# Sports fans: Do you change teams when you change cities? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 19, 2018, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200 "2018-10-19T08:16:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/21 "2018-10-19T17:47:58Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > To kinda-sorta answer this question, other than the Packers I’m also a lifelong Dolphins fan for the simple reason of me really liking dolphins (the animal) as a kid and getting a bunch of Dolphins stuff to wear because “hey, cool a dolphin!” When I was a little kid, and really didn’t follow (nor care about) sports, I fell into following the Dolphins for a while, for that exact reason. 😃 It was the early 70s, when the Dolphins were winning Super Bowls, so it was an easy bandwagon to jump onto at that point, too. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/22 "2018-10-19T18:15:57Z")
No, I stuck with mine. I was brought up in North London, UK. My local teams were Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) for soccer and Saracens for rugby. The first year my Dad took me to Spurs (1960-61 season), they won the League and Cup double. A real feat - but they’ve never reached those heights again. Still they are building a new stadium and have a great manager, so perhaps… Saracens were an amateur club when I first watched them. When the game went professional, they won a Cup or two - but recently a truly excellent bit of management and shrewd recruitment has meant they have been first English, then double European Champions. 😃 I now live in the Midlands, UK and could have switched to Leicester City (soccer) and Leicester Tigers (rugby) - but didn’t. For what it’s worth Leicester City astonishly won the league (at 5,000 - 1 odds!), whilst Tigers are going through a slump. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/24 "2018-10-19T18:47:05Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/25 "2018-10-19T18:47:13Z")
My sports team isn’t about where I live. It’s about where I come from. Not in any literal personal sense, either. It’s about where my family came from. My US sports teams are all in Seattle. My father grew up there, and it’s still a relatively large geographic concentration of my paternal kindred. Part of my identity is from Seattle, although I’ve never lived there. My only non-US sports team is the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of the Pacific Leage of Nippon Professional Baseball. My mother’s hometown is in Fukuoka-ken, though not in Fukuoka city proper; probably analogous to being a Yankees fan from Brooklyn. She personally didn’t care any about baseball, US or Japanese. But that’s where that part of me is from, so that’s who I root for in that context. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/26 "2018-10-19T21:26:51Z")
There’s no way I could ever NOT root for the black and gold. Maybe I might give some support to the team in a new town, if they weren’t play one of my teams, but that’s it. I’m a Pittsburgh girl at heart. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/27 "2018-10-19T21:32:27Z")
When I moved to Boston in 1969 I switched from being a Senators fan to a Red Sox fan. Which turned out to be a good idea, since the Senators went out of business in 1971. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/28 "2018-10-19T21:34:53Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Which turned out to be a good idea, since the Senators went out of business in 1971. Nah, they didn’t go out of business; [they just changed clothes and locations.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Rangers_(baseball)) ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/29 "2018-10-19T22:13:10Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Nah, they didn’t go out of business; [they just changed clothes and locations.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Rangers_(baseball)) Like I was gonna root for them after they moved to _ **Texas?** _ ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/30 "2018-10-19T22:48:18Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Like I was gonna root for them after they moved to _ **Texas?** _ I wouldn’t expect a jilted fan to, no. All I was saying was that relocating =/= going out of business. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/31 "2018-10-19T23:41:58Z")
I grew up an A’s fan. Then in 1950 all the fair-weather, including me, switched to the Phillies. Then the A’s decamped so that ended that. Later I moved to Montreal year the same year the Expos started and became an Expos fan. Then they decamped. Fuck 'em. I still sort of, kind of, follow the Phillies. The two games I have seen in NY were Phillies vs Mets and they were wowsers. One was a perfect game and the other ended on a walk-off unassisted triple play the only such game in NL history. My wife now follows the Blue Jays, but I cannot summon any enthusiasm. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/32 "2018-10-20T00:13:03Z")
I became a die-hard Dodger fan at the age of 10 after going to my first game at Dodger Stadium. I only became more die-hard as I got older, eventually being able to go to games somewhat regularly, then having a partial season ticket package, upgrading the license plate frame for an actual Dodger-related vanity plate, etc. When I moved away from LA three years ago, my fandom didn’t waver at all (in fact, I was able to get a much better vanity plate once I got out of California). But like others, I did end up adding to my fandom. The Orioles have become my #3 team (I adopted the Indians a few years ago as a condition of marriage, so they hold the #2 spot). And though there’s a pretty big drop-off between #3 and #4, I will generally root for the Nats as long as they aren’t playing one of the first three teams. Besides, I like listening to F.P. Santangelo on the Nats’ TV broadcasts. But I would basically sell the Indians, Orioles and Nats down a river a thousand times over for my Dodgers. (I’d have some guilt about the Indians, but I’d still do it.) ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/33 "2018-10-20T00:59:38Z")
Not me. I grew up in Baltimore, and although at this point I’ve now lived more of my life in Los Angeles than Baltimore, I remain loyal to the O’s, Ravens (who didn’t even exist when I moved away), and most of all, the Caps. I never really took to any of the local teams out here. As soon as the Vegas Golden Knights were announced, I decided they would be my #2, west coast team. They’re really the only other team I root for. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/34 "2018-10-20T02:23:40Z")
> [@glee](#): > > whilst Tigers are going through a slump. Weren’t the Tigers one of the best teams not that long ago? I don’t follow the sport, but a certain amount of splash-over happens when you scour the pages of Midlands newspapers for info on the local association footie team. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/35 "2018-10-20T03:15:44Z")
I’ll be loyal to the Boston teams no matter where I live, but I would certainly add other local teams as secondary favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/36 "2018-10-20T04:19:10Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I’ll be loyal to the Boston teams no matter where I live, but I would certainly add other local teams as secondary favorites. I was wondering where “Titletown” was. Where I grew up (upstate NY, 1960s-70s) the nearest football teams were 200 miles away and for whatever reason I was an LA Rams fan. Die hard. Lived and (mostly) died with them. Super Bowl XIV, and they lose to the Steelers 31-19 (after leading at the half!). In 1979 I moved to San Francisco. I was 18. It took a few years but I did jump on the 49er bandwagon in 1984, for their second Super Bowl. Montana and the Niners in the 1980s was an easy bandwagon to stay on. I’ve neen a Niner fan ever since. I’m staying on this bandwagon. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/37 "2018-10-20T04:46:52Z")
Grew up in Cowboy country and will never stop lovin’ the blue lone star that shines brightly over the entire state of Texas. That said, I occasionally got into other teams wherever I moved to: New Orleans, SF 49ers, Raiders (lifelong closet fan), Steelers, Eagles. Lakers fan since the 1980s, but kinda got into Golden State during their Mark Jackson rebuild years. In baseball, there’s only the Cardinals. I kinda got into the Giants and Pirates for a while, but it all comes back to STL. I love Boston because I’ve been to Fenway and there’s just no better park (paaahk). I got loaded on Narragansett. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/38 "2018-10-20T05:22:41Z")
I have family in Wisconsin and spend a lot of time there so it’s more like adopting a second stray dog. I like the Brewers Bucks and I’ll root for them as long as they’re not playing the Cubs or the Bulls. Fuck the Packers. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/39 "2018-10-20T05:39:21Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Weren’t the Tigers one of the best teams not that long ago? They won their division 2011-2014 and made it to the World Series (but lost) in 2012. They’ve been pretty bad for the past two years. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/40 "2018-10-20T06:08:19Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I have family in Wisconsin and spend a lot of time there so it’s more like adopting a second stray dog. I like the Brewers Bucks and I’ll root for them as long as they’re not playing the Cubs or the Bulls. Fuck the Packers. Found the Bears fan. I’ve kept my main teams through moves all over the country, with minor additions and temporary alliances, like the Blackhawks when they made their first Stanley run. Since then, as a Red Wings fan, I hope every game that something happens so they can’t freeze ice in the United Center and I don’t have to watch those rats defile the House that Jordan Built anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200/41 "2018-10-20T15:16:54Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I was wondering where “Titletown” was. > > Where I grew up (upstate NY, 1960s-70s) the nearest football teams were 200 miles away and for whatever reason I was an LA Rams fan. Die hard. Lived and (mostly) died with them. Super Bowl XIV, and they lose to the Steelers 31-19 (after leading at the half!). > > In 1979 I moved to San Francisco. I was 18. > > It took a few years but I did jump on the 49er bandwagon in 1984, for their second Super Bowl. Montana and the Niners in the 1980s was an easy bandwagon to stay on. > > I’ve neen a Niner fan ever since. I’m staying on this bandwagon. Kinda seems like you picked a bad time to have left the Rams behind. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-fans-do-you-change-teams-when-you-change-cities/823200.md?page=3)