Ranking NFL fan bases, from worst to first

big dog cowboy

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Ranking NFL fan bases, from worst to first​

Barry Werner
Fri, Sep 15, 2023

Fandomanalytics.com did the homework on NFL fan bases, crunching the numbers for over 20 years before revealing the rankings in 2023. We can be sure certain fan groups — looking at you, Bills Mafia — will not be happy where they landed. Here’s how all 32 teams’ faithful stack up, from worst to first…

32. Washington Commanders
13. New York Giants
4. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Dallas Cowboys
2. Green Bay Packers
1. New England Patriots

https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-nfl-fan-bases-worst-170025657.html

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TheMightyVanHalen

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What criteria did they use? Are they basing this on loyalty, merchandise sales, knowledge, or ice ball aim?
It would've been nice if they added after their rankings why that team is ranked that way. There is NO WAY the Philthy fans should be ranked #4. They should be near the bottom. On my FB the Rojoskins fans are really annoying. More annoying than any other opposing fans. So I guess their ranking is probably accurate.
 

Cowboys5217

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This will greatly upset that small fiction here that really needs everyone to believe that Cowboys fans are the worst. What will they do now that it will be harder to create the false narrative of the terrible no-good Cowboys fans so they can look down their noses at others? How will they cope now that their illusion of being superior human beings has been shattered?
 

Motorola

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What criteria did they use? Are they basing this on loyalty, merchandise sales, knowledge, or ice ball aim?
It would've been nice if they added after their rankings why that team is ranked that way. There is NO WAY the Philthy fans should be ranked #4. They should be near the bottom. On my FB the Rojoskins fans are really annoying. More annoying than any other opposing fans. So I guess their ranking is probably accurate.
Go to 'fandomanalytics.com' and read the article.
It states the factors in ranking the fanbases (ticket pricing and social media presence being two of them), and details the information for a few teams.
 

JD_KaPow

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What criteria did they use? Are they basing this on loyalty, merchandise sales, knowledge, or ice ball aim?
Essentially ticket prices, attendance and "social media presence."

It leads to some wonky results, at least in the context of what we generally mean colloquially by "good fans." The Raiders have the highest ticket prices in the league, but that's not driven by Raiders fans: it's driven by being in Las Vegas. On the other hand, Raiders fans are nuts and have been loyal through multiple moves, so I don't mind them being ranked high.

But yeah, the Bills are too low, because the metrics favor teams with a broad (read national) following over teams with the "best" core fans.
 

Runwildboys

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Essentially ticket prices, attendance and "social media presence."

It leads to some wonky results, at least in the context of what we generally mean colloquially by "good fans." The Raiders have the highest ticket prices in the league, but that's not driven by Raiders fans: it's driven by being in Las Vegas. On the other hand, Raiders fans are nuts and have been loyal through multiple moves, so I don't mind them being ranked high.

But yeah, the Bills are too low, because the metrics favor teams with a broad (read national) following over teams with the "best" core fans.
So in this case, "best fan bases" means "best for the league's bottom line".
 

VaqueroTD

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Pretty easy. If we’re being honest, just go to the older team locations where most residents are usually generational, sometimes even inheriting the season tickets. Basically the Iron Belt States to New England.
 

Motorola

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Pretty easy. If we’re being honest, just go to the older team locations where most residents are usually generational, sometimes even inheriting the season tickets. Basically the Iron Belt States to New England.
Back in the previous century, I recall hearing and reading every year since the 60's that the Washington franchise had the largest and longest season ticket request list in the NFL.
There were even stories about death wills and divorce settlements being contested for the rights to coveting purchased rights.
 

CowboyRoy

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Ranking NFL fan bases, from worst to first​

Barry Werner
Fri, Sep 15, 2023

Fandomanalytics.com did the homework on NFL fan bases, crunching the numbers for over 20 years before revealing the rankings in 2023. We can be sure certain fan groups — looking at you, Bills Mafia — will not be happy where they landed. Here’s how all 32 teams’ faithful stack up, from worst to first…

32. Washington Commanders
13. New York Giants
4. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Dallas Cowboys
2. Green Bay Packers
1. New England Patriots

https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-nfl-fan-bases-worst-170025657.html

9725d468f407fb37570bbdde0f8b3275
How are pats fans the best? They are as fair weather as it gets.
 

Motorola

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How are pats fans the best? They are as fair weather as it gets.
Since their AFL begining in 1960, and through those four decades to close out the 20th century, the Patriots were mostly at the bottom on the totem pole when in came to professional sports in Boston \ Massachusetts \ New England = Northeast Region of the U.S. ---- behind the Red Sox, the Bruins, the Celtics.
Would like to see a poll on how the fans \ populace in that area rank them now.
 

Cebrin

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Ranking NFL fan bases, from worst to first​

Barry Werner
Fri, Sep 15, 2023

Fandomanalytics.com did the homework on NFL fan bases, crunching the numbers for over 20 years before revealing the rankings in 2023. We can be sure certain fan groups — looking at you, Bills Mafia — will not be happy where they landed. Here’s how all 32 teams’ faithful stack up, from worst to first…

32. Washington Commanders
13. New York Giants
4. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Dallas Cowboys
2. Green Bay Packers
1. New England Patriots

https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-nfl-fan-bases-worst-170025657.html

9725d468f407fb37570bbdde0f8b3275
For me it's Eagles 1, Saints 2 then everyone else. Just my experience from living in Texas. Though the Seahawks are now climbing up there since I live in Western WA now. I still show up on Sunday's decked out in the Star.
 

Vtwin

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Since their AFL begining in 1960, and through those four decades to close out the 20th century, the Patriots were mostly at the bottom on the totem pole when in came to professional sports in Boston \ Massachusetts \ New England = Northeast Region of the U.S. ---- behind the Red Sox, the Bruins, the Celtics.
Would like to see a poll on how the fans \ populace in that area rank them now.
Growing up in the NE market in the 70's, Pats fans were few and far between. I personally only knew 1. They got a bit of a bandwagon thing started in the mid 80's, but the wagon pretty quickly broke an axle. Then came Brady and Belichick. Now you can't throw a rock without hitting one. I know a whole bunch who switched their alliances in 2002. My stepfather and long-time Giants fan became a Pats fan in 2007. Just in time to watch "his" undefeated Patriots lose to the Giants in the SB.
 

Runwildboys

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Since their AFL begining in 1960, and through those four decades to close out the 20th century, the Patriots were mostly at the bottom on the totem pole when in came to professional sports in Boston \ Massachusetts \ New England = Northeast Region of the U.S. ---- behind the Red Sox, the Bruins, the Celtics.
Would like to see a poll on how the fans \ populace in that area rank them now.
I can tell you from first hand experience that those people started ranking them lower the moment Brady left. Drive around New England and you can hardly tell this is where the Patriots are from. (At least if you're not within 30 miles of Foxboro.)

Here in CT I probably see more Stars than Flying Elvises these days.
 

Motorola

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Growing up in the NE market in the 70's, Pats fans were few and far between. I personally only knew 1. They got a bit of a bandwagon thing started in the mid 80's, but the wagon pretty quickly broke an axle. Then came Brady and Belichick. Now you can't throw a rock without hitting one. I know a whole bunch who switched their alliances in 2002. My stepfather and long-time Giants fan became a Pats fan in 2007. Just in time to watch "his" undefeated Patriots lose to the Giants in the SB.
I can tell you from first hand experience that those people started ranking them lower the moment Brady left. Drive around New England and you can hardly tell this is where the Patriots are from. (At least if you're not within 30 miles of Foxboro.)

Here in CT I probably see more Stars than Flying Elvises these days.
'Vtwin' and 'Runwildboys': thanks for the responses.
I appreciate the insight and opinion on how the Patriots franchise is viewed in their backyard - way back then and now.
 
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