Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United: Who has the loudest fanbase? AI decides | OneFootball

AI debates which of the Steel City clubs has the loudest fanbase

The Steel City derby will once again be taking place in the Championship this upcoming season, with Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United looking to claim bragging rights in South Yorkshire.

Sheffield is known as the 'home of football' due to local non-league side, Sheffield FC, being the oldest club in the world, whilst Wednesday and United are also full of history for their fair share of honours, time in the top-flight and iconic moments.

Plenty of those moments have come on derby day, and last season it was the promotion-chasing Blades who got the better of their bitter rivals on both occasions, with Tyrese Campbell and Rhian Brewster netting the winners in two 1–0 successes at Bramall Lane and Hillsborough respectively.

Both sets of supporters are known for being some of the most loyal and passionate in the second-tier, but which of the two has the loudest fanbase in the Steel City? Football League World posed that exact question to AI chatbot, ChatGPT.

AI believes Sheffield United currently have a louder fanbase than Sheffield Wednesday

Unsurprisingly, AI took plenty of factors into account before making its final, brave call, with the fanbases in S6 and S2 drawing individual praise for specific reasons.

The Hillsborough faithful were praised for their loyal support in what has been a tumultuous 25-year period following their most recent season in the Premier League, which has included three separate stints in League One and plenty of ownership controversy.

AI also took the atmosphere at big games and when the Owls are performing to the peak of their powers at the iconic stadium into account, but realises that this can take a hit depending on who the opposition are or the potential circumstances surrounding an individual game.

However, AI believes that isn't the case at Bramall Lane, with United supporters known for generating a hostile atmosphere regardless of who their team are playing, which is largely down to the compact nature of all four stands, as they are extremely close to the action.

It also factored in the Blades' recent success, having enjoyed three seasons in the Premier League since 2019, as well as reaching the FA Cup semi-finals in their promotion-winning season of 2022/23, although last season's relatively successful campaign would end in heartbreak at Wembley for the recently-dismissed Chris Wilder, losing the play-off final to Sunderland in the final seconds.

The iconic 'Greasy Chip Butty' song, which is belted out with great passion by supporters, also sets the tone in terms of the atmosphere, according to AI, who gave the edge in terms of overall atmosphere to United for these aforementioned reasons.

However, it was pointed out, once again, that the two sets of supporters are among the best in the country in terms of noise, with Wednesday capable of living up to, or bettering the atmosphere across the city due to the higher number of spectators which Hillsborough can facilitate.

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At present, it doesn't take much to work out that the atmosphere at Bramall Lane, whilst not exactly perfect given recent events, is still way more positive than it is in S6. Wednesday supporters are still voicing their discontent towards Dejphon Chansiri for his day-to-day runnings of the club, which have resulted in players handing in notices to depart after unpaid wages, as well as a three-window transfer fee restriction.

Danny Rohl's predicament in the dugout also remains unclear, hence why many are tipping the Owls to be relegated ahead of the season, which begins in two weeks' time.

Ruben Selles will be hoping to lead United back to the Premier League in his first season in charge after preserving Hull City's Championship status last term, and he will get his first taste of the derby on November 22nd at Hillsborough, with the reverse fixture being played on March 21st.