Latest news with #DimitrisXygalatas
The Sun
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Football fans' most exciting part of matchday revealed in study – and ‘deeply meaningful' moment may surprise you
FOOTBALL fans get a bigger rush from the pre-match pint than from the game itself, a study suggests. Supporters' interactions with friends were found to be 'deeply meaningful' and the most exciting part of matchday. The findings are from 17 hard-core fans fitted with heart rate monitors ahead of a final. The participants were tracked for four hours before the game then 90 minutes of action. A large, prolonged and collective spike came during the time spent with mates before kick-off. The only time there was a bigger rush was when the Brazilian fans' team scored in the first half of a game near Rio de Janeiro — but the high did not last as long. Researcher Professor Dimitris Xygalatas, from the University of Connecticut, said: 'What we see is that the pre-game ritual generates more emotion than the game itself. 'There's just one moment in the entire game when they have more collective emotion, and that's when they scored a goal. 'Rituals are the kinds of things that, at first glance, don't make any sense in terms of human behaviour, but are deeply meaningful to people.' Prof Xygalatas, a fan of Greek football, said the same effect also probably applied to concerts, festivals and religious events. He added: 'Our study supports the idea that sports are about more than just the game.' 2
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Football fans' most exciting part of matchday revealed in study – and ‘deeply meaningful' moment may surprise you
FOOTBALL fans get a bigger rush from the pre-match pint than from the game itself, a study suggests. Supporters' interactions with friends were found to be 'deeply meaningful' and the most exciting part of matchday. Advertisement 2 Football fans get a bigger rush from the pre-match pint than from the game itself The findings are from 17 hard-core fans fitted with heart rate monitors ahead of a final. The participants were tracked for four hours before the game then 90 minutes of action. A large, prolonged and collective spike came during the time spent with mates before kick-off. The only time there was a bigger rush was when the Brazilian fans' team scored in the first half of a game near Rio de Janeiro — but the high did not last as long. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Researcher Professor Dimitris Xygalatas, from the University of Connecticut, said: 'What we see is that the pre-game ritual generates more emotion than the game itself. 'There's just one moment in the entire game when they have more collective emotion, and that's when they scored a goal. 'Rituals are the kinds of things that, at first glance, don't make any sense in terms of human behaviour, but are deeply meaningful to people.' Prof Xygalatas, a fan of Greek football, said the same effect also probably applied to concerts, festivals and religious events. Advertisement Most read in Football He added: 'Our study supports the idea that sports are about more than just the game.' 2 Supporters' interactions with friends were found to be the most exciting part of matchday Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Football fans' most exciting part of matchday revealed in study – and ‘deeply meaningful' moment may surprise you
FOOTBALL fans get a bigger rush from the pre-match pint than from the game itself, a study suggests. Supporters' interactions with friends were found to be 'deeply meaningful' and the most exciting part of matchday. 2 Football fans get a bigger rush from the pre-match pint than from the game itself The findings are from 17 hard-core fans fitted with heart rate monitors ahead of a final. The participants were tracked for four hours before the game then 90 minutes of action. A large, prolonged and collective spike came during the time spent with mates before kick-off. The only time there was a bigger rush was when the Brazilian fans' team scored in the first half of a game near Rio de Janeiro — but the high did not last as long. Researcher Professor Dimitris Xygalatas, from the University of Connecticut, said: 'What we see is that the pre-game ritual generates more emotion than the game itself. 'There's just one moment in the entire game when they have more collective emotion, and that's when they scored a goal. 'Rituals are the kinds of things that, at first glance, don't make any sense in terms of human behaviour, but are deeply meaningful to people.' Prof Xygalatas, a fan of Greek football, said the same effect also probably applied to concerts, festivals and religious events. He added: 'Our study supports the idea that sports are about more than just the game.'
