Sports fans have long debated which city or team boasts the most passionate fanbase. Various cities are known for their intense support, especially in the NFL. Philadelphia Eagles fans are known for their fervor. New York and Boston fans also display strong dedication. Then there are Chicago Bears fans who brave the cold at Soldier Field despite their team’s historical struggles. In the South, particularly Texas, football holds significant importance, with some high school stadiums seating over 20,000 attendees.
Buffalo Bills fans at the new $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium find some views obstructed.
Nielsen, renowned for measuring television ratings, recently tackled this question. They released a “Local NFL fandom index” report, analyzing 30 NFL markets using eight metrics to assess fan investment. Metrics included apparel purchases, interest levels, event attendance, betting intent, social media engagement, radio listenership, streaming habits, and TV viewership. Although the definition of “general interest levels” remained unclear, it’s evident that smaller or mid-market teams often lead in fan engagement. These markets have fewer entertainment options, intensifying local team interest.
Here’s how Nielsen ranked the 30 NFL markets based on these metrics:
- Buffalo (208)
- Kansas City (194)
- Green Bay / Appleton (172)
- Cincinnati (160)
- Philadelphia (151)
- Pittsburgh (148)
- Baltimore (144)
- Detroit (141, tie)
- New Orleans (141, tie)
- Cleveland / Akron (134)
- Minneapolis / St. Paul (133)
- Denver (127)
- Jacksonville (126)
- Seattle / Tacoma (122)
- Nashville (120)
- Charlotte (117)
- Indianapolis (116)
- Houston (114)
- Dallas / Ft. Worth (112)
- Chicago (111)
- Boston (107, tie)
- Washington, D.C. (107, tie)
- Las Vegas (104)
- Atlanta (103)
- Phoenix (101)
- Tampa / St. Petersburg (100)
- San Francisco / Oakland / San Jose (97)
- Miami / Ft. Lauderdale (87)
- Los Angeles (86)
- New York (85)
Von Miller signs with Cowboys in a homecoming move for two-time Super Bowl champion.
Smaller markets, like Cincinnati and Baltimore, flourish due to fewer competing entertainment activities. These teams boast high local radio listenership and television viewership. Detroit and Green Bay, capitalizing on recent successes, rank well in merchandise purchases.
Larger markets like Miami and Los Angeles struggle more, battling stiff competition from other entertainment sources. Furthermore, their teams contend with significant transplant populations.
Despite the challenges of a large market, Philadelphia Eagles fans rank in the top five. They excel in five of the eight metrics tracked by Nielsen. The influence of a winning team also proves crucial. Boston’s ranking benefits from the Patriots’ success, while Kansas City’s Super Bowl contention boosts its standing. Buffalo Bills fans, topping the list, can proudly claim the title of the best fans in the NFL, backed by Nielsen’s data.