South Florida Fan Bases / Identity

[Dave Gray]

I may have written about this before...can't remember.

I see the 4 sports teams in Florida getting very different markets, but I see the Dolphins attempting to make a switch.  There is crossover with all groups, but here's how I see it.


HEAT - They have a lockdown on the professional crowd.  They have money to spend, probaby drink mixed drinks, and are the crowd that shows up directly from work.  I think that a lot of the crowd is also the South Beach club crowd.

Marlins - This is the hispanic family crowd.  They come in big groups, sometimes with multiple families, bring kids, arrive late and stay for entertainment afterwards.

Panthers - This is probably the crowd most interested in the actual sport of what's happening, and not just for the other stuff.  I think it probably appeals to people born outside of the state, but I'm not sure.  Maybe people who go to the games more can elaborate.

Dolphins - They have been lower-middle class for the longest time.  Rednecks.  Lite beer drinkers.  They're trying to expand into the HEAT group, but I think thusfar it's been pretty unsuccessful. 

[Brian Fein]

I'll speak up for the Panthers crowd, but I may be overly biased.

The Panthers have been terrible for so long, the fans that still go to games are amazingly loyal.  They cheer the loudest and have the most enthusiasm and knowledge about their team.  They aren't there for the flashiness, cause there really isn't much there.  Its just straight up hockey.  I agree that they are the most interested in the sport, rather than the glitz of night clubs, south beach or post-game concerts.  I can see this becoming a hot ticket if the Panthers ever contend for playoffs again.

As for the Marlins, the "entertainment afterwards" aspect is only applicable to Saturday night games.  Sadly, that is the only time they actually draw a half-decent crowd.

I think the Heat benefit from their stadium location.  People can walk from the multitude of high-rise office buildings in downtown Miami to the game.  No other team on this list has that.  Naturally, companies with offices in downtown Miami typically have money, and therefore so do the employees.  There is a corporate park near the Panthers' stadium, but not nearly to the scale of downtown Miami.