Sports fandom isn't about money, status or Twitter followers. It's about energy. Passion. The type of heart-swelling pride that makes a normal day of the week into something more than a holiday. This next group of fan bases sit at the apex of fandom, enhancing both the experience around their teams and the games as a whole. Here's our list of the 8 Most Passionate Fan Bases In All Of Sports.
If you grew up anywhere within a 50-mile radius of Columbus, you realize how (nearly) impossible it is not to grow up as a Buckeyes fan surrounded by an army of heart-on-their-sleeve OSU devotees. Ohio State drew 107,000-plus fans per game in 2015, and that's the rule and not the exception for a fan base that'll show up in droves whether the Buckeyes are 11-0, 0-11 or anywhere in between.
Lucky for Ohio State fans, 0-11 isn't even a remote possibility with Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes recruiting machine behind them. Lucky for us, Buckeyes fans are extremely knowledgable and gracious about their program's recent run of dominance.
Green Bay is the only community-owned franchise in the NFL, and the community backs up its investment by regularly topping the charts in social media engagement and stadium attendance. Green Bay fans live, sleep and breathe Packers football. People plan everything from church trips to weddings as not to miss the precious few hours that Green Bay plays each week during football season.
The Packers basically own Wisconsin, and they also own a wide swath of America's heartland. Joining Packers fans in their Lambeau ritual is an experience that'll stick with you for years.
Royals fans get it. More any other fan base in baseball, Kansas City fans show an appreciation for the nation's pastime that perfectly slots into the depth, breadth and nuance of a uniquely American game. The team's recent run of success has reinforced things, but Royals fans have always approached baseball with a sort of religious reverence.
Take "Alex Gordon Day." When the beloved left fielder re-signed with the team this offseason, the entire city of Kansas City seemingly lined up to buy him a drink. Heck, Gordon's birthday is now the official "Alex Gordon Day" in his home state of Nebraska.
Baseball is king in Kansas City. It's a throwback that breathes life into a game some critics have called "behind the times."
The old adage "kill your idols" does not apply in Tuscaloosa. If you've ever bled Crimson and sacrificed your body on the field for the Tide, you'll be held up with a level of respect that you just don't see with very many other fan bases.
Bama fans are a wild bunch, there's no doubt. When the "Roll Tide" spirit envelops Tuscaloosa or any other stadium in the SEC, it takes no prisoners. It's the type of fandom usually reserved for European soccer fans and Beatles fans during the original British Invasion. It's nuts, but in a deliriously glorious way.
A relatively new entrant, the Warriors have captivated the entire Bay Area during their recent run of success over the past few years. While the bandwagon has filled up with plenty of defectors from other teams, that really doesn't detract from the sheer "College Football rivalry game x 10" atmosphere at every home game at Oracle Arena.
The diehard fans and new supporters scream their lungs out in unison, making for one of the most unique home-standing advantages in all of professional sports. If you haven't been to a Warriors game yet, it should be on your bucket list.
It's fitting that the Huskers' nickname is "Big Red," because Big Red blood runs through the veins of almost every and any Nebraska fan we've had the pleasure to meet. Football isn't a pastime in Lincoln. It's a way of life, passed down from generation to generation like fine china or an old, comfy peacoat.
You haven't had your football heart filled until you've watched the sea of red sway to "Hail Varsity" at Memorial Stadium. Your eyes will have trouble adjusting and your mind will undoubtedly be blown. It's a pure feeling, not just an experience.
The 12th Man has dealt with plenty of in-league pushback when listing the best fan bases in the NFL, with cries of "overrated" raining down from rivals' fans across the nation. Do not believe the negative hype. The experience at CenturyLink Field is akin to surviving an earthquake in the middle of the LAX runway -- it's LOUD.
The majority of the Pacific Northwest's residents pride themselves on being even-keeled in their everyday lives, but the dial gets turned to 11 and completely ripped off the amp both at the games and in the bars during road showdowns.
The Tigers finished 8,532 fans ahead of the Florida State Seminoles for the overall ACC attendance crown in 2015 (81,751 to 73,219), which is made even more impressive by the fact that FSU's Doak Campbell Stadium seats 1,000 more fans than Clemson's Memorial Stadium.
Florida State fans get the hype, but Clemson fans bring the goods -- turning every gameday into a ear-splitting, eye-poppingly orange & purple slice of Southern-style passion. Tigers games aren't just sporting events. They're community celebrations.
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