Spectator Stories: Immersive Experiences at UW Football Games

Cici Yang, Tony Liu, Tian Yun, Yusong Qin

“It is unique for me, because I’m a part of UW. I watched the football game to support my school team in my school stadium. That’s a memorable and unique experience.” — A student football fan at the University of Washington.

Atmosphere and Energy

The quote by Cathy emphasize the role of UW Husky Stadium as more than just a sports arena but also as a symbol of school pride and community engagement. The stadium serves as a focal point for bringing together students, alumni, and the wider community to celebrate and support the university’s athletic and cultural endeavors.

The shifting cheering styles, expressions, distinctive rituals, and idiosyncratic symbols in recognition of particular players juxtaposes with a collective sharing of feelings synchronous with the heartbeats and states of players, for these aspects all contributed to a sharing of athletic camaraderie between the audiences and the players, harmonious with the sustainable renovations that aimed to improve viewer’s experience.

Renovation of the Stadium

Recent renovations included enhanced concessions, the reconstruction of the lower bowl and south-side stands, and a 108-ft wide high-resolution video board brought audiences’ ken closer to the center of the match, with construction efforts on sustainability allowed over 26,000 cubic yards of recycled concrete being reused and the establishment of two large retention ponds allowing water to be filtered prior to discharge to Lake Washington (Belt, 2013).

Physical Location and Thich Institution

Physically, its cantilevered metal roofs trapped and amplified audiences’ noises above and onto the playing field, suffusing the cramped atmosphere with their exuberance of yelling and booing, while also offering the audiences a panoramic and wondrous survey of Cascade Mountain, Lake Washington, Downtown Seattle, and Mount-Rainier.

“It was really a unique experience. I had never watched any sports game before, but when I stepped into the stadium, I felt the enthusiasm of UW students, and I really felt like part of them. Together, we cheer for our team.” — An anonymous student at the University of Washington

This quote provided insights into the concept of a “thick institution,” as described in class. The UW Husky Stadium serves as a unifying force that brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, fostering a shared sense of identity and belonging within the UW community.

Husky stadium is a place that we can capture the notions of thick institutions (Brooks, 2017), which are the memorable rituals and symbols unifying the athletic sentiments of audiences and players as well as the fervent and collective sharing of the teams’ triumphs before, during, and after each game.

Social Interactions and Bonds

The photo captures the moment when the University of Washington Huskies played against the University of Texas in a thrilling football game in New Orleans, Louisiana. The sea of purple-clad fans united in their passion for the Huskies’ win filled the air with cheers and chants of triumph. Reflecting on this image, I am reminded of the indelible bonds forged through shared experiences like this. It is a testament to sports’ power to unite people, transcending barriers of age, background, and circumstance.

Dressed in purple, the fans’ united delight for the Huskies’ victory is evident in their yells and chants of success. This graphic depicts the profound relationships that sports develop, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds. It emphasizes sports’ unifying effect, which breaks down barriers and fosters long-term ties among fans.

Who else is there?

This photo, although it is not about UW football members, reveals other stories. Sometimes the show is not all about the main characters, others also played their parts so the show can keep going. This photo shows how hard the UW drumline was training for their show.

Drumlines contribute to this lively atmosphere with their powerful, rhythmic beats that resonate throughout the stadium, intensifying the excitement and uniting spectators in rhythmic support for their team. Their presence turns a regular match into a memorable event, where the excitement transcends the game itself and becomes a celebration of unity and enthusiasm. I think that is why the husky stadium is recognized to be one that has most wonderful atmosphere because not only our players training hard so do our drumlines.

AI Disclaimer

We used ChatGPT for translation of the interviews that were conducted in languages other than English. Our story ideas are our own.

References

1. Belt, D. (2013, September). At Husky Stadium, it’s a whole new ballgame. UW Magazine — University of Washington Magazine. https://magazine.washington.edu/feature/at-husky-stadium-its-a-whole-new-ballgame/
2. Brooks, D. (2017, April 18). Opinion | How to Leave a Mark on People. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/opinion/how-to-leave-a-mark-on-people.html