The Great Philly Sports Fan Evolution

Philly fans get a bad rap in the national media for being loud, for being abrasive, for, yes, okay, that one time we threw snowballs at Santa. But things here are changing.

Now we dig analytics. We’ve championed new voices in sports media. And we’ve embraced — gasp! — the power of positivity. Here’s how we’re changing the narrative about what it means to be a sports fan in this town. — Edited by Brian Howard

NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Taryn Hatcher / Photograph by Linette Messina

For a long time, Philly was a rough place for women in sports journalism. A new wave of top-notch broadcasters and reporters is changing things for the better. Keep reading …

Fans’ standing ovation campaign for a struggling Trea Turner helped him out of a slump — and signaled a new era of positivity. / Photograph via Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Philly fans are learning to stop howling and try a little tenderness. Keep reading …

The new outfield wall in Citizens Bank Park shows advanced stats, as sports fans are more into analytics. / Photograph by Hunter Martin/Getty Images

The data revolution in sports has produced a new breed of fan. Keep reading …

These Philly sports podcasts will get you in on the action.

Talk radio used to be the only option if you wanted to listen to the latest dirt and gab about your team. Not anymore. Keep reading …

Published as “Beyond Boo-Birds” in the September 2024 issue of Philadelphia magazine.