Tweet
NFL's best fans
Bills rank 9th in annual survey
Business First of Buffalo - January 21, 2000
by G. Scott Thomas
Business First
The best fans in the National Football League can be found in a blue-collar city on the shores of Lake Erie. But it's not Buffalo.
The Cleveland Browns finished No. 1 in Business First's eighth annual rankings of NFL fan support. The Buffalo Bills were ninth in the 31-team league.
"Cleveland has a long history with its team. The people there have seen the ups and downs, and they still support the Browns, which proves they're true fans," said Joe Horrigan, who grew up in South Buffalo and now is vice president of communications for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
"And Buffalo is a very similar place, economically and in terms of fan loyalty," he said. "Buffalo, in many ways, is a smaller version of Cleveland."
Business First rated each team's support during the past 10 seasons in seven categories, including attendance, stadium capacity, team record, area population, ticket prices, weather and the difference in attendance for winning and losing seasons.
The top team, Cleveland, was awarded an overall score of 100 points. All other scores were based off that benchmark, with Buffalo landing at 83.65.
Twenty-four of the 31 NFL franchises operated throughout the 10-year period.
Not bad for a "small market team". The NFL would be foolish to allow the Bills to move.
Bills rank 9th in annual survey
Business First of Buffalo - January 21, 2000
by G. Scott Thomas
Business First
The best fans in the National Football League can be found in a blue-collar city on the shores of Lake Erie. But it's not Buffalo.
The Cleveland Browns finished No. 1 in Business First's eighth annual rankings of NFL fan support. The Buffalo Bills were ninth in the 31-team league.
"Cleveland has a long history with its team. The people there have seen the ups and downs, and they still support the Browns, which proves they're true fans," said Joe Horrigan, who grew up in South Buffalo and now is vice president of communications for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
"And Buffalo is a very similar place, economically and in terms of fan loyalty," he said. "Buffalo, in many ways, is a smaller version of Cleveland."
Business First rated each team's support during the past 10 seasons in seven categories, including attendance, stadium capacity, team record, area population, ticket prices, weather and the difference in attendance for winning and losing seasons.
The top team, Cleveland, was awarded an overall score of 100 points. All other scores were based off that benchmark, with Buffalo landing at 83.65.
Twenty-four of the 31 NFL franchises operated throughout the 10-year period.
Not bad for a "small market team". The NFL would be foolish to allow the Bills to move.
Comment