U.S. Map of Baseball Teams by Zipcode. (By using Facebook data)

[angus]

So are we to assume the Jays area #1 in all of Canada then?

I don't think you can assume that.  Local teams aren't always the favorite.  For example, the favorite team in 94621 is not the Oakland Athletics, even though they can throw a rock and hit the Oakland Coliseum.  

Also, I'm not sensing a whole lotta love for the mets in its ZIP code.  

[angus]

I'm disturbed that the Yankees seem to have 5-15% of the fans EVERYWHERE.

16% in my zipcode, baby!  

Lots of Yankees and Phillies junk in the stores here.  Not much Pirates or Orioles stuff, which surprised me at first.

For football, I see Eagles, Steelers, Ravens, and Cowboys stuff.  Don't see much Jets stuff.


Hatman, state borders aren't being visited, ZIP Codes are.  Also, the fandom doesn't stop at the state line so there's no reason not to interview New Mexico people.  (They like the Yankees, by the way!)  I think they're just focusing on the US.  It's not a slight to Canada.  You could probably dig up that info somewhere if you're interested.  Get some for PR and the Dominican Republic as well.  (My guess is that it's Yankees country in those places as well.  How can you not like the Yankees?  I love going to Yankees home games.  They're like the Cowboys of baseball, except that they don't suck.)

[angus]

Based on this map, seems like North Carolina, New Orleans, Memphis, SLC, Omaha and Albuquerque would all be good places for new franchises.

Richmond and Jacksonville as well.  Maybe Nashville, Las Vegas, and San Antonio too.  Dodgers max 25% in LV and Rangers 33% in SA.  Braves are 17% in Nashville.

But is this how such decisions are made?

This is a fun map, but keep it in perspective:  The article is from the NYTimes.  And it is based on Facebook data.  In fact, if you link to the facebook page, there are a whole bunch of other interesting correlation graphs.  

https://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-data-team/baseball-on-facebook/10150142265858859

[angus]

over the years I have seen very little Pirates gear worn in public around western PA - now it's visible but modest. Pittsburgh and the surrounding area is all about the Steelers, plain and simple.

Lots of steelers stuff here too.  My son had a Steelers blanket and a Steelers shirt and a Steelers kite.  We're not Steelers fans, but there's always lots of Steelers stuff cheap.  We were looking for a kite one day.  "Hey, look at those kites, Dad.  Dora is $9.99.  Spiderman is $9.99.  Steelers one is $3.99."  Same material.  Same design.  "Let's go with the Steelers one, son."