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.
Since Mike Missanelli was brought up: Missanelli will crush Eskin because of Eskin's condescending personality. However, I bet 610 will wise up, move Eskin, and put Anthony Gargano against Missanelli, then Missanelli will be #2. Eskin can't compete with either of them...— SteveV- Its not even close, in fact I would say the Sixers are losing their fan base and seem almost disconnected from the fan base they try to reach. This team lack idenity, and has players on the team that are very hard to root for and be passionate about.— meaned
- I love basketball and hockey. I don't miss a game of either if I'm around a TV. That being said, I struggle watching the Sixers. The management decisions has turned the Sixers into a difficult team to watch. It's like watching a team that only learned to play half the game. The defense is porous and they have no outside shooting. It's hard to watch a team that runs down the shot clock in every half court possession and then chucks up a shot. Another thing is that I've seen the Flyers' stars come up through the Phantoms. I didn't watch a lot of Pac 10 or SEC b-ball. That's why I enjoy the Flyers more.— HandNik
Comment removed.- I do not live in the Philly radio market so I do not know Missanelli, but I do, not so fondly, recall that Eskin is an imbecile- I still listen to 610 on the web many days - up until about 3 PM.— Spazcat
- the players in the NHL are just a lot more likeable. NBA has way too many cry babies and thugs. NBA players are much too overpaid as well. i'm not saying all professional athletes aren't overpaid, they are. just too many criminal looking thugs in the NBA... some good guys too tho of course.— WC-Jonesy
- NBA only seems more popular across the country because the ESPN hype machine builds it up. ESPN has a NBA contract but not an NHL contract. Since ESPN is by far the means that most people in this country go to for all things sports, the fact that ESPN plays down hockey because they dont have it, and plays up the NBA because they do have it, makes the NBA seem stronger. I am a bigger basketball fan than hockey fan, but I cant stand watching the NBA because the quality of play is a joke. I'll watch college hoops over the NHL, but NHL over NBA. But for the purposes of Sixers/Flyers, its Flyers hands down. Heck you could argue that the FLyers were more popular than the Phillies about 10 years ago. Sixers are hurt because Philly is one of the big hockey towns in country, and with the Big 5 college hoops is big time too. Sixers will always be an afterthought. Now saying they will fall behind soccer too? Well, lets be realistic, nobody cares about soccer.— Greg S
- Mike Missanelli? Who is he? Nuff said.— MICKDONAHUE
- Comment removed.
- when the sixers have really good teams they are more popular than the flyers simply because the NBA draws more casual fans than the NHL... however, i agree with the point that the flyers have been more popular recently, but only because the sixers have not been a contender for 8 years, not because the NHL is a better league than the NBA— GoPhils09
- NHL playoofs VS NBA playoffs, it is not even close!! Hockey rules!! Well at least between these 2 sports...— BirdsSuck
- Its pure folly to suggest that soccer will eclipse basketball in true popularity but I would not be suprised if the MLS Philly team out draws the 76ers at the gate in average attendance next season.— patras27
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- um - duh.— lcr-54
- I'm a huge Sixers fan (and don't follow hockey), but there is no doubt the Flyers have a larger base of loyal fans than the Sixers. There are equally passionate Sixer fans- just less of them. Overall, there are a lot of hoops fans throughout the area, but they are spread between the Sixers, Nova, Temple, St Joes etc. I don't know if the total number of Basketball fans are more or less then Hockey fans- but no doubt the Flyers have the most fans for their specific team. All of this pales in comparison to the number of passionate eagle fans.— tktk
