Category: Poll Results

54% of Americans Say Only Vaccinated Fans Should Be Allowed to Attend Sporting Events; Finding Holds Across Regions, Age Groups and Gender

Despite L.A. plans to abandon mask requirement for Super Bowl, 58 percent say masks, vaccines and negative covid tests make attendance safer. 53% Say Tennis Star Novak Djokovic Rightfully Excluded from Australian Open    South Orange, NJ, February 4, 2022…

By More Than 3-1, Americans Agree with US Diplomatic Boycott of Winter Olympics; 40% Think US Should Have Pulled Athletes Too!

South Orange, NJ, Feb. 2 – By more than a 3-1 margin, the general population of the United States agrees with the decision to have diplomats boycott the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, which begin this Friday in Beijing, China. Citing…

 Fans: Two-Thirds Say OK for Athletes To Sit Out Due to Mental Health Issues, Think Teams Should Employ Mental Health Counselors   

South Orange, NJ, Jan. 6 – Some two-thirds of American sports fans say that it is “acceptable” for an athlete not to compete due to mental health issues or concerns. This is the case regardless of whether the athlete is…

Omicron Concerns? Poll Finds Sports Fans More Cautious About Attendance at Games – First Downward Trend Since Question First Asked in 2020    

South Orange, NJ, Dec. 20 – For the first time since the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine a year ago, the number of people saying they would attend a live sporting event has decreased. The Seton Hall Sport Poll has…

Fans Support Dropping ‘Indians’ Name in Cleveland Baseball, Ok with ‘Braves,’ But Divided on Tomahawk Chop

                        Much less support for ‘Guardians,’ Cleveland’s new name. South Orange, NJ, Dec. 16 – After discussions with community members and Native American groups, the Cleveland Indians are no more, with the franchise changing its name for the 2022 MLB…

A Warning to MLB: 30% of Fans (and 44% of Avid Fans) Say ‘Less Interest’ When Games Resume; Fans Divided on Baseball Rule Changes, but by 6 to 1 Avid Fans Say Both Leagues Should Have DH, By 2 to 1 Fans Say Extend Wild Card to Series; Support Shorter Season  

South Orange, NJ, December 15, 2021 – Even with Major League Baseball shutdown due to a labor lockout – and the traditional hot stove turned cold – the nation’s sports fans are not without strong opinions on matters being negotiated…

The Olympics: No Fans or Families in the Stands? Nearly Half of Americans Say They’ll Still Be Watching  

52 percent agree with foreign citizen ban, only 33 percent agree with banning families of athletes; 53 percent think it is appropriate for Olympic athletes to speak out on human rights issues in their own nation. The Tokyo Summer Olympic…

More Than Half of Americans Want Vaccine Proof, Social Distancing and Masks As Sports Venues Move to Full Capacity

Among Sports Fans 60 Percent Favor Vaccine Requirement for Event Attendance; 72 Percent Want Social Distancing Sections South Orange, NJ, May 26, 2021 – As many states move to “reopen” and allow full capacity at sports venues, sports fans and…

Move the Pitching Rubber Back? Drop DH After Starting Pitcher Leaves? Sports Fans Approve Measures to ‘Build Excitement’

30 Percent of Fans Plan on Attending Game, 48 Percent Have Watched or Listened this Season South Orange, NJ, May 4, 2021 – In a series of experiments sanctioned by Major League Baseball, the independent Atlantic League is slated to…

Majority of Fans Support Removal of Baseball’s All-Star Game from Atlanta, Possible Removal of Super Bowl from Arizona Over Voting Laws

Support for Boycott of Beijing Olympic Games Over Human Rights Issues; Support for Athletes, Leagues, Unions Championing Social Change South Orange, NJ, April 29, 2021 – By a 55-31 percent margin, a new Seton Hall Sports Poll has found that…

Americans Not Yet Ready for Full Capacity Events

But ‘Comfort’ Attending Events with Social Distancing, PPE and Vaccines Continues Trend Upward Only 35% of Public Supports Texas Rangers Decision to Open at Full Capacity South Orange, NJ, April 28, 2021 – The Seton Hall Sports Poll asked Americans…

60 Percent of Sports Fans ‘Rooting’ for Tiger Woods Return to Competitive Golf, 38 Percent Say They Would Purchase a Product He Endorses

South Orange, NJ, March 30, 2021 – As Tiger Woods recovers from his serious auto accident last month, 43 percent of Americans say they are rooting for his return to competitive golf, with the number rising to 60 percent among…

Sports Fans Weigh In, Some Baseball Rules Are Ready for Change: Support for National League DH, Seven-Inning Doubleheaders, 16-Team Playoffs Is Strongest; 42 Percent of Sports Fans ‘More Excited’ for this Year’s Baseball Season.

South Orange NJ, March 25, 2021 – Faced with declining attendance every season since 2013 (excluding the Covid-shortened 2020 season), Major League Baseball is looking at rule changes to speed up the game and maybe win back the hearts of its fans.…

March Madness: Isolation Bubble for Players Is Fair, One Third of Americans Say TV Sports a Positive for Mental Health in Pandemic

Comfort in Attending Games Ticks Upward; Number Who Say They Are Doing Brackets Doubles South Orange NJ, March 18, 2021 – The start of the NCAA “March Madness” basketball tournament finds 59 percent of Americans stating that it is indeed fair for…

By More than 2-1, American Public Says Student Athletes Should Be Allowed to Profit from Use of Name/Image/Likeness

In Dramatic Shift, Public Thinks All Student Athletes in Revenue Producing Sports Should Be Compensated Beyond Scholarships South Orange NJ, March 16, 2021 – By more than a 2-to-1 margin, Americans believe that student athletes should be allowed to profit from the…

As Online Gambling Options Increase, Number of Those Who Say They Will Not Bet on Super Bowl Dramatically Decreases

South Orange NJ, February 1, 2021 – When the Seton Hall Sports Poll asked people if they would be wagering on the Super Bowl in 2019, 88 percent said they would not. Now, with the 2021 game just days away, and with…

Covid-19’s Impact on the Super Bowl

Nearly Half Expect Game to be Less Exciting Than Previous Years; Nearly Two-Thirds Won’t Attend Watch Parties With Others 42 Percent Say They Will Not Watch, Though More Using Smart Devices, Less TV South Orange NJ, January 27, 2021 – The Covid-19…

50 Percent Place Most Blame on Justin Turner for Covid-Laced World Series Celebration

South Orange NJ, November 30, 2020 –  The final game of the World Series attracted wide attention when Los Angeles Dodgers player Justin Turner, having been removed from the game after testing positive for Coronavirus, returned to the field to…

26% Think NFL May Not Make It To Super Bowl, Are ‘Doubtful’ Season Finishes Successfully

South Orange NJ, November 29, 2020  — Twenty-six percent of Americans surveyed doubt the NFL will conclude its season successfully. Asked if they thought it doubtful the NFL will make it through the playoffs and complete the Super Bowl in this year…