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Study ranks Cowboys & Pats with best fan bases and Chiefs & Rams as worst bases

IDEXAN

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Time for our yearly look at NFL fandom.

Each year, I do a quantitative analysis of NFL fandom. The analysis is grounded in economic and marketing theory, and uses statistical tools to shed light on the question of which teams have the most loyal or “best” fans.

The fundamental question that guides the analysis is simple – Who has the best fans in the NFL? For the business folks, maybe we phrase this as – What are the best brands in the NFL? It’s a simple question that requires some complicated analyses. First, we have to decide what we mean by “best”. What makes for a great fan or brand? Fans that show up even when the team is losing? Fans that are willing to pay the highest prices? Fans that are willing to follow a team onsocial media? Fans that show up to see the team play in other markets? All good options.

Even after we agree on the question, answering it is also a challenge. How do we adjust for the fact that one team might have gone on a miraculous run that filled the stadium? Or perhaps another team suffered a slew of injuries? How do we compare fan behavior in a market like New York with fans in a place like Green Bay?

My approach to evaluating fan bases uses data on attendance, revenues, social media following and road attendance to develop statistical models of fan interest (more details here). The key is that the models are used to determine which city’s fans are more willing to spend or follow their teams after controlling for factors like market size and short-term changes in winning and losing.
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https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/esma/2019/06/24/nfl-fandom-report-2019/
***
FWIW Texans came in @ 21, but there's a lot to kick around here and the first thing for me personally as a native of the KC area who's been to Chiefs games - well whoever wrote this piece clearly hasn't.
 
Time for our yearly look at NFL fandom.

Each year, I do a quantitative analysis of NFL fandom. The analysis is grounded in economic and marketing theory, and uses statistical tools to shed light on the question of which teams have the most loyal or “best” fans.

The fundamental question that guides the analysis is simple – Who has the best fans in the NFL? For the business folks, maybe we phrase this as – What are the best brands in the NFL? It’s a simple question that requires some complicated analyses. First, we have to decide what we mean by “best”. What makes for a great fan or brand? Fans that show up even when the team is losing? Fans that are willing to pay the highest prices? Fans that are willing to follow a team onsocial media? Fans that show up to see the team play in other markets? All good options.

Even after we agree on the question, answering it is also a challenge. How do we adjust for the fact that one team might have gone on a miraculous run that filled the stadium? Or perhaps another team suffered a slew of injuries? How do we compare fan behavior in a market like New York with fans in a place like Green Bay?

My approach to evaluating fan bases uses data on attendance, revenues, social media following and road attendance to develop statistical models of fan interest (more details here). The key is that the models are used to determine which city’s fans are more willing to spend or follow their teams after controlling for factors like market size and short-term changes in winning and losing.
***
https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/esma/2019/06/24/nfl-fandom-report-2019/
***
FWIW Texans came in @ 21, but there's a lot to kick around here and the first thing for me personally as a native of the KC area who's been to Chiefs games - well whoever wrote this piece clearly hasn't.

I can agree from experience that the Cowboys hold the top spot. Fan equity; tickets, jerseys, shrine set up, road trips; social equity, several groups; road equity, highest marked up tickets to every stadium the Cowboys play. I don't necessarily understand why, given our record, but the facts stand.

StarStruck, 6 minutes ago Edit Report
 
I can agree from experience that the Cowboys hold the top spot. Fan equity; tickets, jerseys, shrine set up, road trips; social equity, several groups; road equity, highest marked up tickets to every stadium the Cowboys play. I don't necessarily understand why, given our record, but the facts stand.

StarStruck, 6 minutes ago Edit Report

Disagree. Cowboys fans are known more for being the loudest when they are winning and in hiding when they are losing.

From what I can observe Green Bay Packers have the best fan base by far. They travel everywhere, and the loyalty and family feel to that franchise is so strong. The community owns the team.
 
Disagree. Cowboys fans are known more for being the loudest when they are winning and in hiding when they are losing.

From what I can observe Green Bay Packers have the best fan base by far. They travel everywhere, and the loyalty and family feel to that franchise is so strong. The community owns the team.
Cool! I based my comments on what I have seen and done over the years. Winning, loud yes, losing, mouth shut, but still there and will be getting ready for the next game. Cowboys come to town, tickets are higher than any other team. Cowboy fans are loyal, and travel well. My two road trips (D.C. and New Orleans) are already paid for. One thing I find amazing is when the fans meet up, they are from everywhere imaginable, especially those from New York/New Jersey where are so many teams to choose from.
 
Cool! I based my comments on what I have seen and done over the years. Winning, loud yes, losing, mouth shut, but still there and will be getting ready for the next game. Cowboys come to town, tickets are higher than any other team. Cowboy fans are loyal, and travel well. My two road trips (D.C. and New Orleans) are already paid for. One thing I find amazing is when the fans meet up, they are from everywhere imaginable, especially those from New York/New Jersey where are so many teams to choose from.
So you are a Cowboys fan ? Will you tell me the appeal to folks who don't live in the DFW area or anyplace in Texas ? I don't get it because the Cowboys haven't been a contender for 25 yrs ?
Unless one is 70 or 80 and goes back to the glory days of the franchises in 20th century, what's the appeal ?
 
So you are a Cowboys fan ? Will you tell me the appeal to folks who don't live in the DFW area or anyplace in Texas ? I don't get it because the Cowboys haven't been a contender for 25 yrs ?
Unless one is 70 or 80 and goes back to the glory days of the franchises in 20th century, what's the appeal ?

Lots of folks are more loyal than you imply. Plus there is family tradition from the glory decades.
 
Cool! I based my comments on what I have seen and done over the years. Winning, loud yes, losing, mouth shut, but still there and will be getting ready for the next game. Cowboys come to town, tickets are higher than any other team. Cowboy fans are loyal, and travel well. My two road trips (D.C. and New Orleans) are already paid for. One thing I find amazing is when the fans meet up, they are from everywhere imaginable, especially those from New York/New Jersey where are so many teams to choose from.

Sorry, but you guys have nothing on Packers fans. Not even close.
 
Sorry, but you guys have nothing on Packers fans. Not even close.
Lol, since I'm not in a competition, I really don't care. I can't speak for Packer fans and how they roll, but I do know when we travel, we show up. It was funny, that after the Falcons game last season, a group was standing outside the stadium doing a meet and greet, and someone made the comment that it looked like a Cowboys home game. Also, Bourbon Street the night before the game is amazing. But again, the Cowboys could be at the bottom of the fan base list, they would still be my team.
 
So you are a Cowboys fan?
Star-Struck, lol
Will you tell me the appeal to folks who don't live in the DFW area or anyplace in Texas? I don't get it because the Cowboys haven't been a contender for 25 yrs?
Unless one is 70 or 80 and goes back to the glory days of the franchises in 20th century, what's the appeal ?
I'm in that 70-80 group, and those Ice Bowls were not glorious for us. Our Super Bowl win did not come until 1972, then a six year gap, then 15 years, so it wasn't all about winning. The seasons since the last Super Bowl is a well known fact that we've had more downs than ups. I can't really explain it, it just is for me. Have I been angry at them, YES! Have I relocated, YES! Are we peculiar, YES, annoying, YES! But one thing is for certain, DC4L, lol. Why am I here? I live in Houston, I love football, and I also really like and wish all the best for the Texans.
 
Star-Struck, lol I'm in that 70-80 group, and those Ice Bowls were not glorious for us. Our Super Bowl win did not come until 1972, then a six year gap, then 15 years, so it wasn't all about winning. The seasons since the last Super Bowl is a well known fact that we've had more downs than ups. I can't really explain it, it just is for me. Have I been angry at them, YES! Have I relocated, YES! Are we peculiar, YES, annoying, YES! But one thing is for certain, DC4L, lol. Why am I here? I live in Houston, I love football, and I also really like and wish all the best for the Texans.
OK you are an old-timer so your fan days go back to the 20th century when the Cowboys were truly one of the great franchises in the NFL - I get that, you've got your memoris.
 
Star-Struck, lol I'm in that 70-80 group, and those Ice Bowls were not glorious for us. Our Super Bowl win did not come until 1972, then a six year gap, then 15 years, so it wasn't all about winning. The seasons since the last Super Bowl is a well known fact that we've had more downs than ups. I can't really explain it, it just is for me. Have I been angry at them, YES! Have I relocated, YES! Are we peculiar, YES, annoying, YES! But one thing is for certain, DC4L, lol. Why am I here? I live in Houston, I love football, and I also really like and wish all the best for the Texans.
OK you are an old-timer so your fan days go back to the 20th century when the Cowboys were truly one of the great franchises in the NFL - I get that, you've got your memoris.
 
Based solely on my observance of the number of opposing fans at NRG, Packers and Steelers would have to 1a and 1b. Cowboys next with Patriots right behind them, followed by Saints and Titans, though I'm seeing less and less Titans fans the last few years. Of course they have ties here, it's not like they have a huge national following.
 
IMO, Packers should have it going away. Extremely loyal fans and travel everywhere.
And they'e won a championship in recent memory so yea Packers very deserving whereas the Dallas "formerly Americas team" Cowboys should be labeled as the most pretentious organization in pro sports.
 
Cowboys should be labeled as the most pretentious organization in pro sports.
Yes. It's not the team that I dislike. It's the arrogant, obnoxious fans that are unbearable. Probably not you star struck, but the folks I encounter in my neck of the woods are just on planet delusional. Good lawd people, you haven't won dick since 95. Guys I know that were born AFTER 95 are walking around, FIVE RINGS BABY!! I'm like, kid you don't even know what winning is.

It's not the team for me, it's the majority of the fans.
 
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And they'e won a championship in recent memory so yea Packers very deserving whereas the Dallas "formerly Americas team" Cowboys should be labeled as the most pretentious organization in pro sports.

You are bass ackwards. The fact Cowboys fans stay true despite 25+ years of losing proves they are great fans.

Your idea of follow the championships is the opposite of loyal, good fan.

Cowboys fans are no different than any championship team. Houston fans just have thin skins about the Cowboys.
 
You are bass ackwards. The fact Cowboys fans stay true despite 25+ years of losing proves they are great fans.

Your idea of follow the championships is the opposite of loyal, good fan.

Cowboys fans are no different than any championship team. Houston fans just have thin skins about the Cowboys.

Perhaps the skin won't be so thin when (IF) the city gets a superb owl of it's own
 
Perhaps the skin won't be so thin when (IF) the city gets a superb owl of it's own

Maybe. Hopefully. Never seen a city with as much of an inferiority complex as Houston.

Side note, 2 (4) of my most fond football memories came from being in enemy territory. '92 & '93 was in San Francisco as an almost lone Cowboy fan for the Boys beating the Niners. Then they held go Buffalo parties. Just cracking up the whole time.
 
You are bass ackwards. The fact Cowboys fans stay true despite 25+ years of losing proves they are great fans.

Your idea of follow the championships is the opposite of loyal, good fan.

Cowboys fans are no different than any championship team. Houston fans just have thin skins about the Cowboys.
It's a travesty for Cowboy fans to walk around calling themselves Americas team when they haven't sniffed a championship contest since the 20th century, not een a Conferece champioship.
If they want to call themslves Americas team of the 20th century then Ok, fine, but don't use the current tense, that's insulting and oh so hypocritical.
Why there's two other teams in their own division which have have won SBs in the current century.
See it's like Carl Lewis today constantly walking around and saying he's the fastest human in the world. Totally classless.
&&&&
OK here's an idea for you Mr Cowboys fan for you and your pals:
Get yourselfs a bunch of red caps, you know with the bills and all, and on the front in big white letters:
"MAKE AMERICA'S TEAM GREAT AGAIN"
 
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Says the envious never won anything fan. Doesn't matter what they do, you'd find fault. Classless.
I'm not envious but rather respect and admire the Cowboys teams of the past century just as I do like other great franchies like the Patriots of the current century
but I'm puzzled why you didn't call me a hater which is what folks like myself usually get when we push back on the hollow phony BS that you guys spout out.
But I thought it would be fitting for youall to wear those bright red caps like that other group of wind-bags do.
 
I'm not envious but rather respect and admire the Cowboys teams of the past century just as I do like other great franchies like the Patriots of the current century
but I'm puzzled why you didn't call me a hater which is what folks like myself usually get when we push back on the hollow phony BS that you guys spout out.
But I thought it would be fitting for youall to wear those bright red caps like that other group of wind-bags do.
IDK, but when I think of the Cowboys being called America’s Team is because we are everywhere in America. I find it amazing to have that kind of following and loyalty regardless of the circumstances, and the ridicule from other teams. In spite of it all I haven’t met one yet ashamed to be a fan.

It is a little embarrassing at times when opposing fans feel inclined to explain the various reasons why we are we are resented, and having to be polite in listening when we really don’t give a damn. Please don’t take this as arrogance (look we don’t have anything to be arrogant about), but when it comes to supporting our team, we’re rock solid.
 
IDK, but when I think of the Cowboys being called America’s Team is because we are everywhere in America. I find it amazing to have that kind of following and loyalty regardless of the circumstances, and the ridicule from other teams. In spite of it all I haven’t met one yet ashamed to be a fan.

Folks may forget when the Cowboys got tagged as Ametica's team they held training camp in Thousand Oaks so they had a California following and they and the cheerleaders were appearing on TV shows like Love Boat & Fantasy Island. And not to be overlooked the cheerleaders were famous for their chorus line kicks. Also, it may seem silly but I think the white uniforms & Cowboys name played a roll with them being "the good guys." Lots of teams have very regional names - Oilers, Steelers, Niners. Everyone likes cowboys.
 
Folks may forget when the Cowboys got tagged as Ametica's team they held training camp in Thousand Oaks so they had a California following and they and the cheerleaders were appearing on TV shows like Love Boat & Fantasy Island. And not to be overlooked the cheerleaders were famous for their chorus line kicks. Also, it may seem silly but I think the white uniforms & Cowboys name played a roll with them being "the good guys." Lots of teams have very regional names - Oilers, Steelers, Niners. Everyone likes cowboys.

You're stuck in the 70's nostalgia.

Cowboys haven't held that prestige in so freaking long. They've been laughed at for the most part for every Jerry Jones mistake and embarrassment the franchise has had over the years barely ever reaching the hype for seasons started.
 
No, I was explaining a 70s phenomena.

It still has legs because of loyalty.

And for the record I'm not one of these obsessive Cowboys haters. I do agree somewhat with you that a lot of Houston fans have an inferiority complex which is mainly due to not ever winning anything in football. I do think that the Cowboys had a lot more love from Houston fans back in the 70's and the 80's though when Landry was there. A lot of people hated Jerry for throwing him out like a wounded dog the way he did, and that held a lot of early hate from Houstonians and Cowboy fans as a whole that weren't really tied to Dallas the city. Some jumped back on in the 90's when they had success again, but Jerry has always held a certain type of hatred from fans similar to how Trump sort of does from a polarization factor. Since then though, the Cowboys have simply done very little and haven't had any teams that sustained any long term success to keep as great of a nation wide nostalgia as they once did. A new era of NFL fans are in the mix and many have never seen what Cowboys success looks like.
 
No, I was explaining a 70s phenomena.

It still has legs because of loyalty.
It’s the loyalty thing that many don’t understand. That loyalty also helps to drive up ticket prices in the secondary market. Since I travel, I have experienced first hand that trying to get a ticket at a reasonable price is impossible. Worse is taking a look at the ticket prices for the teams other games and see a vast difference.

I remember how happy I was to have Texans tickets when the Cowboys came to town.
 
One thing I didn't notice before is that they claim the Chiefs were one of the worst fan bases.

I've always heard different. They have always seemed extremely loyal and passionate. I hear that Arrowhead is a great place to catch a game. Personally I hate all KC teams.
 
One thing I didn't notice before is that they claim the Chiefs were one of the worst fan bases.

I've always heard different. They have always seemed extremely loyal and passionate. I hear that Arrowhead is a great place to catch a game. Personally I hate all KC teams.
As a native of the KC area who was Chiefs fan before I moved to Houston in the last century and you are correct about the loyalty and passion of the Chiefs fans and Arrowhead is indeed a great experience on game days in the Fall.
So why the hatred for KC teams ?
 
As a native of the KC area who was Chiefs fan before I moved to Houston in the last century and you are correct about the loyalty and passion of the Chiefs fans and Arrowhead is indeed a trip on game days in the Fall.
So why the hatred for KC teams ?

No real reason. Just don't like them. No reason I have to like the state or to want to visit there either.

I think they have strong fan bases though. Nothing bad I would say about them. The Chiefs have been somewhat of a rival with the patriots and the Texans so there is that. The Royals beat the Astros when the Stros were incredible. A little history there I'd say.
 
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