In a recent study by the Emory University Goizueta School of Business, professor Mike Lewis, via Yahoo.com, sought to use statistical analysis to determine the NFL’s “best” fans. The study used the hard-core, religiously devoted fan as well as the casual fan, so those at the top of the list have more of the latter and those at the bottom of the list less.
Packers fans came in sixth on the list. Dallas Cowboys fans were ranked at the top, with the Patriots, Eagles, Giants, and Steelers rounding out the top five.
Overall, the Packers ranked No. 8 in “fan equity,” No. 7 in “social equity,” and No. 17 in “road equity.”
Fan equity is how well fans back up their words with dollars. Social equity is a team’s social media reach. Road equity measures how well a team draws on the road, adjusting for team performance.
The surprising number of the three is the middle-of-the-pack finish in “road equity,” given the Packers’ national following and the popularity of the team away from the Green Bay area.
The study accounts “for factors like market size and short-term changes in winning and losing.”
Even without a top-five finish, the results are clear: The Packers have one of the NFL’s best overall fan bases and one of the game’s best brands.
You can read more about how Lewis came to his conclusions here.
The full list is as follows:
1. Cowboys
2. Patriots
3. Eagles
4. Giants
5. Steelers
6. Packers
7. Broncos
8. Bears
9. 49ers
10. Saints
11. Redskins
12. Colts
13. Falcons
14. Dolphins
15. Seahawks
16. Panthers
17. Raiders
18. Ravens
19. Bills
20. Jets
21. Texans
22. Lions
23. Buccaneers
24. Vikings
25. Cardinals
26. Chargers
27. Browns
28. Bengals
29. Jaguars
30. Titans
31. Chiefs
32. Rams