Ranking the Major Sports Fanbases: Part One NHL

This is part one of a four part series in which I am taking a look at the four major professional sports leagues in North America: MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL, and rank the fans in each league, 1-30. At the end of the series, the rankings will be condensed together to see which city has the best overall fans. These rankings are put together using attendance numbers from the past decade as well as the team's success and my own personal bias based on the arenas I have visited as well as stories I've heard from people who have been to arenas I haven't been to. In any case, we will start today with the NHL, and go in reverse order, from 30 to 1.

30. Florida Panthers
I was recently watching a telecast of the Penguins-Panthers on SUN Sports, the Panthers TV network, and they advertised a $50 package in which you tour the locker room, meet the Panther team, get food and drinks, AND a game ticket. Why aren't these people jumping on this, it's an absolute steal. Seriously, playign before lukewarm fans in a half empty arena, Florida hasn't been a story since the rat days of 1996. A joke of a fan base.

29. Phoenix Coyotes
Sorry guys, I know there are true fans down there, but this franchise lacks a consistent fan base despite solid play this season. This team is a complete money drain and would do much better if they just stayed in Winnipeg 13 years ago. The clock is ticking in the desert.

28. Atlanta Thrashers
This is a playoff caliber team, with an outstanding superstar in Ilya Kovalchuk, yet no one seems to care. I realize that this franchise has never won a playoff game, let alone a series, and has been floating in mediocrity for most of their tenure, but part of the reason is they lack the income to sign big name players. If Kovalchuk leaves, the franchise is doomed.

27. Tampa Bay Lightning
This is why hockey should not be in the Sun Belt. A team just six years removed from the Stanley Cup is lagging in attendance and fan interest. Ask anyone in Tampa about sports and unless a team is winning now, they can't tell you a thing. Outside of one year, this team hasn't won. Hence, crappy attendance, crappy support.

26. Nashville Predators
I blame part of this on the whole owner selling the team fiasco and the Preds nearly going to Hamilton, Ontario, but maybe their better of there. This team has never averaged over 16,000 in attendance, which is pathetic. Not to mention outside of the Tennessee Titans, they are the only pro sport show in town. Bad place to put a hockey team and like Phoenix, the clock is likely ticking.

25. Carolina Hurricanes
Like Tampa, a team that recently won a Stanley Cup that suddenly acts like their team is invincible. To their credit, Carolina is pitiful this season, and they do have a better attendance than their other Southeast brethren, but this is still and area lacking a passion for the game of hockey. Carolina is college basketball country, it should stay that way.

24. Anaheim Ducks
Repeat: a team that recently won a Cup that is seeing attendance fall, partially due to the resurgence of the senior team in the metro area, the Kings. But in any case, Los Angeles doesn't need two teams and the Ducks' support comes and goes as the team does the same. A smallish arena, a team that plays away from the bright lights of L.A. in the suberbs, not to mention a Disney movie reference= lack of fanbase.

23. Colorado Avalanche
This is a little harsh, considering the Avs sold out years and years worht of games. But they were also spoiled with a Stanley Cup their first year in Colorado, not to mention amazing players like Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, and Patrick Roy. Now, a new, resurgent Colorado team hits the ice, playing well in first place, but no one seems to care. Shame on Avs fans.

22. Columbus Blue Jackets
I will say, hockey CAN work in Columbus, and for the lack of success, fans have supported the Blue Jackets decently. However, hockey simply hasn't taken hold their and the fans remain, to me, to be fair weather and unknowledable even after nearly ten years of NHL action in Columbus. The grace period has ended in Ohio.

21. New York Islanders
I rank them up here because the fans at Nassau are VERY knowledable and tough as nails, I learned from experience. However, the franchise is in shambles and it goes, the loyal fans from the glory days of the 1980's are vanishing. I would hate to see the Islanders move, because it would mean the end of many great Atlantic Division rivalries and memories. But the fans MUST come back and the Isles MUST get a new arena.

20. Dallas Stars
As fair weather as they come, at the veyr least, this is the best fanbase of the Southern teams and even during less successful seasons, the fans still come in droves. However, the Stars have never been "terrible" since moving to Dallas, I'm curious what a few bad seasons would do to the fanbase. For now, they stay in the middle 10.

19. Los Angeles Kings
I give the senior L.A. team soem credit, because every time I watch a game in Los Angeles, there are a few fans sporting the old mustard yellow Kings jerseys from the 70's Marcel Dionne era. This team has some loyal fans, but in recent years they struggled to compete with the Ducks. One hockey team can work in Los Angeles, two not so much. The Kings could have an excellant fanbase if the metro area wasn't shared.

18. St. Louis Blues
The fan base has died down since the good old days when the Blues played in old St. Louis Arena. Still, many loyal fans fill in the seats in St. Louis despite many meager days, and this team is decent support from its fans. If the team is playing well, they can be among the loudest in the NHL.

17. Washington Capitals
Surprised? Well don't be, the Capitals fans are as bandwagon as they come. Before Alex Ovechkin, this franchise couldn't draw anyone and was in shambles. But now they;re winning, and Washington D.C. is suddenly Hockeytown U.S.A. Sorry, Caps fans, but you have to do better to impress me and move up the list, I see through your cherade.

16. New Jersey Devils
Ranked higher than normal mainly ue to their loyalty towards the team, its very consistent and the fans are very hard nosed and intense. However, this team's attendance stinks and seeing half of the lower level seats empty every game is a disgrace. If this team can sell out more consistently, then a move up this list is in order.

15. Ottawa Senators
The lowest ranking Canadian team on this list for a reason. The fans are much less loud than their Canadien counterparts and simply put, the fans lack the passion of the others. This is a team that almost went completly broke a short time ago and was bailed out by the NHL, the funny part is they weren't even a bad team. Disappointing in Ottawa.

14. Boston Bruins
The lowest ranking Original Six team on the list for a lack of consistent passion. Yeah, they haven't won a Cup since 1972 and the rest of the area team have all won in the past five years, but if this is as much fo a sports town as they say, they should draw better. Boston used to be the talk of th city, that has simply vanished lately. Not good for a traditional hockey city.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins
BANDWAGONERS!!! Another team that nearly went broke and moved out of their city, they were essentially saved by Sidney Crosby. This team was dead last in attendance before Crosby came to town and this franchise has never drawn consistently well. The lack the true fans needed for a top ten appearence.

12. San Jose Sharks
This team is essentialyl run by the businesses of the Silicon Valley, but in all fairness, the fans show up, win or lose, and they have some pretty supportive fans. The Sharks have sold out over 100 consecutive games by my counts (I could be wrong) so I really can't put them any lower.

11. Buffalo Sabres
Times have been rough in Buffalo and the team has had years where they failed to draw a ton of fans, but Buffalo is a truely loyal fanbase, possibly one of the most in the league. The one thing that keeps them out of the top ten is the low attendance figures, otherwise, this is an excellant fanbase.

10. Chicago Blackhawks
The fans didn't show for many years, but I place the blame on the terrible ownership of Bill Wirtz. Now, the Blackhawks are on TV again, the fans are back, and it's like the old Chicago Stadium now as they have arguably the loudest fans in the entire league. The low attendance numbers earlier in the decade have me second guessing, but otherwise, this is a classic, U.S. hockey town.

9. Edmonton Oilers
The folks in Edmonton don't exactly reach the intensity of their Canadien couterparts, but they do match in loyalty and jam pack the Skyreach Centre every night. A franchise that has languished since the Gretsky days still manages to sell out their building every night and the fans that show up knwo their stuff to. A solid, underrated fanbase.

8. New York Rangers
Traditional hockey team that manages to sell out DESPITE sharing the metro area with the Islanders and Devils. Pretty impressive. Very hardcore fans who will get on their team when in a slump, but ultiamtely stick by the Blueshirts even thoruhg hard times, or, as history tells us, 54 years between Stanley Cups. That's enough evidence for a top ten spot for New York.

7. Philadelphia Flyers
As tough, hard nosed, and bullyish as you get. The Flyers fans sell out the Wachovia Center nearly every night and the fans make that place one of the most initimadting buliding in the league. However, as you will read mroe about in the upcomign series' this team has a serious problem with fan behavior in my opinion, and it resides partially here. Thumbs down.

6. Calgary Flames
During this club's meager days, attendance did drop off a bit, however, the intesity and recent newfound loyalty of the fanbase as made me forget the early part of this decade. A very fiery and intense fan base that is one of the loudest around, they make the Saddledoem one of the toughest places to play for visiting teams.

5. Detroit Red Wings
They don't call it Hockeytown for nothing. Despite a terrible economy and unemployment, the Red Wings are STILL filling the area at 98% capacity, remakrable for such a down trodden city. Supportive of their club, even through the 42 year Stanley Cup drought, these fans are rambonctious and some of the most fun in the NHL, definitly deserving of a top 5 spot.

4. Minnesota Wild
No, I'm not nuts. Take a gander at this. The Wild have sold out EVERY SINGLE home game in team histoy. Yes, every single home game for nearly ten years. For a team that hasn't had great success, that is an absolute remarkable accomplishment and that alone gives them the best fans out of the U.S. teams. Also don't ignore the fact that they have some of the smartest fans in the league and most passionate. Very impressive job done in Minnesota.

3. Vancouver Canucks
The GM Place is one loud building because of these loyal fans, the best of any team without a Stanley Cup. The Canucks haven't had the best history, but the fans, win or lose, pack the building every night and they make a TON of noise. They are also extremely tough, rivaling Philly and New York fans, and won't hesitate to boo the opposition or their own club.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs
However, no one is as tough as the folks in Toronto. They sell out despite watching a pitifully bad team. Not only that, but they are TOUGH. I thik they essentially go to the games nowadays to BOO their own team. In any case, though, they stick buy their club despit a 43 year and counting Stanley Cup drought. I give major props to those fans for doing that.

1. Montreal Canadiens
This is wihtout question, the best fanbase. True, it's easy to root for a team that has won 24 Stanley Cups, but despite recent struggles, this team sells out EVERY night. Impressive consideringthey play in by far the largest arena in the league at 21,278 capacity. That's a lot of people watching hockey every night. Passionate and knowledgable, the Candiens have by far the best fans in the NHL.