They're no longer games or competitions. They aren't matters of school pride or spirit. They are cultures - ways of life for both fans and athletes. As with any culture, traditions are developed in the world of sports. Thousands congregate dressed in garb appropriate for their chosen form of worship.
People go just to go.
Just to be part of the phenomenon, just to get caught up in the mindless fanaticism, to be part of something bigger than themselves. Sure, sports became popular for a reason. They're exciting, they're graceful, they force the competitors to push themselves to the extreme. We forget what it means to rise above the confined limitations of our awkward human form and transcend our physical nature, if only for an instant. Think about average humans' experiences as they move through life, dealing with their surroundings.