Are Phoenix Sports Fans Passionate?

WizardOfAz

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Phoenix sports fans aren't very passionate, according to the first-ever DirecTV Sports Fan Passion Index, released Wednesday.

Denver has the most passionate sports fans in the United States, followed by Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia and New York, according to the index.

Rounding out the top 10 were Green Bay, Wis., and Chicago (tied for sixth), Baltimore (eighth), Cleveland (ninth) and Los Angeles/Anaheim, Buffalo, N.Y. and St. Louis (three-way tie for tenth).

Phoenix tied for 21st place with Atlanta.



http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2004/07/12/daily35.html

http://www.directv.com/images/pdf/SportsPassionRankings.pdf?OTC=sportspassionindex
 

CaptTurbo

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Ive said this for awhile. With the exception of the guys here that live in AZ most fans just arent that passionate there it seems. I know if the eagles had the last 10 year history that the cards have had they would have burned the stadium down here by now.
 

SECTION 11

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In general, I think most Phoenix sports

The support for football is abysmal at best. It's embarassing.
 
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Ryanwb

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Phoenix is still about a generation away from being supportive of the home town teams. There are a lot of middle aged men and women who have transplanted here, like my father, who have kept loyalties to their "old" cities. Well, their children are growing up here and are loyal to the home town teams, much like myself.

So as all the middle aged men of today die off and their children grow into middle age, you will see the support shift to hometown loyalties. In my humble opinion......
 

Capital Card

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Ryanwb said:
Phoenix is still about a generation away from being supportive of the home town teams. There are a lot of middle aged men and women who have transplanted here, like my father, who have kept loyalties to their "old" cities. Well, their children are growing up here and are loyal to the home town teams, much like myself.

So as all the middle aged men of today die off and their children grow into middle age, you will see the support shift to hometown loyalties. In my humble opinion......

I used to agree with you. Unfortunately, I changed my opinion after my last visit to Arizona. None of my nephews and cousins, who are all now in their teens, follow the Cardinals at all. Even with the game on TV, I was the only one in a full house that watched it. I'm embarrased to say that they are all Packer and Bronco fans, although none have ever lived in Colorado or Wisconsin.

I thought that if the Cards could just string together a couple of decent seasons, the fans would carry over. I'm starting to doubt this too though as D'Back fans are becoming harder and harder to find, only a few short years after their World Series Championship. If we win, fans will return to the stadium. 1998 proved that. But once we start losing again, I'm afraid we'll be back to empty stadiums again.

I'm hoping for the best though. Someone pass me some kool-aide.

Go Cards!!!
 

Bada0Bing

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If the Cardinals could just put together a nice couple of years, this town would be a huge football town.
 

jw7

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Well it depends on what you mean by passionate. If you mean, do they go crazy if their teams win - yes, absolutely.

If it means do they support them thru thick and thin - then I think that #21 is WAY too generous.
 

Espo

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jw7 said:
Well it depends on what you mean by passionate. If you mean, do they go crazy if their teams win - yes, absolutely.

If it means do they support them thru thick and thin - then I think that #21 is WAY too generous.
I completely agree with this comment. We are willing to support our winning teams but if they lose then the fans are completly non existent.
 

NFL_FAN

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SECTION 11 said:
In general, I think most Phoenix sports fans blow goats.

The support for football is abysmal at best. It's embarassing.

Most Phoenix sports fans are from Chicago or Minnesota or Ohio or Wisconsin. And yes, I agree that they enjoy a taste of goat now and again.
 

Duckjake

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NFL_FAN said:
Most Phoenix sports fans are from Chicago or Minnesota or Ohio or Wisconsin. And yes, I agree that they enjoy a taste of goat now and again.

You also have a large number of people in two groups that can't or won't support most sports. The large number of young people who work in the area's tourist industry-don't have the money. And the large number of Techies who usually could care less about any sport their child is not playing.

In this country you tend to get more passionate sports fans in areas where it's cold most of the year. Tough to get fired up about Football or Basketball when it's 105 outside.
 

chickenhead

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It's not really realistic to compare a newer, growing city with young sports teams to older cities. Why would a transplanted Bears, Packers, or Vikings fan necessarily make the switch? I've lived in New York for a while now and I'm still a Cards fan. I mean, I get behind the Jets with friends, but I'm not sure I'd be angling for season tickets, were that a possibility.

Of all my friends who grew up in AZ during the late 70s through early 90's, about half us are big Cards fans. Most of us cheer for the DBacks and Coyotes, though they came to town after we left, and we already had favorite teams. Here's how you know the score, though - every single one of us is a Suns fan, without any question of changing. Kyle Macy was my favorite player when I was three, my dad took me to some games at the madhouse, and that was it.
 

40yearfan

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SECTION 11 said:
In general, I think most Phoenix sports fans blow goats.

The support for football is abysmal at best. It's embarassing.


I would like to go on record as saying I am not a Phoenix sports fan.

I live in Tempe.
 

Skkorpion

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Yeah, we suck. yada yada. We don't deserve a team. yada yada
 

NickelBack

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Skkorpion said:
Yeah, we suck. yada yada. We don't deserve a team. yada yada

That's a far cry better than someone else telling us we suck!
 

jf-08

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Bandwagonism here in the state is prevalent.

Everyone knows that in '98 when the Cards were playing SD in the last game of the season - it was a sellout stadium with 98% + Card fans.

Truly awesome.

This town will get behind a winner, because it is easy.

When the local teams do bad, the populace will revert to "their home-town" or theit parent's "home-town" teams because it is easy to do.

No one wants to root for a loser.

That's why I think the 25,000 fans that go to the stadium every Card game and all of you out-of-town fans that get the Dish or go to the Sportsbar, whatever, are the best fans of the league.

We stick with the team through thick and thin. For better or for worse, etc - It's like a bad marriage that we can't break free.
 

seesred

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This city talks about the Cardinals a lot. Sports shows lights go on when it's Cardinal talk. The city is ready to love this team. We've seen liitle signs. We beat the Boys a few years back and the goal oposts came down and were taken through Tempe. 1998 thousands of fans at the airport to see our Cards leave for the playoff game against the Cowboys. There are many other things to point at. If this leadership group can right the Ship who knows how far we can go.

The new stadium will help. The new west side fan IMO we be more middle class and a lot more into loving this team than the ASU crowd in Tempe.There will be a more family feel to the games. People will love the tailgating and making new friends before and after games. Just look at our board. Cardinal talk, Diamondback, Suns, Rattlers, others. Take away the Cardinals would you come back, I wouldn't for sure. We are the base, but if things go right there will be thousands that follow and say they have seen every game.

GBR
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phillycard

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As a Philadelphian, I'm proud to say that I've been in a few near "tussles" with my fellow city dwellars. I take the Cards as serious as the eagles fans here take their team, And I have that same passion for the Sixers, Phillies, and Flyers. The one time I went to AZ for a game, the fans around me knew I wasn't from AZ. I guess it's obvious! :shrug:
 
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