Sports
Football Fans Favor Cardinals in Super Bowl
Sixty-one percent of Americans plan to watch the game
January 30, 2009
While the general public is evenly divided in its rooting interests in this Sunday’s Super Bowl, pro football fans say they would rather the Arizona Cardinals (44%) than the Pittsburgh Steelers (35%) prevail. More than 6 in 10 Americans plan to watch the game.
Football Remains Runaway Leader as Favorite Sport
Basketball’s popularity declining
December 29, 2008
Americans’ affinity for football remains strong, as 41% name it as their favorite sport to watch, more than three times the percentage naming any other. Baseball and basketball tie for second, but basketball’s standing has faded in recent years.
Football Still Scores Best With U.S. Sports Fans
December 29, 2008
More Americans say that football is their favorite sport to watch (41%), beating out baseball (10%), basketball (9%), and ice hockey (4%).
Sports Fans Not Suspicious of Steroid Use for Record Breakers
Only 35% suspicious when track records are broken; 22% when swimming records are
August 8, 2008
Relatively few sports fans say they are suspicious about possible use of performance-enhancing drugs when they see or hear about Olympic athletes breaking world records in track and field (35%) and swimming (22%).
Swimming Tops Track as Public’s Favorite Olympic Event
Fifty-six percent of Americans plan to watch a great deal or fair amount of Olympics
August 7, 2008
With the Olympics set to begin in Beijing, Americans now rate swimming (27%) as their favorite event over track and field (18%). A majority of Americans say they plan to watch a great deal or fair amount of the Olympics.
Post-Derby Tragedy, 38% Support Banning Animal Racing
Twenty-one percent favor a ban on hunting
May 15, 2008
While in general, Americans do not favor giving animals the same rights and protections as humans, 38% do favor an outright ban on horse and dog racing.
Baseball Fans: Clemens Lied About Steroid Use
Most still think he deserves Hall of Fame honors
February 29, 2008
Most baseball fans believe Roger Clemens lied when he said he never took steroids. Even so, fans on balance say they have a favorable opinion of him, and most believe he should be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Football Wins Among Sports Fans
February 1, 2008
Ahead of Super Bowl XLII, Gallup finds that Americans prefer to watch football over any other sport, but few place bets on sports.
One in Six Americans Gamble on Sports
State lotteries are most common form of gambling
February 1, 2008
Gallup’s Lifestyle Poll finds that 17% of Americans gambled on professional sports in the past year -- either by betting on the outcome of a game or by participating in an office pool tied to a sporting event. More generally, 65% of Americans report participating in any type of gambling in the last year.
College Football Fans Rate SEC as Strongest Conference
Big Ten second, Pacific-10 third
November 23, 2007
College football fans are most likely to name the Southeastern Conference as the strongest major football conference over the past 10 years, followed by the Big Ten and Pac-10. Opinions of which conference is best vary greatly by region.
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October 17, 2007
Baseball Fan Base Near Recent Low
April 6, 2007
Americans and the Super Bowl Phenomenon
February 2, 2007
