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At least all three of these cities are spared the absolute horror that is being a DC sports fan. Seeing the Capitals choke before the conference finals, seeing the Washington Walgreens get Game 5'd every year, seeing the Skins absolutely blow it, and seeing the Wizards underachieve with a top PG and SG in the Eastern Conference isn't even painful anymore - it's expected. We're also admittedly much more fairweather than any of the above cities because of how many transplants live here.
However, no one invades our city like Philly sports fans do, so go Pats I guess. Not even New Yorkers are that bad.
If it weren't for sports, I think they would all get along much better in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. They're all very similar.
New York sports fans are a different breed than Boston or Philadelphia. I theorize that there's so much to do in NYC that if their teams are bad, they'll just focus their energy on something else. Nets games are home games for the opposing team, Mets and Islanders always look empty, and this year's NY Giants team couldn't draw as much.
Yankees and Knicks probably have the most diehard fans. Both the Garden and Yankee Stadium are sites in themselves outside of their sports teams though.
I feel like you can replace Boston with Philadelphia in your response. It's as if nothing else exists other than sports, and Colin Cowherd alluded to this. While certainly debatable because of absolute statements like this, he suggested that no city's mood is more reliant on their team than the Eagles and Philadelphia.
Never considered the Red Sox as the best fans in baseball. Always was the Cardinals or Cubs to me, but ESPN isn't in the Midwest.
Boston sports also have some pretty questionable attendance over the years as well, which is kind of surprising given the narrative.
Each city has their one religiously followed figurehead team for the entire city (Boston/Red Sox, Philadelphia/Eagles, Chicago/Bears).
Best sports town can be seen a number of ways. If it's about just winning atmosphere? Boston no question. If it's about passion and tradition? I would say Philadelphia. They're notoriously vile but I find it hilarious, and they're extremely tribal in their passion for their teams there, to the point of violence.
Who would you rather play for, Los Angeles or Philadelphia?
I've never lived in Philadelphia. You've never lived in Boston. That said, I'm not debating you on Philadelphia, so you likely could enter Philadelphia into my response.
Just because you never consider Red Sox fans the best in baseball doesn't mean they're not widely mentioned in that discussion. It just means you never draw it up that way. Which is fine. But, a quick google search will give you enough anecdotal evidence to point out that other people do. Fair?
As far as attendance, I think we've decided in this thread that every city has tough attendance spurts during down years. Case in point, have you looked at the Phillies attendance the last few decades? I see a distinct commonality between success and attendance, no greater or worse than any team in Chicago (although the Blackhawks attendance in their down years was stifling..). So, you seem to want to blame Boston for their success and great attendance, and want to bash them for failed attendance in down years. Yet, data would tell us that every city is vulnerable to the same inconsistencies.
As for most passion, I will say Boston over Chicago/LA/The Bay/Seattle (places i've lived). I won't say Boston over Philadelphia, because I haven't been able to experience living in Philadelphia.. So, back to my first point we go. If I simply accepted what I hear and see in the media, I'd tell you that Buffalo Bills fans were better than Eagles or Patriots fans. But, I can't speak to that either.
Philadelphia football fans are scary. I have to admit, I know this not from experience, but from what I've read. If I'm wrong, please tell me different. I've read a lot, though, so it will have to be convincing. Even, an article from yesterday, before the game started...in the parking lot.
Philadelphia football fans are scary. I have to admit, I know this not from experience, but from what I've read. If I'm wrong, please tell me different. I've read a lot, though, so it will have to be convincing. Even, an article from yesterday, before the game started...in the parking lot.
My nephew celebrated his 7th birthday at the game yesterday. So scary!! Lol
20k people gathered around city hall last night and not one arrest was made. It was festive for sure
Since 2012, its not like New York sports teams have been rolling in success across the board. There's just a more fairweather tinge to them than Boston/Philadelphia/Chicago.
It's just another entertainment option there. Not a be-all, end-all of anything. There's nothing wrong with it either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by thedirtypirate
My nephew celebrated his 7th birthday at the game yesterday. So scary!! Lol
20k people gathered around city hall last night and not one arrest was made. It was festive for sure
I wonder what would happen if Philadelphia sports teams won as much as Boston. AFAIK, Bostonians weren't really celebrating yesterday - it just seemed ho-hum.
Can we stop pretending that all of the Boston teams have been wildly successful in the last 20 years.
The Celtics have won 1 championship in the last 31 years, and the Bruins 1 in the last 45 years. That makes puts them in the company of teams like the Mavs, Phillies, Hurricanes, etc not the Blackhawks, Giants (SF), and Patriots.
The Red Sox have won 3 World Series titles in a 10-year span, and the Patriots have won 5 Super Bowls in 16-year span. That's 8 titles within almost a 20-year span, that's pretty damn successful. Plus, you guys get praised all the time as a sports city. Even when Boston teams weren't wildly successful, Boston fans were praised for staying true to their teams especially when the Red Sox finally broke the drought in 2004; similar to almost everyone praising Cleveland fans for staying true to their teams in spite of all the losing when the Cavs broke the drought in 2016 and won the NBA title (even though a lot of the national media hated it because the Cavs beat a historic team that was beloved by them and the NBA). If the Eagles win the Super Bowl, it would be a great story for the NFL and all of sports because they finally get over the hump a 3rd time and they dethrone the defending Super Bowl Champs as well as the greatest coach and quarterback duo to do it with a backup QB.
Last edited by QCongress83216; 01-22-2018 at 12:29 PM..
The Red Sox have won 3 World Series titles in a 10-year span, and the Patriots have won 5 Super Bowls in 16-year span. That's 8 titles within almost a 20-year span, that's pretty damn successful. Plus, you guys get praised all the time as a sports city. Even when Boston teams weren't wildly successful, Boston fans were praised for staying true to their teams especially when the Red Sox finally broke the drought in 2004; similar to almost everyone praising Cleveland fans for staying true to their teams in spite of all the losing when the Cavs broke the drought in 2016 and won the NBA title.
Check those Celtics and Bruins attendance figures though, baaaahahahah.
The problem with Chicago sports teams is that their owners are more interested in the bottom line than putting out a winning product on the field. Typically, it takes a change in ownership (like what happened with the Cubs) or the owners dying (like what happened with the Blackhawks) before the teams start finding success again.
The teams print out so much money without having success that ownership doesn't feel the need to go out and putting a winning product on the field. That's why the Bears are going to be a laughingstock until the elder McCaskey dies, or the Bulls/White Sox won't do anything until Reinsdorf sells the teams.
There are unintended drawbacks from being a "good sports city", where fans will continue to give ownership money even when the teams are doing horribly.
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