Fans Just Wanna Have Fun: An Analysis of the Most Enjoyable Teams on Game Day
If a win can’t be guaranteed, what else about game day can promise a fun fan experience?
To determine the “most fun” teams in sports, datascience@berkeley scored teams on three variables: ticket price,1 fullness of stadium,2 and price of beer.3 Our analysis determined the rankings below, ordered from most to least fun, by league.
For example, analysis shows that the St. Louis Cardinals are MLB’s “most fun” team with below-average costs and the second-fullest stadium. The Philadelphia Phillies’ pricey beer and half-filled stadium puts them in last place.
MLB
| Team Name | City | Average ticket price | Average % to capacity | Price per 12 oz of beer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis Cardinals | St. Louis | $35.54 | 97% | 5 |
Colorado Rockies | Denver | $26.02 | 72% | 3 |
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Los Angeles | $30.26 | 83% | 4.5 |
Toronto Blue Jays | Toronto | $26.07 | 80% | 4.86 |
San Francisco Giants | San Francisco | $38.30 | 98% | 7.07 |
Chicago Cubs | Chicago | $58.57 | 96% | 5.4 |
LA Dodgers | Los Angeles | $41.13 | 83% | 4.69 |
Kansas City Royals | Kansas City | $33.58 | 73% | 4 |
Milwaukee Brewers | Milwaukee | $26.10 | 75% | 5.25 |
Atlanta Braves | Atlanta | $31.71 | 75% | 5 |
Detroit Tigers | Detroit | $28.15 | 72% | 5 |
Cleveland Indians | Cleveland | $30.04 | 72% | 5 |
New York Yankees | New York | $47.62 | 84% | 6 |
San Diego Padres | San Diego | $21.78 | 66% | 5 |
Texas Rangers | Dallas | $26.94 | 64% | 4.5 |
Arizona Diamondbacks | Phoenix | $19.65 | 54% | 3.43 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | Pittsburgh | $23.43 | 62% | 4.5 |
New York Mets | New York | $27.60 | 74% | 6.3 |
Houston Astros | Houston | $40.25 | 71% | 5.14 |
Boston Red Sox | Boston | $56.97 | 95% | 8 |
Minnesota Twins | Minneapolis | $32.68 | 66% | 5.1 |
Washington Nationals | Washington | $42.02 | 75% | 6 |
Baltimore Orioles | Baltimore | $29.95 | 54% | 4 |
Cincinnati Reds | Cincinnati | $21.14 | 54% | 5.36 |
Tampa Bay Rays | Tampa Bay | $21.60 | 50% | 5 |
Oakland Athletics | Oakland | $24.13 | 53% | 5.5 |
Seattle Mariners | Seattle | $37.33 | 55% | 5 |
Chicago White Sox | Chicago | $26.73 | 51% | 5.25 |
Miami Marlins | Miami | $31.76 | 54% | 6 |
Philadelphia Phillies | Philadelphia | $36.04 | 56% | 6 |
NBA
| Team Name | City | Average ticket price | Average % to capacity | Price per 12 oz of beer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Utah Jazz | Salt Lake City | $43.19 | 108% | 4.5 |
Oklahoma City Thunder | Oklahoma City | $51.35 | 100% | 3.75 |
Sacramento Kings | Sacramento | $46.32 | 100% | 4.2 |
Dallas Mavericks | Dallas | $51.80 | 99% | 4 |
San Antonio Spurs | San Antonio | $58.65 | 99% | 4.13 |
New Orleans Pelicans | New Orleans | $30.20 | 96% | 4.2 |
Miami Heat | Miami | $78.30 | 100% | 4 |
Toronto Raptors | Toronto | $42.94 | 100% | 4.85 |
Orlando Magic | Orlando | $39.40 | 96% | 4.31 |
Atlanta Hawks | Atlanta | $35.26 | 88% | 3.75 |
Los Angeles Clippers | Los Angeles | $78.43 | 100% | 5.1 |
Indiana Pacers | Indianapolis | $32.59 | 90% | 4.35 |
Portland Trail Blazers | Portland | $52.90 | 97% | 5.25 |
Phoenix Suns | Phoenix | $56.10 | 96% | 5.13 |
Chicago Bulls | Chicago | $82.33 | 104% | 6 |
Charlotte Hornets | Charlotte | $30.60 | 91% | 4.88 |
Los Angeles Lakers | Los Angeles | $102.25 | 100% | 5.1 |
Washington Wizards | Washington | $32.70 | 85% | 4 |
Memphis Grizzlies | Memphis | $31.48 | 91% | 5.63 |
Houston Rockets | Houston | $65.60 | 94% | 5.44 |
Boston Celtics | Boston | $70.79 | 100% | 6.38 |
Golden State Warriors | Oakland | $47.38 | 100% | 7 |
Cleveland Cavaliers | Cleveland | $43.31 | 100% | 7.25 |
Milwaukee Bucks | Milwaukee | $50.30 | 85% | 4.88 |
New York Knicks | New York | $129.38 | 100% | 6 |
Philadelphia 76ers | Philadelphia | $39.25 | 83% | 5.1 |
Detroit Pistons | Detroit | $38.80 | 80% | 4.75 |
Brooklyn Nets | New York | $66.15 | 87% | 6.38 |
Minnesota Timberwolves | Minneapolis | $37.27 | 77% | 5.7 |
Denver Nuggets | Denver | $54.00 | 77% | 6.75 |
NHL
| Team Name | City | Average ticket price | Average % to capacity | Price per 12 oz of beer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dallas Stars | Dallas | $37.28 | 98% | 4.5 |
Detroit Red Wings | Detroit | $49.16 | 100% | 4.88 |
San Jose Sharks | San Jose | $54.68 | 100% | 4.69 |
Pittsburgh Penguins | Pittsburgh | $73.59 | 107% | 5.25 |
St. Louis Blues | St. Louis | $53.33 | 102% | 5.4 |
Tampa Bay Lightning | Tampa Bay | $44.50 | 100% | 5.5 |
Buffalo Sabres | Buffalo | $49.72 | 95% | 4.8 |
Calgary Flames | Calgary | $63.07 | 97% | 4.67 |
Minnesota Wild | Minneapolis | $67.06 | 106% | 5.7 |
Washington Capitals | Washington | $70.98 | 93% | 4 |
Los Angeles Kings | Los Angeles | $66.25 | 100% | 5.1 |
Chicago Blackhawks | Chicago | $78.80 | 110% | 6 |
Ottawa Senators | Ottawa | $51.76 | 91% | 4.59 |
Philadelphia Flyers | Philadelphia | $74.65 | 100% | 5.1 |
Montreal Canadiens | Montreal | $73.67 | 100% | 5.15 |
New York Rangers | New York | $77.87 | 100% | 5.25 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto | $113.66 | 105% | 4.85 |
Florida Panthers | Miami | $33.39 | 93% | 6 |
Vancouver Canucks | Vancouver | $84.87 | 98% | 5.69 |
Edmonton Oilers | Edmonton | $72.63 | 100% | 6.25 |
Anaheim Ducks | Los Angeles | $45.10 | 93% | 6.19 |
Nashville Predators | Nashville | $62.16 | 100% | 6.75 |
Columbus Blue Jackets | Columbus | $48.90 | 86% | 5.5 |
Boston Bruins | Boston | $88.70 | 100% | 6.38 |
New Jersey Devils | Newark | $47.71 | 88% | 6.38 |
Winnipeg Jets | Winnipeg | $79.28 | 103% | 7.36 |
Colorado Avalanche | Denver | $47.56 | 82% | 6.75 |
Arizona Coyotes | Phoenix | $44.68 | 83% | 7.13 |
New York Islanders | New York | $49.21 | 83% | 7.31 |
Carolina Hurricanes | Raleigh | $61.04 | 63% | 4.88 |
1Cost determined using the most up-to-date values from Team Marketing Report (MLB, 2017 season; NFL, 2016 season; NBA, 2015-16 season; NFL, 2014-15 season).arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
2Average percent to capacity is calculated using reported attendance records from the most recently completed season (MLB and NFL: 2017 season; NBA and NHL: 2016-17 season). Some leagues can report attendance greater than capacity because of how ticket sales are counted.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
3Not all stadiums offer a 12oz beer. Prices were normalized for comparison.arrow_upward
Sources
Team Marketing Report, www.teammarketingreport.com; ESPN.comReturn to footnote referenceReturn to footnote reference
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