Forbes lists America's best pro sports fans

Pro Sports 28 replies 1,266 views
killer_ewok's avatar
killer_ewok
Posts: 11,379
Aug 10, 2010 9:45am
1.) Boston Red Sox
2.) Pittsburgh Steelers
3.) Detroit Red Wings
4.) Indianapolis Colts
5.) New England Patriots
6.) Pittsburgh Penguins
7.) Boston Celtics
8.) San Antonio Spurs
9.) Dallas Cowboys
10.) St. Louis Cardinals
11.) Montreal Canadiens
12.) Los Angeles Lakers
13.) Cleveland Cavaliers
14.) New York Yankees
15.) Philadelphia Phillies
16.) Chicago Blackhawks

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2010/08/05/2010-08-05_boston_red_sox_fans_ranked_best_in_america_by_forbes_magazine_new_york_yankee_fa.html
End of Line's avatar
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
Aug 10, 2010 6:49pm
Whoo, number 6.
iclfan2's avatar
iclfan2
Posts: 6,360
Aug 10, 2010 7:13pm
Umm the Cavs being on the list, let alone before the Browns, makes this list a complete joke.
royal_k's avatar
royal_k
Posts: 4,423
Aug 10, 2010 7:30pm
iclfan2;447748 wrote:Umm the Cavs being on the list, let alone before the Browns, makes this list a complete joke.

Bingo
like_that's avatar
like_that
Posts: 26,625
Aug 10, 2010 9:44pm
Agreed. This list is a joke. All it is teams who have been winning recently. I understand Forbes creates a lot of lists, but they half-assed this one.
grodt's avatar
grodt
Posts: 1,588
Aug 10, 2010 9:58pm
I wonder if they know most Cavs fans are Browns fans who get bored during the off-season
Laley23's avatar
Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Aug 10, 2010 10:39pm
What is the list based on....that be a big telling point.
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rock_knutne
Aug 10, 2010 10:50pm
Laley23;447981 wrote:What is the list based on....that be a big telling point.

Fan generated revenue?

I don't think that list is "worthless" because the usual diehard fantatics (ie Boston, Pittsburgh, etc) are on it, but I do agree about the Cavs comment. The Browns should be listed ahead of them, I hate them but they do have some loyal fans, especially considering the turmoil they've endured over the years.
Laley23's avatar
Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Aug 10, 2010 11:14pm
I was thinking it could be revenue. In which case, the list could be very accurate....none of us really know.
DeyDurkie5's avatar
DeyDurkie5
Posts: 11,324
Aug 11, 2010 12:00am
1). Cleveland Browns
like_that's avatar
like_that
Posts: 26,625
Aug 11, 2010 1:16am
If the list was based on revenue, then like I said this list was a half ass way to rank fans of professional teams.
killer_ewok's avatar
killer_ewok
Posts: 11,379
Aug 11, 2010 7:34am
From the link.....

"To put together the list, Forbes used attendance data from home and away games, merchandise sales figures and the results of surveys that determined teams' in-market popularity."
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Prescott
Posts: 2,569
Aug 11, 2010 9:29am
"To put together the list, Forbes used attendance data from home and away games, merchandise sales figures and the results of surveys that determined teams' in-market popularity."
Add the Heat and subtract the Cavs.
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Aug 11, 2010 12:02pm
like_that;448072 wrote:If the list was based on revenue, then like I said this list was a half ass way to rank fans of professional teams.

One, what would you expect it to be based on coming from Forbes? Two, wouldn't "real" fans spend money on their team?
thedynasty1998's avatar
thedynasty1998
Posts: 6,844
Aug 11, 2010 12:14pm
enigmaax;448279 wrote:One, what would you expect it to be based on coming from Forbes? Two, wouldn't "real" fans spend money on their team?

Interesting question on who is a "real" fan. I'm an admitted casual fan, but I've probably been to more Cavs games over the last few seasons than many on here who would claim to be the "real" fans. The fan definition would be someone who is going to stick by their team no matter what. Forbes definition, and a franchises definition, is those who spend money, whether they are critical or not.
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Aug 11, 2010 12:28pm
thedynasty1998;448289 wrote:The fan definition would be someone who is going to stick by their team no matter what.

Yeah, which I always find humorous. Let me expound on my importance to a team because in my mind I choose to "like" them no matter what. Bottom line, what impact do I really have that makes being a "real" fan who doesn't spend money any better than being a bandwagon fan who spends a lot of money?

I will say, I was surprised not to see the Browns on this list. I don't know the figures and maybe it is just because of the Browns fans I know personally, but it seems like people always go to games and buy merchandise regardless of their record. I guess that is either incorrect or there isn't enough of them to overcome some of the bigger markets/better teams?
Little Danny's avatar
Little Danny
Posts: 4,288
Aug 11, 2010 12:29pm
This list should be retitled "Teams With the Most Band Wagon Fans".

Redsox and Pats- nobody outside of Beantown cared for them a decade ago. Now everyone is a chowderhead.

Colts- When Peyton retires, nobody will go to Colts games.

Cavs- Can't wait to hear them announce the 3500 in attendance at the Q for a Cavs/Pacers game this fall.
ts1227's avatar
ts1227
Posts: 12,319
Aug 11, 2010 12:32pm
enigmaax;448279 wrote:One, what would you expect it to be based on coming from Forbes? Two, wouldn't "real" fans spend money on their team?

They definitely would, but most bandwagoners spend their money on the teams once they become good as well.

Obviously a list in Forbes is going to revolve around a financial aspect of it.
Commander of Awesome's avatar
Commander of Awesome
Posts: 23,151
Aug 11, 2010 12:36pm
Little Danny;448304 wrote:
Cavs- Can't wait to hear them announce the 3500 in attendance at the Q for a Cavs/Pacers game this fall.

To be fair, the yr before LBJ when we were winning 17 games we still drew in 7,500 fans to games.
thedynasty1998's avatar
thedynasty1998
Posts: 6,844
Aug 11, 2010 12:37pm
ts1227;448309 wrote:Obviously a list in Forbes is going to revolve around a financial aspect of it.

And isn't the goal by most all owners to profit financially? I know there are a few who actually are fans first and owners second (Cuban). Sure, we as fans don't care about the owners bottom line, but they are the one's that are either going to be making money, or losing.
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Aug 11, 2010 12:48pm
ts1227;448309 wrote:They definitely would, but most bandwagoners spend their money on the teams once they become good as well.

Yeah, that is a good point. But bandwagon fans are the market I want if I'm an owner. I've said it before on other topics, but the money is all in the casual fan. Self-proclaimed real fans, purists, etc. get shitty about bandwagoners, but its the bandwagon that is going to keep your team around. What is good for Joe Real Fan's pseudo self-importance isn't necessarily what is good for business and sports is a business above all else.
BRF's avatar
BRF
Posts: 8,748
Aug 11, 2010 1:22pm
iclfan2;447748 wrote:Umm the Cavs being on the list, let alone before the Browns, makes this list a complete joke.
ANOTHER agree!
like_that's avatar
like_that
Posts: 26,625
Aug 11, 2010 2:13pm
enigmaax;448279 wrote:One, what would you expect it to be based on coming from Forbes? Two, wouldn't "real" fans spend money on their team?

One, good point. Two, no spending money on a team does not mean you are a "real" fan.
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Nate
Posts: 3,949
Aug 11, 2010 2:36pm
I'm not a Lakers fan but they are above top 10.
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Aug 11, 2010 2:52pm
like_that;448458 wrote:One, good point. Two, no spending money on a team does not mean you are a "real" fan.

Okay, then what makes you a real fan? Just watching when the team is crappy?