what do you guys think?

 

[Colonial]

Some will. But here it’s always been about the club, no matter the sport.

majority will follow their club more.

 

[GeelongFTW]

Some will. But here it’s always been about the club, no matter the sport.

I think it's acceptable to follow an f1 driver over their different teams fwiw

 

[Purple Suit]

I recon it would only happen with family members of AFL players or with very young children with parents who let them be individuals without trying to sway their decisions.

Australia holds loyalty as a strong cultural identity, can't see it changing or being accepted here anytime soon. Anybody who switches teams all the time I wouldn't call a fan, more a bandwagoner.

 

[Colonial]

I think it's acceptable to follow an f1 driver over their different teams fwiw

I don’t think it matters either way in that sport.

 

[Rotayjay]

AFL players' careers are pretty short in comparison to a fan's lifetime. Switching clubs because your favourite player has sounds like a dumb idea.

 

[Yeti]

I recon it would only happen with family members of AFL players or with very young children with parents who let them be individuals without trying to sway their decisions.

Australia holds loyalty as a strong cultural identity, can't see it changing or being accepted here anytime soon. Anybody who switches teams all the time I wouldn't call a fan, more a bandwagoner.

If I have to suffer a life of supporting Fremantle so will my children.

Their choices be dammed! If I have to be sad watching footy, so should they!

 

[deck]

Isn't the fan following the players rather than the club a symptom of following a sport long distance. You don't have the same attachment to a team when you live 10,000km away and have never attended a game.

 

[Cripps 'n' Blue Bloods]

Isn't the fan following the players rather than the club a symptom of following a sport long distance. You don't have the same attachment to a team when you live 10,000km away and have never attended a game.

This. I was going to say similar.
As far as NBA goes, following individual players is more of a thing that the rest of the world does. In the States, they still follow teams more closely.
People in NY don't have a soft spot for the Lakers now, simply because Carmelo plays for them.

 

[Opine]

Some will. But here it’s always been about the club, no matter the sport.

majority will follow their club more.

Agreed, which raises the question: what is the club?
What is about “the club” that fans bond to, without which a fan or group of fans may become less loyal to their club?

 

[Whisper in the Wind]

It will depend on if the media makes the player(s) bigger than the club, by celebrating individual success over the team's success.
This is easy to do in the NBA because one player can make a massive difference to a teams fortunes - i.e if Lebron went to the bottom placed team he may elevate them to Playoff calibre, or beyond. The same in NFL - Brady can move teams and make them Champions.
This has happened in Soccer - Messi and Ronaldo recieve all of the credit for their team's success.

Things like giving players All-Australian spots for positions they do not play, or giving Dusty the 2017 Norm Smith medal because it was "a better story", when there were arguably better players from his team on the day, will shift the support to individual players - as others are pushed into a supporting role.

 

[Colonial]

Agreed, which raises the question: what is the club?
What is about “the club” that fans bond to, without which a fan or group of fans may become less loyal to their club?

No idea.
Giants were supposed to be my team if anyone asked who I follow in the sport. Next thing you know I’m a member and love the club and how it grows. Watching our history and culture grow every day since the beginning has been amazing. Helps the club is great with its fans and members.
On the other side of the coin I’m 4th gen Balmain Tigers fan, both sides of the fam also followed them. And the history and traditions that my parents and grandparents tought me about the club, traitorous South’s, is something that I’ll always treasure. Wish it could of continued.

I guess connection is different and specific for everyone.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Fan loyalty differs from varying degrees from person to person anyway.

I may be a die hard Tiger supporter and can't see myself supporting another club. However, before I started to get interested in the AFL in the year 2000, I would have said I was a Richmond supporter even though I only watched the very occasional game on TV if nothing else was on. Before my interest increased before 2000 I was weighing up on following Essendon (like most my other friends) or to continue to support Richmond. Thankfully I decided to continue with Richmond.

My wife was in a similar position when she met me. When she met me she was a Hawthorn supporter. She only watched a game or two during the season and the Grand Final. Not overly committed. I started to take her to the Richmond games with me and now she's a full fledged Richmond supporter.

Pretty much someone who has the level interest of watching the occasional game on TV is more likely to change support compared to someone who buys a membership from the Club the support.

 

[Sky]

If I have to suffer a life of supporting Fremantle so will my children.

Their choices be dammed! If I have to be sad watching footy, so should they!

The day you go Freo has a dynasty

 

[Opine]

…

I guess connection is different and specific for everyone.

Yes, I think this is spot on; and there are a myriad of attributes that could lead an individual to bond with a particular club at particular moment in time. The colours and the physical stuff that identify a club then become mere tags.