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I'm biased, but I think Chicago is the winner here. 4 of the 5 major pro sports teams in Chicago have completely inelastic ticket markets regardless of team performance. Going into 2014, the Bears had missed the playoffs in 6 of the previous 7 seasons and still had, by an impressive margin, the highest secondary market ticket price of any team in the NFL.
Philly has pretty loyal fans, but there has been a noticeable dropoff in Phillies attendance/interest since the team stopped winning the NL East every year. Also, while the Sixers are horrible, they have had bottom third NBA attendance for the better part of a decade now. That shouldn't happen in a market as large as Philly's.
For as much love as New England gets for its fans now, there were rumors of the Pats being relocated in the 90s due to fan disinterest and potential stadium issues. It will be interesting to see how quickly NE season ticket holders abandon ship once the Brady Belichick era ends.
I agree about New England. Sports team success doesn't make a true fanbase. The real litmus test for any single fanbase is fan interest and attendance during times of ineptitude and failure.
Boston is basically all Red Sox. Bruins and Celtics couldn't even sell out til they won a championship. Patriots almost moved in the 90s. And yet Boston is the true sports town?
Boston is a total fake, and arrogant on top of it from the teams to the fans.
Chicago is all Cubs and Bears. White Sox are a total non factor locally and the Blackhawks were abysmal and couldn't sell out(even with a terrible owner that's no excuse). Bulls are popular when they win.
Philadelphia is all Eagles and Flyers primarily. Yes the Phillies have done poor but theyve basically outdone the Eagles and Flyers the last decade.
The Sixers are the only real black eye.
Like Boston, if the Sixers become competitive again then the Sixers will lead in attendance.
Im talking about Boston not winning for 30+ years like Philadelphia.
All four teams. Not one team.
Doesn't being awful for that long say something about the fan base and media. How can you stand for that ineptitude? The media and fan base in the Boston area are so critical of these teams those extended periods of losing wouldn't be tolerated. There would be no "process" in Boston. Management would be coerced into turnover of management etc.
What are we defining as sports town? Spectator sports? That seems where this road takes us when this sort of question is posed. While Chicago isn't big on college sports, I can say unequivocally that Boston is the worst college sports area in the country. Nobody cares, even when UMass or BC are good in basketball and football. Duke comes to town to play BC on the hardwood. Clemson comes to town to play on the gridiron- you wouldn't even know it was happening if you weren't depending on a national sports outlet. Boston also has demonstrated that its TV ratings subside more drastically when a big event like the World Series etc... doesn't include a Boston team. And the Celtics? Some times you don't even know they exist in that town- never mind lean years, but even know when they are good, they seem forgotten about unless literally they are playing in the NBA Finals (such as about 9 years ago). My personal experience is that Boston fans are big on "rah-rah, go team", but have little/no expertise when it comes to the rest of the respective league. Sports talk radio? God is it awful in Boston- same talking point, same stupid soap opera stories rather than spending even a second on some big national sporting event that doesn't include a Boston pro team competing, even if it is occurring that day or the night before.
What are we defining as sports town? Spectator sports? That seems where this road takes us when this sort of question is posed. While Chicago isn't big on college sports, I can say unequivocally that Boston is the worst college sports area in the country. Nobody cares, even when UMass or BC are good in basketball and football. Duke comes to town to play BC on the hardwood. Clemson comes to town to play on the gridiron- you wouldn't even know it was happening if you weren't depending on a national sports outlet. Boston also has demonstrated that its TV ratings subside more drastically when a big event like the World Series etc... doesn't include a Boston team. And the Celtics? Some times you don't even know they exist in that town- never mind lean years, but even know when they are good, they seem forgotten about unless literally they are playing in the NBA Finals (such as about 9 years ago). My personal experience is that Boston fans are big on "rah-rah, go team", but have little/no expertise when it comes to the rest of the respective league. Sports talk radio? God is it awful in Boston- same talking point, same stupid soap opera stories rather than spending even a second on some big national sporting event that doesn't include a Boston pro team competing, even if it is occurring that day or the night before.
Boston is big in college hockey as well as the marathon which is probably worlds most famous. Yes other than that it is mostly a pro sports city. The rest of what you say here is your opinion and you're entitled to it but I respectfully disagree. Celtics may have overtaken Sox as number 2 in town right now. This is easily one of the hardest places to be a pro athlete because of fan/media expectations. And when you make tha much money why should it be any less
There are teams in these cities that sell out regardless of success, ie: Eagles, Flyers, Bulls, Bears, Red Sox, etc.
There are teams in these cities that don't sell out when they are not relevant or successful, ie: Celtics, Bruins, White Sox, Blackhawks, Sixers, Phillies, etc.
Phillies led the MLB for several years when they were good and won a WS. Celtics and Bruins didn't sell out until they won championships. Ditto Blackhawks. Sixers are now 2nd in NBA attendance after years of being at the bottom.
What I find perplexing is that the Patriots aren't selling out currently. 5-time NFL championships.
Boston is big in college hockey as well as the marathon which is probably worlds most famous. Yes other than that it is mostly a pro sports city. The rest of what you say here is your opinion and you're entitled to it but I respectfully disagree. Celtics may have overtaken Sox as number 2 in town right now. This is easily one of the hardest places to be a pro athlete because of fan/media expectations. And when you make tha much money why should it be any less
Some opinion, yes; but drop-off in tv numbers have been substantiated over the last 25 years.
What are we defining as sports town? Spectator sports? That seems where this road takes us when this sort of question is posed. While Chicago isn't big on college sports, I can say unequivocally that Boston is the worst college sports area in the country. Nobody cares, even when UMass or BC are good in basketball and football. Duke comes to town to play BC on the hardwood. Clemson comes to town to play on the gridiron- you wouldn't even know it was happening if you weren't depending on a national sports outlet. Boston also has demonstrated that its TV ratings subside more drastically when a big event like the World Series etc... doesn't include a Boston team. And the Celtics? Some times you don't even know they exist in that town- never mind lean years, but even know when they are good, they seem forgotten about unless literally they are playing in the NBA Finals (such as about 9 years ago). My personal experience is that Boston fans are big on "rah-rah, go team", but have little/no expertise when it comes to the rest of the respective league. Sports talk radio? God is it awful in Boston- same talking point, same stupid soap opera stories rather than spending even a second on some big national sporting event that doesn't include a Boston pro team competing, even if it is occurring that day or the night before.
How is that AAC Temple enthusiasm?
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