I don’t even think the men dreaming of the events (for the specific reason of finding a romantic partner) are enthralled by the pageantry.

In media, the trope is that the women at these things have no agency. Basically whatever man shows up to ask them to dance they end up ending up betrothed to, even if they have the personality of a wet noodle or an angry little dog.

I think that’s what is so alluring to these guys. They long for a medium where their trash personalities aren’t a liability.