Flyers vs. Sixers popularity contest
Who is more popular, the Sixers or the Flyers?
Flyers vs. Sixers popularity contest
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
I meant to get to this last week, not because I’m hockey’s greatest defender or anything, but just because. And this admittedly is a little bit of an odd time to be wondering who is more popular in town, the Sixers or the Flyers, given their recent spectacular demises. But, well, here goes.
On 950 ESPN, Mike Missanelli is a huge hockey hater. He’s a talented guy, he’s kicking ass in the ratings -- really an amazing thing to watch -- and that’s all fine. He doesn’t like the game and that’s not a big deal. Lots of people don’t like hockey (although I would argue that Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby throwing dueling hat tricks at each other in the same game is worth a look). But his insistence that there are “10 times as many” Sixers fans compared to Flyers fans is just wrong.
I know, I know, “10 times as many” is just a conversational shorthand. But by any standard, you can’t come up with anything approximating the claim.
Attendance, you know. The Flyers have outdrawn the Sixers for most of the last four decades. The haters dismiss that one with the idea that there are only 20,000 Flyers fans in town, and they all show up, and they have more money, and et cetera. OK, fine.
But television is different. Most everybody who wants cable has cable. There is no great economic barrier to getting it anymore. For the overwhelming majority of people in this area, watching the Sixers involves no economic burden. All it takes is click of your thumb.
And, well, the Sixers and Flyers were both just beaten in first-round playoff series after playing middling kinds of regular seasons.
In the regular season, the Sixers averaged a 1.4 rating (42,000 households) on Comcast SportsNet. The Flyers averaged a 2.4 rating (71,300 households).
In Game 5 of their playoff series against Orlando, the Sixers drew a 2.6 rating and peaked at a 4.1. In Game 3 of their playoff series against the Penguins, the Flyers drew a 5.2 rating and peaked at a 6.8, beating the CW and NBC in primetime.
One demographic: for ages 25-54, the Sixers did a 1.9 rating and the Flyers did a 4.6.
These are not isolated numbers, either. The Flyers have outdrawn the Sixers for years. These are real numbers, real facts, and they drive economic decisions by advertisers.
Now, we all remember 2001, when the Sixers went to the NBA Finals and enchanted the town. That was a special time. I will agree that basketball has the potential to build a bigger bandwagon than hockey in those kinds of moments because of overall familiarity with the sport among the people who climb upon bandwagons. But I also recognize that as a unique situation driven by two unique personalities, Allen Iverson and Pat Croce.
But day-in and day-out, the Flyers are a lot more popular than people think -- even here, even today. Hockey is not as popular as basketball but the Flyers are, in many ways, more popular than the Sixers.
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patras27 .... You should be banned from posting... Whoever thinks MLS will outdraw the sixers is dumb..The sixers have fans but not good one they are bandwagon fans.. But when this team gets a star or Elton Brand shows up you will see that place packed again. They won't compete with the flyers but who really cares? I support all four teams and watch every single game and really don't understand why everyone can't either.— Mcosta1114- Great....that is like saying it is better to die by hanging than by electrocution.....who cares....both sports are fringe sports supported by a very small percentage of fans....take away fighting and the stepfords will cry .... so thier sport will never be major league....and allowing "palming" the ball, "walking" and "make up" calls and basketball would return to being a real sport....being less popular than NASCAR and Poker says allyou need to know about either of the above.....who cares......a miniscule bunch of folks...— nuggett
- i am so glad someone wrote this. i don't care about the NHL vs. NBA popularity contest, but there are no questions asked (eh?) when it comes to the flyers having been and continuing to be more popular than the sixers in this town. finally the proof between ratings and attendance records (which were obvious) is shown the light of day.— nmb327
- It's true, this city is a bigger hockey town than it is a basketball town, which is a shame, because the NBA has a lot of deep roots in Philadelphia.— psv
- Mcosta1114, I agree with a lot of what you said. Just dont be suprised if the 76ers average 16,000 next season (barring any major trades) and MLS Philly average 17-18,000. The other topic that has not been addressed and that needs to be is this. I feel that management treats the 76ers as the forgotten middle child. Comcast-Spectacor will always see the Flyers as their golden child and the 76ers will always play 2nd fiddle as long as they continue to be owned by the same entity.— patras27
- amazing you got paid to write that... I think the Wings are more popular then the sixers.... Flyers fans and Eagles fan are the most loyal fans, possibly in sports. Yes we love our Phillies but we dont support them when they are losers. Flyers fans are always there for them. and Sixers, thats just a joke.— fman727
- Phillies; Eagles; Flyers; Wings; Phantoms (RIP); Soul (RIP); Kixx (RIP). Stars, Fury, Firebirds, Fever, all long dead and gone. Then maybe Sixers. And only if i happen to doze off during Sportsnite and they are playing a west coast team at 10. And then as soon as I realize it, I'll flip channels to a re-run of Bourdain.— jH
- my bad i forgot philly is getting a lingerie football team... MOve the sixers to 6th— fman727
- People who hate hockey (like Missanelli) seem convinced no one else likes hockey. As Rich showed with actual numbers, that's not the case. I'm not rich by any means, I no longer live in the Philadelphia area, and every year I subscribe to the NHL Center Ice package to watch the Flyers. I can't say I do the same for the Sixers. It's not that I don't like basketball - quite the opposite - but Flyers hockey is Philly.— hunsinator
- MLS will top the Sixers as they would fall to the 6th most popular. Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, MLS Philadelphia, Nova basketball, Sixers.— hegzatsc
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- I used to love the NBA back in the 80s with Magic, Bird, Jordan, and Barkley, when the game was played right. Ever since it has turned into the MTV Cribs league. I just can't believe the millions of guaranteed money they are paying guys who can't shoot the ball. The players seem to be more interested in what their next tattoo will be and playing video games. They have no respect for anyone. Think David Stern cares? His wallet remains fat! Yeah, just let the same teams keep changing their logo and uniforms colors every year so people will keep buying their apparel. Like others have said, ESPN builds the NBA up. I can't even sit through Sportscenter anymore. They show a bunch of dunks every night on the highlights; some talent that is. For Shaq to slam the ball is like for me to slam my nerf basketball in my bedroom when I was little. The NHL made a bad business decision to go to Versus (ESPN offered less money). Their coverage is horrendous and they are unable to promote viewers on their own channel, which shows rodeo at all other times. My last point is, NHL players are down to earth, likable, and unselfish. Just watch a game, players actually are too unselfish, passing the puck all the time. NBA players, the majority as least, are self-promoting, look at me kind of individuals. Watch the bench during the game, no one even cheers for their team.— eagleflyerfan
- Agree-I think that the NBA product stinks more than the NHL product, however I find that both regular seasons are too long and do not hold my interest. Give me college B-Ball any time.— sleepy
- I bet you Villanova basketball gets higher ratings than the Flyers and Sixers— nova11
