Why I Cry at Football Games: The Power of Collective Effervescence

When I was 12 or 13, I cried uncontrollably at my first Denver Broncos game.

My mom was a die-hard fan, and one sunny October morning, we made the four-hour drive from our tiny town to Denver where she told me we were going late school shopping. Instead, she drove us to Mile High Stadium to watch the Broncos play during the glory days of John Elway and Terrell Davis. I don’t remember who won. But I do remember how I felt, the smell of greasy snacks, the cool breeze of beer in the air, and the way the stadium shook when we were on defense.

And then it happened. After the opposing team missed a pass, the entire crowd thundered: "IN-COM-PLETE." I'd heard it on TV, but in person? Something about tens of thousands of strangers chanting in perfect unison hit me so hard, I burst into tears. Not just a tear or two—I mean full-on, trying-to-hide-it, face-burning embarrassment. I didn’t understand what was happening. I just knew something big was moving through me. To my horror, this physical response continued throughout the game, much to the chagrin of the big dude next to me with the painted chest and crude chants.

That day was one of my earliest memories of a response that would only grow with age. Standing ovations? I’m a goner. Marching bands? Forget it. Group chants, flash mobs, a rally of people raising their voices for something they believe in? Don’t even start with me. It took me almost 30 years to learn there was a name for this full-body, soul-sparking, emotional overwhelm: collective effervescence.

Coined by sociologist Émile Durkheim, collective effervescence describes that electric sense of connection and joy that arises when people gather in shared purpose, emotion, or ritual. It's the goosebumps, the misty eyes, the heart thump that reminds you: I am part of something bigger.

So, what does this have to do with Brico Collective—or Brico Works?

Everything.

Because when I think about what we’re building through Brico Collective, it isn’t just a physical space. It’s not just programming or tools or facilitation. And when I reflect on the mission behind Brico Works, our design firm dedicated to building stronger teams and organizations, it’s not just about structure or strategy—it’s about people. Both arms of Brico are rooted in the belief that humans thrive when they feel connected, supported, and part of something meaningful.

There is an evolutionary why behind all of this. Collective effervescence was critical to our survival as a species. Early humans who stuck together in groups were more likely to thrive—whether for protection, hunting, or raising children. Emotional experiences that strengthened social bonds helped ensure that individuals didn’t just look out for themselves, but for one another.

Shared rituals—like chanting, dancing, singing, or storytelling—created fast trust and reinforced community values. Activities that synchronized group behavior (drumming, marching, working in rhythm) built cohesion. Our bodies quite literally sync up in these moments. That attunement helped us cooperate better, coordinate actions, and reduce conflict. It made us more resilient.

Today, even without the threat of sabertooth tigers, our nervous systems still crave that sync. We still long for the emotional charge of feeling in tune with others. Especially in times of change, disconnection, or burnout.

At Brico Collective, we aim to spark that feeling every time people walk through the doors—through gatherings, coworking, panel discussions, and cohorts. At Brico Works, we build structures, rhythms, and cultures inside organizations that allow teams to tap into that same energy in their everyday work. We help leaders and changemakers design the kind of work environments where connection, alignment, and emotional resonance aren't just side effects—they’re the point.

So if you, too, get teary during a crowd sing-along or feel something stirring in your chest during a shared silence, know this: you’re not alone. You’re built for this. We all are.

And if you’re feeling a little disconnected these days, I invite you to seek out that spark. Come sit with us at Brico. Come co-work, come learn, come cry (I probably will too). Let’s stand shoulder to shoulder and remember the wisdom our bodies have known all along:

We need each other.

We always have.