Question About New Jersey and the Devils/Rangers Fanbase (Newark: home, living)

[Pike]

I had a couple of questions about the dynamics of the Devils fanbase in NJ.

1) I’d like to know…how is the Devils base spread out in NJ.
-Once you cross the Hudson river or NY state line is that considered to be immediate Devils territory or is Bergen County/Northern Garden State still Ranger country?

-Is Devils country more in central/Newark area?

2) I’d be curious as to how far the Rangers have a majority if anywhere in the state…how far the Rangers have a strong presence (Does it go into Middlesex/Woodbridge).

3) Is there anywhere in NJ which is solely Devils or do you have an NYR presence overlapped throughout?
-How deep does the Devils base go into becomes PHI?

4) Also…is this changing generational? Years from now can we expect it to be like Queens is with the Mets…strongly pro-Devil….or always mixed?

Thanks!

[mikeym81]

I think number 4 is about right. Most of the devil fans are in central/northern NJ, most of southern NJ is flyer fans. I'm a Devils fan, but that's because no one in my family was into hockey. But if your dad was a Rangers fan, there a good chance you are too. Happens alot with NJ/NY sports. Same thing with Jets/Giants, Mets/Yankees and Nets/Knicks.

[mumra]

hockey is generally not popular with minorites so any area that has a large minority popluation will not have a large hockey fanbase. IMO woodbridge being populated with many Indians probably wont be very interested in hockey. In my experience for northern Jerz as you move further west the likelyhood is that they would be devils fans. I am a rangers fan and live in essex county.One thing that i have noticed while working at the old devils arena many moons ago is that there are a large number of devils fans that are strange sort of retard like. My wife never belived me untill about 2 months ago when she was a livingston mall and saw a line of devils fans waiting for marttys autograph.

[cyntmac]

LOL. Some of them have a sort of pasty look too.

Seriously how can anyone know this? What's generational for one person won't be for another and it's not like they are even aware of that on a conscious level.

[kalim2008]

Originally Posted by mumra

hockey is generally not popular with minorites so any area that has a large minority popluation will not have a large hockey fanbase. IMO woodbridge being populated with many Indians probably wont be very interested in hockey. In my experience for northern Jerz as you move further west the likelyhood is that they would be devils fans. I am a rangers fan and live in essex county.One thing that i have noticed while working at the old devils arena many moons ago is that there are a large number of devils fans that are strange sort of retard like. My wife never belived me untill about 2 months ago when she was a livingston mall and saw a line of devils fans waiting for marttys autograph.

ranger fans are retards, especially the ones who live in jersey and root for a new york team - morons, you DO know you live in a different state, right?...

and the rangers team sucks just as badly too.

go devils!

[Pike]

So what is it?
1) Is New Jersey majority Devils fans?
-Split Ranger fans?
-What is the split?

2) What is the spreadout in the state?
-Is North Jersey split?
-What about Central Jersey (Middlesex/Monmouth)
-Do the Rangers have a majority anywhere?

3) Are people born Ranger fans...or is the new generation Devils fans and is it likely to shrink?

[kalim2008]

Originally Posted by Pike

So what is it?
1) Is New Jersey majority Devils fans?
-Split Ranger fans?
-What is the split?

2) What is the spreadout in the state?
-Is North Jersey split?
-What about Central Jersey (Middlesex/Monmouth)
-Do the Rangers have a majority anywhere?

3) Are people born Ranger fans...or is the new generation Devils fans and is it likely to shrink?

Well, going by my workplace and home (in north-west jersey, and eastern central jersey), it's mostly devils...

It helps that the devils are a very good team, and brodeur keeps making history

On March 14, 2009, Brodeur recorded his 551st career win against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre to tie Patrick Roy for the most in NHL history. To acknowledge their fellow countryman, the crowd of Canadiens fans chanted Brodeur's name at the end of the game and gave him a standing ovation. Brodeur's father Denis was at the game taking pictures.[53]


On March 17, 2009, in a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, Brodeur became the all-time NHL leader in regular season wins by a goaltender with 552.

[FBone]

I was a Rangers fan before the Devils existed. So how does that change the dynamics?
Currently I support whatever team I can watch on TV without paying extra to receive the channel.

[mumra]

Originally Posted by FBone

I was a Rangers fan before the Devils existed. So how does that change the dynamics?

BINGO! Plus I think it would be somewhat mindless to let where you live dictate what/who you should like.
I also never said I hate the Devils, as a player myself I like any and all hockey just like the rangers most beacuse it's what I grew up watching. I have great respect for hockey players. I don't understand how a fan can root for a player and then when the player gets traded to another team boo them, unless the player disrespected the team or something like that ie nordiques-lindros.

[RUNYYfan]

Originally Posted by FBone

I was a Rangers fan before the Devils existed. So how does that change the dynamics?

I agree. Keep in mind, the New Jersey Devils started as an expansion team in 1974 called the Kansas City Scouts. They moved to Denver and were rebadged the Colorado Rockies in 1976 and didn't make it to NJ until 1982.

Personally, I grew up in New Jersey and have been a fan of mostly NYC teams (Giants, Yankees, and Rangers) but I still appreciate the Nets for the work done by Sonny Werblin (RU Grad) and, of course, Rutgers.