The Importance of Entertainment at Football Games

Just the mention of a past football game sparks stories upon stories from those whose lives were impacted by the sport with a plethora of “back in my day” anecdotes that are unlikely to revolve around stat reports. Instead, these memories include deep feelings based on the spirit and liveliness of the team, the crowd, and the entertainment.When considering sport at a school like Trinity, it is evident that outside entertainment plays a huge role at football games by livening the crowd and players while more broadly representing campus culture and traditions.  Football can be acknowledged as more than a game and a money maker, but as an agent of socialization for communities (Foley, 1990). It serves as a way for people to bond with friends, family, and strangers over an event, while unknowingly preserving traditions set in place by previous generations. When speaking with Dr. Worman, the current Coordinator of Winds and Percussion at Trinity, he agreed stating that, while outside entertainment at sporting events has adapted and evolved over the years, it has consistently been a way to establish and maintain traditions, identity and community amongst the former, current, and future students (Worman, 2019).

Sport serves as a way to unite the likely and the unlikely over the common ground of sport as they reminisce over everything that encompassed their experience of a Texas football game day. What outside entertainment at a football game does for the overall atmosphere, the crowd, and the players is unmatched. Sport is a social event and outside entertainment only adds to the joyful spirit that a game day brings, including things like pre-game performances, halftime entertainment, and games or music played during a time out or warm-up. Seth Asbury, the Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities and Event Management, added that music and these other outside forms of entertainment are very important for sporting events and that there is a constant need for them. He acknowledged that it helps both the players and the fans get motivated and energized, and makes the overall sport experience more enjoyable (Absury, 2019).