Do fans ever switch teams when relocating?

[Indrid Cold]

As I watched the Wings suck from the comfort of Georgia, I wondered if, and how often a hockey fan might change allegiance when they relocate to another NHL city? Have you ever seen it?

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[bobholly39]

As I watched the Wings suck from the comfort of Georgia, I wondered if, and how often a hockey fan might change allegiance when they relocate to another NHL city? Have you ever seen it?

Yeah, it happens all the time.

When you move to a new city - it's very easy to become a fan of the new city you're in. Especially if that team is doing well at that time, and you get caught up in it. Over time, sometimes that new team becomes your favorite, and althouhg you still like your old team, a little less.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

As I watched the Wings suck from the comfort of Georgia, I wondered if, and how often a hockey fan might change allegiance when they relocate to another NHL city? Have you ever seen it?

I was a Wings fan when I was young, moved to Florida as a kid, and, once they got a team became a Cats fan. Mostly because their games were on local cable.

 

[Suntouchable13]

I think depends how invested you are in your team. I will be a Leafs fan for life even if I ever relocate away from Toronto. It will be impossible to develop the same connection with a new team.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

I have been a Sharks fan since day one, but when I moved to Columbus 20 years ago, I've slowly become a 51/49 Sharks/Blue Jackets fan and the time zone difference is a big reason.
The only time I don't want the Jackets to win is when I hope for an OT loss against the Sharks.

If they ever met in the finals.......a looooong time from now.....I would want the Sharks to win.

 

[ShootIt]

Have I've seen it?

Plenty of times, especially in Florida with transplants from the N.E.

Been to games at the BBT and run into fans that are still fans of their former home town but root for the Panthers for 90% of their games.

 

[Rcknrollkillnmachine]

I asked this question regarding the Nordiques and Avs especially with that throwback Nords sweater the Avs donned and the answers I got from many were that Colorado were vultures and thieves so that's one example I've encountered. Not all Quebec fans, mind.

 

[CanadienShark]

I've never lived in SJ or Montreal. And I move plenty. No plans to ever switch.

 

[MangoX]

I couldn't cheer for any other team besides the habs. By that, I lived in Kitchener for a few years, then moved to Newmarket for a few years. Never stopped cheering for the habs, despite annoying my 100% Leafs friends. I am now back in the beautiful province of Quebec.

 

[Unspecified]

I have been a long time Dallas fan and lived there for about 25 years before i moved to Colorado a few years back. While i follow the Avs i still root for Dallas which as you can image gets me hecklers when i wear my stars gear,.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Enjoy what you enjoy and who cares what others think. Nothing stopping you from primarily following a local team and having a softspot for Detroit and following them when you feel like it.

 

[DaveG]

As I watched the Wings suck from the comfort of Georgia, I wondered if, and how often a hockey fan might change allegiance when they relocate to another NHL city? Have you ever seen it?

Well of course I've seen it, he's me.

Started off a Whalers fan as a kid (Francis was my favorite player).

Mid 90s when I lived in the Finger Lakes area I followed the Penguins since I could get their radio broadcast, had family in the Pittsburgh area, and they had Francis.

96 moved to Raleigh. 97 the Whale becomes the Canes and moves to NC. The next year they sign Francis and I make the move to being a Canes fan full time.

 

[beowulf]

When I moved from Montreal to Ottawa 15 years ago I didn't. I might follow the Sens a little more than before but nothing compared to the Habs.

 

[Prettyisland]

With amount of access you have to the teams via internet it’s easier to continue the fandom of a team if you move.

I’m a Canadiens fan in Massachusetts. It’s a family thing to route for the team. I think fandom like that won’t change because of a relocation

 

[Indrid Cold]

I think depends how invested you are in your team. I will be a Leafs fan for life even if I ever relocate away from Toronto. It will be impossible to develop the same connection with a new team.

Yeah, I cant see myself switching under any circumstances. I'll be a Wings fan for life, no matter what.

 

[Indrid Cold]

And as a side note to this, I have been debating coworkers about whether or not someone can easily switch team allegiance is a dating 'red flag', in that someone like that is more likely to be a cheater. It's fascinating the wide range of opinion on this.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

I've seen a lot of parents pick up the local team as a second team because their kids start rooting for the local team.

 

[Armourboy]

The early Preds fans base was practically built on old Red Wings fans. Its the reason in those early years when they would come into town the Wings kind of took over. It's also why you will often see several Preds guys floating around that have a combo of Detroit and Nashvile in their name of avatar. Its less now than it used to be simply because it has become more of a home grown fan base over the years.

 

[Rich Nixon]

I think it depends on how serious your existing fanhood is. I grew up Philly-adjacent and was nominally a Phillies fan, but I really didn't like baseball enough to love them. Moved to Pittsburgh just before they won the 2008 World Series and half-heartedly rooted for them along that run. But I only ended up really embracing the sport a few years later thanks to cheap Pirates tickets and the beauty of PNC Park. Having since left that city, the Pirates have been my way of staying connected to a place that is incredibly dear to me. So I am a Pirates fan—certainly wasn't hopping on any bandwagon of success there.

On the other hand, I'm a Flyers fan. They've been part of my life since I was 4 or 5 years old, that won't change. My winter nights, for decades, have always been accompanied by some orange guys gliding around a glowing white screen. I might hate the Flyers with every fiber of my being sometimes--their ownership, how they're managed, half the fanbase...but I am a lifelong Flyers fan no matter what city I live in.

 

[SjMilhouse]

Life long Sharks fan who moved to Utah a few years ago.

I have season ticket for Utah and I'm definitely invested in them but when San Jose comes to town I'm wearing my Sharks jersey and it's not even close.

Utah will never pass San Jose for me

 

[Albatros]

In soccer when relocating I've typically enamoured myself with some smaller local team while staying at best lukewarm about the major club in the city.

 

[MuckOG]

We relocated from Minnesota to Wisconsin a few years ago....but I have almost 50 years of emotional investment in the Vikings, Twins, Wild and Gophers to switch allegiances to the Packers, Brewers, Badgers and Blackhawks.

 

[Matt Rentfree]

I relocated from NYC to Nashville 12 years ago and I'm still a Rangers fan.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Yes , cowards do

 

[Kalopsia]

My dad got into hockey when he was still living in Philly and the Flyers started getting really good in the 70s. He moved down to DC for grad school and got Caps season tickets because they were cheap. Initially he was a Flyers fan first and a Caps fan when they played other teams, and his family would come down from Philly when the Flyers were in town because it was so much less expensive than going to Flyers' home games. He grew up rooting for the lovable-loser Phillies of the 50s and 60s, so after a few years of watching the Caps be the lovable-losers he subconsciously made the switch. He was at a Caps-Flyers game with his family, the Caps scored, and he in his Flyers gear instinctively jumped up to celebrate. He said his mom looked over to his dad and said "we've lost him," and he's been a Caps fan ever since.