NFL fanbases like to pride themselves on being the best. While it’s a subjective crown, one study attempted to quantity fan passion to see which teams have the most supportive backers.
OLBG.com identified the most supportive fanbases by calculating a “Fan Score.” Total attendance, average attendance per game, percentage of stadium capacity per game, average ticket resale price, and Instagram followers all went into the formula, with a 10 representing the highest score.
The New England Patriots bested all NFL squads with a 7.8. Of the 121 teams considered across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, only the Golden State Warriors finished higher at 8.4.
Because of higher ticket costs and attendance tallies, NFL fans also scored the highest of the four major U.S. sports leagues.
After New England, the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys each earned a 7.5. The Green Bay Packers (7.2), Cleveland Browns (7.1), Denver Broncos (6.9), Seattle Seahawks (6.9), Philadelphia Eagles (6.8), New York Giants (6.6), and Carolina Panthers (6.5) round out the top 10.
The Washington Commanders rank last ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, one has to think Joe Burrow will elevate the 30th-placed Cincinnati Bengals up this leaderboard next season after making the Super Bowl.
Given the franchise’s prestige, it’s a bit surprising to see the Pittsburgh Steelers rank 29th. The methodology seems to skew toward teams in big-city markets with more disposable income. One could also argue Instagram followers aren’t the best overall gauge of a fanbase, as it prioritizes younger supporters.
In other words, a mid-market organization like the Steelers could still have more loyal fans likely to stand by the team through thick and thin. Perhaps merchandise revenue, TV ratings, and other social media metrics could help paint a fuller picture.
Yet it’s not all driven by location, as the Jets rate far worse (4.7) than their MetLife Stadium roommates. The Los Angeles Rams also somewhat surprisingly finished lower than the Los Angeles Chargers.
How do you feel about your team’s fan score?
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