From The THN Archive: “Fan Rankings” - November 27, 2014 – Vol. 68, Issue 9

Back in November 2014, THN released an article about who has the best fans and what constitutes true fanhood. Very ironic this piece was given to me to post today, considering CBJ fans are going through a tough time right now with their team struggling and all. Jackets fans have been going through tough times for 23 years now. 

“Fan Rankings” - November 27, 2014 – Vol. 68, Issue 9

WHAT CONSTITUTES TRUE FANHOOD? The easy explanation is the eye and ear test. The loudest, most decked-out supporters come across as diehard fans–like those of the big, bad Boston Bruins.

To us, however, fanhood is about faith above all else. It’s not just supporting your team when the going is easy. What about standing behind your team when the losses pile up and paying to watch it lose when it costs you an arm and a leg? The Bruins fill the TD Garden, but the last time they missed the playoffs–twice in the season-and-a-half following the Joe Thornton trade–they ranked near the bottom in attendance. On the other end, look at a team like Edmonton. Year after year, the Oilers struggle to progress in their “rebuild,” yet the fans keep coming, selling out Rexall Place and paying top dollar to watch a flailing operation.

It’s easy to make fun of fan bases that blindly support their struggling franchises, but isn’t that what true fanhood is unconditional love? We set out to create a fan ranking system that rewards that quality. The formula applies the past five completed NHL seasons. The final rankings were an aggregate score over each category. Perfect science it ain’t, but we believe we’ve concocted an objective system. Enjoy.

Total Score

An aggregate rank achieved by summing each team’s rank across every category. The lower the numeral, the higher a team finishes.

Attendance Rank

Each team’s rank in attendance capacity percentage over the past five seasons (2009-10 to 2013-14) is summed to create one number. Each team’s five-year number is then ranked out of 30. What about Winnipeg’s Atlanta years? The Jets’ 2009-10 and 2010-11 attendance capacity was simulated using their average capacity over their three seasons in Winnipeg.

Blind Faith Index

Which teams have the largest discrepancy between place in the standings and attendance? For each season, we calculated a plus-minus, subtracting the attendance capacity rank from the league standings rank. A low finish in the standings combined with high attendance would produce a positive plus-minus (If the Oilers finish 30th in the standings but fifth in attendance, they are +25 for that season). The plus-minus is summed over the past five seasons. This category rewards fans with “blind faith” who sell out their arenas despite their teams’ struggles. It punishes fans who don’t fill their buildings even with their teams flourishing.

Fan Value

Chicago-based publisher Team Marketing Report produces a yearly Fan Cost Index for each NHL club, calculating the price to attend a game based on tickets, beverages, food, parking, programs, and clothing. We multiplied each team’s yearly FCI by its attendance percentage that season. The rating rewards fans who pack arenas despite exorbitant costs and punishes fans who don’t fill their building even at dirt-cheap prices.

Twitter Followers

The total number of followers on each team’s official Twitter account.

Last season the CBJ were selling out games all year even though they were struggling to get wins, and watching barely eligible NHL players take the ice against the league's best. I would love to see this ranking done again soon. I would venture to guess this list would be upside down. 

Join Jason Newland's Columbus Blue Jacket page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can watch a new YouTube game show about the Blue Jackets, Around the Fifth Line.