American presidential election | When the political contest takes place in the stadiums

This sentence was uttered 64 years ago by John F. Kennedy when he accepted the Democratic nomination in Los Angeles on July 15, 1960.

However, given the context, this quote could also have been said by one of the two American presidential candidates this year, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

In fact, it is true that the political contest translates differently in 2024, in substance and in form. Social networks, among others, are now part of the equation. According to the Pew Research Center, 59% of platform X users consult this social network to find out about the current campaign, 36% on TikTok, 26% on Facebook and 26% on Instagram.

Over the past few days, those to whom the algorithm offers content related to the world of sport have certainly come across this sequence involving Nick Bosa. The San Francisco 49ers star player went to disrupt the post-game interview with his quarterback Brock Purdy by displaying his “Make America Great Again” cap, the slogan of candidate Trump.

In a press briefing after the meeting, Bosa refused to explain his intentions and motivations. He simply replied: “I don’t want to talk too much about it, but I think it’s an important moment. »

Statement that resonates with specialists, mainly because, indeed, the current period is decisive.

Tova Wang is also a specialist in this field. Director of Democratic Practices Research Projects at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University, Ms.^me Wang particularly studies the relationship between sport and civic engagement.

“Athletes and professional teams may attract the attention of voters differently than politicians or other groups in society,” she explains to The Press.

From his point of view, “the fans think they know these athletes. We celebrate them and they inspire people to take action. So when they talk about their civic engagement, it adds special value for those who admire them.”

In the public sphere

According to the researcher, it is impossible to determine whether support for Trump among professional athletes is more numerous than in 2016 and 2020. The same goes for the Democratic camp.

The fact remains that a trend seems to be emerging. Indeed, several active athletes have publicly displayed their allegiance to former President Trump’s cause. Aside from Bosa, Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights, Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins, Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders and Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs will all vote red on November 5.

During the last elections, the athletes who offered their support to Trump were mostly retired, such as Mariano Rivera, Brett Favre, John Daly and Jack Nicklaus.

This kind of public support is not trivial.

M^me Wang specializes in how sports can lead to improved civic engagement, rather than athletes’ voting intentions. But she nevertheless maintains that “athletes allow people to have awareness and perhaps even follow them. People who otherwise wouldn’t have felt concerned.”

The same phenomenon exists in the artistic world, she notes. Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Bruce Springsteen are trying to convince their admirers to get behind Harris.

“Athletes can attract the attention of young people who admire them and convince them to register and vote. […] Athletes and professional teams have far more Instagram and TikTok followers than politicians,” notes M^me Wang in an article published in February 2024 on the Harvard Kennedy School website.

Encourage voters to vote

Sport certainly plays a role in these historic elections. The crux of the matter comes down to convincing men to vote. An audience which, generally, is the majority in sports arenas. At least, sport stands out as a determining prism for reaching this base of voters who are usually embarrassed to go to the polls.

Trump and Harris will need the male vote to win nationally. Historically, more women than men express their right to vote. This is a difference of between one and three percentage points, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.

In 2020, 82.2 million women voted, while 72.5 million men did. A significant difference, given that the upcoming elections could be decided by a few thousand votes.

Thus, to convince male sports fans to take action, the best way is to surrender to them, as observed by M.^me Wang. “There’s this phrase here: Go meet them where they are. So politicians go to these people who might not want to travel or listen to politicians talk. »

It has, so to speak, become a new form of political communication. And that’s why Trump was seen, and cheered, at the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and Pittsburgh Steelers stadiums earlier this fall.

Stadiums have become a place of political gathering, to vote or to meet. It is on this that M^me Wang mainly focused on this during her research.

“Fans are devoted to their team and it’s something that brings people together. It can serve as a bridge,” she says in an interview.

“Fans feel involved and interested in what concerns their favorite sport. People are attached to their team. […] Building community is an important part of inspiring people to be more involved and engaged. »

She also mentions a recurring theme. That of the “power of sport”. And this is perhaps what could turn this election into a sporting event.

On November 5, everyone will gather to watch live a fierce fight marked by the unpredictability of the result.