As a fun experiment, I decided to use Twitter for something more useful than just, you know, tweeting. I checked the accounts for all 142 American and Canadian professional sports teams in the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League, and Major League Soccer. I created a list of the top 20 teams with the most followers, and I analyzed a few categories
- Recent success: Making it to the postseason, winning divisional, conference, or league championships
- Historic success: Same as recent, obviously just on a much larger scope
- Star players: How much a team’s popularity like the Cavaliers is likely dependent on the absence or presence of one player like LeBron James
- Demographics: Is the team from a relatively small city like the Winnipeg Jets or serves a large market base like Denver Broncos? Even if the team does operate in a large metropolitan area, does it have competition like the New York Giants vs Jets?
Logic dictates my theory and suggests that since recent sports culture is centered on bandwagoning, the teams that are most recently crowned champions will be on the top of this list and are followed by other teams with recent success and great players. We’re about to find out. These follower accounts are true as of 9 p.m. Pacific June 14th, 2016.
Participation Award: No Major League Soccer team cracks the top 20. In fact, the MLS team with the most followers is the successful Los Angeles Galaxy with 284 thousand. They trail behind the likes of the struggling Oakland Athletics with 329 thousand and Sacramento Kings' 474 thousand. LA Galaxy only has more followers than 2 MLB and 4 NHL teams. Just goes to show that there is still a bit of distance in some ways between this league and the traditional top 4 in USA and Canada.
Tied 20th: Boston Red Sox (MLB), Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) with 1.2 million followers
The Red Sox are one of the more famous baseball teams. They're known for their rivalry with the Yankees, and in 2013 they were World Series Champions. The Cavaliers are still hunting for their first championship in franchise history, and Lebron James's presence has not only given them hope of winning one but has given the franchise popularity. James is still, by many, considered to be the best player in the league.
Then we have Toronto. This hockey team was won 13 Stanley Cups, but none o those wins was secured in the last 50 years. In fact, they’ve struggled to even make it to the playoffs in recent years. Despite recent struggles, Toronto really loves hockey and loves their team.
19th: San Francisco 49ers (NFL) 1.24 million followers
Until the last few seasons, particular with the rise of the Arizona Cardinals and especially the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers seemed like the lone contender in the NFC West. If you go back even farther to the days of Jerry Rice and Joe Montana, you’ll see the history of a team with 5 Super Bowl rings; just one behind Pittsburgh Steelers. 49ers have endured some tough times recently because some of their players have retired early and there isn't a set decision on who will step up to be the team's next quarterback. They’re still California's preferred team, but that could change soon due to their poor recent performance.
18th: Green Bay Packers (NFL) 1.3 million followers
From Clay Matthews to Jordy Nelson to Aaron Rodgers, few teams boast as much talent as the Packers do. They’ve been a strong team for several seasons now. They won the Super Bowl in 2010 and the NFC North division in 4 of the last 5 years. From cameos in Pitch Perfect 2 to references in Statefarm commercials, the Packers are also known for incredible traveling support to away games.
17th: Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) 1.31 million followers
Just ahead of the Green Bay packers we have the most successful NFL team in the Super Bowl era. Since the NFL adopted a 16 game season schedule, the Steelers have never lost 12 or more games, which is something every other team in the NFL has done at least once. Six Super Bowl championships, it’s been relatively a while since their last one but their fans don’t mind the wait. In the meantime, they like having Big Ben Roethlisberger as their quarterback and he has plenty of options to torture opposing defenses with.
16th: Seattle Seahawks (NFL) 1.34 million followers
4th NFL team in a row, I know. But don’t look at me I didn’t make these numbers up! Anyway, nobody is surprised with the Seahawks being on this list. The Legion of Boom may be without the retired Marshawn Lynch next year, but they are still one of the most talented teams with depth in this league. They have stiff competition from Arizona to win their division but at the very least they’ll likely make it to the playoffs as a wildcard like they did this season. The question is can they get another Super Bowl? The hopes of this Pacific Northwestern city lies on this team due to the Supersonics having moved away and the Mariners and Sounders being disappointing or overlooked.
Tied for 14th: Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic (both NBA) 1.35 million followers each
Two NBA teams are tied in this position but the similarities end there. Both are relatively new teams to the league, but the Thunder have done better and have two of the best players in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Magic have been lacking in star power ever since Dwight Howard left the team. One team has become a strong contender in the last half decade or so while the other has struggled to make the playoffs. The Magic were very quick to support their city in the wake of the attacks that happened there last week. Kevin Durant has also become known for his good guy and mama's boy status which has put him in many neutrals good books, topped off with the phrase “You the real MVP” in response to winning the MVP award in 2014.
13th: San Antonio Spurs (NBA) 1.37 million followers
The most consistent team in the NBA in the 21st century thanks to the coach and player combination of Gregg Popovich and his trio of stars Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili. On top of being 5 time NBA Champions, this team is referred to as a “Mini United Nations”. The aforementioned players represent France, the US Virgin Islands, and Argentina respectively, and they have also had notable players from other countries like Australia and Brazil as well. This diverse team has helped them obtain global popularity, and other NBA teams have benefited from that approach as well, like the Houston Rockets during the Yao Ming years.
T-10th: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), New York Knicks (NBA), and Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) 1.4 million followers each
From three of the largest cities in North American and three different leagues, this trio of teams kicks off the top 10. This makes the Blackhawks the most followed team in the NHL. The Blackhawks and the Blue Jays have reached the postseason this past year. The Blackhawks have won the Stanley Cup in 2010 and 2013, while the Blue Jays won some World Series titles back in the 90s, making them the most recent Toronto team to win a major sports title. You’ll have to go farther back for the Knicks. Their decision to sign Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets did not go nearly as well as they had hoped. Now they’re in rebuilding mode, just like the Blue Jays were until a few seasons ago, so many their fans may soon be repaid for their loyalty. Also notable is like NFL team Washington Redskins, the Chicago Blackhawks are drawing criticism for their team name and logo
9th: Carolina Panthers (NFL) 1.55 million followers
If I wrote this article two years ago, I know the Panthers would not be in the top 20. They’re the most obvious beneficiary from their recent team success and rise of their star player, Cam Newton. In the 2014 NFL season, the Panthers were part of the weakest division in the league as neither team in the NFC South got a winning record. The Panthers won the division with 7 wins, 8 losses, and a tie. This past season was a completely different story with Panthers dominating the division and the league with a 15-1 regular season record, 1 short of the 2007 New England Patriots that went 16-0. Despite losing this year’s Super Bowl, Panthers fans new and old are hoping for more success next season.
8th: New York Yankees (MLB) 1.7 million followers
The most successful and wealthy team in baseball is also the most followed baseball team on Twitter. It has many haters, especially from Boston and Mets territory, but they shrug them off. Their fans have the luxury of knowing they can afford almost any player in the league. But this team is far from invincible and life at the end and after Derek Jeter’s career has been difficult. That does little to undermine their legacy, and to this day the Yankees are still a team that most others in the American League circle on their calendars.
7th: Dallas Cowboys (NFL) 1.75 million followers
How bout them Cowboys? As the numbers suggest, many people on Twitter say that iconic phrase. Yes they are the butt of a disproportionate amount of jokes by NFL Memes and Bleacher Report and many critics claim the Cowboys games must be played on the history channel because their fans always talk about the past. But all those jokes only seem to strengthen this fan base and their loyalty to the Cowboys. Despite still relying on the aging and injury prone Tony Romo as quarterback, their fans belief in their team in good times and bad hardly has an answer.
6th: Denver Broncos (NFL) 1.78 million followers
This NFL team did little to stick out in recent years until the emergence of young quarterback Tim Tebow. He was a fan favorite due to his attitude and steadfast Christianity. But then Peyton Manning game which meant goodbye Tebow and hello living legend. Although Manning chose to spend the tail end of his career with this team, he delivered on his second trip to the Super Bowl with a victory. However Peyton Manning himself wasn’t the main contributor, rather it being Von Miller and the Broncos’ defense that had been impressive all season. They proved the cliche to be true: Defense wins championships.
5th: Boston Celtics (NBA) 1.8 million followers
Even including the Lakers, the Celtics are the most historic and successful team in NBA history. 17 NBA titles, multiple multi winners of MVP awards in Bill Cousy, Larry Bird, and Bill Russell. The success of the team during the Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce years that produced a championship in 2008 is still felt, even though Garnett and Pierce play for the Timberwolves and Clippers respectively and Ray Allen retired. History and legacy aside, Boston is a lively city full of sports fans, and as long as one of the four teams (Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins) is doing well, they stay with all their teams. With a new generation of Celtics players developing and rumors about Kevin Durant joining their team, the future seems bright yet again. Since I did mention the Blackhawks controversy, I do have to point out the lack in outrage for the Celtics name and logo. Just a thought.
4th: Golden State Warriors (NBA) 1.95 million followers
Unlike the other members of the top 8 in this list, prior to 2015 the Warriors haven’t really had much success in the last 25 years. Like the Panthers, if we turn back the clock 3 or 4 years the Warriors aren’t going to be on this list. And this is coming from a Bay Area native and a lifelong Warriors fan. There’s been a lot of us who are loyal, but like any team that wins championships, they get a lot of newer fans. A lot of words have been typed about the Golden State Warriors so I won’t go on about them but this is the heart of the matter: whether or not social media popularity reflects loyalty, success, or both? And then further more short term or long term success. As we’ll see with the top three, it is not a black and white answer because the 3rd place team is still going strong, #2 is average, and #1 is rebuilding.
3rd: New England Patriots (NFL) 2.44 million followers
The NFL team with the most followers, I don’t think anyone is surprised with this. One of the first teams that comes to mind for anyone around the country, even those who don’t watch football, is the New England Patriots. Likewise if you ask them to name a football player, good chance one of the first five (or only five) they can name is Tom Brady. Yes, their AFC East rivals haven’t always presented tough challenges, but their ability to dominate that division for so long is a testament to this team. They are led by the dynamic duo for their fans and two headed dragon for rivals: coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. They’ve been through a lot together: they’ve won, they’ve lost, they even deflated footballs. And their fans have loved every moment of it.
2nd: Chicago Bulls (NBA) 2.67 million followers
The team synonymous with Michael Jordan is still popular even among people outside of the Chicago area or who were too young to remember Jordan play. Of course, we will always have some ESPN and YouTube highlights as well as my VHS copy of Space Jam to remember those days. Days since Jordan have not been quite as great, but they have had some more great players like Derrick Rose. Despite his career being hindered by injuries, the Bulls are still a solid team. Further injury woes kept them out of the playoffs but that can change next season. The constant comparisons with the Warriors have also kept the team somewhat in the spotlight.
1st: Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) 4.91 million followers
You can say what you want about the current state of this team, but for at least the Western time zone, for the longest time the Lakers were synonymous with basketball. Wave after wave of hall of fame players, a list that includes Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers are an iconic franchise and one of the most successful in sports, not just basketball. No doubt a large amount of Twitter users grew up watching Kobe Bryant play through most or all of their lives. Their popularity is almost double that of the number two team. Even though their team isn’t as good as it once was, it’s easy to stay loyal to a team with as much success as the Lakers. But still it’s even easier to support a team that’s successful right now. Either way, congrats to the Lakers for ranking #1 on this list.
In total, the top 20 teams account for 35.21 million Twitter followers (37.61 accounting for the 3-way tie at #20). This is a few million give or take away from the total population of Canada. Pretty cool, for those of you who love numbers.
So despite everyone these days being quick to point out people as bandwagon fans, I feel like this list supports that the most steadfast supporters cannot be waiver from their teams. There is a bit of correlation between success and popularity, but not causation otherwise Toronto Maple Leafs have no business in the top 20, especially since the people old enough to have witnessed their most recent Stanley Cup victory are a small percentage of Twitter users. However, it would be interesting to keep an eye on how these numbers shift in a year’s time. But that might be too nerdy, even for me. I’ve been wrong before, though.
