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Recently, I was having a conversation with a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, who grew up in Pittsburgh but now lives in California. I'm a Cleveland Browns fan (I know a lot of you want to laugh), but we were having a talk about Cleveland and Pittsburgh. He replied to me, "Rust Belt is Rust Belt. It's just that Pittsburgh has a winning football team and hockey team, so it helps with the perception." I started asking myself a few questions. Does sports teams' success or failure help out a city's perception? How much do sports teams play a factor in a city's perception? Does winning or losing sports teams' play a factor at all beyond those cities? Or, am I looking at the whole thing wrong? Let me know.
YES! Sports teams can absolutely make a difference in a city’s reputation. After the JFK assassination in 1963 Dallas was known as the “city of hate” and was the most hated city in the country. The Dallas Cowboys, thanks to owner Tex Schramm, almost single-handedly helped change the perception of Dallas. Dallas no longer carries the stigma of the Kennedy assassination, and the Cowboys became “America’s Team!”
As a kid growing up I always thought Cincinnati was bigger than Cleveland because of the “Big Red Machine.” And it’s true, I thought Pittsburgh was a bigger city than Philadelphia because of the success of the Steelers.
So in my experience sports teams affect the “perception” of a city, but not the reality of a city’s greatness.
YES! Sports teams can absolutely make a difference in a city’s reputation. After the JFK assassination in 1963 Dallas was known as the “city of hate” and was the most hated city in the country. The Dallas Cowboys, thanks to owner Tex Schramm, almost single-handedly helped change the perception of Dallas. Dallas no longer carries the stigma of the Kennedy assassination, and the Cowboys became “America’s Team!”
As a kid growing up I always thought Cincinnati was bigger than Cleveland because of the “Big Red Machine.” And it’s true, I thought Pittsburgh was a bigger city than Philadelphia because of the success of the Steelers.
So in my experience sports teams affect the “perception” of a city, but not the reality of a city’s greatness.
Not saying Sports or Cowboys did not help Dallas. But the old 70s TV Drama with its opening of the Dallas night skyline and wealthy family with a huge home on a soaring ranch -- "DALLAS". ALSO did wonders for Dallas and for Texas in general. It was shown even in syndication ..... worldwide too.
It also had a quick view of the Cowboys stadium then.
But the team once Cheerleaders became a trademark.
Certainly did its share thru today. But far less I'd say now ....
DALLAS TV drama/series/ nighttime soap-opera opening credits of the 70s.
Not saying Sports or Cowboys did not help Dallas. But the old 70s TV Drama with its opening of the Dallas night skyline and wealthy family with a huge home on a soaring ranch -- "DALLAS". ALSO did wonders for Dallas and for Texas in general. It was shown even in syndication ..... worldwide too.
It also had a quick view of the Cowboys stadium then.
But the team once Cheerleaders became a trademark.
Certainly did its share thru today. But far less I'd say now ....
DALLAS TV drama/series/ nighttime soap-opera opening credits of the 70s.
The TV show did more for Dallas than the Cowboys ever did. Both in this country and worldwide. I saw Dallas still being played on German television back in the mid 2000’s. I also saw Walker Texas Ranger, another show based in Dallas, on the same trip, lol.
YES! Sports teams can absolutely make a difference in a city’s reputation. After the JFK assassination in 1963 Dallas was known as the “city of hate” and was the most hated city in the country. The Dallas Cowboys, thanks to owner Tex Schramm, almost single-handedly helped change the perception of Dallas. Dallas no longer carries the stigma of the Kennedy assassination, and the Cowboys became “America’s Team!”
As a kid growing up I always thought Cincinnati was bigger than Cleveland because of the “Big Red Machine.” And it’s true, I thought Pittsburgh was a bigger city than Philadelphia because of the success of the Steelers.
So in my experience sports teams affect the “perception” of a city, but not the reality of a city’s greatness.
I totally get this. I too thought Cincinnati was much bigger as a kid because of the Bengals going to 2 Super Bowl (once beating the Chargers in AFC championship) and Pete Rose’s pursuit of Ty Cobb’s hit record (broken against the Padres). Rose’s gambling scandal after kept Cincinnati in the news for quite some time as well. We can’t forget the TV show “WKRP in Cincinnati” either. If this all happened now vs ages 6-13 I’m sure I’d have a different opinion, but I still think of Cincinnati being much bigger, prominent, what have you, than it probably is to many.
The Bruins franchise value was below the Flyers for the 1990s and 2000s until they won in 2011. Detroit has almost twice as many Cups as Boston does, and is tied with Chicago. Then of course, there's the Rangers, who are the most valued NHL franchise at over a billion and play in the largest sports market in the world.
Name five NHL players.
I’ll do 6 Massachusetts born players
Coyle, Sheary, Eichel, Vesey, Wagner, Donato.
Maybe 5 Goalies?
Quick, Rask, Holtby, Ullmark, Anderson.
Nobody is saying the Bruins are head and shoulders above the other American teams but they are in the top tier with the other American O 6 teams
Nobody is saying the Bruins are head and shoulders above the other American teams but they are in the top tier with the other American O 6 teams
Still pissed the Bruins tossed Donato. He grew up four towns over from, he actually played in the same division as I did back in 06-08, Squirt/Pee Wee Hockey.
You'd be hard pressed to find any respectable hockey fan to suggest the Canadiens (as much as you hate them), Leafs and Red Wings aren't the most traditionally popular teams. After that, it's a healthy mix for sure.
I think it would have to go in no order: Chicago, New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Even though Philadelphia isn't O6, just by virtue of market size (4th) it's quite obvious, and their franchise value has always reflected that.
Pittsburgh and Buffalo are as well, although Buffalo has never won a Cup and Pittsburgh has five and still almost relocated. Sometimes the teams make the town a hockey town, and sometimes the towns themselves are just hockey towns.
No.. Very aware the Canadiens are the most iconic. Ive said that. Then a mixed bag.
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