It’s no secret that the NFL is the most popular sport in the US. But did you know that size of NFL markets has an impact on how teams perform? I remember being surprised when I heard that the smallest NFL market, Jacksonville, had one of the best teams.
Growing up in Seattle, I was well aware that the Seahawks were one of the big NFL teams. I remember when their games sold out, even when they were losing. It felt like everyone was a Seahawks fan, and you couldn’t walk ten minutes without seeing someone wearing the jersey.
But it’s different in other parts of the country. Take Jacksonville, for example. The Jaguars have always struggled to draw in big crowds and get people interested in their games. It’s not like Seattle where you can’t walk through the streets without seeing a jersey.
That’s not to say that small markets don’t have their advantages. Since they don’t draw the same kind of crowds major markets do, it often means that the ticket prices are cheaper and more accessible to fans. When you can’t afford to attend the game, watching it on TV is still an option, which is definitely a plus.
Still, I think size of NFL markets really matters. Bigger markets tend to have more access to resources, which can make a big difference when it comes to recruiting players and building a good team. For example, the Los Angeles Rams have had much bigger budgets than most teams, allowing them to sign good players and build a winning franchise.
That’s not to say that smaller markets can’t have successful teams. The Jacksonville Jaguars are a great example of how when the team has a good coach and good players, even a smaller market can have a winning team. It just means that they have to work a lot harder than teams in bigger markets to find success.
I think it’s interesting to think about how size of NFL markets can affect a team’s performance. The difference is even more pronounced when it comes to free agency, where teams with bigger budgets have a competitive advantage in landing the best players.
At the end of the day, size really does matter when it comes to NFL markets. Bigger markets have more access to resources and can make more of a splash in attracting fans. But smaller markets still have their advantages, like cheaper ticket prices and a more passionate fanbase. It just depends on the team to make the most of what they have.