Aliso Niguel High School’s football team needs the support of its fans, yet many choose to leave when they are needed most.
Without a doubt, if you have been to a football game in Aliso Niguel High School’s “The Den,” then you have noticed the crowd that packs the stands. These hyped up teens even overflow into the adjacent seating sections because there simply is not enough space for them in the normal seating section. Despite this, after the first half the once packed seating is left with significantly less students and much less spirit than an hour prior. So why are students choosing to leave?
The atmosphere of the students section is a massive draw for most, rather than the actual game of football. The unified cheers of encouragement when our team is scored on and massive uproars when our team scores dominate the stadium until the second quarter. Even if students know nothing about football, the cheers of their peers, blaring sirens and chants from the Cheer and Song teams rile up the crowd; but this momentum never holds throughout the night.
As people leave, so does much of the comradery and energy of the student section, which in turn encourages more people to leave.
Many students simply lose interest in watching our team be scored on. In years past, many home games have led to large gaps in points which disheartens the crowd. However, this year’s football team has put up quite a fight during all their games, winning many.
The exciting new wins have kept many in the stands for longer, but the result is still the same, an almost empty student section by the fourth quarter.
While many come to the game ready to cheer, it seems boredom and hunger play a large part in drawing even the most spirited crowds away from cheering. For much of the student body, In-N-Out serves as the “go-to” after football games. While here, students almost get the same sense of comradery as at the game as they can mingle with a large variety of different people throughout the restaurant.
The social aspect is a large draw for In-N-Out, but so is their menu. Students can buy themselves a meal for cheap, which is not offered by the stadium’s sometimes overpriced menu.
No matter how dedicated to football someone is, hungry students will always try and find the cheapest way to fill their stomachs.
While the menu is not cheap, this year’s new student section policy has also created more of an appeal to leaving the game in search of food. Beginning this year, students cannot bring any food or drink into the stands, even if it was purchased within the stadium. While important for maintaining order and cleanliness, this order ostracized hungry students, forcing them to eat and miss time watching the game with their friends or remain hungry. With a growing crowd of hungry teens, it’s no wonder fans leave the student section.
Many do stay to watch the whole game, despite all the deterring factors. For example, Andrew Wuhtka (12) said, “I stay, I like football.”
It seems that while a minority, serious fans of football do stay as they enjoy watching the games, indifferent to whether our team is winning or losing.
The halftime show should be a draw to keep many at the stadium, but it’s usually unsuccessful. Whether it is too far away or too quiet, many students in the stands disregard what is happening on the field if it is not football.
Gabriel Widarto (12) said that instead of watching the halftime show, “I play Brawl Stars at half time.”
It seems that no matter how dedicated students are to supporting their team, teens will always become bored and eventually wander off. Whether it’s hunger, frustration over losing, or just boredom, Aliso Niguel High School’s student section will always find an excuse to leave early .
