South Orange, NJ March 16, 2022 – After the announcement that Major League Baseball’s work stoppage was over and the 2022 season would be played in full, respondents to a Seton Hall Sports Poll expressed renewed interest in the game. The results were in stark contrast to a poll conducted in December 2021.
The good news for baseball: by a nearly 3-1 margin, (51 percent to 18 percent) sports fans say the work stoppage did not reduce their interest in MLB. Among self-described “avid fans,” the margin for those who said they had not had their interest reduced was 58-24 percent, and among casual fans 49-14 percent. Among the general population, the number was 35-10 percent.
The Seton Hall Sports Poll was conducted March 11-14 across the United States using a national representative sample weighted according to gender, age, ethnicity, education, income and geography based on U.S. Census Bureau figures. The Poll featured 1,528 adult respondents with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent.
The results in December of 2021 were not nearly as optimistic for baseball, when a full 30 percent of sports fans claimed reduced interest compared to just 18 percent in this most recent poll. Among avid fans the numbers and contrast were even greater with 44 percent reporting reduced interest in December 2021 compared to just 24 percent now – a 20 point drop. Among the general population, the reduced interest number dropped from 19 percent (December) to 10 percent (now).
“Sometimes a stitch in time really can save nine,” said Professor Charles Grantham, Director of the Center for Sport Management within Seton Hall’s Stillman School of Business, which sponsors the Poll. “The numbers show that Major League Baseball needed to get this done and did so without a moment to spare. The owners seemingly know that there is too much competition for viewers, both within sports and without, to risk the fans and sponsor’s interest. And the players clearly wanted to play and earn their full salaries – as evidenced by them outvoting their own negotiating committee.”
Who to Blame?
Asked who they blamed more for the labor disagreement in MLB, a very small percentage placed the blame on players: 6 percent of the general population, 9 percent of sports fans, 12 percent of avid fans and 7 percent of casual fans. Owners, on the other hand, received more blame by 23 percent of the general population, 28 percent of sports fans, 34 percent of avid fans, and 26 percent of casual fans. Most blame, however, went for both, owners and players together, which increased to 30 percent of the general population, 39 percent of sports fans, 38 percent of avid fans and 39 percent of casual fans.
What if There Was No Baseball Season?
All was not, however, rosy for baseball. The majority of sports fans said they would not be bothered or much bothered at all if there were no Major League Baseball played in 2022. Respondents were asked if “an agreement was not reached and there was no MLB season at all, how much would you be bothered?” An alarming 55 percent of sports fans, 39 percent of avid fans, 62 percent of casual fans and 71 percent of the general population said they would not really be bothered, or not at all bothered.
Still America’s Pastime?
Long known as “America’s National Pastime,” baseball has in recent years decreased in popularity as measured in game attendance and television ratings, especially when compared to football. However, Americans, especially among the older demographic, still see baseball as America’s National Pastime.
When asked “what do you consider America’s national pastime,” despite its overwhelming viewership advantage, football barely edged baseball across the board, with 38-36 percent among the general population in favor of football for the honor, 47-36 percent among sports fans, 49-39 percent among avid sports fans, and 45-35 percent among casual fans.
Baseball, however, enjoyed the advantage among the older demographic. Among those aged 35-54 it was baseball by 39-33 percent, and among those 55 and over, it was baseball by 42-38 percent. For those aged 18-34, however, it was football by 45-24 percent.
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Questions with charted breakdowns below; an online version of this release may be found at http://blogs.shu.edu/sportspoll/
March 2022 Seton Hall Sports Poll Results Final
This SHSP was conducted March 11th through March 14th and includes responses from 1,528 US adults with a margin of error of 3.2%. The sample mirrors the US Census percentages on age, gender, income, education, ethnicity, and region.
Q1. Which, if any, of the following statements best describes you?
- I am an avid sports fan 16%
- I am a sports fan 38%
- I am nota sports fan 46%
Q2. [By Fan Level] Which sport do you consider America’s national pastime?
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Baseball | 36% | 36% | 35% | 39% | 35% |
| Football | 38% | 47% | 30% | 49% | 45% |
| Basketball | 7% | 10% | 4% | 8% | 11% |
| Other | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 4% |
| Don’t know/No Opinion | 16% | 4% | 29% | 2% | 5% |
Q2. [By Age] Which sport do you consider America’s national pastime?
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
18 – 34 | 35 – 54 | 55+ |
| Baseball | 36% | 24% | 39% | 42% |
| Football | 38% | 45% | 33% | 38% |
| Basketball | 7% | 11% | 8% | 4% |
| Other | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% |
| Don’t know/No Opinion | 16% | 17% | 18% | 13% |
Q2. [By Gender] Which sport do you consider America’s national pastime?
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
Male | Female |
| Baseball | 36% | 36% | 35% |
| Football | 38% | 40% | 37% |
| Basketball | 7% | 7% | 8% |
| Other | 3% | 4% | 2% |
| Don’t know/No Opinion | 16% | 13% | 18% |
Q2. [By Region] Which sport do you consider America’s national pastime?
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
| Baseball | 36% | 38% | 40% | 33% | 33% |
| Football | 38% | 35% | 37% | 40% | 40% |
| Basketball | 7% | 8% | 4% | 8% | 8% |
| Other | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% |
| Don’t know/No Opinion | 16% | 14% | 17% | 16% | 17% |
Q3. [By Fan Level] How would you rate your current level of interest in MLB Baseball compared to that of your childhood years? My level of interest…
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Increased | 12% | 18% | 4% | 33% | 12% |
| Stayed the same | 23% | 32% | 13% | 28% | 34% |
| Decreased | 28% | 32% | 23% | 29% | 33% |
| I was never a baseball fan | 37% | 18% | 60% | 10% | 21% |
Q3. [By Age] How would you rate your current level of interest in MLB Baseball compared to that of your childhood years? My level of interest…
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
18 – 34 | 35 – 54 | 55+ |
| Increased | 12% | 16% | 11% | 9% |
| Stayed the same | 23% | 24% | 24% | 23% |
| Decreased | 28% | 18% | 27% | 36% |
| I was never a baseball fan | 37% | 42% | 38% | 32% |
Q3. [By Gender] How would you rate your current level of interest in MLB Baseball compared to that of your childhood years? My level of interest…
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
Male | Female |
| Increased | 12% | 14% | 10% |
| Stayed the same | 23% | 24% | 23% |
| Decreased | 28% | 34% | 21% |
| I was never a baseball fan | 37% | 28% | 46% |
Q3. [By Region] How would you rate your current level of interest in MLB Baseball compared to that of your childhood years? My level of interest…
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
| Increased | 12% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 11% |
| Stayed the same | 23% | 22% | 25% | 21% | 26% |
| Decreased | 28% | 30% | 26% | 29% | 25% |
| I was never a baseball fan | 37% | 31% | 37% | 41% | 38% |
Locked out since December 2021, a new collective bargaining agreement was recently reached between Major League Baseball (represented by its owners) and the players union. Although delayed, the baseball season will resume, and a complete 162 game schedule is anticipated.
Q7b. If an agreement was not reached and there was no MLB baseball season at all, how much, if at all, would you have been bothered?
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Very bothered | 12% | 21% | 2% | 38% | 14% |
| Slightly bothered | 17% | 24% | 8% | 23% | 24% |
| Not really bothered | 13% | 19% | 6% | 16% | 20% |
| Not at all bothered | 58% | 36% | 84% | 23% | 42% |
Q7. (December 2021) Now that a work stoppage has occurred and MLB’s upcoming season is postponed until an agreement is met, will this reduce your interest in MLB once the games resume?
| N=1,570
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Yes, a stoppage would make me feel less interested in MLB once the games resume | 19% | 30% | 7% | 44% | 24% |
| No, a stoppage would not make me feel less interested in MLB once the games resume | 27% | 41% | 11% | 46% | 39% |
| Not applicable – I am not currently interested in MLB | 54% | 29% | 82% | 10% | 37% |
Q8. Who do you blame more for this labor disagreement?
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Owners | 23% | 28% | 17% | 34% | 26% |
| Players | 6% | 9% | 4% | 12% | 7% |
| Both | 30% | 39% | 20% | 38% | 39% |
| Don’t know/No opinion | 41% | 24% | 59% | 16% | 28% |
Q9. Now that a work stoppage has ended and MLB’s upcoming season, although delayed, will occur, did the work stoppage reduce your interest in MLB?
| N=1,528
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Yes, the work stoppage reduced my interest in MLB | 10% | 18% | 3% | 24% | 14% |
| No, the work stoppage did not reduce my interest in MLB | 35% | 51% | 15% | 58% | 49% |
| Not applicable – I am not currently interested in MLB | 55% | 31% | 82% | 18% | 37% |
ABOUT THE POLL
The Seton Hall Sports Poll, conducted regularly since 2006, is performed by the Sharkey Institute within the Stillman School of Business. This poll was conducted online by YouGov Plc. using a national representative sample weighted according to gender, age, ethnicity, education, income and geography, based on U.S. Census Bureau figures. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S residents. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. The Seton Hall Sports Poll has been chosen for inclusion in iPoll by Cornell’s Roper Center for Public Opinion Research and its findings have been published everywhere from USA Today, ESPN, The New York Times, Washington Post, AP, and Reuters to CNBC, NPR, Yahoo Finance, Fox News and many points in between.
Media: Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall University
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034; Marty Appel, AppelPR@gmail.com
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