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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 see any commentary other than sports. In addition, 36 percent say that athletes speaking out hinders their desire to watch games.

These were the findings of a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted November 13-16 among 1,506 American adults, geographically spread across the country. The Poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent.

On the question of athletes exercising free speech and making their own decision to speak out, only 15 percent disagreed compared to the 61 percent who agreed that players held that right. Among self-described sports fans, those who agreed that players held that right to speech was 69 percent.

On the question of sports being an escape and not wanting to see any commentary on subjects other than sports, almost an equal number agreed and disagreed. While 36 percent said they saw sports as an escape and did not want to hear commentary from athletes outside of sports, 37 percent felt otherwise. Among sports fans, however, 46 percent said they saw sports as an escape and would rather not see commentary outside of sports, while 34 percent felt otherwise.

Does Social Justice Commentary from Athletes Hinder the Desire To Watch Sports?

Does social justice commentary from athletes hinder the desire to watch sports? For 35 percent the answer was yes, but 39 percent said that athletes speaking out on social justice issues is not a hindrance. The rest – about a quarter of the population in each case – neither agreed nor disagreed.

“It marks a fine line for many sports fans, probably across the political spectrum,” said Professor Charles Grantham, Director of the Center for Sport Management within the Stillman School of Business, which oversees the Seton Hall Sports Poll. “What many Americans seem not to understand is that despite their fame, our black athletes, male and female, have their own histories and experiences with police, mourn the losses of those who look like them and feel the potential dangers of forthcoming encounters. They are committed to raising the consciousness of America with regard to systemic racism and social injustice.”

“Leagues really need to note the fact, however, that about a third of the population is uncomfortable with these displays of free speech,” said Stillman Professor of Marketing and Poll Methodologist Daniel Ladik. “That’s a minority, but it’s sizeable if you are trying to sell a product. A number of the leagues have already taken some action but need to continue to explain to consumers why this speech is important.”

Why Are TV Ratings Down?

Television ratings for both the NFL regular season and the NBA finals are and were down this year, and respondents were asked their opinion why. Twenty-eight percent said they thought that fans are turned off by the social justice efforts by athletes and their leagues, and 24 percent said it was because attention was focused on the November elections. Twelve percent said it was because too many sports were available while 35 percent had no opinion or did not know.

As To the Strange NBA Season…

The shortened NBA season, with the playoffs staged before no fans and in a bubble, elicited fan reaction in the poll. Asked if the finals were just as entertaining as in previous years, only 22 percent agreed, with 21 percent disagreeing. Fifty-seven percent neither agreed nor disagreed, a large number perhaps reflected by the decline in viewership this year. Asked if the finals were dull with no fans in attendance, 25 percent agreed and 15 percent disagreed. Again, a large percentage of the respondents (59 percent) neither agreed nor disagreed. Asked if it was difficult to follow the NBA Finals because there were too many other sports on TV, only 15 percent agreed while 21 percent disagreed and 62 percent neither agreed nor disagreed.

Only 26% Think NFL Will Make it To Super Bowl

Asked if the they thought it doubtful the NFL will make it through the playoffs and complete the Super Bowl in this year of Coronavirus, 26 percent agreed. Among self-described sports fans the number of those who doubt that the NFL will successfully complete the season moved up to 29 percent; however, an equal number of sports fans (29 percent) felt the opposite and did not doubt the season will successfully conclude. The remainder neither agreed nor disagreed.

“It is a different kind of year,” said Grantham, the former executive director of the the National Basketball Players Association. “That which seemed certain in years past now is the subject of doubt. The Super Bowl is the most watched sporting and media event in the United States. The fact that 29 percent of sports fans think the Super Bowl itself may be in question is astounding.”

Breakdowns Below.

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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

The Results:

November 2020 SHSP Tables

Q₁ The National Basketball Association (NBA) recently completed its playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Miami Heat for the title. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please select one option on each row.

The NBA Finals were just as entertaining as previous years

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	22%	31%	6%	54%	32%	21%	5%	9%
Neither agree nor disagree	57%	44%	81%	21%	41%	57%	82%	72%
Disagree	21%	25%	13%	25%	27%	22%	13%	19%

The NBA Finals were dull because there were no fans in attendance

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	26%	34%	8%	49%	35%	27%	8%	12%
Neither agree nor disagree	59%	47%	82%	31%	45%	57%	83%	70%
Disagree	15%	19%	10%	20%	20%	16%	9%	18%

It was difficult to follow the NBA Finals because there are too many other sports on TV

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	16%	24%	3%	43%	22%	16%	3%	6%
Neither agree nor disagree	62%	49%	86%	23%	49%	61%	87%	69%
Disagree	22%	27%	11%	34%	29%	23%	10%	25%

Q₂ During the 2020 sports season, both the NFL’s live TV content and the NBA’s live TV finals had lower ratings compared to last year (i.e., during the 2019 sports season). Which one of the following statements do you think best describes the main reason for the overall drop in ratings?

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
TV ratings are down because there are too many sports available	12%	16%	5%	40%	13%	9%	5%	5%
TV ratings are down because people are paying attention to the November elections	25%	28%	18%	27%	30%	27%	17%	19%
TV ratings are down because fans are turned off by the social justice efforts by athletics and the leagues	28%	32%	21%	21%	35%	33%	22%	12%
Don’t know/no opinion	35%	24%	56%	12%	22%	31%	56%	64%

Q₃ In recent years, professional athletes and the leagues they play in have taken a strong stand supporting social justice causes. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please select one option on each row.

Sports are my “escape” and I don’t want to see any commentary other than sports

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	36%	46%	17%	62%	49%	35%	17%	23%
Neither agree nor disagree	27%	20%	39%	20%	20%	22%	38%	56%
Disagree	37%	34%	44%	18%	31%	43%	45%	21%

Hearing an athlete speak out about social justice hinders my desire to watch sports

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	35%	40%	25%	42%	39%	40%	25%	30%
Neither agree nor disagree	27%	20%	39%	20%	21%	19%	38%	48%
Disagree	38%	40%	36%	38%	40%	41%	37%	22%

Athletes have free speech and it is their decision speak out

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	61%	69%	44%	75%	71%	63%	48%	22%
Neither agree nor disagree	24%	18%	35%	17%	17%	20%	33%	48%
Disagree	15%	13%	21%	8%	12%	17%	19%	30%

Q₄ Since the start of the NFL season, multiple players have tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19), leading to NFL games being postponed during the season. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please select one option on each row.

The shuffling of the NFL schedule takes away the integrity of the season

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	26%	33%	11%	39%	33%	29%	10%	23%
Neither agree nor disagree	47%	36%	70%	27%	34%	42%	70%	61%
Disagree	27%	31%	19%	34%	33%	29%	20%	16%

It is not a “big deal” if a game is rescheduled

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	48%	56%	32%	65%	56%	53%	32%	25%
Neither agree nor disagree	38%	28%	57%	24%	26%	33%	57%	61%
Disagree	14%	16%	11%	11%	18%	14%	11%	14%

It is doubtful that the NFL will make it through the playoffs and complete the Super Bowl

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	26%	29%	18%	40%	28%	28%	18%	11%
Neither agree nor disagree	52%	42%	72%	28%	41%	49%	72%	70%
Disagree	22%	29%	10%	32%	31%	23%	10%	19%

The “agree” percentage in the release is based on combining those who strongly or somewhat agree.

November 2020 SHSP

Which, if any, of the following statements best describes your interest in sports?

I am an avid sports fan (i.e., I plan everything I do around sporting events) (10%)
I am an average sports fan (i.e., I enjoy sports and I watch sports when I can) (31)
I am a casual sports fan (i.e., if the game is part of a social event, I’ll watch) (24)
I am not a sports fan (33)
Don’t know/no opinion (2)

The National Basketball Association (NBA) recently completed its playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Miami Heat for the title. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please select one option on each row.

The NBA Finals were just as entertaining as previous years

Strongly agree (10%)
Somewhat agree (12)
Neither agree nor disagree (57)
Somewhat disagree (8)
Strongly disagree (13)

The NBA Finals were dull because there were no fans in attendance

Strongly agree (11%)
Somewhat agree (14)
Neither agree nor disagree (59)
Somewhat disagree (7)
Strongly disagree (8)

It was difficult to follow the NBA Finals because there are too many other sports on TV

Strongly agree (6%)
Somewhat agree (9)
Neither agree nor disagree (62)
Somewhat disagree (9)
Strongly disagree (12)

During the 2020 sports season, both the NFL’s live TV content and the NBA’s live TV finals had lower ratings compared to last year (i.e., during the 2019 sports season). Which one of the following statements do you think best describes the main reason for the overall drop in ratings?

TV ratings are down because there are too many sports available (12%)
TV ratings are down because people are paying attention to the November elections (24)
TV ratings are down because fans are turned off by the social justice efforts by athletics and the leagues (28)
Don’t know/no opinion (35)

In recent years, professional athletes and the leagues they play in have taken a strong stand supporting social justice causes. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please select one option on each row.

Sports are my “escape” and I don’t want to see any commentary other than sports

Strongly agree (23%)
Somewhat agree (12)
Neither agree nor disagree (27)
Somewhat disagree (9)
Strongly disagree (28)

Hearing an athlete speak out about social justice hinders my desire to watch sports

Strongly agree (24%)
Somewhat agree (11)
Neither agree nor disagree (27)
Somewhat disagree (9)
Strongly disagree (29)

Athletes have free speech and it is their decision speak out

Strongly agree (43%)
Somewhat agree (18)
Neither agree nor disagree (24)
Somewhat disagree (5)
Strongly disagree (10)
Since the start of the NFL season, multiple players have tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19), leading to NFL games being postponed during the season. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please select one option on each row.

The shuffling of the NFL schedule takes away the integrity of the season

Strongly agree (11%)
Somewhat agree (14)
Neither agree nor disagree (47)
Somewhat disagree (14)
Strongly disagree (13)

It is not a “big deal” if a game is rescheduled

Strongly agree (20%)
Somewhat agree (27)
Neither agree nor disagree (38)
Somewhat disagree (8)
Strongly disagree (6)

It is doubtful that the NFL will make it through the playoffs and complete the Super Bowl

Strongly agree (10%)
Somewhat agree (16)
Neither agree nor disagree (52)
Somewhat disagree (14)
Strongly disagree (8)

ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall has been showing the world what great minds can do since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 rigorous 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 embraces students of all religions and prepares them to be exemplary servant leaders and global citizens. In recent years, the University has achieved extraordinary success. Since 2009, it has seen record-breaking undergraduate enrollment growth and an impressive 110-point increase in the average SAT scores of incoming freshmen. In the past decade, Seton Hall students and alumni have received more than 30 Fulbright Scholarships as well as other prestigious academic honors, including Boren Awards, Pickering Fellowships, Udall Scholarships and a Rhodes Scholarship. The University is also proud to be among the most diverse national Catholic universities in the country.

During the past five years, the University has invested more than $165 million in new campus buildings and renovations. And in 2015, Seton Hall launched a School of Medicine as well as a College of Communication and the Arts. The University’s beautiful main campus in suburban South Orange, N.J. is only 14 miles from New York City — offering students a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. Seton Hall’s nationally recognized School of Law is located prominently in downtown Newark. The University’s Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus in Clifton and Nutley, N.J. opened in the summer of 2018. The IHS campus houses the University’s College of Nursing, School of Health and Medical Sciences and the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University.

For more information, visit www.shu.edu.

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 without the availability of a vaccine for COVID-19. Fifty-eight percent said they would not attend an outdoor event under the same circumstances.

Only 21 percent said they would attend an indoor sporting event, with 12 percent saying they did not know or had no opinion; for outdoor events the number of those who said they would attend with PPE and social distancing rose to 28 percent with 14 percent saying they did not know or had no opinion.

These were the findings of a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted November 13-16 among 1,506 American adults, geographically spread across the country. The Poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent.

A Seton Hall Sports Poll in April of this year, which received widespread international attention and combined indoor and outdoor events, found that 72 percent would not attend these events without access to a vaccine. The poll in April also found that 61 percent of those who described themselves as sports fans said they would not attend.

In this most recent poll, 60 percent of those who described themselves as sports fans said they would not attend indoor events, while 50 percent said they would not attend outdoor events.

“The recent news of vaccine breakthroughs has got to be enormously uplifting to those in the business of selling tickets, be it sports or entertainment,” said Professor Charles Grantham, Director of the Center for Sport Management within the Stillman School of Business, which oversees the Seton Hall Sports Poll. “Even though the percentages who would not attend have improved since the spring and the onset of the pandemic, these are just awful numbers to ponder.”

Stillman Professor of Marketing and Poll Methodologist Daniel Ladik agreed, “The Pfizer announcement of an imminent and efficacious vaccine was widely published prior to our polling and is presumably reflected in these numbers. An eager nation of sports fans awaits.”

People with Children More Likely to Attend Events
Interestingly, and perhaps related to school and youth athletic events, the number of those who would attend sporting events with PPE and social distancing was greater for those with children under the age of 18. Only 49 percent of these parents said they would not attend outdoor events (compared to 58 percent of the overall population); and 60 percent said they would not attend indoor events (compared to 67 percent overall).

Do Fans in the Stands (Virtual or Otherwise) Make a Difference?
Noting that some professional and college sporting events have allowed fans with limited capacity, the poll also asked whether or not fans in the stands under these circumstances provide an advantage for the home team. Whereas 43 percent of the overall population said they believed the presence of fans provided a “home team advantage,” 53 percent of those who described themselves as sports fans said it did.

In addition, respondents were also asked whether “virtual fans” in stadiums, arenas and TV broadcasts were a good replacement for actual fans. Among the general population, 27 percent felt they were; 26 percent thought they weren’t even noticeable; 11 percent thought they were a distraction; and 36 percent did not know or had no opinion.

Self-described sports fans looked more favorably upon the virtual fans, with 35 percent saying they were a good replacement and 13 percent thinking that they were a distraction. Among the subset of those who described themselves as “avid sports fans,” the number who thought virtual fans were a good replacement was higher (by double digits) than that of sports fans in general.

Is this an Asterisk Season?
Asked to think about the impact of COVID-19 on sports in 2020 (shortened seasons, changes in game formats, etc.) respondents were asked whether or not this year’s champions in professional baseball (Los Angeles Dodgers), basketball (Los Angeles Lakers) and hockey (Tampa Bay Lightning) were “less deserving” than the champions of previous years. Among sports fans, 27 percent thought the Dodgers were less deserving; 31 percent thought the Lakers were less deserving; and 24 percent thought the Lightning were so. Among the smaller subset that described themselves as “avid sports fans,” the number that thought of the teams as less deserving was even higher (by a double digit margin in each case).

“Although many of the leagues tried admirably to salvage their seasons when most thought they would be lost, it’s obvious from these findings that the public has some doubts and concerns,” said Grantham, former executive director of the National Basketball Players Association. “It will be interesting to see how the leagues — and fans — adjust moving forward.”

# # #

ABOUT THE POLL

Media: Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall University
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034; Marty Appel, AppelPR@gmail.com

The Results:

Q1.Would you attend… A live outdoor sporting, with personal protection equipment (PPE), socially distancing measures, and restricted attendance, before a Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is widely available?

Yes, I would attend (28%)
No, I would not attend (58)
Don’t know/no opinion (14)

Q2.Would you attend… A live indoor sporting, with personal protection equipment (PPE), socially distancing measures, and restricted attendance, before a Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is widely available?

Yes, I would attend (21%)
No, I would not attend (67)
Don’t know/no opinion (12)

Q3.Thinking about the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the current sports season (e.g., shortened sports seasons, changes in game formats, etc.)… To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please select one option on each row.

Q4.The Los Angeles Lakers (2019-2020 NBA Champions) are a less deserving champion than previous NBA champions

Strongly agree (13%)
Somewhat agree (10)
Neither agree nor disagree (51)
Somewhat disagree (8)
Strongly disagree (17)

Q5.The Tampa Bay Lighting (2019-2020 NHL Champions) are a less deserving champion than previous NHL champions

Strongly agree (8%)
Somewhat agree (10)
Neither agree nor disagree (56)
Somewhat disagree (9)
Strongly disagree (17)

Q6.The Los Angeles Dodgers (2020 MLB Champion) are a less deserving champion than previous MLB champions

Strongly agree (9%)
Somewhat agree (11%)
Neither agree nor disagree (52%)
Somewhat disagree (10)
Strongly disagree (18)

Q7.In stadiums where fans were not allowed to attend, many teams featured “virtual fans” on screens in the arena or as part of the TV broadcast. Which, if any, of the following statements best describes your thoughts about this practice? Please select the option that best applies.

Virtual fans were a good replacement for actual fans (27%)
Neutral – virtual fans weren’t even noticeable (26)
Virtual fans were a distraction to my overall enjoyment of the game (11)
Don’t know/no opinion (36)

Q8.Some professional and college sporting events have allowed fans, but with limited capacity. Do fans in the stands, even in a limited capacity, provide an advantage for the home team?

Yes, the fans provide an advantage (43%)
No, the fans do not provide an advantage (22)
Don’t know/no opinion (35)

November 2020 SHSP Tables

Q₁ Would you attend… A live outdoor sporting event, with personal protection equipment (PPE), socially distancing measures, and restricted attendance, before a Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is widely available?

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Yes, I would attend	28%	39%	8%	60%	40%	30%	8%	11%
No, I would not attend	58%	50%	73%	30%	51%	57%	75%	40%
Don’t know/no opinion	14%	11%	19%	10%	9%	13%	17%	49%

Q₂ Would you attend… A live indoor sporting event, with personal protection equipment (PPE), socially distancing measures, and restricted attendance, before a Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is widely available?

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Yes, I would attend	21%	29%	8%	48%	29%	22%	8%	8%
No, I would not attend	67%	60%	79%	43%	63%	65%	80%	49%
Don’t know/no opinion	12%	11%	13%	9%	8%	13%	12%	43%

Thinking about the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the current sports season (e.g., shortened sports seasons, changes in game formats, etc.). To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please select one option on each row.

Q_3a The Los Angeles Lakers (2019-2020 NBA Champions) are a less deserving champion than previous NBA champions

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	24%	31%	9%	49%	32%	23%	8%	17%
Neither agree nor disagree	51%	40%	74%	22%	35%	51%	75%	58%
Disagree	25%	29%	17%	29%	33%	26%	17%	25%

Q_3b The Tampa Bay Lighting (2019-2020 NHL Champions) are a less deserving champion than previous NHL champions

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	18%	24%	7%	39%	25%	16%	6%	17%
Neither agree nor disagree	54%	44%	76%	30%	41%	56%	78%	55%
Disagree	28%	32%	17%	31%	34%	28%	16%	28%

Q_3c The Los Angeles Dodgers (2020 MLB Champion) are a less deserving champion than previous MLB champions

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Agree	20%	27%	8%	40%	29%	18%	7%	18%
Neither agree nor disagree	52%	40%	73%	30%	34%	53%	75%	51%
Disagree	28%	33%	19%	30%	37%	29%	18%	31%

Q₄ In stadiums where fans were not allowed to attend, many teams featured “virtual fans” on screens in the arena or as part of the TV broadcast. Which, if any, of the following statements best describes your thoughts about this practice? Please select the option that best applies.

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Virtual fans were a good replacement for actual fans	27%	35%	13%	56%	36%	25%	13%	11%
Neutral – virtual fans weren’t even noticeable	26%	34%	11%	26%	38%	32%	13%	4%
Virtual fans were a distraction to my overall enjoyment of the game	11%	13%	7%	9%	13%	13%	6%	14%
Don’t know/no opinion	36%	18%	69%	9%	13%	30%	68%	71%

Q₅ Some professional and college sporting events have allowed fans, but with limited capacity. Do fans in the stands, even in a limited capacity, provide an advantage for the home team?

N=1,506	General Population	Sports Fan	Non-Fan	Avid Fan	Avg Fan	Casual Fan	Not a Fan	No Opinion
Yes, the fans provide an advantage	43%	53%	24%	62%	56%	45%	25%	14%
No, the fans do not provide an advantage	22%	25%	15%	27%	25%	25%	15%	16%
Don’t know/no opinion	35%	22%	61%	11%	19%	30%	60%	70%

ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

For more information, visit www.shu.edu.

Nearly 3 of 4 Americans Say They Won’t Attend Games Without Coronavirus Vaccine Developed

1 Reply

South Orange NJ, April 9, 2020 — While sports commissioners, governments and medical experts debate when to reopen sports leagues, a huge majority of Americans including a substantial majority of sports fans are prepared to stay home until the development of a vaccine for Coronavirus.

Asked what they would do if the leagues resumed play before the development of a vaccine, 72 percent of Americans said they would not attend games, with 12 percent saying they would if social distancing could be maintained. Only 13 percent said they would feel safe attending as in the past. Among sports fans the number drops to a still significant 61 percent.

Medical experts have repeatedly put the timeline for approval of a vaccine into 2021, although they have not ruled out an existing drug proving effective for treatment this year. Seventy-four percent of Americans thought it was possible, likely or very likely that sports would be cancelled for the rest of this year.

If the Policy of Social Distancing Continues into the Fall, Should NFL Start Up?
And if social distancing continues into the fall, 70 percent thinks the NFL should not start up to insure the players safety, with 20 percent saying the league should resume but allow the players to choose not to play, and only six percent saying the league should start up as planned.

These were the results of a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted this week among 762 Americans across the country on both landlines and cellphones. The Poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percent.

“This virus has the attention and respect of the nation,” noted Rick Gentile, director of the Seton Hall Sports Poll, which is sponsored by the Sharkey Institute within the Stillman School of Business. “Those who identify as sports fans, at all levels of interest, line up closely with the general population in regard to their own safety and that of the players.”

Play Games without Fans Present?
As for the possibility of playing games with no fans present, a similar number – 76 percent – said they would watch broadcasts of the games with the same interest as before, with only 16 percent saying they would be less interested and 7 percent saying they would be more interested.

Did Leagues Shut Down at the Right Time?
Make no mistake – sports fans miss their sports…but also respect the devastating power of the virus. Seventy-six percent said sports shut down at the right time, with 16 percent saying not quickly enough and six percent saying too quickly.

Olympics?
Eighty-four percent felt the IOC acted appropriately in postponing this year’s Olympic Games to 2021, with only 14 percent saying they acted too quickly.

Should Teams Pay Stadium Workers?
And asked whether teams have an obligation to pay daily arena and stadium workers for time missed because of the virus, 59 percent said yes and 33 percent said no.

ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall has been showing the world what great minds can do since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 rigorous 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 embraces students of all religions and prepares them to be exemplary servant leaders and global citizens. In recent years, the University has achieved extraordinary success. Since 2009, it has seen record-breaking undergraduate enrollment growth and an impressive 110-point increase in the average SAT scores of incoming freshmen. In the past decade, Seton Hall students and alumni have received more than 30 Fulbright Scholarships as well as other prestigious academic honors, including Boren Awards, Pickering Fellowships, Udall Scholarships and a Rhodes Scholarship. The University is also proud to be the third most diverse national Catholic university in the nation.

For more information, visit www.shu.edu.

About the poll:

The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute within the Stillman School of Business. This poll was conducted by telephone April 6-8 with 762 respondents, 348 from a landline frame and 414 from a cell frame by Braun Research Incorporated with remote live telephone interviewers being monitored by an all at-home staff. .

. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard landline and cell phones. 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.Recently chosen for inclusion in iPoll by Cornell’s Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, its findings have been published everywhere from USA Today, ESPN, The New York Times, Washington Post, AP, and Reuters to Fox News and most points in between.

Media: Media: Marty Appel, AppelPR@gmail.com;
Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034

The results:

Do you think the US professional sports leagues acted too quickly in closing down their schedules, not quickly enough or acted at the right time?

1 – Too quickly                         6
2 – Not quickly enough             16
3 – Right time                              76
4 – Don’t know/No opinion                  2

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was originally scheduled to take place from late July to early August of this year but has been rescheduled to the same time period in 2021. Do you think the International Olympic Committee acted too quickly moving an event scheduled so far in advance?

1 – Yes 14

2 – No 84

3 – Don’t know/No opinion 3

If some form of social distancing is continuing in the fall do you think the NFL should:

1 – Start up as planned 6

2 – Start up but allow players to choose not to play                   20
3 – Not start up to ensure players safety                                      70
4 – Don’t know/No opinion                                                                4

It has been suggested that sports be cancelled through the end of 2020. How likely do you think this is a possibility?

1 – Very likely 12

2 – Likely 16

3 – Possible 46

4 – Won’t happen 24

5 – Don’t know/No opinion 2

If sports were to resume play later this year but before a vaccine for coronavirus is developed would you feel safe attending a game, only if there was restricted attendance and social distancing or not at all?

1 – Safe 13

2 – Safe but only if social distancing 12

3 – Not at all 72

4 – Don’t know/No opinion 3

Do you think professional teams have an obligation to pay daily arena/stadium workers for time missed because of the coronavirus?

1 – Yes 59

2 – No 33

3 – Don’t know/No opinion 7

For the remainder of 2020, do you think sports should eventually be played with fans present, played with restricted attendance practicing social distancing, played but with no fans present or sports should not be played at all

1 – Fans present 12

2 – Restricted attendance 23

3 – No fans present 21

4 – Not at all 40

5 – Don’t know/No opinion 5

If sports are played without fans will you be more interested, less interested or have the same interest in watching a broadcast of the game?

1 – More interested 7

2 – Less interested 16

3 – Same interest 76

4 – Don’t know/No opinion 2

How much would you say you miss having the opportunity to watch live sports, very much, some, not much or not at all?

1 – Very much 29

2 – Some 24

3 – Not at all 18

4 – Don’t know/No opinion 29

How closely would you say you follow sports, very closely, closely, not closely or not at all?

1 – Very closely 17

2 – Closely 37

3 – Not closely 26

4 – Not at all 20

MLB Perceived as Having Best Officiating Among Major Spectator Sports, Beating NFL by 64-48% Margin

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62 percent said legalized sports betting influences people’s reaction to officiating of NFL games; Democrats and Republicans Can agree on something: the quality of officiating.

South Orange NJ, October 29, 2019 — Despite seeing nearly half of all disputed calls reversed by video replay, Americans perceive the officiating of Major League Baseball better than any other major sport.

And what’s truly remarkable in this day and age of polarization, is that Democrats and Republicans are in agreement on whether officiating is good or terrible on a sport-by-sport basis.

“At last, something they can agree on,” noted Rick Gentile, director of the Seton Hall Sports Poll, which is sponsored by the Sharkey Institute within the Stillman School of Business. “The differences were negligible in almost every case.”

These are the findings of a Seton Hall Sports Poll, conducted last week among 703 adult Americans across the country on both landlines and cellphones. The Poll has a margin of error of +/-3.8 percent. (The margin of error for the smaller sample of Democrats and Republicans, 176 of each, is +/- 7.5 percent.)

Major League Baseball scored a 64 percent approval rating for umpiring, with only 3 percent saying it was terrible. And here we find 65 percent of Democrats saying it is good, and 67 percent of Republicans.

For the NFL, 48 percent rated the officiating as good (57 percent Democrats; 54 percent Republicans), but 27 percent called it terrible. A separate question, the suggestion of using replay on every call, found the public equally divided – 41 percent approving, and 42 percent disapproving, with 17 percent having no opinion. (While the parties can agree on officiating, they don’t agree on how to improve it. On this there was division by party, with 51 percent of Democrats approving of replay on every play, but only 27 percent of Republicans approving.)

The NBA had a 49 percent rating of “good” for its officiating; the NHL 44 percent; college basketball 48 percent, and college football 53 percent, all very close along party lines (see breakdown by party at the end of this release).

Percent saying that each sport has “good officiating.”

SPORT	DEM	REP
Major League Baseball	65	67
National Football League	57	54
National Basketball Assoc.	55	57
National Hockey League	43	45
College Basketball	55	60
College Football	65	67

Asked if legalized sports betting influences people’s reaction to officiating of NFL games, 62 percent said yes, 20 percent no and 18 percent don’t know – again, fairly equal along party lines.

About the poll:

This poll was conducted by telephone October 21-23 among adults in the United States. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute within the Stillman School of Business. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard landline and cell phones. 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.Recently chosen for inclusion in iPoll by Cornell’s Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, its findings have been published everywhere from USA Today, ESPN, The New York Times, Washington Post, AP, and Reuters to Fox News and most points in between.

Media: Media: Marty Appel, AppelPR@gmail.com;
Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034

The results:

The NFL has been criticized recently for a series of questionable calls by officials. One suggestion is to have a referee overseeing every call made or not made on video and confirming or overruling the call on the field. Do you approve or disapprove?

Dem Rep Ind Other

1 – Approve 41 51 27 43

2 – Disapprove 42 40 56 39

3 – Don’t know/No opinion 17 9 17 18

I’m going to read you a few sports. Tell me if you think the officiating is good or terrible:

Major League Baseball

1 – Good 64 65 67 63

2 – Terrible 3 2 7 3

3 – Don’t know/No opinion 33 33 27 33

National Football League

1 – Good 48 57 54 41

2 – Terrible 27 19 29 31

3 – Don’t know/No opinion 25 24 17 28

National Basketball Association

1 – Good 49 55 57 42

2 – Terrible 13 19 29 17

3 – Don’t know/No opinion 38 24 17 41

National Hockey League

1 – Good 44 43 45 45

2 – Terrible 6 6 6 5

3 – Don’t know/No opinion 51 52 49 50

College Basketball

1 – Good 48 55 60 38

2 – Terrible 9 8 3 13

3 – Don’t know/No opinion 44 37 37 49

College Football

1 – Good                                                                       53          65              67          41
2 – Terrible                                                                   12          8              13          14
3 – Don’t know/No opinion                                        34          26              20          45

Is sports betting, which has been legalized in many states, influencing people’s reaction to officiating of NFL games?

1 – Yes 62 64 62 60

2 – No 20 19 26 18

3 – Don’t know 18 18 13 22

Would you describe yourself as a Democrat, Republican, Independent or something else?

1 – Democrat 25

2 – Republican 25

3 – Independent 30

4 – Other 15

5 – Don’t know/No Opinion 4

ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall has been showing the world what great minds can do since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 rigorous 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 embraces students of all religions and prepares them to be exemplary servant leaders and global citizens. In recent years, the University has achieved extraordinary success. Since 2009, it has seen record-breaking undergraduate enrollment growth and an impressive 110-point increase in the average SAT scores of incoming freshmen. In the past decade, Seton Hall students and alumni have received more than 30 Fulbright Scholarships as well as other prestigious academic honors, including Boren Awards, Pickering Fellowships, Udall Scholarships and a Rhodes Scholarship. The University is also proud to be the third most diverse national Catholic university in the nation.

For more information, visit www.shu.edu.

Nat’l Poll: 80% of Americans Support Legalized Sports Betting

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80% of Americans Support Legalized Sports Betting
And Disagree with Loophole Excluding “Home State” College Teams

South Orange, NJ, October 10, 2019 — Americans have embraced legalized betting on sports, bolstered by a Supreme Court ruling that okayed a state-by-state determination.

Fifty-five percent of the public supports the state-by-state process, with an additional 25 percent saying it should be legal in all states. The breakdown by age was dramatic for those saying it should be legal in all states, with 37 percent of ages 18-29 saying yes, but only 14 percent of those 60 and over agreeing.

The 55 percent approval of state-by-state marks a significant leap in less than a year, when a November 2018 Seton Hall Sports Poll found that only 40 percent of the nation felt it should be left to the individual states.

The combined “state-by-state” and the “legal in all states” adds up to an 80% approval for legalized sports betting. Only 16 percent say it should not be legal. In February 2017, only 46 percent of respondents said that betting on sports should be allowed (without including a differentiation between state-by-state and national).

The findings appear in a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted last week among 714 adult Americans on both landlines and mobile phones. The poll has a +/-3.8 percent margin of error.
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American Public Supports College Athletes Receiving Endorsement Money for ‘Image and Likeness,’ as Approved in California this Week

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American Public Supports College Athletes Receiving ‘Image and Likeness’ Endorsement Money, as Approved in California this Week

But Feels NCAA, not States, Should Oversee the Process

South Orange NJ, October 3, 2019 — The American public, by an almost 2-1 margin, believes that student athletes should be allowed to profit from the use of their name, likeness or image such as in the endorsement of a product.

Such was the finding of a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted this week, where 60% endorsed the idea with 32% rejecting it. Eight percent said they did not know, or had no opinion.

The Poll was conducted among 714 adult Americans across the country, either on landline or cellphone. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percent.

The timing of the Poll coincided with California Governor Gavin Newsom signing a bill that allows college athletes to hire agents and earn endorsement money.
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Poll: Equal Pay for Women’s Soccer; Women’s Tennis has More Followers than Men’s Tennis; More Men Follow Women’s Golf than Women.

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In a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted nationally last week, 83 percent of Americans said the women’s national soccer team should receive pay equal to the men’s team.

As has been reported, the U.S. women’s soccer team (winners of three World Cups and four Olympic Gold Medals) has sued the U.S. Soccer Federation over equal pay and comparable working conditions with the U.S. men’s team, who have not won any World Cups or Gold Medals. After being made aware of this, and then asked to choose a statement that comes closest to their view, 70 percent of the respondents said women should get equal pay to men in professional sports; 13 percent said women should get equal pay in soccer because of their greater success and seven percent said women should not get equal pay to men in professional sports. Ten percent had no opinion.
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Nearly 40 Percent of NCAA Tournament Viewers Will Watch Online; Twenty-two Percent of Those Who Watch Will Do so at Work

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South Orange NJ, March 21, 2019 – As Americans increasingly turn to online devices to follow news and sports, a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted this week reveals that 38 percent of those who will be watching the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament will do so either entirely or partially online.

The poll was asked of 606 adult Americans on both landlines and cellphones, with a margin of error of +/- 4.1%.

Of the men’s tournament, 38 percent of all Americans said they would be watching at least part of the coverage. Split by gender, 49 percent of men said they would be watching the tournament, and 29 percent of women said they would be watching.

Twenty-two percent of all respondents who will be watching also said they will watch the tournament while at work; among males that number rises to 29 percent.
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Many Think Settlement with Kaepernick is Admission of Collusion by NFL

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Many Think Settlement with Kaepernick is Admission of Collusion by NFL

45 percent of those polled across the nation said they believed the settlement with Colin Kaepernick was an admission of collusion by the NFL.

By 3-to-1, public thinks Kaepernick’s chance of a new contract in the NFL has now decreased.

South Orange NJ, March 4, 2019 – In a national poll, 45 percent of the public said that they believe the confidential settlement of Colin Kaepernick’s lawsuit against the NFL for collusion was essentially an admission of guilt on the part of the NFL. On the other side, 40 said it was not an admission. Of those polled, 15 percent said they did not know or had no opinion.

White people were evenly divided on whether the settlement amounted to an admission of collusion by the NFL, but African-Americans said they believe it is by a 3 to 1 margin.

Kaepernick is credited with beginning the “anthem protests” in the NFL which drew ire and even boycotts from many football fans as well as President Trump. Although a past poll had shown 32 percent of Americans supported Kaepernick’s protests, which were intended to draw attention to racism in America, roughly 44 percent disapproved, with the rest (24 percent) either having no opinion or not knowing.

In the same poll (September 28, 2017), when asked whether or not NFL players should be ordered to stand for the national anthem or be fired from the team as President Trump had suggested, only 18 percent responded “yes.”

Kaepernick became a free agent in early 2017 and was not hired by any NFL team. He brought suit against the NFL for collusion in keeping him out of the league. He was not hired for the 2018 season either.
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Did Zion’s Sneaker Explosion Hurt the Nike Brand? Nearly One in Five Say ‘Yes’

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Did Zion’s Sneaker Explosion Hurt the Nike Brand? Nearly One in Five Say ‘Yes’

Majority feels student athletes should be compensated by sneaker companies for wearing their brands; less support for them receiving pay for playing revenue producing sports

South Orange NJ, March 1, 2019 — It was the sneaker explosion heard round the world, when Duke’s Zion Williamson’s Nike went poof last week in a game against North Carolina. Did all the publicity hurt the Nike brand?

According to a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted this week, nearly 1-in-5 respondents said it was the indicator of the quality of the brand. More than two thirds, 67%, felt it was a one-time fluke.

“That’s a good percentage favoring the one-time mishap,” noted Rick Gentile, director of the Poll, which is sponsored by the Sharkey Institute within the Stillman School of Business. “But 18% (those who felt it represented the brand’s quality), is not a small number. Nike has some rebuilding work ahead – of its image, not just its sneakers.”

These were the findings of a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted this week, with questions asked of 794 adult Americans on landlines and cellphones, with a margin of error of +/- 3.5%.

Compensation for Student Athletes

Meanwhile, a majority of Americans believe that student athletes should be compensated by sneaker companies for the use of their brands in collegiate athletics if they are required to wear the brand, and that students in revenue producing sports – like football and basketball – should receive compensation on top of scholarships and cost of attendance stipends.

On the question of financial compensation for student athletes from sneaker companies – like Nike and Adidas – , the public says “yes” by a margin of 57-36%.

On the question of compensation for participation in revenue generating sports, the margin was closer, with 49% saying “yes” and 46% saying “no.” And while white respondents are in favor of “sneaker compensation” by a 54-41% margin, African-Americans are in favor by 3-1.
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Despite NFL Settlement, Nation Evenly Divided on Kaepernick Impact

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Despite NFL Settlement, Nation Evenly Divided on Kaepernick Impact

But by 3-to-1, public thinks his chance of a new contract in the NFL has decreased

South Orange NJ, February 28, 2019 — The confidential settlement of Colin Kaepernick’s lawsuit against the NFL finds the nation evenly divided on its impact on his protests.

In a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted this week, by a margin of 44-42%, the public says the settlement has not diminished the impact of his protest.

By 45-40%, the public believes the settlement is an admission by the NFL that collusion by NFL teams against him took place.

When the question of approval for Kaepernick was asked in September 2017, his support was only 32%, with disapproval at 44%.

While white respondents are evenly divided on whether the settlement diminished the impact of the protests, by 2 to 1 African-Americans believe that it does. Whites are also evenly divided on whether it the settlement is an admission of collusion by the NFL, but African-Americans believe it is by 3 to 1.

794 adult Americans were polled on both landlines and cellphones, a margin of +/- 3.5%.

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Poll: 70 Percent More Likely to Watch Game If They Wager on It

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As leagues move towards embrace of gambling, 70% say they’re more likely to watch a game if they wager, but 61% say it will lead to cheating or fixed games.

South Orange, NJ, November 30, 2018 — If you bet that wagering on a game leads to greater viewership – you’d be right. A survey by the Seton Hall Sports Poll has found that 70% of Americans say they would be more likely to watch a game they bet on.

In a week in which Major League Baseball announced a marketing partnership with MGM Resorts, the era of “No Betting Permitted” signs at ballparks is over, and the fans seem to love it.

But it is a double edge sword – 61% say they believe that legal betting on sports events leads to cheating or the fixing of games.

But oh that 70% of heightened interested in watching games is music to a sports league’s ears. Within that, the poll found that 88% of those age 18-29, the coveted demographic loved by sponsors and hardest to reach – would be more likely to watch if they placed a bet.

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Only 11% Like Way DH Rule Employed in World Series, 35% of Americans Watched

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South Orange, NJ, November 1, 2018 — The just concluded World Series was the 45th since the designated hitter rule was adopted in 1973 – but the American public is still not happy with the way it is employed.

Only 11% of people surveyed in this week’s Seton Hall Sports Poll opted to keep it as it is — employed only when games are played in American League parks. 47% were divided almost equally on whether they prefer the DH in all games (25%) or in no games (22%). 41% saidthey did not know or had no opinion.

The poll was conduced October 29-31 among 839 adults across the country on landline and cellphone, with a margin of error of +/- 3.4%.

The poll also asked the 65% who said they did not watch the World Series why they did not watch, and while 46% said they had no interest in baseball, only 11% cited no interest in the Boston Red Sox or Los Angeles Dodgers in particular. (The margin of error for this group was +/- 4.3%).

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Roughly Half the Nation Feels Legalized Sports Betting Calls Integrity of Games into Question

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South Orange, NJ, May 16, 2018 — Concern over the integrity of sports results has gone hand in hand with the question of legalized gambling over the years, and Monday’s Supreme Court ruling, which ended the federal ban on sports wagering, has intensified the discussion even further.

The most recent Seton Hall Sports Poll (conducted April 23-25 among 736 adults in the U.S. with a +/- 3.7% margin of error), found that 48% feel legalized sports betting would negatively impact the integrity of sporting events.

This was consistent with a poll taken by the SHSP in 2014, when 49% answered affirmatively to the same question. When the question was posed in 2012, 53% said the sports integrity would be negatively impacted.

“People tend to be in favor of gambling on games, but a large number – nearly half the population, believes the outcome of games could be subject to questioning,” noted Rick Gentile, director of the poll, which is sponsored by the Stillman School of Business and its Sharkey Institute. “ Whether the games are fixed or not isn’t the question so much as whether public confidence is eroded. That’s a big problem for sports leagues.”

The Official Seton Hall Sports Poll podcast discussing this topic with Seth Everett and Rick Gentile can be found at https://itunes.apple.com/mt/podcast/seton-hall-sports-poll/id1053266467.

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 April 23-25 among 736 adults in the United States. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute, with cell phone interviewing provided by Braun Research.

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 3.7 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, AppelPR@gmail.com;
Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034

The results of Seton Hall’s April poll:

Would you be in favor of legalized betting on sports events?

Yes 55%

No 35

Don’t know/No opinion 10

(IF NO TO ABOVE SKIP TO QUESTION 3)

Would you be in favor of betting on just professional events or should betting on collegiate events be legal as well?

Just professional 36

Both professional and collegiate 49

Don’t know/No opinion 15

Do you think legalized sports betting would negatively impact the integrity of sporting events?

Yes 48

No 42

Don’t know/No opinion 10

The US Supreme Court is about to rule on whether states should be allowed to legalize betting on sports events or whether it should be up to the federal government to decide. Do you think sports betting should be under state control or federal control?

State control 62

Federal control 27

Don’t know/No opinion 12

Supreme Court Decision on Sports Betting Aligns with Poll Findings

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South Orange, NJ– May 14, 2018
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that the ban on sports betting is unconstitutional and leaving the decision in the hand’s of individual states, is in line with the Seton Hall Sports Poll’s findings on sports betting in America.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of New Jersey and, ultimately, in favor of legalized sports betting. By a margin of 55% – 35%, a full 20 points, the American public favors legalized betting on sports events, according to a poll conducted three weeks ago by the Seton Hall Sports Poll.

“The Supreme Court ruling is in synch with the trend the Seton Hall Sports Poll has tracked for several years now,” noted Rick Gentile, director of the poll, which is sponsored by the Stillman School of Business and the Sharkey Institute. “Our respondents more and more, are in favor of legalized sports betting and, moreover, want it out of the hands of federal government.”

The poll was conducted over landlines and cellphones to 736 randomly selected people across the country, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.7%.

The poll also asked whether people think that sports betting should be controlled by individual states, or by the federal government.

62% said sports gambling should be under state control, with
27% saying the federal government should control it.

Broken down by gender, men are much more inclined to support legalized betting,
with 63% saying yes.

Only 47% of women favored legalized betting.

Approval fell significantly by age, with 68% support from ages 18-29, down to 37% at age 60 and over. Similarly, the support number fell based on level of education, with 71% supporting legalized gambling among those who did not finish high school, to 39% for those with post-graduate degrees.

Those who favor legalized betting think it should cover both professional and college sports by a margin of 49% – 36%.

The results can be found here

The Official Seton Hall Sports Poll podcast discussing this topic with Seth Everett and Rick Gentile can be found at https://itunes.apple.com/mt/podcast/seton-hall-sports-poll/id1053266467.

ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

For more information, visit www.shu.edu.

About the poll:

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

Media: Media: Marty Appel, AppelPR@gmail.com;
Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 862-520-9639; 908-447-3034

The results:

Would you be in favor of legalized betting on sports events?

Yes 55%

No 35

Don’t know/No opinion 10

(IF NO TO ABOVE SKIP TO QUESTION 3)

Would you be in favor of betting on just professional events or should betting on collegiate events be legal as well?

Just professional 36

Both professional and collegiate 49

Don’t know/No opinion 15

Do you think legalized sports betting would negatively impact the integrity of sporting events?

Yes 48

No 42

Don’t know/No opinion 10

The US Supreme Court is about to rule on whether states should be allowed to legalize betting on sports events or whether it should be up to the federal government to decide. Do you think sports betting should be under state control or federal control?

State control 62

Federal control 27

Don’t know/No opinion 12

Americans Favor Legalized Sports Betting

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Americans Favor Legalized Sports Betting, But Also Believe it Impacts the Integrity of the Games

South Orange, NJ, April 26, 2018 — By a margin of 55% – 35%, the American public favors legalized betting on sports events, according to a poll conducted this week by the Seton Hall Sports Poll.

And by a margin of 48% – 42%, those same respondents feel that legalized betting would negatively impact the integrity of sporting events. Even among those favoring legalized gambling, one of three believes that it would have a negative impact.

“It’s outrageous when you think about it,” noted Rick Gentile, director of the poll, which is sponsored by the Sharkey Institute. “It comes close to saying ‘We don’t care about the legitimacy of the games, what matters is being able to bet on them. A majority favors gambling, and by a slimmer margin think the games might be fixed as a result.”

The poll was conducted over landlines and cellphones to 736 randomly selected people across the country, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.7%.

The poll also asked whether people feel that sports betting should be controlled by individual states, or by the federal government. (The U.S. Supreme Court is about to rule on that issue).

62% said sports gambling should be under state control, with 27% saying the federal government should control it.

Broken down by gender, men are much more inclined to support legalized betting, with 63% saying yes.

Only 47% of women favored legalized betting.

Those who favor legalized betting think it should cover both professional and college sports by a margin of 49% – 36%.

The Official Seton Hall Sports Poll podcast discussing this topic with Seth Everett and Rick Gentile can be found at https://itunes.apple.com/mt/podcast/seton-hall-sports-poll/id1053266467.

ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

For more information, visit www.shu.edu.

About the poll:

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

Media: Media: Marty Appel, AppelPR@gmail.com; Rick Gentile (917) 881-9489
Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034

The results:

Would you be in favor of legalized betting on sports events?

Yes 55%

No 35

Don’t know/No opinion 10

(IF NO TO ABOVE SKIP TO QUESTION 3)

Would you be in favor of betting on just professional events or should betting on collegiate events be legal as well?

Just professional 36

Both professional and collegiate 49

Don’t know/No opinion 15

Do you think legalized sports betting would negatively impact the integrity of sporting events?

Yes 48

No 42

Don’t know/No opinion 10

State control 62

Federal control 27

Don’t know/No opinion 12

Seton Hall Sports Poll Finds 33% Support for NCAA Decision to Pull Events from North Carolina; 28% Disagree

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Stillman/Sharkey Logo SETON HALL SPORTS POLL FINDS 33% SUPPORT FOR NCAA DECISION TO PULL EVENTS FROM NORTH CAROLINA; 28% DISAGREE

South Orange, NJ, September 23, 2016 — By a margin of 33% – 28%, Americans support the NCAA decision to pull their national tournaments out of North Carolina in the wake of what it called the state’s anti-LGBT laws.

39% had no opinion, or did not know.

The poll was conducted this week among 875 adults on both landlines and cellphones across the nation. (There is a margin of error of +/- 3.4%).

“There is no overwhelming position on this,” said Rick Gentile, director of the Poll, which is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute. “Like the issue itself, there is division, but we believe the NCAA will be buoyed by this show of support on a matter still evolving in public opinion.”

Rick Gentile was interviewed by Seth Everett for a podcast on the poll’s findings.

To stream : http://tobtr.com/9488399

To download: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seton-hall-sports-poll/id1053266467?mt=2#episodeGuid=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogtalkradio.com%2Fsetonhallsportspoll%2F2016%2F09%2F23%2Fseason-2-september-2016-colin-kaepernick-national-anthem-controvery

ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

For more information, visit www.shu.edu.

About the poll:

This poll was conducted by telephone September 19-21 among 875 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:

The NCAA recently announced it was moving 6 collegiate championship events out of North Carolina because of what it referred to as the state’s anti-LGBT laws. Do you approve, disapprove or have no opinion on the NCAA’s stance?

Approve 33

Disapprove 28

No Opinion/Don’t know 39