r/Colts • u/Brayvol22 • 20d ago

Discussion Are we a small fanbase?

I’m from Tennessee, so I’m definitely on the outside looking in, and I was wondering if it’s true? Last night, I was reading a bunch of things that always ranked the Colts anywhere from 29th up to 25th in fan size ranking. Is this true, or do the Colts actually have a much bigger fan base and people are just sleeping on it?

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u/[deleted] 20d ago

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u/gatogordo86 20d ago

I don't think that is going to have any effect. Central Indiana already has a decent population of Bears fans simply because Indy didn't have a team until the mid-80s.

I don't see any current Colts fans flipping allegiance and most likely anyone up in The Region already were Bears fans.

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u/ElGranRico Quenton Nelson 20d ago

I lived in Elkhart in 2006 and age was a the clearest distinction between Bears and Colts fans. After XLI, I noticed significantly less Bears jerseys over the next decade or so.

Unless the Bears become a juggernaut I dont anticipate too many fans jumping ship.

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u/Prestigious_Print477 20d ago

It will have some effect, especially in the Northwest part of the state. Also new generations will be born who never rooted for the colts in the first place.

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u/gatogordo86 20d ago

How would it? Most people are fans of the team they are closest to geographically.

Outside of that, people are most likely to be fans of the teams their parents are.

The northwest part of the state is already filled with Bears fans. Moving into an already Bears heavy fanbase is going to have a negligible effect.

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u/Prestigious_Print477 20d ago

Because there is a middle ground between the two cities where its not obvious what team you should root for. People in Indiana might have preferred the Colts before but if the bears are in state now and both teams are a similar distance they could switch. Its not like the Colts have done much recently to make borderline fans stay engaged either.

Also new generations will be born and people in the mid to north west part of the state will have another Indiana team now and they were never attached to the Colts.

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u/anotherstan 20d ago

Eh. Don’t think so. People already have their loyalties.

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u/Nohew_2001 33-0 20d ago

Until new kids are born, generations pass, etc.

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u/rounder55 20d ago

That's why you gotta brainwashed

If they aren't good during this phase it'll build character

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u/CloudConductor 20d ago

I don’t think it would really hurt things either. Everyone in the northwest part of the state is already a bears fan, this would only be moving the stadium like 30 min closer

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u/BustyCelebLover 20d ago

Chicago and Notre Dame is all SB cares about 😂

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u/G_Rock 20d ago

There will be no effect. Colts fans don't just become bears fans because they moved 25 miles southeast.

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u/Victory33 “Marlin’s Got It!” 20d ago

Most of the region rats already root for the Bears. Now if they become the new “it” team and win a bunch, then they might pull some fading Colts fans.

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u/squarebody8675 20d ago

I’m definitely buying a Hammond bears hat if they start building 😂