... to capture the hearts and interests of those who don’t “have a dog in the hunt”, there should be a contrast in styles between the opposing teams.

This isn’t to say that a rivalry has to fit this template; it just means that it can make it more interesting if it does.

Trust me, there is no love lost between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears despite both consisting of similar fan bases, styles of football, and weather elements.

But everyone likes contrast in competition. We want to see the battle of the sexes, notching men against women. We crave good versus evil. Fans revel in the matches between a crafty veteran and a feisty rookie.

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