Most popular sports teams and sports leagues in your metropolitan area (playoff, champions)

[waltlantz]

My Pa is from CHarleston and the Lowcountry. He says the Gamecocks were the most popular when he was coming up (60s-70s) despite Clemson having a better record.

[AuburnAL]

Originally Posted by knoxgarden

Minor League Hockey is a pro sport that's made inroads in the South.

Huntsville Havoc rule! Knoxville Icebears drool!

Unfortunately now I'm in Savannah without SPHL hockey. Anyways Georgia Bulldogs are number one here. Georgia Southern is pretty close (although I figure most of them root for a D-I team too). Georgia Tech is far behind. Then you have South Carolina and Clemson with slightly more support than Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, and Notre Dame (first place I've ever been with actual Notre Dame fans; its wierd). After that you a small representation of the other SEC teams. The Braves probably fall somewhere are South Carolina and Clemson as far as hard core fans, but most folks show their college team way above the Braves.

There's a minor league baseball team in town, and they seem to draw a good crowd. However, I've only seen one person in town with any of their gear on. I've actually seen more folks with Gwinnet Braves gear.

[AuburnAL]

Originally Posted by waltlantz

My Pa is from CHarleston and the Lowcountry. He says the Gamecocks were the most popular when he was coming up (60s-70s) despite Clemson having a better record.

In a divided state you probably get a 5-10% boost if you have the state's name.

[censusdata]

Originally Posted by AuburnAL

In a divided state you probably get a 5-10% boost if you have the state's name.

Another variable is the strength of the conference each team was in. In SC Clemson has always been in the ACC while USC spent a few years in Metro Conference - I presume that's why Clemson has as many fans as USC despite not having the state name.

I know in my state UK has a major edge because they have been in a strong conference for most people's lifetimes while Louisville has been constantly switching conferences. Since finally joining a major conference in 2005 (at least from a bball prospective) U of L's fan base has really surged statewide, although still significantly outnumbered in most places outside the I-65 corridor.

[Zone2flyboy]

In Atlanta its SEC football...hands down.
Then the Braves and Falcons a very distant second.

[lovingthegreen]

Here in Seattle, the Seahawks and U. of Washington football are tops, in that order. Then the Mariners and Sounders are relatively close to each other interest-wise with the Mariners probably slightly ahead. Then you have UW men's basketball, the Seattle Storm, Seattle U. men's basketball and the rest of the teams here. Also, Washington State football is pretty popular here because of how many alumns live in the Seattle area. They might be similar to UW men's basketball.

As far as a place I recently lived goes ...

In Knoxville, Tenn., University of Tennessee football obviously towered over everything else. Having lived my whole life outside of the South other than my two years at UT earning a master's degree, it was pretty incredible to experience first hand the whole "football is religion" emotions there behind that sport. And that is not an exaggeration. It is day and night how big college football is in the South compared to here on the West Coast. Not even close. Here, it's a cool thing to do on a Saturday. In Tennessee and throughout the South, it's something that people revolve their lives around.

Men's basketball is pretty popular there too. Far behind football, especially if the two teams are of equal quality (not the case right now obviously). Women's basketball is just behind men's hoops with a different type of fan base (mainly those under 18 and over 40 from what I could tell). MLB and NFL gets little to no attention there - other than the Colts because of Peyton.

[Interpol76]

Originally Posted by lovingthegreen

Here in Seattle, the Seahawks and U. of Washington football are tops, in that order. Then the Mariners and Sounders are relatively close to each other interest-wise with the Mariners probably slightly ahead. Then you have UW men's basketball, the Seattle Storm, Seattle U. men's basketball and the rest of the teams here. Also, Washington State football is pretty popular here because of how many alumns live in the Seattle area. They might be similar to UW men's basketball.

As far as a place I recently lived goes ...

In Knoxville, Tenn., University of Tennessee football obviously towered over everything else. Having lived my whole life outside of the South other than my two years at UT earning a master's degree, it was pretty incredible to experience first hand the whole "football is religion" emotions there behind that sport. And that is not an exaggeration. It is day and night how big college football is in the South compared to here on the West Coast. Not even close. Here, it's a cool thing to do on a Saturday. In Tennessee and throughout the South, it's something that people revolve their lives around.

Men's basketball is pretty popular there too. Far behind football, especially if the two teams are of equal quality (not the case right now obviously). Women's basketball is just behind men's hoops with a different type of fan base (mainly those under 18 and over 40 from what I could tell). MLB and NFL gets little to no attention there - other than the Colts because of Peyton.

Are the Thunderbirds pretty popular there? I'm getting ready to move to Seattle and am a big hockey fan. Can't wait to take in a few (many) Sounders games as well.

[UICJohn]

My take on Chicagoland:

1) Chicago Bears: This is the team of the city. When they win, it's the biggest story. When they lose, it's the biggest story. They bring the city together after baseball season and they own the city.

2) Chicago Cubs: This one is debatable especially this season with the success of the Blackhawks and the horrible season by the Cubs. However, I'm taking this as an overall ranking and not just a "now" ranking. I will argue it but Cubs fans are a lot more serious than they have been in the past about baseball.

3) Chicago Blackhawks: It's hard to gauge the bandwagon on this team. They were not only so bad for so long, but they were just a horrible franchise to their fans and players that even the most die hard fans had to turn their back on the team. People came back, and brought a lot of others with them.

4) Chicago Bulls: Even through the really bad years after Jordan they still drew pretty well. They have had decent teams in the past and have always been up there in the top of the attendance numbers in the NBA. If they make a big splash in a few days, which many of us including myself are hoping, they will really be back on the front page soon.

5) Chicago White Sox: Cubs fans argue that they can't fill a stadium. White Sox fans argue they're better fans because they only go when they win. But as someone pointed out earlier in this post, a recent poll indicated something along the lines of 65/35 Cubs fans. The Cubs have a larger following nationwide as well, but this, I took, as only a Chicago ranking.

6) Notre Dame Football: Overall, Chicago isn't really a college town. Granted, you'll get people watching games at bars during football season, but nothing to get really crazy over (Applies to the next few rankings)

7) UIUC Basketball
8) UIUC Football
9) NU Football
10) NU Basketball

[CWSC]

Portland Trailblazers, but dislike them and love my Warriors1

[waltlantz]

Originally Posted by UICJohn

My take on Chicagoland:

1) Chicago Bears: This is the team of the city. When they win, it's the biggest story. When they lose, it's the biggest story. They bring the city together after baseball season and they own the city.

2) Chicago Cubs: This one is debatable especially this season with the success of the Blackhawks and the horrible season by the Cubs. However, I'm taking this as an overall ranking and not just a "now" ranking. I will argue it but Cubs fans are a lot more serious than they have been in the past about baseball.

3) Chicago Blackhawks: It's hard to gauge the bandwagon on this team. They were not only so bad for so long, but they were just a horrible franchise to their fans and players that even the most die hard fans had to turn their back on the team. People came back, and brought a lot of others with them.

4) Chicago Bulls: Even through the really bad years after Jordan they still drew pretty well. They have had decent teams in the past and have always been up there in the top of the attendance numbers in the NBA. If they make a big splash in a few days, which many of us including myself are hoping, they will really be back on the front page soon.

5) Chicago White Sox: Cubs fans argue that they can't fill a stadium. White Sox fans argue they're better fans because they only go when they win. But as someone pointed out earlier in this post, a recent poll indicated something along the lines of 65/35 Cubs fans. The Cubs have a larger following nationwide as well, but this, I took, as only a Chicago ranking.

6) Notre Dame Football: Overall, Chicago isn't really a college town. Granted, you'll get people watching games at bars during football season, but nothing to get really crazy over (Applies to the next few rankings)

7) UIUC Basketball
8) UIUC Football
9) NU Football
10) NU Basketball

No Illini love in the Windy City? Not even for basketball?