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Basketball, Sports Data, Sports Fan Data, Top 10

Top NBA Teams: #8 Los Angeles Lakers

Posted on by Michael Wang

Popular. Scary. Legendary. Historic. These are only some of the many words that can be used to describe the Los Angeles Lakers. This past offseason changed a lot for the Lakers. LeBron James chose to sign with them and that reignited the fire within the fans. Along with many young stars such as Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and of course Kyle Kuzma, this team has an absurd amount of potential carried by one of the best leaders to ever play the game. Nevertheless, one season good season is not the only reason they place in FanWide’s Top Ten NBA Teams ranking.

The Lakers have always been one of the most exciting teams to watch. The organization was founded in 1947, the second year of the NBA, which ultimately gives them an advantage over almost all teams as their franchise timeline goes back further. Kobe Bryant, easily one of the best and by far the most competitive player to set foot on an NBA court, spent his whole career with LA and recently retired in 2016. Other legends such as Shaquille O’Neal, the whole Showtime Lakers (Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Wilt Chamberlain, and many more have all put on a Lakers jersey. You will never be disappointed watching a Lakeshow…trust me. No wonder why the Lakers were able to place 8th in FanWide’s Top Ten NBA Teams ranking.

Visit FanWide.com to find a Los Angeles Lakers game watch party or fan club near you.

Baseball, Fan Clubs, Fan Data, Top 10, watch party

Top 10 Baseball Teams: #4 Chicago Cubs

Posted on by Peter Swope

FanWide’s #4 team on the Top 10 Baseball Teams list is the Chicago Cubs. Few teams can match the history, good and bad, of the Chicago Cubs. In 2016, the Cubs broke the 71 year “Curse of the Billy Goat”, a period in which did not even appear in a World Series, let alone win a championship. Now, led by young stars such as third baseman Kris Bryant, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, and second baseman Javier Baez, the Cubs hope to win another World Series soon. Led by top 10 finishes in every category and top 3 showings in fan clubs, regular season wins, national games televised, and Forbes value, the Cubs can proudly call themselves FanWide’s #4 Baseball Team.  

Visit FanWide.com to find a Chicago Cubs game watch party or fan club near you.

Teams were evaluated in 9 different categories (visit this blog post to see the methodology). The Cubs graded out as follows:

Basketball, Sports Data, Sports Fan Data, Top 10

Top NBA Teams: #9 Toronto Raptors

Posted on by Michael Wang

The 6. Home of the Toronto Raptors. Canada’s Team. The Raptors have always had a strong presence across the league with previous stars such as Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, and DeMar DeRozan. It is to no one’s surprise that they are able to break into FanWide’s Top Ten NBA Teams ranking at the #9 spot.

Despite always having Kyle Lowry to help lead their team, the Raptors acquired all-star forward Kawhi Leonard and shooting guard Danny Green in a recent exchange for DeMar DeRozan. Although this trade stunned the league as the Raptors did not think twice about trading away their star, it has paid off for them as Kawhi has helped Toronto maintain its position as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference rankings. Additionally, the recent signing of Jeremy Lin will for sure boost fan support from the Asian Canadian and Asian American community as many other previous Chinese players have done for organizations. For sure we cannot forget about the fact that the Raptors are music superstar Drake’s favorite sports team. Enough of the summary, let’s get right into how the Toronto Raptors were able to rank 9th in FanWide’s Top Ten NBA Teams rankings.

Visit FanWide.com to find a Toronto Raptors game watch party or fan club near you.

Fan Clubs, Soccer, Sports Data, Sports Fan Data, Top 10

Top European Soccer teams: #7 Chelsea

Posted on by Steven Freidenrich

When Chelsea FC was purchased by Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich, in 2003, the club had seen limited success in both domestic and international competitions. Now 16 years after his purchase, it is safe to say that Abramovich’s tenure as Chelsea owner has been bountiful. Chelsea has since won 5 of their 6 English football championships and their sole Champions League title. After purchasing the club for 140 million Euros (approximately $160 million as of February 2019) and injecting over $1 billion since, the team has grown into the seventh most valuable soccer club in the world, worth an estimated $2 billion (according to Forbes).

The new era of Chelsea football has been kind to the fans. After seeing relatively stagnant cup play since the club’s inception in 1905, fans have been able to see enough success in the past 15 years to last a lifetime. Because of this success, Chelsea has been able to take full advantage of the large London market. Chelsea is here to stay, and the Chelsea football renaissance has earned them the #7 spot in FanWide’s European soccer club rankings.

Visit FanWide.com to find a Chelsea F.C. game watch party or fan club near you.

Baseball, Fan Clubs, Fan Data, Top 10, watch party

Top 10 Baseball Teams: #5 St Louis Cardinals

Posted on by Peter Swope

Coming in at #5 on the Top 10 Baseball Teams list is the St. Louis Cardinals. One of baseball’s premier teams, both past and present, the Cardinals graded out exceptionally well, with above-average showings in every category led by the most recent playoff wins and the second most World Series wins and second highest average attendance. In a St. Louis market without an NBA or NFL team, the Cardinals have come to represent the city and its fans, who are often considered among the best in baseball. Through their frequent success, they have represented St. Louis well. With the additions of All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and lefty reliever Andrew Miller to an already-strong roster, the Cards look poised to bring even more success to St. Louis this upcoming season.

Visit FanWide.com to find a St. Louis Cardinals game watch party or fan club near you.

Basketball, Top 10

The Top 10 Arenas in the NBA as Chosen by Fans

Posted on by Matt Carwin

Any true-blue sports fan would agree that very few things can match the thrill of watching a game live. This is why stadium owners do everything in their power to enhance the in-arena experience. Doing so ensures that fans enjoy every second. That being said, Business Insider ran a poll last October to find out which arenas in the NBA are the best. Here are the top 10:

10. TD Garden – Boston Celtics

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Analysis, Basketball, Fan Clubs, Fan Data, Sports Data, Top 10

Top NBA Teams: #10 Oklahoma City Thunder

Posted on by Michael Wang

The time has come! The #10 of FanWide’s very own Top Ten NBA Teams has been announced. Since its creation, FanWide has gathered data regarding fan clubs and fan engagement, which is used in ranking the Top Ten NBA Teams is unique to FanWide and has produced a ranking like no other. The metrics used to list the teams from first to last were based on both their on and off court success. This balance ultimately creates a broader and more balanced field to judge teams in the fairest way possible. Without further ado, coming at #10 on FanWide’s Top Ten NBA Teams is the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Visit FanWide.com to find an Oklahoma City Thunder game watch party or fan club near you.

Baseball, Fan Clubs, Sports Data, Top 10, watch party

Top 10 Baseball Teams: #6 San Francisco Giants

Posted on by Peter Swope

FanWide’s #6 team on the Top 10 Baseball Teams list is the San Francisco Giants. The Giants’ most notable recent achievement is their incredible “even year” run: the Giants won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Their widespread popularity, however, extends beyond the team’s on-field success. With the recent growth of Silicon Valley and the tech industry, more and more people have migrated to the Bay Area, increasing the number of prospective Giants fans. Oracle Park (formerly AT&T Park), widely considered one of the best ballparks in the MLB, occupies a prime spot in downtown San Francisco on the water, making it a popular destination. The team also benefits from the presence of charismatic superstars like lefty ace Madison Bumgarner and former MVP catcher Buster Posey. A combination of all these factors and more earned the Giants the sixth spot among FanWide’s Top 10 Baseball Teams.

Visit FanWide.com to find a San Francisco Giants game watch party or fan club near you.

Fan Data, Soccer, Sports Data, Sports Fan Data, Top 10

Top European Soccer Teams: #8 Juventus FC

Posted on by Steven Freidenrich

With the acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus FC has all but secured their next term of Italian football dominance. Juventus has been the team to beat in Italy’s Serie A for years, and adding the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has kept them atop the league standings. Ronaldo has done more for Juventus than dominate the pitch. In the 24 hours after Ronaldo’s signing, Juventus sold 520,000 Ronaldo jerseys worth over $60 million. When Barcelona signed Neymar Jr., they sold just 10,000 in the same span. In short, Juventus got what they paid for. There is a reason Ronaldo signed with Juventus. Aside from the $140 million contract, Ronaldo joined Juventus because of their tradition of success. With 34 Italian league titles, Juventus is an established European football powerhouse. Their success on and off the field has landed them the #8 spot in FanWide’s European soccer rankings. Read below to find out what makes them a top ten team, and check out this blog for more information regarding the ranking process.

Visit FanWide.com to find a Juventus FC game watch party or fan club near you.

Baseball, Fan Clubs, Sports Data, Sports Fan Data, Top 10, watch party

Top 10 Baseball Teams: #7 Houston Astros

Posted on by Peter Swope

Number 7 on the Top 10 Baseball Teams list is the Houston Astros. When the ‘Stros switched from the National to American League in 2013, they were in the midst of a lengthy rebuild. In 2015, however, they burst onto the scene, making the playoffs and defeating the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the AL Wild Card game. From there, the Astros cemented themselves as one of the top teams in baseball.

Their lengthy rebuild netted them several top draft picks, such as outfielder George Springer, shortstop Carlos Correa, and third baseman Alex Bregman. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the city of Houston rallied around the Astros, and led by MVP second baseman Jose Altuve and newly-acquired ace righty Justin Verlander, a World Series title came to Houston for the first time. Now, as one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros hope to make another World Series run in 2019.

Visit FanWide.com to find a Houston Astros game watch party or fan club near you.