Random Eagles Information Still Not Worthy of a New Thread

[ice grillin you]

as a whole they know no more or less than you...just because you didn't like them booing the pick that was used to take your hero doesn't mean they don't know anything...the only difference btwn them and you is they will go at their teams hard and you are a homer....but you aren't a smarter or better fan

[PhillyPhreak54]

Oh yes, but I am smarter than them. Every last one of them.

[SD]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/new-study-ranks-the-nfls-best-and-worst-fan-bases-wheres-yours-120511265.html

https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/esma/

The Winners

We have a new number one on the list – the New England Patriots. Followed by the Cowboys, Broncos, 49ers and Eagles.  The Patriots victory is driven by fans willingness to pay premium prices, strong attendance and phenomenal social media following.  The final competition between the Cowboys and the Patriots was actually determined by the long-term value of the Patriots greater social following.  The Patriots have about 2.4 million Twitter followers compared to 1.7 for the Cowboys.  Of course this is all relative a team like the Jaguars has just 340 thousand followers.

The Eagles are the big surprise on the list.  The Eagles are also a good example of how the analysis works.  Most fan rankings are based on subjective judgments and lack controls for short-term winning rates.  This latter point is a critical shortcoming.  It's easy to be supportive of a winning team. While Eagles fans might not be happy they are supportive in the face of mediocrity.  Last year the Eagles struggled on the field but fans still paid premium prices and filled the stadium.  We'll come back to the Eagles in more detail in a moment.

The Steelers

The one result that gives me the most doubt is for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Steelers have long been considered one of the league premier teams and brands.  The Steelers have a history of championships and have been known to turn opposing stadiums into seas of yellow and black.  So why are the Steelers ranked 18th?

steeler_atl

A comparison between the Steelers and the Eagles highlights the underlying issues.  Last year the Steelers had an average attendance of 64,356 and had an average ticket price of $84 (from ESPN and Team Market Report).  In comparison the Eagles averaged 69,483 fans with an average price of $98.69.  In terms of filling capacity the Steelers were at 98.3% compared to the Eagles at 102.8%.  The key is that the greater support enjoyed by the Eagles was despite a much worse record.

One issue to consider is that of pricing.  It may well be that the Steelers ownership makes a conscious effort to underprice relative to what the market would allow.  The high attendance rates across the NFL do suggest that many teams could profitably raise prices.  It's entirely reasonable to argue that the Steelers relationship to the Pittsburgh community results in a policy of pricing below market.

In past years the Steelers have been our social media champions.  This past year did see a bit of a dip.  In terms of the Social Media Equity rankings the Steelers dropped to 5th.    As a point of comparison, the Steelers have about 1.3 million Twitter followers compared to 2.4 million for the Patriots and 1.7 million for the Cowboys.

[smeags]

A comparison between the Steelers and the Eagles highlights the underlying issues.  Last year the Steelers had an average attendance of 64,356 and had an average ticket price of $84 (from ESPN and Team Market Report).  In comparison the Eagles averaged 69,483 fans with an average price of $98.69.  In terms of filling capacity the Steelers were at 98.3% compared to the Eagles at 102.8%.  The key is that the greater support enjoyed by the Eagles was despite a much worse record.

wouldn't this measurement hurt dallas ? I mean that stadium is routinely filled, but it seems there is always a big amount of opposing fans there.

[QB Eagles]

I think it's really tough to adjust for the quality of the team, especially going off of the results of one season. Sure, Eagles fans keep showing up during mediocre seasons, but the team has rarely been completely uncompetitive for more than one year at a time. Hell, they were even competitive last year due to how awful the division was.

I have my doubts that the fanbase would remain as interested with a sustained losing record like the Browns (1 season of more than 5 wins since 2007) or even like the Eagles teams of the 60s and 70s. Especially if another team in town were up near the top of their sport.

[smeags]

before reid came to town you could get as many season tickets as you wanted to buy.

[QB Eagles]

The Rhodes/Reid transition era was the worst sustained Eagles football that most of us clearly remember, and even then the period where things felt absolutely hopeless was only like 18 months or so.

[Sgt PSN]

For all the non-winning that the Eagles have done during my lifetime, they've also spent very little time in a state of despair.  In the last 30 years, this franchise has only had 9 seasons where they finished below .500 and the longest they've gone without making the playoffs has been 3 seasons....which was the Rhodes/Reid transition.  They've mostly been competitive and watchable, which generally leads to a fanbase willing to spend time and money on the team. 

[MDS]

before reid came to town you could get as many season tickets as you wanted to buy.

during the buddy era games rarely sold out. during the reid years at the vet you could find tickets easily in the 700 level or down near the field in the obstructed views. it wasnt really until they got into the linc that games were "sold out."

historically all sports were like that....attendance was weak across the board....it hasnt been until the past decade that its shot up.

[SD]

Any interest in Josh Gordon? Cleveland drafted a ton of WRs and you have to think they're about through with the guy. Might be able to get him on the cheap...like a 5th round pick. Only reason they'd keep him is because he played with RG3 at Baylor. Might as well try to win this season, not like they have a 1st next season where as losing would benefit them.

[QB Eagles]

Very interested but honestly I think the Browns have no intention of trading him on the cheap.

[smeags]

doesn't he have a four game suspension to still serve ?

[SD]

4 games is nothing, not to mention game one is against the Eagles.

[Rome]

He's a whisker away from a year's ban.  Offer a third and any receiver on the roster for him.

[ice grillin you]

hes basically untradeable...hes too good for cleveland to release but to toxic for anyone to give up anything for him....maybe you can get a dan Snyder or someone like that to give up something but that's about it...and especially the eagles cant afford to take a chance on him for anything of value after they gave up picks for dakota boy