Nielsen, a global market research and data analytics company, recently launched its inaugural “Nielsen Scarborough NFL Fandom Index.” The model attempts to identify the NFL’s strongest fanbases, with Buffalo topping the list above Kansas City and Green Bay who wrapped up the top three.
Eight different metrics were used to give a score to all 30 cities with an NFL team in its vicinity.
- Apparel purchases
- General interest levels
- Live event attendance
- Betting intent
- Social media engagement
- Radio listenership
- Streaming habits
- Linear TV viewership
Nielsen just released its first-ever NFL Fandom Index, which ranks how avid NFL fans are in each team market based on 8 key metrics:
— Apparel purchases
— Event attendance
— Linear TV viewership
— Streaming
— Radio listening
— Betting intent
— Social media following
–… pic.twitter.com/C5iHuBqwZt— Ellyn Briggs (@EllynBriggs) August 17, 2026
Buffalo finished with an average index score of 208, 14 points ahead of second place. Other AFC East scores came in all in the bottom 10, with Boston in 21st place with an average index of 107, Miami in 28th with an 87, and New York at 30th with an 85.
The study comes out right after 58,528 fans showed up for the Bills first preseason game of the year against the Carolina Panthers, along with 51,807 attending the Return of the Blue & Red and over 41,000 at Highmark Stadium for the most recent open practice.
