Maggie Labban and Claire Darling had two words for what they were experiencing as the Milwaukee Brewers make a historic run for their first World Series title.
Collective effervescence.
Labban, a behavioral health consultant, and Darling, a recreational therapist, were fans of the term, first coined by French sociologist Émile Durkheim. It describes how shared rituals and gatherings strengthen social bonds and can create a sense of belonging.
“The Brewers are very important to my mental health,” Labban joked.
The pair were at Boone & Crockett for the Oct. 27 Game 4 watch party, where hundreds of others had gathered to lean into that sense of unity.
After Boone & Crockett ran out of beer during Game 1, staff said they scaled up everything for future parties – including the number of portable bathrooms. The bar was at capacity and turning people away as the game got underway, but there was enough beer for those who made it in.
"We're trying to accommodate everybody and do the best we can," said co-owner Mitch Ciohon. "It is an impossible task, but everybody's going to have fun and we're all going to be here for this celebration."
Paulina Bartisius and Katie Bast, both students at Marquette’s dental school, said they had a hard day of classes and wanted to see the Brewers sweep that night.
“They’ve been winning game after game after game, so I hope tonight’s the same thing,” Bast said.
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The Brewers’ successful run was Elsie Zajicek’s introduction to Milwaukee, as she moved to the city recently. People were confused about why she wanted to start new here, she said, but Milwaukee is a “really good place” where everyone’s welcoming.
“I feel really lucky to be part of the culture, the atmosphere – it’s been so fun,” Zajicek said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hear from fans at Boone & Crockett's packed Game 4 watch party
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