I was watching game one of the National League Championship Series with my best friend; the Dodgers were playing the Milwaukee Brewers. At one point during the game, my friend made a comment about how this was the time when bandwagon fans come out and claim to love the Dodgers.
This simple comment took me back to years prior when, during the playoffs, I heard the same remarks from a self-proclaimed die-hard fan complaining about bandwagons. As far back as I can remember, my thought has always been, “Who cares?”
With the World Series right around the corner, the debate over whether it’s “OK” to jump on the bandwagon remains a hot one. However, there is nothing wrong with being a fair-weather fan.
Nowadays, trends are more common than long-lasting hobbies. So, is there really a bandwagon to jump onto? Every month, there is something new to obsess over. The window to hop on a trend comes and goes so fast that, at some point, everyone can be considered a bandwagon fan.
In popular culture, a new show, movie, or meal can go viral overnight and become a trend. “Hopping on a trend” is so common that no one bats an eye when someone joins in, yet bandwagon fans remain a point of contention in sports.
Complaints and snarky remarks are already circulating on campus, in local bars, and online about bandwagon fans who show up to claim allegiance to a baseball team for the month. Meanwhile, die-hard fans take it upon themselves to quiz these newcomers on their respective teams’ rosters or season stats.
Really, that is what bandwagon fans are: guests. They come in, have some fun, and leave when the party is over because it’s not that serious. People should be able to enjoy and indulge in pop culture without feeling guilty about not knowing everything there is to know about a certain topic.
The trend, or topic, of the month is baseball, but this past summer, the FIFA World Cup had people all over the globe claiming to love soccer. They picked a team to root for regardless of their knowledge of the game. In major cities across North America, there was excitement everywhere from fans and those who hopped on the bandwagon.
In the moment, it was hard to tell who had followed the team for years and who had started supporting it that morning.
In February, the topic will be the NFL’s Super Bowl. Someone who has not seen a single game all season will pick a team and potentially celebrate a victory with the other fans. Afterward, they will move on to the next major event.
It is not a big deal to want to enjoy mainstream media and be part of the conversation. With social media and so many streaming services, the amount of content one can consume is endless. It’s not about proving your fandom; it’s about being in the moment.