The Most Fashionable Sports Franchises in the U.S.

U.S. professional sports continue to grow in popularity each year, with millions of fans across the globe following various American franchises. And with this, we’ve seen a significant increase in the wearing of sports apparel, from jerseys and jackets to caps and tees. But which American sports teams and leagues are cashing in the most on stylish supporter wear, and which are being left behind?

To determine the most fashionable sports teams in America, data was gathered from social listening tool Linkfluence over the period of August 2020-August 2021. Filtering for team-specific sports apparel terms used across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter during the recorded period, we found a total of 411,000 posts. These posts were then analyzed and categorized, and teams with the highest number of relevant tags were ranked highest.

The five most fashionable sports teams 

Combining and ranking every team from each of the five major U.S. sports leagues (NFL,NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS), we can reveal that it’s the Dallas Cowboys that come out on top as the most fashionable team to wear, with 16,428 tagged posts during the period of August 2020-August 2021.

Not far behind is the Chicago Bulls of the NBA with 16,313 tagged posts across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. While their era of dominance on the court might have faded since the glory years of the 90s, the Bulls remain at the heart of the conversation when it comes to fashion, perhaps assisted through the prominence of club legend Michael Jordan, who is a household name in the world of sports sneakers, jerseys, and casual clothing.

Closely following and ranking third overall with 15,493 related social posts, we have LeBron James’ current team, the Los Angeles Lakers, while his former squad in the Miami Heat (14,261) place fourth. Rounding off the top-five, the NFL’s Cleveland Browns recorded 10,349 tagged posts across social media over the last year.

The NBA sells the most fashionable apparel

Contributing an impressive 10 teams to the overall top-20, we can officially crown the NBA as America’s most stylish sports league. Joining the Chicago Bulls, L.A. Lakers, and Miami Heat among the fashion elite, the NBA is also represented by the current champs Milwaukee Bucks (8,334) and Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors (7,277), as well as the Brooklyn Nets (7,020), Phoenix Suns (6,117), Philadelphia 76ers (5,905), Boston Celtics (5,821), and Utah Jazz (5,654).

Not far behind, the NFL is featured seven times in the top-20 sports teams by branded clothing popularity. Aside from the Cowboys and Browns, there’s also space for six-time Super Bowl champions New England Patriots (9,593), alongside the Kansas City Chiefs (6,271), Pittsburgh Steelers (5,948), Green Bay Packers (5,599), and Chicago Bears (5,557). Meanwhile, recent Super Bowl success clearly wasn’t enough to make the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4,353) a fashionable enough brand, as the Florida team rank 30th overall.

The best of the rest (and the teams that didn't make the cut)

While the NFL and NBA dominate when it comes to hosting the most fashionable sports teams, there’s still space for baseball among the top-20. The most-wearable MLB team is a familiar name in the New York Yankees (9,670), whose branded caps in particular are worn all around the world. However, perhaps surprisingly their famous rivals, the Boston Red Sox (4,333), miss out. Instead, spots are earned by the Cleveland Indians (6,770) and Chicago Cubs (6,550).

Unfortunately for both the NHL and MLS, hockey and soccer still have a long way to go before being able to break into the lucrative fashion market. The NHL’s top performer is the Washington Capitals (4,007), while the MLS first feature on the list with the L.A. Galaxy (1,397).

As American sports continue to grow in viewership across the globe, it’s interesting to see how relevant each team is in the world of fashion and apparel. For even more expert insight, check out our latest picks and odds.

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