I have a 50 yr old niece who lives (by choice) in Hartford. She's got zero interest in sports, but is big on what's happening in Htfd, and has been to several games with her SO. He is not a sports fan either. I suspect she drags him along more than the other way. She's more a theatre and arts patron than a sports fan. Only other sporting event she goes to is the Kentucky Derby every year, and that's mostly about getting to wear an outrageous hat.
I don't know if people of her ilk (That's not meant to be derogatory, but somehow sounds that way) filling the stadium are good for the team long term or not.