Fandom, Cities, and the Psychology of Collective Emotion 

Fandom, Cities, and the Psychology of Collective Emotion 

Why do sports fans feel so deeply connected to teams, cities, and even complete strangers? This talk explores the science of fandom and the social psychology that transforms spectators into communities. Drawing on research in social identity, belonging, collective emotion, and fan behavior, this talk examines how rituals, rivalries, and shared experiences turn “they” into “we.” From a Knicks championship transforming the emotional temperature of New York City to the 2026 FIFA World Cup activating cities around the globe, the talk considers how sport mega-events create collective identity—and whether fandom functions as social infrastructure in an increasingly disconnected world.

Speaker
Gina Antoniello, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director, Women’s Sport Collective, NYU SPS Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport; Faculty Athletics Representative, NYU

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