Small market team, fair weather fans...

[Skew]

So, just to waste some time before the season kicks off, I went through the attendance stats for last season. What I was most curious over was which team could fill stadiums the best out of our division.

For the NFCS home games, the break-down goes like this:

1. Carolina - 99.3%

2. New Orleans - 96.1%

3. Tampa Bay - 96.0%

4. Atlanta - 95.7%

Ranking by away games, it goes like this:

1. Carolina - 98.9%

2. Atlanta - 98.2%

3. Tampa Bay - 95.9%

4. New Orleans - 95.1%

And overall, its:

1. Carolina - 99.1%

2. Atlanta - 97%

3. Tampa Bay - 95.9%

4. New Orleans - 95.6%

Now, I was willing to chalk it all up to scheduling differences, but then I went back a couple of years. We've been number one in all three of those metrics since 2006 (last year ESPN has full league stats for) with the exception of 2008 when Atlanta was a better road draw than us. I guess I could try and figure out PSL holders and actual attendance counts per game, but I'm just not that interested at the moment.

Point is, there is no better draw in the NFCS than the Panthers. Not too shabby for a small obscure market full of wine-and-cheese fairweather fans.

And to back up my claims, play around with this:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/attendance/_/year/2009/sort/homePct

Ok. Games almost on. Time successfully killed.

Well, that can't be considered fact. Depends on what stats were used. Tampa was known for buying unused tickets last year so the game could be televised locally (thinking is they won't this year) but still had plenty of empty seats.

Someone want to explain to me again why Charlotte can't host a Superbowl?

Not enough hotel rooms in the area and outdoor stadium with our weather in Jan. (see Patriots game during 1-15 season: ice storm)

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

Well, that can't be considered fact. Depends on what stats were used. Tampa was known for buying unused tickets last year so the game could be televised locally (thinking is they won't this year) but still had plenty of empty seats.

Ok, take Tampa out of it. I try not to consider them as much as possible anyway.

Not enough hotel rooms in the area and outdoor stadium with our weather in Jan. (see Patriots game during 1-15 season: ice storm)

I can't buy the "city is unable to handle it" arguement when our average home game attendance is greater than the official seating capacity of the Superdome, be it for hotel capacity or otherwise. As for weather, the new Meadowlands was named for a Superbowl. Weather may be more predictable in New Jersey than in Charlotte in January, but that's only because it's almost a garauntee to be cold and shitty in Jersey.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

Also notable here...the Panthers are the most valuable franchise in the NFCS according to Forbes, and are the second most profitable franchise in the NFCS (behind the Bucs thanks to having a larger ammount of debt).

[Skew]

Ok, take Tampa out of it. I try not to consider them as much as possible anyway.

I can't buy the "city is unable to handle it" arguement when our average home game attendance is greater than the official seating capacity of the Superdome, be it for hotel capacity or otherwise. As for weather, the new Meadowlands was named for a Superbowl. Weather may be more predictable in New Jersey than in Charlotte in January, but that's only because it's almost a garauntee to be cold and shitty in Jersey.

That's not my reasoning, it's the NFL's. I don't buy it either.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

That's not my reasoning, it's the NFL's. I don't buy it either.

I know. I'm more pointing this kind of thing out to show that there is hope for a Superbowl in Charlotte.

And to rub it in the face of the other NFCS teams.

[Longbeachisland]

Hotel space, weather concerns, JR won't suck Roger Goodell's dick, you know, all the typical stuff.

the giants are getting a superbowl with those weather concerns, hopefully charlotte can have a superbowl soon enough.

[Skew]

the giants are getting a superbowl with those weather concerns, hopefully charlotte can have a superbowl soon enough.

The main reason is the new stadium. If the weather sucks for the NY Superbowl, it maybe the last one in NY until a dome is built there.

[jaPAN fan]

It seems I remember the NFL guaranteeing JR a Superbowl in Charlotte when we first got the franchise. They just never lived up to it. Am I wrong?

[Skew]

It seems I remember the NFL guaranteeing JR a Superbowl in Charlotte when we first got the franchise. They just never lived up to it. Am I wrong?

Never remember hearing a guarantee.

[iamcline]

Never remember hearing a guarantee.

It happened. Tagliabue was the one that said he saw a Super Bowl in Charlotte within 10 years.

[Skew]

It happened. Tagliabue was the one that said he saw a Super Bowl in Charlotte within 10 years.

Guess he was the only one in the NFL office who saw that.

[DaPaNtHeRs]

Fair-weathered fans piss me off so much. When we win, they're right there cheering on like they have been doing it for years. The smallest onslaught of trouble: they drop us like it was nothing. Example: 2008 Conference Playoffs. Yea Jake threw 5 picks on his way to inobscurity and exit. But why boo and leave in the 2nd quarter? Me and my friend, sitting in front of the visiting Arizona fans, took the punishment from those fans and Jake's meltdown until the final horn. That friends is a true fan.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Fair-weathered fans piss me off so much. When we win, they're right there cheering on like they have been doing it for years. The smallest onslaught of trouble: they drop us like it was nothing. Example: 2008 Conference Playoffs. Yea Jake threw 5 picks on his way to inobscurity and exit. But why boo and leave in the 2nd quarter? Me and my friend, sitting in front of the visiting Arizona fans, took the punishment from those fans and Jake's meltdown until the final horn. That friends is a true fan.

Wrong kind of weather.

[DaPaNtHeRs]

Wrong kind of weather.

Wrong kind of weather, but still proves a point. Certain fans hop on and off the bandwagon in good times and bad.