The Super Bowl is creeping up, and Kentuckians are some of the worst football fans
Football, a beloved American tradition, holds the heart of many, but apparently not Kentuckians.
With the Super Bowl right around the corner, it’s time to get in the game-day spirit. Yet, it might be more of a struggle for those in the Louisville and Lexington areas than originally anticipated.
According to a study from WalletHub, Kentuckians prove to be some of the worst football fans, lacking the love for the game seen in so many other states and cities. Paving the way for football fans and team spirit include Pittsburgh, Dallas, Green Bay, Los Angeles and Boston.
Of the almost 250 U.S. cities evaluated, Louisville placed in the bottom ten, with an overall rank of 241. On a 100-point scale, Louisville scored a total of 10.93 points. Lexington ranked slightly higher but didn’t make the top 150. Rather, Lexington ranked at No. 152 with a score of 14.56.
What cities have the best football fans?
The best football cities include:
No. 1: Pittsburgh, PA with a score of 62.22
No. 2: Dallas, TX with a score of 54.71
No. 3: Green Bay, WI with a score of 52.28
No. 4: Los Angeles, CA with a score of 51.77
No. 5: Boston, MA with a score of 51.53
No. 6: New York, NY with a score of 47.03
No. 7: Miami, FL with a score of 46.15
No. 8: New Orleans, LA with a score of 45.41
No. 9: San Francisco, CA with a score of 44.48
No. 10: Kansas City, MO with a score of 44.09
No. 11: Cincinnati, OH with a score of 43.58
No. 12: Indianapolis, IN with a score of 42.6
What cities have the worst football fans?
No. 239: College Station, TX with a score of 11.08
No. 240: Piscatawayship, NJ with a score of 11.01
No. 241: Louisville, KY with a score of 10.93
No. 242: Davidson, NC with a score of 10.93
No. 243: Charleston, SC with a score of 10.93
No. 244: Pine Bluff, AR with a score of 10.75
No. 245: Fort Collins, CO with a score of 10.75
No. 246: Waco, TX with a score of 10.45
No. 247: Bloomington, IN with a score of 10.38
No. 248: Valparaiso, IN with a score of 7.99
No. 249: Easton, MA with a score of 7.49
Where did Louisville and Lexington rank?
According to the study, Louisville ranked No. 241 overall with a total score of 10.93. However, the city ranked No. 31 for the pro football category and No. 229 for the college football category.
Lexington ranked No. 152 overall with a score of 14.56, ranked No. 31 for pro football and No. 133 for college football.
The research further ranked the cities for best or worst football fans by population size of the location, creating three sections for large, midsize and small cities. Both Lexington and Louisville fell in the large city section, with Lexington at No. 36 and Louisville at No. 48 of the 48 large cities listed.
How was the study conducted?
WalletHub evaluated the 249 cities on a scale of 21 metrics, each with differing weights, and were graded on a 100-point scale. All the cities included in the sample have at least one professional or college football team and the data was further divided by categories of “pro football” and “college football,” assigning weight to each category based on popularity amongst fans.
For each city, the weighted average of all metrics was calculated for the overall score and then ranked by city size. The three categories included large, midsize and small cities. Large cities were classified as over 300,000 people while midsize was 100,000 to 300,000 and small was fewer than 100,000.
Why are Kentucky cities some of the worst for football fans?
While pride for the University of Kentucky Wildcats and the University of Louisville Cardinals is immense throughout the state, the area lacks major professional sporting teams. According to The Sporting Base, Kentucky’s two largest cities, Louisville and Lexington, are considered small markets compared to the cities hosting major sporting events. Furthermore, lacking the proper market size, economic considerations, infrastructure requirements and competition present a challenge.
When and where is the Super Bowl?
Super Bowl LVIII is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 11. The game will be played at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, and located off the Las Vegas strip.
Who is playing in the Super Bowl?
The game is between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
Where can you watch the Super Bowl in Louisville?
From 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Mag Bar is hosting a Super Bowl party with $5 all-you-can-eat chili, wings and hot dogs while supplies last. The celebration is for those 21 and up.
Address: 1398 S. 2nd St. in Louisville
Beginning at 6 p.m., Old Louisville Brewery welcomes fans for a watch party and potluck. It’s encouraged to bring a favorite dish or snack to share.
Address: 625 W. Magnolia Ave. in Louisville
The “Big Game Bash Watch Party” on Sunday begins with a pre-game celebration from 4 p.m. to kick off with DJ Miles. All ages are welcome to the event and items will be on sale including $4 signature fries and domestic beers, $5 well cocktails, $6 loaded nachos and giant pretzels and more.
Address: 427 S. 4th St. in Louisville
Where can you watch the Super Bowl in Lexington?
Beginning at 6 p.m., crowds are welcome to join in the fun at Prince Cuts Royal Parlor for a watch party, followed by an afterparty. $3 well drinks and domestics will be available all night.
Address: 2925 Richmond Road in Lexington
Swahili Elks Lodge
At the Swahili Elks Lodge, a Super Bowl watch party is available, with the doors opening at 4:30 p.m.
Address: 1203 Versailles Road in Lexington
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: The Super Bowl is here, and Kentucky fans are less likely to get excited
