NYC Sports Fans: A Spoiled Bunch

Even Spike is spoiled...although, being a Knicks fan does mean he's suffered too.

New York City is considered the center of the universe.  Ask any native New Yorker, they’ll be all too happy to tell you.  It is a city where you can do almost anything, see almost anything, eat almost anything, and meet almost anyone.  Choices are abundant here.  And, for the most part, that is a great opportunity.

Until it comes to sports.

Let’s look at all the teams in the New York Metro area.  For sake of argument, the New York Metro area will consist of teams that are geographically located within New York City (all five boroughs), on Long Island, and in the eastern New Jersey area (the Meadowlands, specifically).   Baseball fans side with either the New York Yankees or the New York Mets.  Football fans can pick between the New York Giants or the New York Jets (neither of which play in NY, mind you).  Hockey fans hit the trifecta with the New York Rangers, New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils.  And let’s not forget about basketball fans who can either root for the New York Knicks or the New Jersey (for now) Nets (expected to move to Brooklyn for 2012-2013 season).

One Trick Ponies

Really? Nine sports teams for the four major sports?  That doesn’t include the Red Bulls from the MLS and the handful of professional lacrosse teams that call this area home.  Talk about overkill.  Most cities have one option for each sport.  I could easily compare Boston to New York in this regard but I won’t for two reasons: 1) the comparison between the two cities has been done so much and 2) I’m the “Boston Boy Stuck In New York” so there will obviously be an inherent bias in my argument.  Instead, let’s take a look at a city I have no affiliation to whatsoever – Denver .

If you live in Denver, your rooting options are:

Those are your options if you live in Denver, or anywhere in Colorado for that matter, and want to root for the home team.  That’s all folks.  You have exactly one per sport.  Either you stick with your team through thick and thin, enjoying the highs and commiserating in the lows, or you become a pink-hat bandwagon jumper, only rooting for the team when they win.  There’s no chance to pick a team and, when they don’t do well and the other team does, you root for them because “they’re a New York team.” I’m especially looking at you Jets and Giants fans!

There Goes The Neighborhood

The lack of options in one team towns builds unity in the fan base.  Having lived in both the Boston and New York areas, I can tell you that both have strong fan bases.  However, what I have noted is that the Boston fan base seems to be more unified.  You always see either Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics or Bruins gear no matter where you go in the Boston area.  That kind of bond builds a comradery amongst the locals.  You don’t get that when you see one house flying a Yankees flag and the other flying a Mets flag.  The neighborhoods in New York don’t bond over their teams as much they do in one sports towns.  And, so this whole post doesn’t become completely about Boston, I have seen this same phenomenon in both Philly and Pittsburgh (both one team towns).

Not All Is Lost

There are diehards in New York, don’t get me wrong.  I know many Yankee fans who despise the Mets and vice versa.  Hockey is also that way – you either love the Rangers or loathe them because you’re an Islanders fan.  Football fans are hit or miss.  I know people who root solely for one team and others who will root for both because “they’re a New York  team.”

In no way does any of this indict the knowledge level of the New York fan.  I would argue that the New York baseball fan is one of the smartest fans in baseball (behind the Boston fan – you didn’t think I’d let that go, did you).  And their hockey and football fans are not far behind.  I’m both impressed and frustrated when I get in heated discussions with New York fans because they can spout off facts and trivia as quick as anyone.

Choice is a great thing to have and, despite my general distaste for all things New York, I believe that the ability to have multiple choices is one of the greatest things about New York.  However, when it comes to sports, choice is not a great thing.  It creates a fan base with a “we deserve to win” kind of attitude who do not necessarily appreciate the team that is on the field.