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I tend to judge a city based on its number of sports teams. No, it is not an exact science but seems to promote their "brand". After talking to my friend, we went back and forth between the accuracy of the scale. He gave examples of Austin and Las Vegas being teamless cities but greater than lower markets like Jacksonville.
I like going to watch games, and it gives a strong sense of civic pride, no question there.
However, strong loyal team support gives a sort of "big small town" feel more than ones where there is less loyal support, where everyone is from everywhere else.
Nothing wrong with that. In fact that same team support can breed a sense of working together to make the city better, but I think to much sports team support can almost feel the opposite of cosmopolitan.
I like going to watch games, and it gives a strong sense of civic pride, no question there.
However, strong loyal team support gives a sort of "big small town" feel more than ones where there is less loyal support, where everyone is from everywhere else.
Nothing wrong with that. In fact that same team support can breed a sense of working together to make the city better, but I think to much sports team support can almost feel the opposite of cosmopolitan.
I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. The first cities that come to mind like that are Pittsburgh-Steelers, Detroit - Red Wings, and Boston - Red Sawx.
I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. The first cities that come to mind like that are Pittsburgh-Steelers, Detroit - Red Wings, and Boston - Red Sawx.
I personally found the level of fandom towards the Sox to be extremely irritating when I lived in Boston. In fact, I prefer not to talk sports with them because it typically became an insult fest towards your team of choice.
You know its ironic, but I know plenty of people in Santa Clarita and Agoura Hills who are Angels and Ducks fans rather than Dodger and Kings fans, even though these two areas are pretty much an overflow from the SFV. However, don't expect most people in the rest of the country to understand the difference between Anaheim (and OC) vs. LA and LA County culture or distance wise. After all, relatively speaking, the New England Patriots play in Foxborough, which is roughly the same distance from Boston as Anaheim is to DTLA. Does that make them not a Boston team anymore?
For better and for worse, we share the same media market, and have the same access to watch the same sports. Hell, I can tune into AM 830 even here in the San Fernando Valley and listen to Angels broadcasters when I can.
The smallest area with more than two teams in one sport is SF Bay, though the Raiders and Athletics have been recently talking about moving. However, I thought that was interesting. In fact, the city there with the most sports teams within city limits is Oakland (Athletics, Warriors, and Raiders), and not as many would expect, San Francisco.
Totally get it.
The Ducks do try to brand themselves as an Orange County Team. Very similar to the way the Islanders are the Long Island Team and the Devils are the NJ Team. But thats Hockey with a smaller fan base.
The Angels on the other hand, and much to the chagrin of Orange County Fans and the city of Anaheim do try to market themselves as an LA team, hence their stupid Official name of "the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" (and when "Los Angeles" is translated into English it sounds even dumber: "The The Angels Angels of Anaheim")
Lets see what happens if the Sacramento Kings move to Anaheim.
I should have also added Two of my favorite cities to NY / Chicago list: DC and Boston)
Just in the amount of activities and amenities that the SoCal provides. Most people around here just don't have the time to watch pro football over the weekend. Too many things to do and the weekend is too short
LA has no Football (yet) and still blows away most other 4 team cities (with the exception of NYC/Chicago). People out here tend to be participants, not spectators. There is a reason that the bull of our Olympic team comes from Southern California.
btw: the Angels and the Ducks play in Anaheim, NOT LA.
How Bout the WInter Olympics, most of those people come From Penn North and West.
And, Califronia has Higher obesity rates than Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Colorado and Connecticut, so they are not more active than other parts of the country.
I personally found the level of fandom towards the Sox to be extremely irritating when I lived in Boston. In fact, I prefer not to talk sports with them because it typically became an insult fest towards your team of choice.
I should have also added Two of my favorite cities to NY / Chicago list: DC and Boston)
Just in the amount of activities and amenities that the SoCal provides. Most people around here just don't have the time to watch pro football over the weekend. Too many things to do and the weekend is too short
Ahhh, I get what you mean now. I thought you were speaking from a sports regard. It's tough to separate the two in threads like this.
How Bout the Winter Olympics, most of those people come From Penn North and West.
And, Califronia has Higher obesity rates than Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Colorado and Connecticut, so they are not more active than other parts of the country.
You might be surprised how many winter Olympians are from Southern California. Maybe not as many the traditional winter sports states, but California is very well represented.
(btw, I am originally from NY, and I know quite well that the Northeast is generally healthier than the rest of the country, California included)
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