Emory University study ranks Patriots fans second-best in NFL

Damian Strohmeyer | AP

New England Patriots fans have a bit of work to do if they want to take the top spot in the NFL.

According to a study by Emory University’s Michael Lewis, Pats fans rank second in the NFL behind followers of the Dallas Cowboys.

Lewis’ study was based on three main factors: fan equity (how much fans spend on their team), social equity (how much fans support their team on social media) and road equity (how much fans support their team while on the road).

Dallas is a step ahead of New England because the Cowboys’ average home attendance is more than 10,000 higher than the next team, as reported by ESPN. The Cowboys’ stadium actually only seats 80,000 which is the fourth largest in the NFL, but the team also sells standing room tickets – ultimately giving them the edge in fan attendance at home.

Michael Lewis | scholarblogs.emory.edu

But what the Patriots do have over the Cowboys is the biggest social media support, as they rank No. 1 overall in that category. New England comes in at third in fan equity and fifth in road equity, to give them a second overall ranking.

To see more of how Lewis breaks it all down, check out his analysis here.

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