Are Who Dats becoming Where Dey Gos?
It has been well-documented that the popularity of the New Orleans Saints exploded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, thanks in large part to the arrivals of both rookie head coach Sean Payton and free agent quarterback Drew Brees in 2006.
The pair led the Saints to unprecedented franchise success, winning several NFC South division titles and taking the Lombardi in Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season, along with setting lofty new standards for offensive efficiency.
During the Payton years, there was no question that the Superdome offered a formidable homefield advantage thanks to the Black and Gold faithful.
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But the team’s fortunes have taken a downturn since Brees’s retirement following the 2020 season, followed quickly by Payton’s own one-season retirement from coaching. (Payton will return to the sideline this season after negotiating a trade to the Denver Broncos.)
Canada Sports Betting’s social media analysis of fan support across the NFL now shows that the Saints' fans rank as second from the bottom in the league, 31st overall. The Saints saw a 28% drop in their “loyalty ranking” in the past three years.
Only the Cleveland Browns ranked worse with a 34% drop.
The company’s study involved using over 500 keywords since 2020 to determine fan support according to internet searches.
“These keywords covered all aspects of support, including interest in team performance, searches for merchandise, individual player stats and, tickets for upcoming games,” the company said in a news release.
One thing is certain: With Derek Carr moving from the Raiders to take the reins at quarterback, the team’s second season under coach Dennis Allen is sure to be a pivotal one in the Big Easy.
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