Has a Lack of Fans Made Sport Less Enjoyable?
The outbreak of COVID-19 put an end to sport around the world in March. All of the major sporting competitions due to take place between March and June were suspended or cancelled. The English Premier League, German Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, Champions League and Europa League were among the football competitions to either be postponed or cancelled.
The Olympic Games was one of the main casualties of the coronavirus and that is now due to take place in 2021. However, as the infections decreased across Europe it allowed some sporting events to return, with football being a prime example. The German Bundesliga was the first of the big European leagues to resume their 2019/20 season but with one significant difference. No fans were allowed inside the stadiums for any of the remaining Bundesliga matches.
Anyone who is a regular follower of the Bundesliga will know just how big a part the fans play in every game throughout the season. Every team in the Bundesliga has a passionate home support that attends every game with banners and flags for their team. While every football fan around the world was delighted to see the return of football in Germany and then other leagues in England, Italy, and Spain, it was simply not the same without fans inside the stadia.
Just ask Liverpool, who lifted the Premier League title for the first time in their history but were forced to celebrate inside an empty stadium. Players were forced to adjust to playing inside empty stadiums and the same applied to other sports across the world.
Darts relies heavily on the atmosphere generated inside the venue by fans. Some of the players feed off the energy of the crowd when playing darts and the difference could be seen during the 2020 Matchplay tournament. Golf is another sport that sees regular, big crowds at tournaments, with many fans often gathered around the greens. This is especially true on the 18th green and special moments between the winning player and golf fans is lost.
However, the lack of fans has not seen a drop in competitiveness in any of the sports and competitions highlighted above. You only have to look at the contrast in emotions at the end of the Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain to see how much it meant to the players and coaching staff. It goes without saying that Bayern Munich would have preferred to celebrate their success with their fans inside the stadium but it did not deter from their delight and the competitive level of the game.
In addition, with live sport now available, all be it without the fans, it is possible to enjoy betting. At bettingonline.co.uk you will not only find a great selection of sports betting tips for the leading events around the world but also details of the latest bonuses and promotions. So, even if fans are not allowed inside the venues, you can still celebrate a big win by placing successful bets on the sports you love.
