Baseball is now a distant second in popularity followed by college football
and auto racing
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Professional football continues
to surge in popularity as one-third (33%) of U.S. adults who follow at least
one sport say it is their favorite sport. This is up three points from last
year. Baseball slips slightly again this year, dropping to 14 percent, down
one point from last year. Coming close on the heels of baseball is college
football (13%) followed by auto racing (11%). While both of these have seen a
rise in the past year, racing is up four points this year, most likely as a
result of NASCAR's increasing popularity.
These are the results of a nationwide Harris Interactive(R) survey
conducted online between December 8 and 14, 2005 among 1,961 U.S. adults, of
whom 1,402 follow at least one sport.
In the past 20 years, professional football and baseball have seen the
most dramatic changes in popularity. Since 1985, professional football has
risen nine points in popularity (from 24% to 33%), while baseball has dropped
the same amount (23% to 14%). The next largest change in popularity is in auto
racing, which has risen six points since 1985, from five to 11 percent. Men's
tennis has seen a drop in popularity of four points in this same time period
down to one percent from five percent in 1985.
Demographic variations
The survey also finds some sizable differences between different segments
of the population. Pro football is most popular among African Americans (47%),
those with household incomes of $50,000 to under $75,000 (41%) and $35,000 to
under $50,000 (40%), and among Generation X (those aged 28 to 39) (39%). Those
with a post graduate education are least likely (23%) to call professional
football their favorite sport.
Baseball does best among Hispanics (20%) and Echo Boomers (those aged 18-
27) (21%). African Americans are least likely to say baseball is their
favorite sport (6%).
College football is particularly popular among Republicans and those with
post graduate degrees (both 20%). Five percent of those with household incomes
of less than $15,000 cite professional football as their favorite sport.
Auto racing (which includes NASCAR) is most popular among those with a
high school education or less (19%) and Baby Boomers (15%), while it fares
worst among those with a post graduate degree (2%) and Generation X (4%).
TABLE 1
FAVORITE SPORTS
"If you had to choose, which ONE of these sports would you say is your
favorite?"
Base: All adults who follow more than one sport
CHANGE
1985 1989 1992 1993 1994 1997 1998 2002 2003 2004 2005 1985 -
2005
% % % % % % % % % % % %
Pro
football 24 26 28 24 24 28 26 27 29 30 33 +9
Baseball 23 19 21 18 17 17 18 14 13 15 14 -9
College
football 10 6 7 8 7 10 9 9 9 11 13 +3
Auto
racing 5 4 5 6 5 5 7 10 9 7 11 +6
Men's
college
basketball 6 10 8 8 8 6 4 4 6 6 5 -1
Hockey 2 3 3 3 5 4 3 3 3 4 5 +3
Men's pro
basketball 6 7 8 12 11 13 13 11 10 7 4 -2
Men's golf 3 4 4 6 5 6 4 4 5 4 4 +1
Boxing NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 2 2 NA
Men's
soccer 3 2 2 1 3 3 4 3 3 3 2 -1
Horse
racing 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 -2
Men's
tennis 5 4 4 4 3 3 4 1 2 1 1 -4
Women's
tennis NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 3 2 2 1 NA
Bowling 3 5 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 -2
Women's pro
basketball NA NA NA NA NA NA * 1 1 * * NA
Women's
college
basketball NA NA NA NA NA NA 1 1 * 1 * NA
Women's
soccer NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 1 * NA
Track &
field 2 2 1 1 2 2 3 1 3 1 * -
Women's
golf NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 1 * * NA
Not sure * 1 4 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 2 -
Pro
football's
lead over
baseball 1 7 7 6 7 11 8 13 16 15 19 +18
Note 1: NA = Not asked. Previously did not distinguish between men and
women's sports when asking these questions.
Note 2: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 2
DEMOGRAPHIC VARIATIONS IN FAVORITE SPORTS
"If you had to choose, which ONE of these sports would you say is your
favorite?"
Base: All adults who follow more than one sport
Sport All Adults Highest Lowest
% % %
Pro football 33 African American 47 Post Grad education 23
$50,000-$74,999 41 Echo Boomers (18-27) 27
$35,000-$49,999 40 $25,000-$34,999 28
Gen X (28 - 39) 39 Hispanics 29
Baseball 14 Hispanics 20 African American 6
Echo Boomers
(18 - 27) 21 $15,000-$24,999 9
College
Football 13 Post-graduate 20 Less than $15,000 5
Republican 20 African American 7
$75,000+ 19 $50,000-$74,999 9
South 17 $35,000-$49,999 9
Auto Racing 11 Baby Boomers
(40 - 58) 15 Post graduate 2
$35,000-$49,999 15 Gen X (29-39) 4
High school or less 19 College graduate 4
Methodology
The Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States between
December 8 and 14, 2005 among a nationwide cross section of 1,961 adults (aged
18 and over), of whom 1,402 follow at least one sport. Figures for age, sex,
race, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to
bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.
Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity
to be online.
In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95
percent certainty that the overall results have a sampling error of plus or
minus 2.5 percentage points of what they would be if the entire U.S. adult
population had been polled with complete accuracy. Sampling error for the
various sub-samples listed in the tables above is higher and varies.
Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls
or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of
sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (nonresponse),
question wording and question order, and weighting. It is impossible to
quantify the errors that may result from these factors. This online sample was
not a probability sample.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National
Council on Public Polls.
J26225
Q900, Q905
About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com), based in Rochester,
New York, is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market research firm in
the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll(R) and for its pioneering
leadership in the online market research industry. Long recognized by its
clients for delivering insights that enable confident business decisions, the
Company blends the science of innovative research with the art of strategic
consulting to deliver knowledge that leads to measurable and enduring value.
Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States,
Europe (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/europe) and Asia offices, its wholly-owned
subsidiary Novatris in Paris, France (http://www.novatris.com), and through an
independent global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to
participate in future online surveys, go to http://www.harrispollonline.com.
Press Contacts:
Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316
Kelly Gullo
Harris Interactive
585-214-7172
Harris Interactive Inc. 12/05
SOURCE Harris Interactive Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.harrisinteractive.com
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/europe
http://www.novatris.com http://www.harrispollonline.com
CONTACT:
Nancy Wong, +1-585-214-7316, or Kelly Gullo,
+1-585-214-7172, both of Harris Interactive
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