Interior of the Leavey Center

Whether it be the russet-colored dirt of the softball field, the hard maple floors and expansive seating in Bronco Red of the Leavey Center, or the impeccably neat and vibrant green grass of Stevens Stadium, each of the sports facilities at SCU shares one core quality: they are spaces of gathering and support (Figures 3 and 4). I have worked closely with the athletic department and, therefore, many of our sports teams for over a year now. Going to a sporting event is, like some sports fans will contend, a quasi-religious ritual of sorts. There are superfans with complex pregame rituals, collections of memorabilia, and histories of years- or decades-long season ticket holding. To be sure, there is an argument to be made about the parallels between sheer dedication and the ritualistic nature of these fans and the qualities associated with a handful of organized religions. The argument here, however, is that the very nature of sports teams, their facilities, and their fans should be considered, in their essence, equally sacred. The process of organizing a gathering, uniting in support of an entity (whether that be a religious icon, a single athlete, or a team), and sacrificing your time, money, and energy to attend games and support them evokes a sense of ritual and devotion. The connotation of those adjectives is rather religious for some, but in this context, their meanings challenge what is meant by “religion.” They advance a meaning that describes a choice one makes repeatedly: a decision to enthusiastically support that entity, to gather at a particular place to show that support, to devote time to studying (the players, the game, statistics, etc.), and to form bonds with others who also support that entity. In short, there are many parallels to be drawn between so-called sports “megafans”—those who are visibly very devoted to their respective player(s) or team(s)—and the qualities of a follower of certain religions. There are also, however, similarities between the act of going to a sports game and cheering for one’s team, for example, and going to a place of worship and performing rituals to express one’s faith. There is something ritualistic, even spiritual, about the gatherings of support for the Broncos and the spaces where the teams themselves gather for their love of the sport.

Morgan Campus Neatline Sketch