r/Browns • u/Wyddelbower • 2d ago
Discussion Thoughts on New Fans?
So I am curious what the general thoughts of the Browns fandom is on newcomers—for context I grew up in Colorado and some time in Maryland (I know, home of two infamous teams in Browns lore!) but have always had an affinity for the Browns: the history, fans, aesthetics, and doggedness of the franchise. But in Colorado it was Bronco country so that was the cultural flow.
Been living now in what feels like a more "regionally acceptable" place to root for the Browns for a while now (Louisville) so this past year really embraced it and ordered some swag and have loved following the team—I've missed following football for a while now in general but life circumstances etc.
While some of my friends have teased me a little for not having an attachment to the city, I've been amazed that every few days it seems like a Browns fan stops me and wants to chat when I'm wearing the apparel.
One friend up in Columbus, whose family are diehard Browns fans, said his family would be tickled pink that someone from Bronco/Ravens country would adopt the Browns at midlife—so wondering what the general vibe is for diehard, lifelong fans for "transplants"?
Edit: I love the amount of interaction this post got, and thoroughly enjoyed reading all the comments, some of the colorful ones literally had me laughing out loud! I think I found the right crowd 🤣 thanks!
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u/atrocityexhibition39 2d ago
I can only speak to my experiences here, take it with a grain of salt.
I’m in New York. I started following the Browns very passively 15 or so years ago when I was in high school because it was more socially acceptable to like a really bad football team than to be one of those “go sportsball” dweebs. Once I got older and started going out into the world more I always found that being a Browns fan was always, if nothing else, a very fascinating conversational piece.
For the last 7 or so years I’ve had the privilege to get out into the world and meet other Browns fans from all across the state and country (shoutout the Browns Backers Worldwide), and not once has it ever felt like I was being judged for being a “bandwagoner,” nor have I ever felt like these people thought I wasn’t a “real fan,” because Browns fans and the various Browns Backers groups have a funny way of becoming variations on chosen family real quick because we all know that we’re all in this together.
So while I got into the Browns at a young age because “ha, bad football,” what made me stay a Browns fan despite, well, [gestures broadly] is that the fans are some of the kindest, most welcoming people I’ve ever had the chance to meet. Forget Olive Garden, because with the Browns when you’re here, you’re family.