Sports fans make the world go round. Essentially because, if there were no fans, sports would likely not exist. Being able to see a team or club play firsthand is an experience that many cherish. From college students to the 50-year-old Cleveland Browns fan that paints his face on Sundays, home field advantage can be an essential tool in a team’s performance. In this article, I will attempt to rank which sports need home field advantage and why.

1. College Basketball

This one is a no-brainer. From the Cameron Crazies to the Izzo Zone, college basketball is almost dependent on home crowds in order to succeed. Winning on the road in college basketball, especially in a conference game, is one of the most difficult things to do in sports. It happens every once in a while, but not very often.

2. NFL Football

Home field advantage in the NFL is extremely crucial. Teams only get to play in front of their fans eight times a year (unless you get the designation of home team in London), so each game is crucial. Since there are only eight home games, fans are willing to spend money cheering their team on.

3. College Football

Ah, what a wonderful experience. College football Saturdays are arguably the best Saturdays of the year. Although most college students won't remember the score of the game later that night, college football draws a large crowd of alumni and students to the university. Game day at any major division one school is an absolute party, and liquid encourage is just that—encouragement for the home crowd. College football teams usually get 5–7 home games per year, so the demand for the games are at a very high rate.

4. MLB/NBA

Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association share something in common: a large quantity of games. In the major leagues, your team will play 82 home games, and in the NBA your team will play 41 home games. This allows for people to pick and choose when to attend, and attendance is not necessarily a huge factor in terms of motivation for the players. The MLB offers a unique aspect in that each stadium is uniquely designed, so it may be a 4A and the NBA may be 4B.

5. National Hockey League

The NHL comprises of an 82 game schedule, just like the NBA. However, the NHL is a much smaller market and games are not nearly attended as much as NBA games are. The NHL has grown in the last 10 years, which shows signs of hope, but the amount of games and where teams are located do not factor into home field advantage. Since there are seven teams in Canada, the markets in the United States are not as large as other sports such as baseball and basketball that only have one team north of the border.