---
title: The DNA of a Sports Fan | Trendlines by Gradient
description: Americans love themselves a hometown favorite team (particularly if that team is a championship contender).
image: https://i3.createsend1.com/ei/t/B3/302/91A/csimport/p_cjt_m7_attributes.114738.png
---

![](https://i3.createsend1.com/ei/t/B3/302/91A/csimport/p_cjt_m7_attributes.114738.png)

[Jordan Boeder](https://www.gradientmetrics.com/trendlines/author/jordan-boeder)2021/09/241 min read

# The DNA of a Sports Fan

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Did you happen to notice all the new people rocking Milwaukee Bucks jerseys after they won the championship this year? Or the sudden influx of Tampa Bay Buccaneers gear after Brady hoisted yet another Lombardi Trophy? Surely everyone didn’t just discover their long lost Wisconsin heritage and fall in love with swashbuckling pirate culture, right?

 

To call out bandwagoners discover the recipe for becoming a fan, we asked Americans to choose between fake sports teams that differed in their location, current competitiveness, team history, and jersey color.

 

![](https://i3.createsend1.com/ei/t/B3/302/91A/csimport/p_cjt_m7_attributes.114738.png)

 

Among all team attributes, **a team’s current competitiveness plays the largest role in Americans’ fandom decisions**, with championship contenders being the most popular.

 

It’s unclear whether the enormous Chiefs bandwagon can ford the Missouri, but if *Oregon Trail* is any indication, everyone will definitely get Cholera. Ironically, one of the most famous bandwagon fans has himself lassoed many hoop fans to the Cavs, Heat, and Lakers bandwagons: yes, Akron’s own LeBron James [is indeed](https://email.gradientmetrics.com/t/t-l-ctjtljk-ghdlkkhkj-o/) a Cowboys fan.

 

![](https://i4.createsend1.com/ei/t/B3/302/91A/csimport/rudd.114444.png)

 

Donald Trump’s vote share in New York City notwithstanding, Americans also love a hometown favorite. **Teams located in the biggest city in Americans’ state performed particularly well**.

 

To anyone tasked with finding a Lions fan outside of Michigan, and we know you’re reading, we wish you the best of luck. You’re gonna need it.

![avatar](https://www.gradientmetrics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Landing%20Page/team_photos/jordan_grey.png?width=290&name=jordan_grey.png)

[Jordan Boeder

](https://www.gradientmetrics.com/trendlines/author/jordan-boeder)Jordan received his master’s degree and Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Claremont Graduate University. After receiving his Ph.D., he worked as a Post-Doctoral researcher at the University of Zurich where he honed his skills in Bayesian data analysis. Jordan uses his years of teaching experience to help distill complex research findings into simple insights.

[mailto:jordan@gradientmetrics.com](mailto:jordan@gradientmetrics.com)

## RELATED ARTICLES

<https://www.gradientmetrics.com/trendlines/the-dna-of-a-sports-fan#>

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