Philadelphia sports fans have been showing more kindness and positivity in recent years, sometimes with great results, writes Patrick Rapa for the Philadelphia Magazine.

During his first season with Philadelphia Phillies last year, $300 million shortstop Trea Turner was struggling and being razzed for it by fans. But then a grassroots movement emerged to stop booing the player and instead giving him a standing ovation.

The fans continued this for weeks, and within a month, Turner saw his batting average rise by 26 percent. His stats continued improving throughout the season, helping Phillies make a deep playoff run.

This is in stark contrast to early 2021, when the NHL started letting some fans back in to watch the games. The Flyers were having a bad season, and all 3,000 fans allowed in ensured they knew that. They booed the team throughout the games.

The miserable season for the Flyers ended with a 25-23-8 record and the team not making playoffs – something else that the fans booed.

The positivity approach has shown results, but it remains to be seen if the fans will continue to embrace it, especially when the teams are struggling.

Read more about Philadelphia sports fans in the Philadelphia Magazine.

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