Study: Cowboys have NFL's best fans, Chiefs the worst
By this stage of the NFL offseason, we're all left to patiently await the conclusion of summer vacations and the beginning of training camp schedules around the league.
So here's something to argue about in the meantime.
A recent study, conducted by professor Michael Lewis of Emory University, sought to rank the NFL's 32 fan bases with consideration to factors of "fan equity," "social media equity," and "road equity."
With the Dallas Cowboys checking it at No. 1, and the Kansas City Chiefs all the way down at No. 32, here's a look at Lewis' full list.
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cowboys |
| 2 | Patriots |
| 3 | Eagles |
| 4 | Giants |
| 5 | Steelers |
| 6 | Saints |
| 7 | Bears |
| 8 | Broncos |
| 9 | Packers |
| 10 | 49ers |
| 11 | Colts |
| 12 | Ravens |
| 13 | Jets |
| 14 | Dolphins |
| 15 | Redskins |
| 16 | Bills |
| 17 | Panthers |
| 18 | Seahawks |
| 19 | Falcons |
| 20 | Raiders |
| 21 | Lions |
| 22 | Texans |
| 23 | Vikings |
| 24 | Chargers |
| 25 | Buccaneers |
| 26 | Browns |
| 27 | Cardinals |
| 28 | Bengals |
| 29 | Jaguars |
| 30 | Titans |
| 31 | Rams |
| 32 | Chiefs |
Lewis explains in his analysis that the "fan equity" category weighs home revenues against the expected performance based on the team's performance and characteristics of the local market.
The "social media equity" aims to account for the size of a fan base's online presence, acknowledging the fact that not all are able to pay prices associated with attending games.
"Road equity" evaluates how well fans turn out to support their teams when on the road, providing a sense of national appeal.
A passionate group known for making Arrowhead Stadium one of the most hostile environments in professional sports, let alone football, it's safe to assume Chiefs fans will be among the many who will have something to say about these rankings.
- With h/t to CBS Sports
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