- Joined
- Sep 21, 2011
- Messages
- 5,968
- Reaction Score
- 15,004
The NFL has a strong fan baseI'd say the Giants. Patriots would be a close 2nd but there are very few Pats fans in Fairfield county, and Hartford county is probably only a 50/50 split (just like it is with Yanks/Sox).
If I had to rank em I'd say this:
1) Giants
2) Patriots
3) Yankees
4) Red Sox
5) Knicks
6) Celtics
7) UConn MBB
8) Jets
9) Mets
10) UConn WBB
but the loyalties don’t run nearly as deep for local teams .
You could count PAT fans on one hand prior to 2001. The Giants had a good fan base. I use to say you interest in the Giants was inversely proportional to your actual football knowledge. / S . You could find numerous Jets , Colt, Cowboy , Packer , Steeler , 49 fans and Brown fans.
I remember going to Philly to watch the Browns as my friends were fans.
NFL football was a small cult following before 1960 . Baseball has generational roots to the 1920’s and before. UConn men’s basketball since the early 1950’s . A resident could identify with a State team When I grew up in the 1950’s , Yale had more football fans than the NFL Giants.
Football was always a more elitist sport because it was a college sport
Even the NFL was a post grad enterprise,
at a time when few went to college .
I grew up a Steeler fan before they were good because as a Yankee fan I hated the New York Giants. baseball team. They only logic to team loyalty is illogical .
The Steelers although they weren’t real good were always a tough blue collar team.,more reminiscent of my valley roots. The Giants were country club in the 1950’s .,
and had as many haters as fans .
They might have attained a Yankee Aura ( they played in the Stadium) but you always had access to the Yankees . where I can’t remember anyone ever going to a Giant game until the played in the Bowl in the 1970’s.
Speaking of state loyalty I was in San Juan airport awaiting a flight to Hartford that was delayed with over 100 others . This was just as UConn football was transitioning to FBS. I thought the move was stupid until some UK fans informed me they got more revenue from football than basketball and the move was a no brainer. I personally didn’t think there was enough fan interest . The score UConn 30- Navy 0 was announced and a large oroar when up from the waiting passengers. Residents love to associate with success.