Oprah's Chicago Fans

Chicago has several things going for it:  the Chicago Bulls, Bears and White Sox, the Sears Tower, and Oprah Winfrey.  The Oprah Winfrey Show is broadcast around the world from her Chicago studios.   Her fan base is mostly middle class, middle-aged women (approximately 75%), but also includes a large number of gay men due to her influence in bringing openly gay men and women into the mainstream of society through her show.  Her influence reaches far beyond the Chicago city limits, with 14 million viewers tuning in daily to her show, in 117 countries.  

Oprah's Chicago fans are counted among her most loyal following.  When Oprah recently endorsed Barrack Obama for the Democratic nomination, she saw her ratings drop to the lowest level ever registered in opinion surveys.  However, it’s no surprise considering that Obama is Illinois‘s State Senator, that her Chicago fans found this a natural combination and supported them wholeheartedly.

Tickets for the Oprah Winfrey Show are free, but must be reserved in advance.   Demand from her Chicago fans for the tickets far exceeds the number of tickets available, of course, and tickets are reserved months in advance.   Since January Chicago Oprah fans have had another reason to celebrate with the opening of The Oprah Store.  This free-standing retail store features over 900 souvenir items, apparel, and South African arts and crafts.  One special feature of The Oprah Store is “Oprah’s Closet”, full of items that Oprah once wore or owned.  The Oprah Store is just one more reason why Chicago Oprah fans consider themselves the luckiest fans in the world.