Rah! Rah! Rah!
The spectators at a football game play more than a superficial role.
The spirited cheer from the stands often give the players a reason
to play harder. The cheer leaders exhort fans, who may be in a state
of apathy because their team is losing, to spur on the team. In
particularly close game between rivals of long standing, the feelings
begin to run high, and from time to time a fracas may break out in 
the stands. When the teams compete below, a fan who is a bit of 
inebriated may seek out personal adversary. On the whole the enthusiasm
of the spectators is constricted to cheering and shouting for their
favorite teams.


a fly in the ointment--He was offered a lucrative position with the firm, 
but the fly in the ointment was that he would have to work on Saturday and
Sunday.
(some small thing that spoils or lessens the enjoyment.)