Nothing can bring people together like cheering for their favorite team. The sense of camaraderie teammates share on the field or court is often replicated by those screaming for them in the stands or in front of the television. That parallel doesn't only work one way, however. Bitter battles often unfold between rival teams, and among fans with opposing allegiances. Fans can certainly be civil and respectful of one another, but they can also be downright nasty and unpleasant. And some teams, at both the college and professional level, seem to attract more polarizing fans than others. That's why Best Life set out to determine the state with the most hated sports fans in America.
First, we consulted a recent survey conducted by Insight Pest Solutions, which reached out to the fanbases of every team in the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Baseball (MLB), as well as college football (CFB) and college basketball (CBB) fans in general to ask them which sports fans and fanbases* they just can’t stand. This gave us the percentage of people who think a certain team's fans are the worst in each of the four major pro leagues, as well as the two biggest college sports.
In addition, we consulted the sports experts at Bleacher Report who ranked the top 50 most hated teams in the world, with the idea that if a team is hated, their fans, more than likely, are as well. If a state had a team, or in some cases teams, on the list, we gave them a score, referred to as global hatred points, based on where each team ranked—if it was the 50th most hated team, it was given two points, if it was the most hated, it was given 100 points.
In total, we used seven metrics, each of which we assigned a weighted value and ran through our exclusive algorithm to find out how each state scored on our Hated Fans Index.
As expected, not all states could be included since there are 18 states with no NBA, NFL, NHL, or MLB team; no college football or basketball teams named on the comprehensive fan survey; and no team that appeared on the 50 most hated teams ranking. Therefore we were left with a list of 32 states.
Read on to discover the state with the most hated sports fans in America and to see if you live in one of them. And for the state people in general can't stand, check out The Most Hated State in America.
*In cases of states that have multiple professional teams in one league or multiple colleges named for one sport, note that all those teams are accounted for in the percentages and final scores provided in this article.
Read the original article on Best Life.
32 | Virginia
LanceKing/iStockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 0.94 percent
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 0.49
31 | Iowa
Grindstone Media Group / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 0.93 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 0.97
30 | Kansas
Janis Schwartz / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 2.89 percent
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 1.51
29 | New Jersey
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 1.23 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 1.81
And for the state where fans are boozing hardest, check out This Is the Drunkest State in America.
28 | South Carolina
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 1.89 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 1.98
27 | Maryland
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 1.28 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 3.13
Hated Fans Index Score: 1.99
26 | Oregon
Joshua Rainey Photography / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.36 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 1.18 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 0.67 percent
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 2.16
25 | Arizona
Photo Works / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 0.03 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.17 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 0.13 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 0.14 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 1.2 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 1.85 percent
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 2.67
24 | Utah
Action Plus Sports Images / AlamyFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.77 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 0.85 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 1.91 percent
Global hatred points: 2.50
Hated Fans Index Score: 2.79
23 | Oklahoma
Gau Meo / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 1.08 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 2.04 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 0.73 percent
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 3.21
22 | Colorado
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 1.15 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.58 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 0.13 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 0.99 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 3.26
21 | Georgia
Eugene Buchko / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 0.99 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.26 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 1.65 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 1.61 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 4.31
20 | Louisiana
Sean Xu / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 2.52 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.08 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 0.80 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 3.33
Hated Fans Index Score: 4.32
19 | Washington
Scott Heaney / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 3.63 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 0.23 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 4.35
18 | Minnesota
Jeff Bukowski / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 2.07 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.06 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 0.19 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 1.05 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 2.63
Hated Fans Index Score: 4.54
And for the place where extramarital affairs are more common than you might expect, This Is the Most Adulterous State in America.
17 | Kentucky
ehrlif / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 9.6 percent
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 5.01
16 | Nevada
Usa-Pyon / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 3.6 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 5.30
15 | Tennessee
Eric Glenn / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 0.53 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.07 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 2.08 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 1.17 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 0.92 percent
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 5.42
14 | Indiana
Jeremy R. Smith Sr. / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 0.49 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.37 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 3.14 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 2.41 percent
Global hatred points: 25.26
Hated Fans Index Score: 9.51
13 | Missouri
Roberto Galan / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 0.99 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 4.4 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 3.49 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 9.80
12 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 6.38 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.5 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 0.71 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 1.2 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 1.2 percent
Global hatred points: 3.03
Hated Fans Index Score: 10.59
11 | Florida
GagliardiPhotography / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 1.17 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 2.4 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 0.44 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 1.53 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 7.24 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 2.19 percent
Global hatred points: 14.56
Hated Fans Index Score: 16.58
10 | Michigan
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 0.38 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.44 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 0.35 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 3.23 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 9.84 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 8.31 percent
Global hatred points: 19.89
Hated Fans Index Score: 23.63
And for where you'll find the people who are most active between the sheets, This Is the Most Promiscuous State in America.
9 | Alabama
Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 22.83 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 23.86
8 | Illinois
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 1.31 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 1.27 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 11.72 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 7.58 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 9.09
Hated Fans Index Score: 24.36
7 | Ohio
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 2.5 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 2.93 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 1.74 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 0.62 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 15.75 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 3.42 percent
Global hatred points: 0
Hated Fans Index Score: 25.31
6 | North Carolina
Chris Minor / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 0.2 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 0.15 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 0.64 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 1.01 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 41.93 percent
Global hatred points: 10
Hated Fans Index Score: 25.83
5 | Texas
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 13.84 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 5.07 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 3.34 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 0.64 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 4.49 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 0.94 percent
Global hatred points: 12.52
Hated Fans Index Score: 30.20
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4 | New York
David W. Leindecker / Shutterstock.comFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 3.36 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 4.32 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 34.76 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 6.23 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 0.63
Global hatred points: 109.56
Hated Fans Index Score: 61.88
And for the least trustworthy place in the country, This Is the Most Dishonest State in America.
3 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 17.62 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 4.89 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 5.33 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 20.25 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 3.33 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 0.9 percent
Global hatred points: 3.85
Hated Fans Index Score: 62.04
2 | California
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 4.45 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 58.7 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 11.54 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 5.86 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: 2.71 percent
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: 2.12 percent
Global hatred points: 102.46
Hated Fans Index Score: 81.44
1 | Massachusetts
ShutterstockFans that dislike the state's NFL fans the most: 34.66 percent
Fans that dislike the state's NBA fans the most: 12.16 percent
Fans that dislike the state's MLB fans the most: 20.77
Fans that dislike the state's NHL fans the most: 19.74
Fans that dislike the state's CFB fans the most: N/A
Fans that dislike the state's CBB fans the most: N/A
Global hatred points: 41.03
Hated Fans Index Score: 100
And for the state with the greatest affinity for a particular medicinal plant, This Is the Most Stoned Stated in America.
