Johnny Dangerously
Well-Known Member
When did fan base become one word everywhere but in dictionaries and the AP Stylebook?
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Who are the best (and worst) fans in the NFL? New study has the answers
It's science.
Not a surprise, really. I mean, the Midwest and all. If they were into traveling, they wouldn't forking live in Kansas City. (rim shot.)
But this is WRONG!: If you're a fan of one of the low-ranked teams, you're surely seething. And if your rival ranks ahead of you (we see you, non-Dallas NFC East fans), you're probably furious as well. Hey, don't blame the numbers, blame your fellow fans. For teams, this is a valuable way of measuring how well their brand is resonating with fans both locally and nationwide. In other words, step up your game, Titans.
Back in the late '80s when I first went on the Patriots' beat, the issue was whether the franchise would stay in New England. As the 1-15 and 2-14 teams stumbled around playing before 50 percent capacity crowds (one rainy December game I remember got like less than 20,000) in the NFL's worst stadium that was a 30 mile drive from just about every fan's home, I wrote that not showing up meant Pats' fans were actually better and smarter fans, because they wouldn't pay top dollar for an inferior product, and thus created more pressure on their team to improve. I believe that. Nobody went to Tennessee Titans University. Fans who don't act like consumers at least a little bit will be offered swill as long as ownership can get away with it.Yeesh. Jay Busbee, who has been writing more than a little while, sounds like a civilian making his first SJ.com post.
I'm a Titans fan and I could give less than half a shirt about this. The Titans have a soft fan base because they've been given nothing worth following until very recently, and because the team has been content to collect TV checks and let opposing fans make up the gate and haven't made any effort to improve a very generic game experience.
And yet, Pats gear was a rare sight in the stands in Buffalo until they all showed up in their brand-new Brady jerseys in 2002. Now, of course, they rival the Steelers, Packers and Giants for the worst traveling-fan infestations in Orchard Park (just ahead of the Cowboys' and Raiders' national bandwagons.)Even before the Belichick era, Pats fans traveled well, at least during the second half of seasons to places warmer than here. The 2-14 teams would get like 5000 for a game in Miami.
IMO except for the weather, Buffalo is a very underrated road trip town. And many years the Pats went there in September-October when the weather was perfectly nice.And yet, Pats gear was a rare sight in the stands in Buffalo until they all showed up in their brand-new Brady jerseys in 2002. Now, of course, they rival the Steelers, Packers and Giants for the worst traveling-fan infestations in Orchard Park (just ahead of the Cowboys' and Raiders' national bandwagons.)
Before I started working every Sunday in the hockey business during football season I made two trips a year to Buffalo for Bills games even though, as a Dolphins fan, I loathe the Bills. (And refused to go there to see the Dolphins because the hostility factor was ramped up to 11 during the Marino vs. Kelly era.) But Buffalo is a great town, never had a bad time there. And the goofiest shirt I ever saw there was during a Raiders' visit. Their fan base seemed to think they were in Oakland.IMO except for the weather, Buffalo is a very underrated road trip town. And many years the Pats went there in September-October when the weather was perfectly nice.
The best thing I ever saw at a Bills game was a Jan 1. playoff game they had against I think Glanville's Oilers. We'd covered a Bengals home playoff game, so this had to be New Year's 1989. the day before and flown in that morning. As we drove to the press parking lot, we passed many tailgaters of course. One group of guys standing around their grill drinking beers were still in tuxedos, except because it was like 20 outside, they were wearing ski masks and mittens.Before I started working every Sunday in the hockey business during football season I made two trips a year to Buffalo for Bills games even though, as a Dolphins fan, I loathe the Bills. (And refused to go there to see the Dolphins because the hostility factor was ramped up to 11 during the Marino vs. Kelly era.) But Buffalo is a great town, never had a bad time there. And the goofiest shirt I ever saw there was during a Raiders' visit. Their fan base seemed to think they were in Oakland.
And there weren't many Pats or Colts fans in the pre-Brady and Manning days.
Used to love to go to cold-weather games in Buffalo, braving the elements was half the fun. Coldest day I have ever spent - and remember I have lived in Canuckistan my whole life - was at Rich Stadium for a Vikings-Bills game in Dec. 1994. Bills' tailgaters are tough....The best thing I ever saw at a Bills game was a Jan 1. playoff game they had against I think Glanville's Oilers. We'd covered a Bengals home playoff game, so this had to be New Year's 1989. the day before and flown in that morning. As we drove to the press parking lot, we passed many tailgaters of course. One group of guys standing around their grill drinking beers were still in tuxedos, except because it was like 20 outside, they were wearing ski masks and mittens.