Being a bandwagon fan is a cardinal sin in sports fandom, and we've all met these kinds of people before; fans who start rooting for a team simply because they're winning. So here are some ways to spot a sports bandwagon fan, whether it's at the stadium or in another setting:
And perhaps you'll find that you are a bandwagon, yourself!
Most of these ways can be applied to any major sports league, but I picked one, NFL, to make this article less wordy.
The only player they know is the quarterback:
If you're at an NFL game or talk to one of these NFL fans, it may seem like they're a real fan until you realize that the only player they know on their favorite team is the team's quarterback. Even the most casual of fans are familiar with their team's lead running back or No.1 wideout. But in the age of information and fantasy football, there is simply no excuse for only knowing your "favorite team's" quarterback.
Leaving the game early:
If you haven't already seen any bandwagon fans at an NFL game, they'll reveal their true colors once the fourth quarter rolls around. But at face value, this seems somewhat excusable: Most NFL games are already over before the final whistle, and if your team is down by a country mile late in the fourth, you might as well leave early to get ahead of the traffic. However, true fans stay until the end of the game, and you might as well get your money's worth by watching the entire 60 minutes of football. And maybe your team does come from behind, in which case you don't want to be Mark Wahlberg, who left the 28-3 game early.
They have two favorite teams:
Bandwagon fans will often have a "Second favorite team" to jump to if their current team is ice-cold. This is especially apparent when their current favorite team happens to be a rival of their other favorite team, and the bandwagon fan is completely oblivious. There may be other teams that you might appreciate because they're snakebitten and deserve success, have snazzy uniforms, or have a player you enjoy watching. And you'd be generally satisfied if this team won a Super Bowl. But there is a clear difference between a team you appreciate and a team you root for, and fans that claim fandom of two organizations are likely bandwagoners.
Rooting for a team because of one player:
This one is similar to only knowing the team's quarterback, except it can be true for any player, not just the man under center. We've all met Chiefs fans and Patriots fans who are really just Patrick Mahomes fans or Tom Brady fans. It's especially irritating when your team signs a big-name free agent, and all of a sudden, masses of bandwagoners claim fandom of your team because of that one player. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, if your team is struggling thanks to a one-sided trade, true fans will stick with the team regardless.
They bet against their "favorite team"
This sign is more difficult to spot, but it is certainly a telling omen of a bandwagon fan. True fans watch their team play to root for them, not to bet against them, especially if you see the game in person. Even if your team sits at the bottom of the league's standings, you either put a little dough on them or don't bet at all. It's as simple as that. Betting against their own team is only something a bandwagon fan would partake in.
Choosing fantasy over your favorite team:
This is similar to betting against your "favorite" team, and bandwagoners who bet against their team probably also commit this cardinal sin as well. Imagine you're a Lions fan, and the Lions are playing the Vikings, and Justin Jefferson happens to be on your fantasy team. You may be somewhat content if Jefferson torches Detroit's secondary, but true fans will always take their real team over their fantasy team. And this applies to other sports with fantasy leagues, not just the NFL. However, bandwagon fans will only pride in whichever team is more successful, whether that be their "favorite" team or fantasy team.
They only watch the playoffs:
Some bandwagon fans are even too lazy to decide a contending team to root for during the season, and instead just wait until the playoffs. That way, they can claim that their "favorite team", at least made the playoffs", in case said team losses early in the postseason. Remember in 2021 when the Bengals' fanbase massively grew overnight after the team won a few playoff games they weren't supposed to win?
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