Cathleen Bell
ON THE RECORD · 6 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“It's just not very fun or exciting to be like, 'you know what feels great is not having a credit card balance.'”
Cathleen Bell · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
Bell noted that avoiding debt isn't as emotionally satisfying to fans as spending on their teams.
“People really care about sports — it's connected to their identity, like travel, like gift-giving,”
Cathleen Bell · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
Bell explained why fans feel strongly connected to sports spending despite the associated stress.
“I think 20 years ago, you could be a sports fan and all you needed was an antenna on your roof,”
Cathleen Bell · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
Bell noted that the cost of following sports has increased even for casual fans.
“Suddenly you're ballooning that debt, and then it's very difficult [to get out],”
Cathleen Bell · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
Bell described how manageable debt can quickly grow after an unexpected expense.
“There's people who are making those passion plays for their team,”
Cathleen Bell · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
Bell explained that some fans view big sports experiences as worth splurging on.
“are more kind of emotional about their identity attachments.”
Cathleen Bell · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
Bell said fans who spend on items like jerseys often feel emotionally attached to their teams.