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.
Philadelphia still has a professional basketball team? The NBA sucks. Go Flyers!— heatmiser- The NBA stinks. The Sicers players are not very likeable or endearing. Their gameday production is annoying ie.e stupid Rabbit dunking and a bunch of high school kids throw out t shirts dancing and doing chest bumps like they just scored a touchdown. They play crappy hip hop beats during the game. The DO have a hot dance team. Bring back Croce he put out a much better product. Hockey is just more exciting than the NBA. Game 6 for the Sixers had a lot of empty seats. Wonder why?— Nico Lange
- Good article, Rich. I think your last line was the most on target: There are more basketball fans than hockey fans in Philly but more Flyers fans than Sixers fans. I think that adding up those who go to college and high school boys and girls basketball games would show that there are quite a number of basketball fans. But I would join those who say that the pro game is tough to watch - and actually hurts the game as it's played on the college and scholastic levels. Nothing's more painful than watching an AI wannabe in a high school game!— JPO
- At one point during the Bobby Abreu ERA, the Flyers were more popular then the PHILLIES. Let alone the Sixers.. they're far more popular then the Sixers.— robkaos
- NBA is awful. The contracts are a joke since they are fully guaranteed. Everyone is out for themselves because the bigger the stats, the more money you make. Last year Celtic Lakers in the final and true to David Sterns MO, he promoted Kobe vs. Kevin Garnett. The dont even play the same position. Instead of marketing two storied franchises, like the Lakers and Celtics, the market individual players. The NBA will be bankrupt within 5 years.— Sports4Life
- Hockey is a joke! Alex and Syd did their thing last night on the Versus Channel!
Comment removed.- Who the heck is this Misarelli fool to be making a statement like this? Of course the Flyers are more popular than the Sixers, no question about it. In fact, I would say from a year to year, over the last few decades, the Flyers are more popular that the Phillies(subtracting the Phillies recent string of success). The Flyguys always draw, even in bad years i.e. 2007--you can't say the same about the Phils or Sixers. That would put the succession of popularity to be: 1. Eagles 2. Flyers 3. Phillies 4. Sixers— camtheman
- Rich, you were supposed to save this post for the start of NHL free agency. I imagine that Philly is the most appealing city for an NHL player (not playing the goalie position) south of Canada.— puttinonthefoil
- The both S**k. I wouldn't care if one, either or both left for Camden. As a matter of fact...that is where they belong.— TheJoker
- The NBA is so boring!! Missanelli please tell me when the Sixers had more fans then the Flyers? I live in Denver, who have a great team in the Nuggets and a rebuiding team in the Avs. Who you ask I would rather watch on tv or in person? I would rather watch the Avs, even though the Nuggets are better and more popular. I am biased because I like hockey. I have been to see the Flyers and Sixers year in and year out when they come to Denver, every year the Flyers are one of the Avs biggest draws in the league, where the Sixers get some people, not saying much. When I lived in PA, the FLyers were always more popular, even during Dr J and Sir Charles. Maybe Missanelli if you want to state that a city that has more of a following in the NBA then the NHL, maybe your looking at where I live in Denver, not Philadelphia. Great article Rich!— cote32
- Rich, this poll is completely ridiculous. Now, I'm not racist (or anything like that), but take into consideration that this website (and paper) is mostly read by a white demographic -- which tend to be Flyers fans... while Sixers fans, in general, tend to be black. That's just a fact, not social commentary. Take the poll down. It's completely misleading.— rich_gelman
- The NBA is so contrived, particularly when it comes to scheduling. It's almost guaranteed to have Kobe vs Shaq or the previous Finals teams playing on Christmas Day. What the heck is that about?--there's no randomness with the scheduling on national TV. Everything done to amplify ratings. It's an artificial league with guys more interested in keeping their street cred up. It's Phony league and most everyone knows it.— camtheman
- cn8 has an HD channel.......and has had one for a bit now— qwerty83
- Nice piece Hofmann, you did your homework and the numbers speak volumes. It's nice to see some hard data presented to back up your point. It's very rare in this town.— MD20202020
