Poll: Modest Support for Pro Teams in Vegas, Almost No Support for Public Funding of Stadiums

South Orange, NJ, February 13, 2017 – The American public feels that if an NFL team – presumably the Oakland Raiders – moved to Las Vegas, it would be okay with them, despite the city’s position as the center of legalized sports gambling.

Asked in a Seton Hall Sports Poll last week how they felt about the Raiders possibly relocating there (in a publicly funded stadium), 40% said it was okay, 31% said it was not, and 29% undecided.

The poll was conducted February 6-8 among 661 adults across the country on both landlines and cellphones, with a margin of error of 3.9 %.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t get 31% saying no for any other city,” noted Rick Gentile, director of the poll, which is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute. “But a majority of those expressing an opinion still supports the concept despite no major league team having yet played a game there.” (The NHL is putting a team there next season).

As for the public funding of a stadium, 75% felt the team should fund it with only 6% saying the public should fund it.

“The public funding issue seldom varies, with the city in question usually getting local support because of the expected business growth it brings in,” said Gentile. “This doesn’t always pan out, but the arguments on the local level usually resonate.”

BY 66%-12% PUBLIC SAYS KEEP OLYMPIC HOCKEY OUT OF NHL LABOR NEGOTIATIONS

The poll also asked a hockey question, in light of National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman’s position saying he is against the league participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics unless the players agree to extend the current collective bargaining agreement.   Poll participants were asked if they felt it was appropriate to use the Olympics as leverage in a labor negotiation.  Only 12% said yes, with 66% voicing no, and 22% “don’t know.”

ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall University has been a catalyst for leadership — developing students in mind, heart and spirit — since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 academic programs, Seton Hall’s academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, U.S.News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek.

Seton Hall, which embraces students of all religions, prepares its graduates to be exemplary servant leaders and global citizens. Its attractive main campus is located in suburban South Orange, New Jersey, and is only 14 miles by train, bus or car from New York City, offering a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. The university’s nationally recognized School of Law is prominently located in downtown Newark.

For more information, visit www.shu.edu.

About the poll:

This poll was conducted by telephone February 6-8 among 661 adults in the United States. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute.

Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard landline and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus 3.4 percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The Seton Hall Sports Poll has been conducted regularly since 2006.

Media: Media: Marty Appel Public Relations (212) 245-1772, AppelPR@gmail.com; Rick Gentile (917) 881-9489.

 

The results:

 

 

 

  1. The Oakland Raiders have announced they would like to move to Las Vegas and will play in a new stadium largely funded by the public. Do you think professional sports franchises should be making their home in Las Vegas considering it’s the sports gambling capital of the U.S.?
  2. Yes 40%
  3. No 31
  4. Don’t know 29

 

  1. Do you think the public should be funding stadiums and arenas to attract professional franchises or should these organizations pay for construction of their own stadiums?
  2. Public should fund 6%
  3. Organization should fund75
  4. Don’t Know 18

 

  1. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said he’s against the NHL participating in the 2018 Olympics unless the players agree to extend the current collective bargaining agreement. Do you think it’s appropriate to use participation in the Olympics as leverage in a labor negotiation?
  2. Yes 12%
  3. No 66
  4. Don’t know 22

 

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