It seems as though as Super Bowl LIX approaches nearer, more and more football fans in the Fishers area and every other part of the country outside of Missouri are repping Philadelphia Eagles jerseys and shouting, “Go Eagles” on the streets. One would think these fans are die hard Eagles fans based on their heavy support for the team, however it is more accurate to say most of these “fans” are just rooting against the Kansas City Chiefs, rather than rooting for the Eagles. What could the Chiefs possibly have done to elicit such a lack of support?
Common criticism of the team includes distaste for Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, fans feeling the team is favored by the referees, and some unrelated preferences such as Taylor Swift dating Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce.
Although these criticisms certainly play a role in fans’ opposition to the Chiefs, perhaps the underlying reason for this Chiefs hate is the fact they are already back-to-back champions.
When looking through the history of the NFL as a fan, this situation with the Chiefs is reflective of the 2017 New England Patriots. At the time, football fans around the country disliked the Patriots for allegations against the team in the 2015 Super Bowl, known as the “deflategate”. But, similar to the Chiefs, the Patriots had experienced great success in the years prior to the 2017 Super Bowl.
A similar trend holds true across sports as well. During LeBron James’ time with the Miami Heat in 2011 to 2014, fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the so-called “super-team”, as they were projected to be successful and inevitably won back-to-back championships during their short stint.
What seems contradictory, however, is the fact that during the James led Heat era and the current Chiefs run, more people watch these disliked teams. According to the Ministry of Sports, NFL viewership reached an all-time high in just the third week of this year’s season, with viewership peaking at 18.9 million. Further, NBA viewership reached a decade high during James’ time with the Heat, peaking at 2.51 million per Sports Media Watch.
Many people ask if these teams were truly hated for their success, then why are more people watching them. This question assumes fans only watch teams that they like. It is possible that fans are attracted to the thought of a team they hate losing on the biggest stage rather than a team they have no feelings for winning on the biggest stage.
Teams like the Chiefs, the 2017 Patriots, and the 2011 Heat may play the villain role in their sports. However, it is undeniable that having great teams in professional leagues brings in the most revenue for the leagues and the most entertainment for the fans, even if they grow tired of their repeated success.
