Football fans in New Orleans continue to punch above their weight class when it comes to tuning in, even with the New Orleans Saints sitting out of the first-round selections in the 2019 NFL Draft. Per Ben Strauss of the Washington Post, only the city hosting this year’s draft — Nashville, Tennessee — posted higher ratings for the three-day broadcast than New Orleans. The event drew 45.3 million viewers total, a 5% growth over last year’s numbers.
The New Orleans TV market sits low on the list of national markets at No. 50, per Nielsen Designated Market Area data. For comparison, Nashville is ranked at No. 27. But fans of the New Orleans Saints and other football teams in the area have proven to be loyal viewers.
An abundance of Louisiana locals could explain the heavy interest. LSU linebacker Devin White was picked fifth overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brother Martin High School alum Irv Smith Jr., an Alabama tight end, was later selected by the Minnesota Vikings. Other prospects with Louisiana ties included LSU cornerback Greedy Williams (a Cleveland Browns draft pick) and Louisiana Tech pass rusher Jaylon Ferguson (chosen by the Baltimore Ravens). Of course their families, friends, and fans wanted to see where they would be picked.
Naturally, this follows months after a local boycott spurred on by angry Saints fans resulted in the worst Super Bowl ratings ever recorded in New Orleans. Fans took to the streets to party instead, venting frustration at a botched officiating no-call in the conference title game that eventually resulted in rules changes.
If the local ratings from this year’s draft are any indication, Saints fans are eager to move on.
