What's the secret to the Cowboys' lasting popularity?

Red Dragon

Red Dragon

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As we are all richly aware, the Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl in 25 years. They haven't even advanced beyond the divisional playoffs since then. They haven't won a road playoff game in 27 years. There is an entire generation of Cowboys fans that now shares more in common with Bengals or Lions fans than with their own Cowboys elders.

And yet the Cowboys are consistently among the world's richest teams, usually are the NFL's most-watched team, command the highest-ratings, draw the most revenue, sell out all the time.

Is it really just the momentum of those 5 Lombardis? Granted, the Cowboys were already dubbed America's Team in the 1970s, so it's more than that.

Several factors, IMHO:

  • The Cowboys have one of the best uniforms in the league, aesthetically speaking.
  • The Cowboys are always scheduled in on Thanksgiving, so there's always at least one nationally-televised game.
  • At a certain point, momentum begets itself. The Cowboys are popular, so they get high TV ratings and the best nationally-televised slots, which then in turn continues their popularity, and then ensures that they get great primetime games, etc. etc.
  • The Cowboys used to host their summer training camp in California, so that ensures a big following in the nation's most populous state.
  • Jerry is a terrible GM, but still great owner-wise in terms of getting publicity and marketing things.
  • There has only been one season in the past ten years in which the Cowboys were truly bad - the 2015 season. In every other season from 2011-2019, the Cowboys either made the playoffs, or fell short on the very doorstep of the playoffs. That ensured compelling relevancy, and TV-viewership, throughout the season.
  • The Cowboys have the biggest and best stadium in the league.
  • The Cowboys' cheerleaders are better known than most other NFL cheerleaders.
 
Hawkeye19

Hawkeye19

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Red Dragon said:
As we are all richly aware, the Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl in 25 years. They haven't even advanced beyond the divisional playoffs since then. They haven't won a road playoff game in 27 years. There is an entire generation of Cowboys fans that now shares more in common with Bengals or Lions fans than with their own Cowboys elders.

And yet the Cowboys are consistently among the world's richest teams, usually are the NFL's most-watched team, command the highest-ratings, draw the most revenue, sell out all the time.

Is it really just the momentum of those 5 Lombardis? Granted, the Cowboys were already dubbed America's Team in the 1970s, so it's more than that.

Several factors, IMHO:

  • The Cowboys have one of the best uniforms in the league, aesthetically speaking.
  • The Cowboys are always scheduled in on Thanksgiving, so there's always at least one nationally-televised game.
  • At a certain point, momentum begets itself. The Cowboys are popular, so they get high TV ratings and the best nationally-televised slots, which then in turn continues their popularity, and then ensures that they get great primetime games, etc. etc.
  • The Cowboys used to host their summer training camp in California, so that ensures a big following in the nation's most populous state.
  • Jerry is a terrible GM, but still great owner-wise in terms of getting publicity and marketing things.
  • There has only been one season in the past ten years in which the Cowboys were truly bad - the 2015 season. In every other season from 2011-2019, the Cowboys either made the playoffs, or fell short on the very doorstep of the playoffs. That ensured compelling relevancy, and TV-viewership, throughout the season.
  • The Cowboys have the biggest and best stadium in the league.
  • The Cowboys' cheerleaders are better known than most other NFL cheerleaders.
Click to expand...

Historic, legendary players, coaches, and success
 

Adreme

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Jerry is good at hype and creating storylines. He goes after things that will create drama and storylines, and while that is often to the detriment of building a winning team, it certainly brings attention and attention brings with it fans (also haters but for every hater there is a fan).
 
Whyjerry

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csirl

csirl

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Agree with OP, but I think we're losing popularity. I live in a place without a team, so there's no hometown loyality to any team. Cowboys are not on the radar for younger generations. This is worrying.
 
Runwildboys

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Red Dragon said:
As we are all richly aware, the Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl in 25 years. They haven't even advanced beyond the divisional playoffs since then. They haven't won a road playoff game in 27 years. There is an entire generation of Cowboys fans that now shares more in common with Bengals or Lions fans than with their own Cowboys elders.

And yet the Cowboys are consistently among the world's richest teams, usually are the NFL's most-watched team, command the highest-ratings, draw the most revenue, sell out all the time.

Is it really just the momentum of those 5 Lombardis? Granted, the Cowboys were already dubbed America's Team in the 1970s, so it's more than that.

Several factors, IMHO:

  • The Cowboys have one of the best uniforms in the league, aesthetically speaking.
  • The Cowboys are always scheduled in on Thanksgiving, so there's always at least one nationally-televised game.
  • At a certain point, momentum begets itself. The Cowboys are popular, so they get high TV ratings and the best nationally-televised slots, which then in turn continues their popularity, and then ensures that they get great primetime games, etc. etc.
  • The Cowboys used to host their summer training camp in California, so that ensures a big following in the nation's most populous state.
  • Jerry is a terrible GM, but still great owner-wise in terms of getting publicity and marketing things.
  • There has only been one season in the past ten years in which the Cowboys were truly bad - the 2015 season. In every other season from 2011-2019, the Cowboys either made the playoffs, or fell short on the very doorstep of the playoffs. That ensured compelling relevancy, and TV-viewership, throughout the season.
  • The Cowboys have the biggest and best stadium in the league.
  • The Cowboys' cheerleaders are better known than most other NFL cheerleaders.
Click to expand...
Don't forget genetics. Anyone with my DNA had BETTER be a Cowboys fan.
 
ESisback

ESisback

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Red Dragon said:
As we are all richly aware, the Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl in 25 years. They haven't even advanced beyond the divisional playoffs since then. They haven't won a road playoff game in 27 years. There is an entire generation of Cowboys fans that now shares more in common with Bengals or Lions fans than with their own Cowboys elders.

And yet the Cowboys are consistently among the world's richest teams, usually are the NFL's most-watched team, command the highest-ratings, draw the most revenue, sell out all the time.

Is it really just the momentum of those 5 Lombardis? Granted, the Cowboys were already dubbed America's Team in the 1970s, so it's more than that.

Several factors, IMHO:

  • The Cowboys have one of the best uniforms in the league, aesthetically speaking.
  • The Cowboys are always scheduled in on Thanksgiving, so there's always at least one nationally-televised game.
  • At a certain point, momentum begets itself. The Cowboys are popular, so they get high TV ratings and the best nationally-televised slots, which then in turn continues their popularity, and then ensures that they get great primetime games, etc. etc.
  • The Cowboys used to host their summer training camp in California, so that ensures a big following in the nation's most populous state.
  • Jerry is a terrible GM, but still great owner-wise in terms of getting publicity and marketing things.
  • There has only been one season in the past ten years in which the Cowboys were truly bad - the 2015 season. In every other season from 2011-2019, the Cowboys either made the playoffs, or fell short on the very doorstep of the playoffs. That ensured compelling relevancy, and TV-viewership, throughout the season.
  • The Cowboys have the biggest and best stadium in the league.
  • The Cowboys' cheerleaders are better known than most other NFL cheerleaders.
Click to expand...

Add to that, the biggest, most jaw dropping stadium, the nickname, the all time leading rusher, etc., and all these factors perpetuate the largest fan base. Then the pundits and “experts” force feed the hype and analysis down the throats of the masses.

If the Cowboys started winning Super Bowls again, it would send the love/hate through the roof, and likely cement our status for the NEXT 27 years.
 

Golfzilla77

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it started in the 70's with the whole America's team thing (which, of course, happened because it was noticed how well the fans traveled to their away games). And the fans probably liked them because the uniform is classy, it represents the Lone Star state with the star on the helmet (the mere thought of Texas increases testerone), back in the day early television and movies were utterly enthralled with westerns and the like (Cowboys!), AND the 3 super bowl wins in the early 90's just added to the mystique (hard to believe, but the Super Bowl win in the '92 season meant it had only been about 13 years since their previous appearance --- now we've got a whopping 1/4 CENTURY since our last appearance).

And even with all of that, if the leadership of the franchise hadn't been top-notch, it would never have stuck. I think you can say leadership generally made good moves until JJ & JJ parted ways after the '93 season Super Bowl win. After that, the team slowly disintegrated into the realm of mediocrity.

It's truly amazing the fanhood is as good today as it is, considering the team hasn't really done anything of note since 1996. But give it another 20 or so years of nothing, that should put us on par with the browns and lions.
 
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