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Are middle aged die hard sports fans a dying breed?
Posted on 1/3/26 at 7:55 pm
Posted on 1/3/26 at 7:55 pm
I’ve reflected a bit as we embark on a new year. I’ve kept close tabs on 7 team sports (CFB, College hoops, college baseball, NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL). In addition, I keep up with golf a good bit. My interest in golf hasn’t changed a bit. The others?
College football: it’s trending downward. Portal and NIL means my connection to these “kids” is practically non-existent. I need a roster to see who makes a tackle. Opt outs kill the vibe too.
College hoops: March madness is great, but I don’t have a clue who plays for top teams anymore. One and done, portal, NIL…it’s too much effort to keep up.
NFL: I haven’t watched much regular season this year, but playoff football is great. My beef with this league is officiating.
NBA: analytics, players sitting out games, death of the ASG, rules and reviews. This league is so tough to watch.
My interest in MLB, College baseball, and NHL is probably higher than ever, but I see ways Manfred wants to change that.
I realize as I get older, priorities change, life experiences are different. I WANT to be as passionate as ever, but I’d rather figure out how to fix something on my truck or fire up the smoker. I feel like sports leagues are gearing themselves to appeal to the younger fan with shorter attention spans. That’s not a bad thing. I feel like a terrible “fan” for not giving a single shite about the LSU basketball game today. I can’t name a single starter for a handful of NBA teams, or the WR2 for many NFL teams. I’m too poor to piss money away gambling, and my fantasy interest is marginal at best.
Is this a sports mid-life crisis (I’m 39 going on 40)?
College football: it’s trending downward. Portal and NIL means my connection to these “kids” is practically non-existent. I need a roster to see who makes a tackle. Opt outs kill the vibe too.
College hoops: March madness is great, but I don’t have a clue who plays for top teams anymore. One and done, portal, NIL…it’s too much effort to keep up.
NFL: I haven’t watched much regular season this year, but playoff football is great. My beef with this league is officiating.
NBA: analytics, players sitting out games, death of the ASG, rules and reviews. This league is so tough to watch.
My interest in MLB, College baseball, and NHL is probably higher than ever, but I see ways Manfred wants to change that.
I realize as I get older, priorities change, life experiences are different. I WANT to be as passionate as ever, but I’d rather figure out how to fix something on my truck or fire up the smoker. I feel like sports leagues are gearing themselves to appeal to the younger fan with shorter attention spans. That’s not a bad thing. I feel like a terrible “fan” for not giving a single shite about the LSU basketball game today. I can’t name a single starter for a handful of NBA teams, or the WR2 for many NFL teams. I’m too poor to piss money away gambling, and my fantasy interest is marginal at best.
Is this a sports mid-life crisis (I’m 39 going on 40)?
41
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:01 pm to TexasTiger08
I'm 41 and I've felt the same way for awhile now as well. I'll admit, I used to live and die college sports and the NFL. If my teams lost, especially the Saints, it ruined my weekend. I took it way too seriously.
I feel like most of us start to realize we shouldn't let a bunch of random people under 30 really determine our happiness.
I will say too, as the Saints haven't been in playoff contention this year, I've found myself only watching the Saints. I really haven't watched much of the regular season. Like you I love the NFL playoffs, but regular season, meh.
College football and basketball is the same. I still enjoy watching it, but I don't revolve my weekends around it like I used to.
Seems like for a lot of us middle aged sports fan, it happens. Our perspective on life changes. Sports are still fun and important, but it's not live or die like it is when we're younger. So I think you're far from alone.
I feel like most of us start to realize we shouldn't let a bunch of random people under 30 really determine our happiness.
I will say too, as the Saints haven't been in playoff contention this year, I've found myself only watching the Saints. I really haven't watched much of the regular season. Like you I love the NFL playoffs, but regular season, meh.
College football and basketball is the same. I still enjoy watching it, but I don't revolve my weekends around it like I used to.
Seems like for a lot of us middle aged sports fan, it happens. Our perspective on life changes. Sports are still fun and important, but it's not live or die like it is when we're younger. So I think you're far from alone.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:05 pm to TexasTiger08
If you're like me you'll transition from hard core fandom to "this is just entertainment". I like exciting close games and the storylines around them. The more at stake the better.
I have favorite teams, but if they lose I care for about 2 seconds and then I'm moving on. No more having a day or weekend ruined by what some 20 year old college kids do in a game.
I do watch a ton of sports though. Every bowl game, and after the football game is over I'll watch whatever hockey game is still going on the West Coast. Once football is over it's NHL every night. Then MLB every night. PGA every weekend. Then it's football season and here we go again.
High volume sports consumption but for the entertainment.
I have favorite teams, but if they lose I care for about 2 seconds and then I'm moving on. No more having a day or weekend ruined by what some 20 year old college kids do in a game.
I do watch a ton of sports though. Every bowl game, and after the football game is over I'll watch whatever hockey game is still going on the West Coast. Once football is over it's NHL every night. Then MLB every night. PGA every weekend. Then it's football season and here we go again.
High volume sports consumption but for the entertainment.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:05 pm to TexasTiger08
Football is mostly gimmicky offenses and they made it 7 on 7
Basketball all they do is shoot 3s and get to the rim
Baseball took away the really good steriods
It isn’t hard to feel as you do
Basketball all they do is shoot 3s and get to the rim
Baseball took away the really good steriods
It isn’t hard to feel as you do
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:08 pm to TexasTiger08
7?
I keep track of Iowa football and hoops. At mid forties, that means I watch the games and don’t follow any media centered around them in the subscription / post rivals.com era
I loosely follow the raiders as they were my first real love. Bo Jackson and Al Davis swagger will do that to a child. By loosely I mean, I will watch the games until it is apparent that they suck.
I keep track of Iowa football and hoops. At mid forties, that means I watch the games and don’t follow any media centered around them in the subscription / post rivals.com era
I loosely follow the raiders as they were my first real love. Bo Jackson and Al Davis swagger will do that to a child. By loosely I mean, I will watch the games until it is apparent that they suck.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:12 pm to TexasTiger08
Not sure what its called but I've grown to be the same way over the past 10 or so years for many of the same reasons. (im 48). Used to be id watch sports all the time and be genuinely interested. Now other than LSU/college football i dont really care. Still watch some but usually dont pay much attention until playoff time. Regular seasons in every sport have been relegated to "busy work" in a sense. It's boring.
I personally attribute it to my personal life being a little hectic the past 10-15 years and kind of spoiling my love for most things. Guess maybe thats called a midlife crisis. Not really a crisis imo. I just give a whole lot less fricks than I used to about most things.
I personally attribute it to my personal life being a little hectic the past 10-15 years and kind of spoiling my love for most things. Guess maybe thats called a midlife crisis. Not really a crisis imo. I just give a whole lot less fricks than I used to about most things.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:12 pm to TexasTiger08
Sports also used to be more central to American culture and American life, but now they feel more or less like one of a bunch of things going on.
Sports just dont seem important anymore and I dont know how the money and salaries keep skyrocketing upwards.
Sports just dont seem important anymore and I dont know how the money and salaries keep skyrocketing upwards.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:14 pm to TexasTiger08
I'm 73 and these past 2 years I've hardly followed the NFL and actually had to look in the paper this morning to see who was playing who and which teams were doing well. I had no idea who was leading their divisions and getting into the playoffs.
I agree about the officiating and many of the rules changes they have initiated these past few years being detrimental to the game.
I still watch more college football but, like you, the NIL/transfer portal debacle has practically ruined teams with good players running after the best offer. There is a lot less team loyalty and it has become about the almighty $$$$.
Basketball has never interested me and the only time I can get into baseball is when the playoffs for both the college world series and the major league world series starts.
I agree about the officiating and many of the rules changes they have initiated these past few years being detrimental to the game.
I still watch more college football but, like you, the NIL/transfer portal debacle has practically ruined teams with good players running after the best offer. There is a lot less team loyalty and it has become about the almighty $$$$.
Basketball has never interested me and the only time I can get into baseball is when the playoffs for both the college world series and the major league world series starts.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:15 pm to SaveNewOrleans
quote:
I'm 41 and I've felt the same way for awhile now as well. I'll admit, I used to live and die college sports and the NFL. If my teams lost, especially the Saints, it ruined my weekend. I took it way too seriously.
I feel like most of us start to realize we shouldn't let a bunch of random people under 30 really determine our happiness.
I will say too, as the Saints haven't been in playoff contention this year, I've found myself only watching the Saints. I really haven't watched much of the regular season. Like you I love the NFL playoffs, but regular season, meh.
College football and basketball is the same. I still enjoy watching it, but I don't revolve my weekends around it like I used to.
Seems like for a lot of us middle aged sports fan, it happens. Our perspective on life changes. Sports are still fun and important, but it's not live or die like it is when we're younger. So I think you're far from alone.
100% on the mark. Same way. I actually missed a few LSU games this year. Just didn’t care that much. Now, I’ll admit, if they were competent, it might have changed, but I just didn’t care much this season.
Same with NFL. I’ll put on the red zone for background noise or I’ll watch it for a bit but I’m not falling over at 11am to get to a tv.
I don’t know if it’s bittersweet…or whatever it is….that I’ve moved on from my super fandom for any one sport. College football used to be from 11am to 2am for me every Saturday. Now? I’ll watch a few games.
I need to find a new hobby is what I need to do
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:15 pm to tiggerthetooth
The home run race between McGwire and Sosa captivated the nation the way it did in the 60s. A regular season baseball game was on Fox on a weeknight and people actually cared
It may take decades for something of that magnitude and I’m not a huge baseball guy
It may take decades for something of that magnitude and I’m not a huge baseball guy
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:26 pm to TexasTiger08
I think I watched 3 Raiders games this year and 3 Hog games. Used to watch a lot of the big games but very rare now.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:36 pm to TexasTiger08
I’m a fan but I don’t give nearly as much of a shite anymore. CFB has become a joke in terms of how rosters are managed, officiating, etc. I watch the games and there’s always one on if I’m at home but I don’t plan my day around games anymore
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:37 pm to TexasTiger08
32 here and the NIL and portal killed it for me with college sports. Its mostly just entertainment now
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:45 pm to lsufanva
quote:
Regular seasons in every sport have been relegated to "busy work" in a sense. It's boring.
I tend to agree. I feel like Stan in that episode of South Park where he thinks everything sounds like shite…music, TV, etc. When I get home from work, I seldom find myself jacked up to watch a regular season game.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:47 pm to SoDakHawk
quote:
If you're like me you'll transition from hard core fandom to "this is just entertainment".
I definitely value the entertainment aspect. Oddly enough, I can see why adults like wrestling. They acknowledge it’s purely entertainment.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:49 pm to TexasTiger08
quote:thank god
Are middle aged die hard sports fans a dying breed?
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:52 pm to WestCoastAg
Do you identify as a 25 year old or what?
ETA: I’m not arguing quality of athletes or whatever. The NBA product is objectively worse since it has been dominated by analytics. Hell, analytics has eliminated creativity in all sports. Baseball managers don’t make lineups these days.
ETA: I’m not arguing quality of athletes or whatever. The NBA product is objectively worse since it has been dominated by analytics. Hell, analytics has eliminated creativity in all sports. Baseball managers don’t make lineups these days.
This post was edited on 1/3/26 at 8:54 pm
Posted on 1/3/26 at 8:55 pm to TexasTiger08
Content overload - you can only consume so much sports especially in your 30s and 40s when your time is much more limited especially if you have family obligations.
Also there is the “You-tubification” of sports consumption. You don’t need to watch sportscenter on ESPN’s schedule for highlights to know what’s going on. You don’t need to watch a full 3 hour MNF game with two teams you don’t care about. Your own team has multiple content creators, media fanboys, and podcasters overloading you with every bit of your teams information including what the backup offensive lineman had for dinner or your end of bench small forward is doing on TikTok.
You have endless dopamine sinks including your phone, tablet, video games, social media, Netflix etc. to occupy your attention and sports consumption becomes the victim of these other interests.
Also there is the “You-tubification” of sports consumption. You don’t need to watch sportscenter on ESPN’s schedule for highlights to know what’s going on. You don’t need to watch a full 3 hour MNF game with two teams you don’t care about. Your own team has multiple content creators, media fanboys, and podcasters overloading you with every bit of your teams information including what the backup offensive lineman had for dinner or your end of bench small forward is doing on TikTok.
You have endless dopamine sinks including your phone, tablet, video games, social media, Netflix etc. to occupy your attention and sports consumption becomes the victim of these other interests.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 9:01 pm to TexasTiger08
I'm pretty much a casual fan across the board. And my interest in MLB has fallen to zero.
Posted on 1/3/26 at 9:01 pm to TexasTiger08
If you’re a late 30’s south LA sports fan it’s also by far the worst your sports teams have ever been.
If you were born in 1987 you turned 13 in 2000. Beginning of the Saban era and saints first ever playoff win. Saban leaves but Les generally keeps it going for the next 8 years. Payton and Brees join the saints and were incredibly relevant for the next 15 years. Pelicans/hornets get CP3 and have their best ever 5 year run. LSU basketball has peak John Brady years. Slight downturn in 2014-16 but then we get late era Brees, Burrow LSU, Will Wade, and the best teams of the AD era for Pelicans.
Since 2020 we’ve had the worst five year stretch of LSU football/basketball/saints/pelicans since the mid 90’s, which is before someone now 40 would’ve really been aware. Conversely LSU baseball and Astros are going through the best runs you would’ve been aware of.
Don’t disagree with your other reasons, but Occam’s razor says it’s just hard to be that into a sport when your favorite team is an abject disaster
If you were born in 1987 you turned 13 in 2000. Beginning of the Saban era and saints first ever playoff win. Saban leaves but Les generally keeps it going for the next 8 years. Payton and Brees join the saints and were incredibly relevant for the next 15 years. Pelicans/hornets get CP3 and have their best ever 5 year run. LSU basketball has peak John Brady years. Slight downturn in 2014-16 but then we get late era Brees, Burrow LSU, Will Wade, and the best teams of the AD era for Pelicans.
Since 2020 we’ve had the worst five year stretch of LSU football/basketball/saints/pelicans since the mid 90’s, which is before someone now 40 would’ve really been aware. Conversely LSU baseball and Astros are going through the best runs you would’ve been aware of.
Don’t disagree with your other reasons, but Occam’s razor says it’s just hard to be that into a sport when your favorite team is an abject disaster
This post was edited on 1/3/26 at 9:04 pm
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