Congratulations, Cleveland!
Written By: Scott | Category: Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians | Comments: 9
You are only the ninth worst city in which to be a sports fan. That’s right, there are eight teams ahead of you on Forbes’ illustrious list that combined various aspects of living with winning (or in this case, lack thereof).
The fact that we have zero championships to our name is only a start. Being that it is Forbes, you know we’re dealing with money. The list also accounts for median income ($42K) combined with the fact that tickets for games are not exactly bargain basement prices. This compiles what is called the Fan Cost Index, which is then ranked as needed.
Similar to the CPI used in economics, the FCI is compiled with a “basket” of goods:
Fan Cost Index represents the typical cost for a family of four to attend a game, based on Team Marketing’s compilations on the prices of four tickets, two small beers, four small sodas, four hot dogs, parking, two game programs and two inexpensive team caps.
I can’t tell you the last time I purchased a program, but I’m willing those are cheaper than an additional beer. Or four.
Honestly, I expected us to be a lot higher on this list given that whole lack of winning thing. It seems that the more recent years are counted more than the past – which is why Miami tops the list even though they have two World Series wins as well as an NBA Championship within the last ten years.
When you take into account the fact that we have won games and not the game, things get a little better – at least in terms of the list. Also, areas like Kansas City, Cincinnati and Indianapolis only have two teams from which ultimately carry a tad more weight in the FCI. Assuming that football is traditionally the most costly sport, the Chiefs, Colts and Bengals would comprise 50 percent of the Index as opposed to towns that have three or four sports.
But then the age old question would be, how much would you be willing to pay for that ONE championship?
(Full image from above can be found here!)
America’s Worst Cities To Be A Sports Fan [Forbes.com]
Author: Scott
Scott is a co-founder/editor of Waiting For Next Year who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Feel free to follow him on Twitter or email him at scott@waitingfornextyear.com.Scott has written 1701 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Who drinks a small beer AND a soda?!
Also why do families of 4 need two programs?
This scientific data used in this study is completely inappropriate.
They need a single fan cost (i.e. not family)
1 Ticket
Transit downtown
2 Hot Dogs
1 Pretzel
1 Bag Peanuts
6 Beers
Ha. Well, not all indicies are an exact science – it’s more of a replication of what the average consumer/fan would use. I could get in to the CPI stuff, but it’d be eye-gougingly boring…
idk about you, but if i lived in Indy, i’d be a pretty happy fan
I am not your typical Browns Dawg Pound-type alcoholic, but I can defiintely not remember the last time I went to a sporting event and had ONE beer. It seems to evolve into several (we’ll be vague there) or none consumed …. These are actually somewhat well-done rankings and are fluid from year-to-year… but honestly – whateva!
This list is crap – it only factors in this past year. Miami and Indianapolis are both ranked ahead of Cleveland as being worse and yet they’ve both seen title winners in the past 4 years.
AMC – It’s a “what have you done for me lately” society… Sad truth.
Kunal – Fan, yes. Paying fan, maybe not so much given that the Pacers haven’t been over .500 since 2004….
Scott – it may be a what have you done for me lately society, but I’m going to agree with that Boston homer Bill Simmons – after a championship there’s a 5 yeah hiatus on bitching about your team, and extend that to the whole city’s sports scene. For Miami, Indy and Tampa to all be ranked in front of us when the Heat, Colts and Bucs have all won titles in recent memory is ridiculous.
This is what happens when you let accountants and actuarians near sports. This list makes no sense at all. Miami and Indy? The same Miami and Indy that won the NBA Crown and Super Bowl this decade? Agree with AMC.