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Old 02-18-2014, 08:45 PM
 
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I had a question or ten on haha on the sports allegiance in South Central PA which for this question I define as:

Fulton-Lancaster County including Chambersburg-Carlisle-Gettysburg-Harrisburg-Lebannon-York-Lancaster.
Feel free to answer for the region at large or for one of those specific areas listed.



1) What is the sports allegiance here.
-Is it NFL/NCAA-FB/MLB/NHL/NBA or do most people here just do football with a big dropoff to baseball than minimal insignificant interest for other sports?

2) What is the pecking order/percent of fans in the NFL here split between the Ravens/Eagles/Steelers/Redskins?

3) What is the pecking order/percent of fans in MLB between the Orioles/Phillies/Pirates/Nationals?

4) What is the pecking order/percent of fans in the NHL between the Flyers/Penguins/Capitals?

5) What is the pecking order/percent of fans in the NBA between the Sixers/Wizards?

6) I am very curious if this region generally aligns with one city or if it varies by sport (as in does Baltimore have much more influence in baseball than in football and Pittsburgh much more in football than baseball).

-Do many fans "mix" between example, Steelers and Orioles, or do most go all Pit, all DC, all Philly, or all Baltimore?

-Or, is it pretty much the NFL rules and baseball, other sports, really aren't that big?
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Old 02-19-2014, 08:22 AM
 
Location: West York
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Penn State Football is probably the most popular, because there is no other real competition, so there is no real split for them like the pro teams, the majority of college fans are PSU fans.

For the NFL, taking in the whole area the Steelers are probably the most popular, because Harrisburg is Steeler country. But down here in York and Gettysburg the Ravens are pretty popular so there is no real stranglehold of a particular team in this area. I think the Eagles are bigger the further east you go in the region (shocker) and I would say they're the more popular team in the Lancaster area. It probably averages out to be pretty close amongst those three with the Redskins have a decent following but are a distant 4th.

Baseball is a little different because the Pirates aren't really popular at all in this area. The Phils and O's are the two biggest teams, I've seen more Phils gear around but I think that's more related to the fact the Phils have been good and the O's are fresh off of 13 straight losing seasons. Growing up in the area the O's seemed to be the #1 team in the area but the fanbase has really eroded.

It seems to me the Pens/Flyers aren't any more popular than the other and the Caps have a following as well.
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Old 02-19-2014, 08:31 AM
 
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I think that's about right - to emphasize in Harrisburg Steelers might be a plurality but not a majority of NFL fans. Penn State is the big deal for football. I really don't notice Redskins fans, NY Giants seem about as likely. Since Harrisburg attracts folks from all around Pennsyltucky, Bills (!) fans aren't unknown either, or maybe they just stand out.
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Old 02-19-2014, 08:47 AM
 
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Bills fans do seem to stand out wherever they are. A proud people.
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Old 02-19-2014, 07:47 PM
 
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So basically:

-South of York is Ravens/O's country, greater Baltimore
-The rest of the region, Penn State is clearly number one, a mix between Steelers/Ravens/Eagles with Skins a distant fourth
-Harrisburgh Steelers

-The Pirates have few fans, the Phils and O's are split 50/50?
Do most Steeler fans than root for the O's/Phils and mix that way OR is baseball really not even close enough relevantly to football?

-IF the Colts never moved, I wonder how this area would be different.
-Also, the Orioles calling Harrisburg "Birdland" is that a joke?

-Do the Orioles have a bigger pull in this region than the Ravens?
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Old 02-19-2014, 08:38 PM
 
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I think the Pirates have a deficit of fandom in this area compared to the Steelers. After all, a day trip to the ballpark from here to Pgh isn't really possible, as it is to reach the Phils and O's. The Pittsburgh diaspora is well represented in the state capital but it's easier to get back for a few football games vs. many baseball.

Don't forget all of Harrisburg, York, and Lancaster have minor league baseball too, and baseball is kinda second fiddle to football anyway.

The big deal in the minor leagues here is Hershey Bears hockey.
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Old 02-19-2014, 08:43 PM
 
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I don't think there's much interest in this area in basketball at all. I guess nothing can live up to Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Old 02-20-2014, 07:59 AM
 
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I imagine the Pirates would be more popular in South-Central PA if it wasn't for their historic 20-year losing streak that finally ended last year.
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Old 02-20-2014, 03:13 PM
 
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Just wondering who all those Steeler fans root for in baseball, if they go with the Pirates or jump over to Philly/Baltimore...or if baseball really is 2/3rd fiddle.
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Old 02-26-2014, 07:10 AM
 
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Let's break it down by area.

Lancaster-Mostly Philly, some Baltimore, minimal Pittsburgh? I can't see why Lancaster would not be 85/15 Philly to Baltimore since Philly is in state, the larger market, while Pittsburgh is nowhere close.

Harrisburg-40 Philly/30 Pit/30 Baltimore Washington?

York-45 Baltimore/30 Philly/25 Pit

Hanover-Mostly Baltimore

Carlisle-Pit 45/Philly 30/Baltimore 25

Chambersburg-55 Pit/25 Philly/20 Baltimore Washington?
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