Research Group Officially Ranks Top 5 Sports Fandoms

TheSportster

By Alex Hoegler

Published Dec 10, 2018

FanSided did research to determine the five biggest sports fan bases right now. See if any of your teams made the list.

Dec 9, 2018; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns fan Brandon Jablonski cheers during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

There's always a huge debate as to which sports teams have the best fan bases, considering that we're in the ever-growing 'bandwagon fan' era.

The good folks at FanSided got in on the popular debate by compiling a detailed list of the top 250 "Fandoms", which included sports teams, celebrities, music, movies and television shows.

The Cleveland Browns came in at first overall among Fandoms, with a score of 88. The Browns obviously have a more depressing history than most fan bases in North America, but at least the team comes in first at something here.

After the Browns, the NCAA football powerhouse Alabama Crimson Tide were the highest ranked sports team, earning a grade of 87th overall. They were followed by the Boston Red Sox (a score of 84.3), and the LeBron James "Fandom."

Other sports teams with high rankings on the list included the Kansas City Chiefs (ninth overall on the top 250), Pittsburgh Steleers (16th), Chicago Cubs (22nd), New York Yankees (sixth), Montreal Canadiens (46th), Philadelphia 76ers (10th), Boston Celtics (20th), Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13th), and Michigan Wolverines (15th).

There's little denying how much of a fan base LeBron James has in himself. He's influenced the game of basketball the same way Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan did in the '80s and '90s.

Of course, millions of basketball fans simply love cheering for whichever team James is on, so that had to help his fandom garner such a high rating from FanSided. Let's be honest, how many Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat fans were there outside of their respective cities before James arrived?

As for the Cleveland Browns being No. 1 overall? Just look at all the misery the fans have endured for over a half-century. The Dawg Pound remains one of the most electrifying atmospheres in all of football, too. With Baker Mayfield and Myles Garrett enjoying fine 2018 seasons, it's safe to say the future is finally bright in 'The Land'.

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