Best Fans - Boston 2nd (to LA)

[Jeff]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-forbesnbafans121009&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

We looked at three fan engagement measures from the 2008-09 season to arrive at this conclusion. We ranked teams based on average regular-season home game attendance as a percentage of arena capacity; regular-season local television viewers as a percentage of the team’s metro area population; and team merchandise sales.

The top five:

1. Los Angeles Lakers:
2. Boston Celtics:
3. Cleveland Cavaliers:
4. Chicago Bulls:
5t. New Orleans Hornets:
5t. San Antonio Spurs:

to me the funny part was seeing the Wizards at 2nd worst (below the Nets even)

with all due respect to Wiz fans, they were totally overrun with Celtics fans last night in DC - kinda sad really and makes me feel lucky to be part of Celtic Nation

[Bahku]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-forbesnbafans121009&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

We looked at three fan engagement measures from the 2008-09 season to arrive at this conclusion. We ranked teams based on average regular-season home game attendance as a percentage of arena capacity; regular-season local television viewers as a percentage of the team’s metro area population; and team merchandise sales.

The top five:

1. Los Angeles Lakers:
2. Boston Celtics:
3. Cleveland Cavaliers:
4. Chicago Bulls:
5t. New Orleans Hornets:
5t. San Antonio Spurs:

to me the funny part was seeing the Wizards at 2nd worst (below the Nets even)

with all due respect to Wiz fans, they were totally overrun with Celtics fans last night in DC - kinda sad really and makes me feel lucky to be part of Celtic Nation

I agree wholeheartedly (TP) I was amazed at how the cheering for the C's was notably more enthusiastic than it was for the "Wizzers" ... I felt a bit bad for them as well, but proud to be a Celtic's fan. No matter what city they play in, there is always a large contingent of green ... I love it. I also have no doubt that if it were possible to put arena-sized groups of fans side-by-side, that we could easily out-"loud" the purple-and-gold.

[Schupac]

What this doesn't take into account (nor could it) is team knowledge, and basketball IQ, of the average fan.

It should also differentiate between folks at the arena and folks at home.  I think the Lakers have a lot of legit fans who watch on TV, but I never see them in the stands.

Based on overall basketball IQ, team knowledge, I think Boston would be in the top 5 but not #1.  Maybe Philadelphia?  I hear Chicago also has some knowledgeable fans.  And here's one you wouldn't think of:  The Indiana Pacers.  Anyone who has ever visited Indianapolis can see that city takes pride in it's team.  If you visited Miami the year they won the championship you might see a couple of Heat jersey's or caps out there.  Go to Indianapolis right now and the flags are flying.  And they aren't blind fans.  They know the sport.

Hmm... I'm not sure HOW, but my post became of love fest for Pacers fans.

[rondohondo]

To bad it doesn't take into account how fake the Fakers fans are. Most of the people you are going to see there are actors and agents or some other Hollywood FAKERS who didn't even grow up rooting for LA, but just want to get their faces on camera. It is such a phony city full of phony people.

[Edgar]

To bad it doesn't take into account how fake the Fakers fans are. Most of the people you are going to see there are actors and agents or some other Hollywood FAKERS who aren't even from LA and didn't grow up rooting for LA, but just want to get their faces on camera. It is such a phony city full of phony people.

I am not from boston 


ohh well  whoever make this didnt know celticsblog...

[rondohondo]

To bad it doesn't take into account how fake the Fakers fans are. Most of the people you are going to see there are actors and agents or some other Hollywood FAKERS who aren't even from LA and didn't grow up rooting for LA, but just want to get their faces on camera. It is such a phony city full of phony people.

I am not from boston 


ohh well  whoever make this didnt know celticsblog...

fixed 

[Chris]

I have no problem with Boston being #2 (in fact, I think there could be arguments for us to be further down the list)...but LA?  I mean, other than the star power, LA fans are pretty terrible on the whole.  LA games are a place to be seen, not a place to cheer. 

And I thought the New Orleans fans were absolutely terrible, and never showed up?

[nickagneta]

I have no problem with Boston being #2 (in fact, I think there could be arguments for us to be further down the list)...but LA?  I mean, other than the star power, LA fans are pretty terrible on the whole.  LA games are a place to be seen, not a place to cheer. 

And I thought the New Orleans fans were absolutely terrible, and never showed up?

I'm suree LA's number one ranking has to do with the amount of Kobe jersey's that fly off the shelves everywhere but in Boston.

[Donoghus]

LA fans show up in the 2nd quarter and leave at the end of the 3rd quarter.  Are you kidding me?

[Celtic]

What this doesn't take into account (nor could it) is team knowledge, and basketball IQ, of the average fan.

It should also differentiate between folks at the arena and folks at home.  I think the Lakers have a lot of legit fans who watch on TV, but I never see them in the stands.

Based on overall basketball IQ, team knowledge, I think Boston would be in the top 5 but not #1.  Maybe Philadelphia?  I hear Chicago also has some knowledgeable fans.  And here's one you wouldn't think of:  The Indiana Pacers.  Anyone who has ever visited Indianapolis can see that city takes pride in it's team.  If you visited Miami the year they won the championship you might see a couple of Heat jersey's or caps out there.  Go to Indianapolis right now and the flags are flying.  And they aren't blind fans.  They know the sport.

Hmm... I'm not sure HOW, but my post became of love fest for Pacers fans.

Agreed, the Lakers have some seriously die hard fans... but their not at the games, they were price out years ago. Not saying rich guys can't be fans but lets be real look at any game at the Staples Center, no one is cheering or doing anything.

Agreed on the Pacers as well, I have said this for a long time that they are probably the most knowledgeable overall. I always look forward to the "Comments from the Other Side" on Loy's Place after a Celtics-Pacers game. Indiana is definitely basketball country, shame about their football team though.

[Greenbean]

So this tels us...what? That "fans" in LA spend the most money? What a surprise that the people over there have disposable income. The only measure of real fan interest in this article is their TV viewer numbers as a percentage of population and we dont even know if the Lakers led in that category. Anyone who knows anything about basketball knows the Lakers have a huge fanbase but only because it is "cool" to be a lakers fan in LA. I dont know one Lakers fan who is knowledgable about basketball. At least my friends who are Yankees fans have a clue about baseball.

[Amonkey]

So this tels us...what? That "fans" in LA spend the most money? What a surprise that the people over there have disposable income. The only measure of real fan interest in this article is their TV viewer numbers as a percentage of population and we dont even know if the Lakers led in that category. Anyone who knows anything about basketball knows the Lakers have a huge fanbase but only because it is "cool" to be a lakers fan in LA. I dont know one Lakers fan who is knowledgable about basketball. At least my friends who are Yankees fans have a clue about baseball.

I wonder where the LA Clippers are on this list.  I think it just reinforces that there is a significant amount of LA fans that are only fans because they jumped on the bandwagon and never left it.  Although I have seen some real LA fans out there, you def don't get to see as many on the arenas.  Also, over the years I have met some San Antonio fans and up to this day we still talk trash.  I was surprised but the people down in Texas do love their Spurs.

[kevbo]

I think merchandise sales are a terrible indicator of a fanbase's devotion, unless you somehow control for the advantage of having top superstars on the team. LA's going to represent well based on attendance and the volume of kobe jerseys sold, but it's hard to extrapolate that into the most passionate fanbase. My disdain for the Lakers aside, I do think they have a fairly passionate fanbase, but I find it hard to believe they outweigh places like Indianapolis, Portland, even New York.

And as far as Boston goes, until the KG trade, getting an average Boston sports fan to talk Celtics was near to impossible. When the Celtics aren't contenders, they don't command as much attention as the Sox and the Pats IMO. It drove me nuts, as a basketball junkie. I have a hard time categorizing Boston as a basketball-town, even though we Celtics fans are clearly top notch.

[Amonkey]

I think merchandise sales are a terrible indicator of a fanbase's devotion, unless you somehow control for the advantage of having top superstars on the team. LA's going to represent well based on attendance and the volume of kobe jerseys sold, but it's hard to extrapolate that into the most passionate fanbase. My disdain for the Lakers aside, I do think they have a fairly passionate fanbase, but I find it hard to believe they outweigh places like Indianapolis, Portland, even New York.

And as far as Boston goes, until the KG trade, getting an average Boston sports fan to talk Celtics was near to impossible. When the Celtics aren't contenders, they don't command as much attention as the Sox and the Pats IMO. It drove me nuts, as a basketball junkie. I have a hard time categorizing Boston as a basketball-town, even though we Celtics fans are clearly top notch.

I agree with you.  There should actually be a determinant where if your team stinks but there is still a good fanbase going to games and buying merchandise, then it should get some extra credit.  Also, I think another determinant is little merchandise, not jersey sales.  By little merchandise I mean car stickers, posters, key chains, things like that.  If I see a lot of car stickers about a team, then I see that they are being recognized.  I think the Knicks must have the best fanbase.  They have been stinking up the joint for so long yet the arenas is still always pumping and is still known today as a basketball Mecca, even though there hasn't been anything attractive to see for the last 5 years.

[Prof. Clutch]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-forbesnbafans121009&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

We looked at three fan engagement measures from the 2008-09 season to arrive at this conclusion. We ranked teams based on average regular-season home game attendance as a percentage of arena capacity; regular-season local television viewers as a percentage of the team’s metro area population; and team merchandise sales.

The top five:

1. Los Angeles Lakers:
2. Boston Celtics:
3. Cleveland Cavaliers:
4. Chicago Bulls:
5t. New Orleans Hornets:
5t. San Antonio Spurs:

to me the funny part was seeing the Wizards at 2nd worst (below the Nets even)

with all due respect to Wiz fans, they were totally overrun with Celtics fans last night in DC - kinda sad really and makes me feel lucky to be part of Celtic Nation

Isn't it great feeling at home wherever you go!?  Ten years ago you never saw lots of fans donning celtics gear at away games, or heard impressive amounts of away game celtics cheering.