Part 6/9:
Another critical factor is the overwhelming influence of professional sports in the region. Major Northeastern cities like New York and Boston are home to established professional franchises in all four major sports leagues. These teams have developed a loyal following that overshadows college programs, with fans more inclined to support well-known franchises rather than local collegiate teams.
In contrast, regions where college sports have flourished typically lack major professional teams or have strong collegiate identities that predate professional franchises. As a result, fans in those regions rally around their college teams, thereby amplifying interest and participation at the collegiate level.