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…
Vaccine Changing Attitudes Towards Attending Sporting Events
South Orange NJ, January 29, 2021 – As the pandemic began to take hold in April 2020, a Seton Hall Sports Poll asked respondents if they would attend a live sporting event – 72 percent said “No.” In the Sports…
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…
61% Agree with Athletes’ Right to Speak Out for Social Justice; But More than a Third Say It Hinders Desire To Watch Games, Ruins Sports as ‘Escape’
South Orange NJ, November 23, 2020 — While 61 percent of Americans say that athletes have a right to free speech and it is their decision to speak out for social justice, 35 percent call sports their “escape” and don’t want to…
67 Percent of Americans Say No To Indoor Sporting Events Without Vaccine
67 Percent of Americans Say No To Indoor Sporting Events Without Vaccine South Orange NJ, November 18, 2020 — Even masked, wearing personal protective equipment and socially distanced, 67 percent of Americans surveyed said they would not attend an indoor sporting event…
Seton Hall Mourns the Passing of Thomas J. Sharkey ’54
“They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, generous, ready to share, thus accumulating for themselves as treasure a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed”…
By Wide Margin, Public Thinks Medical Experts Should Decide Start of NFL Season, Not Trump
South Orange NJ, April 13, 2020 — By 60 percent to 36 percent, the nation thinks President Trump’s call to league commissioners last weekend (reported by ESPN) expressing a belief that the NFL season should open on time was inappropriate.…