Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

I can speak for Wilmington. ECU heavy with a pretty even split between the bigger NC ACC teams pretty evenly split behind that.

I grew up in Charlotte and go back a pretty good bit. Obviously the Panthers are the biggest draw. From a college football standpoint, South Carolina is the fanbase I see most prominently presented. Behind that, Clemson/UNC are pretty common, with ECU/APP behind those.

I've seen arguments that there are more Clemson fans than SC fans in that area, but it's just not what I've seen. Clemson for sure has some shiny new stickers based on recency bias, but SC is just too big a school.

(06-15-2022 10:01 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

I can speak for Wilmington. ECU heavy with a pretty even split between the bigger NC ACC teams pretty evenly split behind that.

I grew up in Charlotte and go back a pretty good bit. Obviously the Panthers are the biggest draw. From a college football standpoint, South Carolina is the fanbase I see most prominently presented. Behind that, Clemson/UNC are pretty common, with ECU/APP behind those.

I've seen arguments that there are more Clemson fans than SC fans in that area, but it's just not what I've seen. Clemson for sure has some shiny new stickers based on recency bias, but SC is just too big a school.

Does Alabama have a decent sized base in Charlotte?? Do Georgia and/or Tennessee have a decent sized base in Charlotte??

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

Triangle:
1. State
2. UNC
3. Duke
4. Wake

(06-15-2022 10:06 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 10:01 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

I can speak for Wilmington. ECU heavy with a pretty even split between the bigger NC ACC teams pretty evenly split behind that.

I grew up in Charlotte and go back a pretty good bit. Obviously the Panthers are the biggest draw. From a college football standpoint, South Carolina is the fanbase I see most prominently presented. Behind that, Clemson/UNC are pretty common, with ECU/APP behind those.

I've seen arguments that there are more Clemson fans than SC fans in that area, but it's just not what I've seen. Clemson for sure has some shiny new stickers based on recency bias, but SC is just too big a school.

Does Alabama have a decent sized base in Charlotte?? Do Georgia and/or Tennessee have a decent sized base in Charlotte??

It's one of those things that's tough to tell. I'm basing all of my 100% controlled scientific research on license plates, bumper stickers, flags at houses and on boats, and coffee mugs at offices. The three teams you mentioned are more one-offs that you see one of every now and then. They exist, but aren't in your face.

I will say that Georgia had a big showing when they actually played in Charlotte at the Duke's Mayo last year. Clemson was obviously the biggest fanbase in town, but Georgia rivaled ECU in its turnout from two states away.

(06-13-2022 08:20 AM)whittx Wrote:  

(06-13-2022 02:25 AM)ChrisLords Wrote:  Based on flags in yards, license plates and gear it is the following:

First tier: VT, UR, VCU (UR and VCU are tier 1 because of a lot of license plates. I'm in Richmond)
2nd tier: UVA, ECU
3rd tier: UNC, NCST, Duke
4th tier: Clemson, Texas, Miami, ODU, JMU, liberty, GMU, VMI,
And that's about it as far as colleges go.

Still a heavy Redskin presence for NFL.

No love for CoW&M?

Surprisingly Bill and Mary don't penetrate much into Richmond. But back in the day when Waste Management was the biggest trash collector in the Richmond area, you'd see their big W and M in Bill and Mary's school colors all over Richmond. Not so much these days.

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

I grew up in Raleigh, and still live here. I saw a bit of everything growing up. I've had friends who were passionate NC State, UNC, Duke, ECU, and Wake Forest fans. It's a very mixed bag. I didn't see much of an App State presence here until 5-10 years ago, but that's here now too. I've never seen much support for any out of state schools.

NC State and UNC have the most fans in Raleigh. However, the vast majority of seniors in my Raleigh high school would choose between 3 schools when enrolling in a 4-year university:

1. NC State
2. ECU
3. App State

The amount of people I've known here who support UNC is far more than the amount of people I know who actually went to school there, while the NC State and ECU crowds are mainly the families of alumni.

(06-15-2022 11:13 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

I grew up in Raleigh, and still live here. I saw a bit of everything growing up. I've had friends who were passionate NC State, UNC, Duke, ECU, and Wake Forest fans. It's a very mixed bag. I didn't see much of an App State presence here until 5-10 years ago, but that's here now too. I've never seen much support for any out of state schools.

NC State and UNC have the most fans in Raleigh. However, the vast majority of seniors in my Raleigh high school would choose between 3 schools when enrolling in a 4-year university:

1. NC State
2. ECU
3. App State

The amount of people I've known here who support UNC is far more than the amount of people I know who actually went to school there, while the NC State and ECU crowds are mainly the families of alumni.

Good insight...

Just guessing here, but from the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill metro area, would you say the "fan base breakdown" might be something like:

UNC: 40%
NCSU: 30%
Duke: 15%
ECU, App State, HBCU's, etc: 10%
Out-of-state: 5%

In this case, not really valuing alums and their family members over T-shirt fans, but more a consideration of people who would be interested enough to attend games and/or watch at least occasionally on TV

Maybe that distinction makes UNC's numbers jump over 40%?

(06-15-2022 10:01 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

I can speak for Wilmington. ECU heavy with a pretty even split between the bigger NC ACC teams pretty evenly split behind that.

I grew up in Charlotte and go back a pretty good bit. Obviously the Panthers are the biggest draw. From a college football standpoint, South Carolina is the fanbase I see most prominently presented. Behind that, Clemson/UNC are pretty common, with ECU/APP behind those.

I've seen arguments that there are more Clemson fans than SC fans in that area, but it's just not what I've seen. Clemson for sure has some shiny new stickers based on recency bias, but SC is just too big a school.

ILM also has a big UNCW following. They're the only game in town. Much different from College of Charleston. They frequently sell out 5,200 seats at Trask Coliseum and their baseball team usually gets four figures a game. But ECU is very strong across most of the state east of I-95.

SC has 17,000 alumni in Charlotte. 15K+ just on LinkedIn. So many international business and business majors go to Wells Fargo and BofA. And South Carolina is the top international business school in the nation.

(06-15-2022 11:38 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 11:13 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

I grew up in Raleigh, and still live here. I saw a bit of everything growing up. I've had friends who were passionate NC State, UNC, Duke, ECU, and Wake Forest fans. It's a very mixed bag. I didn't see much of an App State presence here until 5-10 years ago, but that's here now too. I've never seen much support for any out of state schools.

NC State and UNC have the most fans in Raleigh. However, the vast majority of seniors in my Raleigh high school would choose between 3 schools when enrolling in a 4-year university:

1. NC State
2. ECU
3. App State

The amount of people I've known here who support UNC is far more than the amount of people I know who actually went to school there, while the NC State and ECU crowds are mainly the families of alumni.

Good insight...

Just guessing here, but from the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill metro area, would you say the "fan base breakdown" might be something like:

UNC: 40%
NCSU: 30%
Duke: 15%
ECU, App State, HBCU's, etc: 10%
Out-of-state: 5%

In this case, not really valuing alums and their family members over T-shirt fans, but more a consideration of people who would be interested enough to attend games and/or watch at least occasionally on TV

Maybe that distinction makes UNC's numbers jump over 40%?

It's probably more even than that. If I were to guess percentages though, I'd guesstimate:

NC State: 30%
UNC: 30%

I'm not sure where to go from there, but ECU is probably more even with Duke than most would think, at least in Raleigh.

(06-13-2022 12:49 PM)jcohen42 Wrote:  I wonder if there's a generational divide with the Sixers vs. the Phillies/Flyers as well (partly due to the national generational divide in those sports' popularity). I've noticed that the older crowd tends to gravitate towards the Phillies more. Among the younger crowd, the Sixers are second behind the Eagles and it's not close. I'd even venture to say that among fans younger than 35, the Sixers are closer to the Eagles than they are to the Phillies.

Honestly, I think it's a bandwagon/who's good thing. If you asked this question 10 years ago, it wouldn't even be close -- Phillies were the clear No. 2 behind the Eagles, including among 20-somethings.

The Phils have been bad-to-mediocre and the Sixers ascendant, so it stands to reason that they are basically tied for 2nd these days.

(06-15-2022 01:10 PM)JonP Wrote:  

(06-13-2022 12:49 PM)jcohen42 Wrote:  I wonder if there's a generational divide with the Sixers vs. the Phillies/Flyers as well (partly due to the national generational divide in those sports' popularity). I've noticed that the older crowd tends to gravitate towards the Phillies more. Among the younger crowd, the Sixers are second behind the Eagles and it's not close. I'd even venture to say that among fans younger than 35, the Sixers are closer to the Eagles than they are to the Phillies.

Honestly, I think it's a bandwagon/who's good thing. If you asked this question 10 years ago, it wouldn't even be close -- Phillies were the clear No. 2 behind the Eagles, including among 20-somethings.

The Phils have been bad-to-mediocre and the Sixers ascendant, so it stands to reason that they are basically tied for 2nd these days.

That's why I always try to think of it on an "all things are equal" basis. In a period where Team A is competing for championships while Team B is totally in the doldrums, it's generally going to be pretty clear that Team A will get a lot more support during that particular period. Essentially, try to use similarly-situated periods: compare the fan support for those teams when they were at their respective highest highs, periods of mediocrity, and lowest lows.

In looking at the Chicago market, the Bears will sell out every game and dominate sports talk radio even when they're terrible. That's why they're #1 in this town - their support is essentially impervious to performance.

The Cubs at their highest highs will get Bears-level support (see 2016). Their support is still good even they're mediocre and they have a much higher floor of fan support when they're going through their lowest of lows (like right now).

I think the Bulls are ahead of the Blackhawks based on what I've seen in terms of the full spectrum of the good, bad and the ugly for both franchises. The Bulls were receiving Bears-level support during their 1990s dynasty and still have a high floor of fan support when they're mediocre or going through low periods. The Blackhawks were temporarily the #2 team in town during the Stanley Cup runs of the 2010s, but it was definitely an intensity tier lower compared to the 1990s Bulls. (Granted, that Bulls team was an entirely different once-in-a-lifetime international phenomenon with Michael Jordan at the helm.) The attendance for the Hawks also drops much lower compared to the Bulls for mediocre and bad teams (like the past couple of years).

It's hard to say this as a diehard White Sox fan, but we have much more of a fairweather fan base compared to the Cubs (and it's not even close). The highest highs (like the 2005 World Series championship) are still super high compared to 90% of other pro sports teams, but it's just that all of the other Chicago teams are in that top 10%. We also simply don't turn out as a fan base when they're mediocre or bad. (The White Sox fandom is very similar to the Illinois football fan base in that respect. It superficially has a good-sized fan base and will watch games on TV in good numbers but extremely fairweather when it comes to actually buying tickets.)

(06-15-2022 11:39 AM)sctvman Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 10:01 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

I can speak for Wilmington. ECU heavy with a pretty even split between the bigger NC ACC teams pretty evenly split behind that.

I grew up in Charlotte and go back a pretty good bit. Obviously the Panthers are the biggest draw. From a college football standpoint, South Carolina is the fanbase I see most prominently presented. Behind that, Clemson/UNC are pretty common, with ECU/APP behind those.

I've seen arguments that there are more Clemson fans than SC fans in that area, but it's just not what I've seen. Clemson for sure has some shiny new stickers based on recency bias, but SC is just too big a school.

ILM also has a big UNCW following. They're the only game in town. Much different from College of Charleston. They frequently sell out 5,200 seats at Trask Coliseum and their baseball team usually gets four figures a game. But ECU is very strong across most of the state east of I-95.

SC has 17,000 alumni in Charlotte. 15K+ just on LinkedIn. So many international business and business majors go to Wells Fargo and BofA. And South Carolina is the top international business school in the nation.

That's fair. I guess I didn't list them because every UNCW fan usually has a football team they also pull for. The dub needs a football team. They could fill JMU's vacancy in the CAA and have a nice little following right away.

(06-11-2022 01:00 PM)Crayton Wrote:  1. Bucs
2. Lightning
3. Rays
(large gap)
4. Gators
5. Bulls
(gap)
6. Spring Training clubs
7. Rowdies, non-team sports (golf, wrestling)
8. general Southeast/National fan bases

The Lightning beat out the Rays likely because they are based in Tampa.

You forgot FSU...

Yankee Fans probably outnumber Bulls fans too

(06-15-2022 02:35 PM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 11:39 AM)sctvman Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 10:01 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

I can speak for Wilmington. ECU heavy with a pretty even split between the bigger NC ACC teams pretty evenly split behind that.

I grew up in Charlotte and go back a pretty good bit. Obviously the Panthers are the biggest draw. From a college football standpoint, South Carolina is the fanbase I see most prominently presented. Behind that, Clemson/UNC are pretty common, with ECU/APP behind those.

I've seen arguments that there are more Clemson fans than SC fans in that area, but it's just not what I've seen. Clemson for sure has some shiny new stickers based on recency bias, but SC is just too big a school.

ILM also has a big UNCW following. They're the only game in town. Much different from College of Charleston. They frequently sell out 5,200 seats at Trask Coliseum and their baseball team usually gets four figures a game. But ECU is very strong across most of the state east of I-95.

SC has 17,000 alumni in Charlotte. 15K+ just on LinkedIn. So many international business and business majors go to Wells Fargo and BofA. And South Carolina is the top international business school in the nation.

That's fair. I guess I didn't list them because every UNCW fan usually has a football team they also pull for. The dub needs a football team. They could fill JMU's vacancy in the CAA and have a nice little following right away.

Are there any bandwagon Coastal FB fans?

Mainly, in the Huntington area (Huntington, Ceredo, Kenova, Barbourville, Milton and Hurricane) Marshall is dominant. But there is a LOT of Ohio State across the river. You have your dual Marshall/WVU fans, and there are a LOT of Kentucky Wal-Mart fans. Occasionally you'll see a VaTech, Cincy, or Ohio shirt or sticker...

(06-15-2022 06:26 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Mainly, in the Huntington area (Huntington, Ceredo, Kenova, Barbourville, Milton and Hurricane) Marshall is dominant. But there is a LOT of Ohio State across the river. You have your dual Marshall/WVU fans, and there are a LOT of Kentucky Wal-Mart fans. Occasionally you'll see a VaTech, Cincy, or Ohio shirt or sticker...

Best guess on the Marshall/WVU split in the Huntington area?

(06-15-2022 05:30 PM)whittx Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 02:35 PM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 11:39 AM)sctvman Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 10:01 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 09:46 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Was hoping some "local" folks would jump in here, but I'm curious how the numbers/percentages might breakdown in the state of North Carolina and also regionally in the Charlotte area, the Triangle and the Triad.

How do NC's four ACC schools measure up?

What about ECU and App State and so on?

Do any out of state schools have sizable followings in North Carolina?

I can speak for Wilmington. ECU heavy with a pretty even split between the bigger NC ACC teams pretty evenly split behind that.

I grew up in Charlotte and go back a pretty good bit. Obviously the Panthers are the biggest draw. From a college football standpoint, South Carolina is the fanbase I see most prominently presented. Behind that, Clemson/UNC are pretty common, with ECU/APP behind those.

I've seen arguments that there are more Clemson fans than SC fans in that area, but it's just not what I've seen. Clemson for sure has some shiny new stickers based on recency bias, but SC is just too big a school.

ILM also has a big UNCW following. They're the only game in town. Much different from College of Charleston. They frequently sell out 5,200 seats at Trask Coliseum and their baseball team usually gets four figures a game. But ECU is very strong across most of the state east of I-95.

SC has 17,000 alumni in Charlotte. 15K+ just on LinkedIn. So many international business and business majors go to Wells Fargo and BofA. And South Carolina is the top international business school in the nation.

That's fair. I guess I didn't list them because every UNCW fan usually has a football team they also pull for. The dub needs a football team. They could fill JMU's vacancy in the CAA and have a nice little following right away.

Are there any bandwagon Coastal FB fans?

I actually haven't seen any of that here yet. Headed down to Edisto Island, SC(just South of Charleston) next weekend. Dirty Myrtle is right in between me and my destination. Highway 31 South is a bypass I take, but it jumps on about 15 miles North and dumps off about 5 miles South of Conway/Myrtle Beach.

Long story long, I'll report back if I see a flag or license plate.

(06-13-2022 02:25 AM)ChrisLords Wrote:  Based on flags in yards, license plates and gear it is the following:

First tier: VT, UR, VCU (UR and VCU are tier 1 because of a lot of license plates. I'm in Richmond)
2nd tier: UVA, ECU
3rd tier: UNC, NCST, Duke
4th tier: Clemson, Texas, Miami, ODU, JMU, liberty, GMU, VMI,
And that's about it as far as colleges go.

Still a heavy Redskin presence for NFL.

Ha, no. Life long Richmonder here, and most of the schools you mention are non factors.

Tier 1: UVa, VT.
Tier 2: JMU, VCU the further toward downtown you go.
Tier 3: Redskins (used to be tier 1.....rapidly sliding). UR by 3chopt/Patterson, also fading fast elsewhere in the metro.
Tier 4: VMI, Liberty, and ODU.

USC making in roads. Clemson, Texas, ECU, UNC, NCSU are rare enough to warrant my attention when I see them. Duke? maybe one or two down by MCV.

(06-15-2022 06:53 PM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(06-15-2022 06:26 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Mainly, in the Huntington area (Huntington, Ceredo, Kenova, Barbourville, Milton and Hurricane) Marshall is dominant. But there is a LOT of Ohio State across the river. You have your dual Marshall/WVU fans, and there are a LOT of Kentucky Wal-Mart fans. Occasionally you'll see a VaTech, Cincy, or Ohio shirt or sticker...

Best guess on the Marshall/WVU split in the Huntington area?

I've lived in Huntington for 42 of my 49 years (on the 18th).. My guess is that there are probably 30% that outwardly root for both with another ten who wont admit they do.

You would have to come to Huntington to see just how much this town bleed green and nothing else.... Sure, attendance has suffered, but it has everywhere in the G5.

But aside from message board banter, most visiting fans who come to a game are treated with the utmost hospitality. There is always a horse's rectum or two in the crowd. Maybe someone can post the Purdue article to the H-D. So we even become fans of other teams (except when we are playing them, of course).