During Covid lots of sorts were broadcast without any spectators. I found that it increased my viewing pleasure. No screaming crowds trying to make the most noise with drums (soccer), no altercations, no people throwing things or making annoying noices (MMA), no crazy people next to the road pushing cyclists.
Just the people doing the sport, I can hear them shout, swear and get punched. I can see bike racing without fear a crazy fan will jump in front of the pack for a photo for their grandma.
I don’t need an audience to get hyped or to distract everybody with jeers and racist shouting. For me the fans are the worst part of the sport. I don’t enjoy watching them, I want to see the athletes doing their thing.
Nah. Sport thrives on emotion. Without the hum of the crowd, the jeering, the celebrating and the moment to moment difference between ecstasy and heartbreak it feels incredibly flat.
Your argument seems to stem from the fact that some people inside crowds can be a problem. And that’s true for sure, but (and I’m sure the athletes taking part would largely agree), the crowds help the athletes take their game to another level.
I defy anyone to tell me that a European night at Anfield is made better by having no crowds in attendance, or that a Canadians game at the Bell Centre is improved without 20k screaming fans living and dying with each shot on goal, or that a heavyweight title being given out in an arena full of adoring fans isn’t significant better than the alternative.
I get that that’s the popular view. Hence the post in this community. I don’t particularly care for the famed ‘roar of the crowd’.
Took an epidemic for me to realize that, though. And now I notice it every time…
Removed by mod
You’re cherry picking the literal worst aspects of that though. I’ve been to loads of sporting events and there were no riots.
Heck, every single weekend millions of people go to watch their teams play football and it literally never breaks out into a riot.