# Sports Dividing lines **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506 "2007-05-25T17:12:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/1 "2007-05-25T17:12:25Z")
Where are the dividing lines between sports team fan territory? I would say that in the Baltimore-Washington region, the Redskins end and the Steelers begin at about the border between Frederick County, Maryland, and Washington County, Maryland. Some would even say that parts of Frederick County are split three ways between the Redskins, Ravens, and Steelers. I would say the divider between all DC and Baltimore teams would be in central Howard County, near Columbia. I’m not limiting this to football, it could be any sport. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/2 "2007-05-25T17:23:03Z")
Also, I’ve heard that the Yankees and Red Sox meet somewhere around Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and from there takes the path of the Connecticut River. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/3 "2007-05-25T17:36:22Z")
Mets and Jets fans tend to be on Long Island; Yankees/Giants Fans tend to be Manhattan, Westchester, Bronx, and up into Connecticut. [This map](http://www.commoncensus.org/maps/mlb_1280.gif) shows the breakdown for MLB. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/4 "2007-05-25T17:58:46Z")
The battle lines between the Giants and the scum-sucking, dirt-eating Eagles are drawn in New Jersey. Specifically, along the [area code lines](http://www.vzmultimedia.com/customersupport/areacodes/newjersey/newjersey.html). The Scumbirds have heavy support in the 609 and 856 area, while the rest of the state is Big Blue turf. As much as I love the home we bought last year, it broke my heart to become a 609’er. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/5 "2007-05-25T18:06:50Z")
The Steelers, as well as all Pittsburgh teams, have heavy support in Northern West Virginia, but who does the Southern part of the state support? DC? Cinncinatti? ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/6 "2007-05-25T19:34:25Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Socks] Also, I’ve heard that the Yankees and Red Sox meet somewhere around Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and from there takes the path of the Connecticut River. [/QUOTE] More or less, though in my experience, the line follows I-91 more closely than the river (and with a lot of overlap on either side). Interestingly, the Patriots seem to meet the Giants/Jets farther west, while the Bruins barely make it into Connecticut at all. And as far as I can remember basketball fans in CT only cheer the Huskies (UConn). I find the subject fascinating. I wonder if anyone has a web site mapping team fan zones across the country (world?), particularly where one could overlay different sports. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/7 "2007-05-25T20:00:22Z")
[QUOTE=Quercus] I find the subject fascinating. I wonder if anyone has a web site mapping team fan zones across the country (world?), particularly where one could overlay different sports. [/QUOTE] Not exactly what you asked for, but interesting nonetheless is the [NFL TV Distribution](http://www.gribblenation.net/nflmaps/) site. It gives you maps of what games are being broadcast in what parts of the country. You can currenty see the entire 2006 season. Some neat stuff in there. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/8 "2007-05-25T21:06:51Z")
[QUOTE=Quercus] while the Bruins barely make it into Connecticut at all. [/QUOTE] But I bet they’re huge in Rhode Island. If I’m not mistaken, don’t the Bruins have some high-level farm team in Pawtucket? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/9 "2007-05-25T21:12:36Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Socks] But I bet they’re huge in Rhode Island. If I’m not mistaken, don’t the Bruins have some high-level farm team in Pawtucket? [/QUOTE] The Orioles AAA team is in Pawtucket, iirc. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/10 "2007-05-25T21:18:08Z")
[Here’s one](http://www.commoncensus.org/sports_map.php?sport=1) for the NFL. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/11 "2007-05-25T21:18:55Z")
For college football. OSU v Michigan. The state line. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/12 "2007-05-25T21:20:42Z")
[QUOTE=ShibbOleth] The Orioles AAA team is in Pawtucket, iirc. [/QUOTE] No, that’s the Red Sox. They’re called (what else?) the Pawtucket Red Sox. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/13 "2007-05-25T21:24:15Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Socks] But I bet they’re huge in Rhode Island. If I’m not mistaken, don’t the Bruins have some high-level farm team in Pawtucket? [/QUOTE] Providence. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/14 "2007-05-25T21:31:15Z")
I always thought of much of the South as Atlanta Braves territory. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/15 "2007-05-25T21:32:46Z")
[QUOTE=ShibbOleth] The Orioles AAA team is in Pawtucket, iirc. [/QUOTE] O’s AAA was in Rochester for 42 years, then in Ottawa for 3 or 4 years. This year is the first year it is in Norfolk. Much better for and closer to the club. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/16 "2007-05-25T21:37:00Z")
I think the Mets formerly had Norfolk, and then there was a big bidding war between the Orioles and DC Nationals over who would get it. ---
**Author:** ![some\_white\_dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b487fb/32.png) [@some\_white\_dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/some_white_dude)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/17 "2007-05-25T21:48:29Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] For college football. OSU v Michigan. The state line. [/QUOTE] Not necessarily true. I grew up around Toledo, and the area is decidedly split between the two. There may be a noticeable lean toward OSU, but you’ll definitely find more than an anomalous share of Wolverines. Toledo is about half the distance from Ann Arbor than it is from Columbus, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/18 "2007-05-25T22:03:37Z")
[QUOTE=Team of Scientists] Not necessarily true. I grew up around Toledo, and the area is decidedly split between the two. There may be a noticeable lean toward OSU, but you’ll definitely find more than an anomalous share of Wolverines. Toledo is about half the distance from Ann Arbor than it is from Columbus, FWIW. [/QUOTE] [http://www.centralohio.com/ohiostate/stories/20021123/football/433532.html](http://www.centralohio.com/ohiostate/stories/20021123/football/433532.html) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/19 "2007-05-26T14:25:26Z")
Also, in Delaware, Baltimore and DC sports are big in the southern part, while Philadelphia sports are big in the north. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506/20 "2007-05-28T00:28:11Z")
There are a lot of Redskins fans in the Carolinas, I don’t know why. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-dividing-lines/405506.md?page=2)