Study Shows NFL Fans' Attitudes Toward Sports Stronger Than Overall Sports Fans

NFL fans tend to be more passionate in their attitudes toward sports compared to run-of-the-mill sports fans, according to a study conducted by Team Epic. The “Decoding the Modern Sports Fan” study, which was taken among 2,750 respondents, defined NFL fans as those extremely or very interested in the league. Thirty-one percent of NFL fans said that they are in a bad mood when their favorite team loses, compared to 26% among sports fans. Additionally, 45% of NFL fans said they never turn off a game, regardless of the score, compared to 39% among sports fans. NFL fans also seemed to be less affected by the proliferation of steroid/PED use among athletes. Fifty-seven percent of NFL fans said steroid/PED use has made them lose respect for athletes, compared to 59% among sports fans. The study also found that 59% of NFL fans purchased merchandise in the last year, compared to 54% among sports fans. Twenty-six percent of NFL fans played fantasy sports, compared to 21% among sports fans. Among those who played fantasy sports, 85% had a fantasy NFL team (Team Epic).

ATTITUDES TOWARD SPORTS AMONG NFL FANS COMPARED TO SPORTS FANS (strongly or somewhat disagree)
STATEMENT	TOTAL	NFL FANS
I plan my social life around my favorite team's schedule	21%	25%
I'm in a bad mood when my favorite team loses	26%	31%
I never turn off the game, regardless of the score	39%	45%
I would pay more for additional content and/or services around my favorite team	20%	24%
I have no problem when it comes to spending my money to support my team	21%	26%
Whenever I go to games, I always stay until the end	63%	68%
Sports are my life	16%	20%
I feel a great sense of personal pride in the performance of my favorite teams	52%	59%
Steroids and other PEDs have made me lose respect for athletes	59%	57%
Having a pro team in your city significantly increases the standard of living in that area	49%	53%
When an athlete I identify with (race, religion, etc) performs well, I am more likely to have an interest in that athlete's performance	43%	45%
Players don’t play as hard as they used to	37%	36%
Pro players are too friendly with players on the other teams	11%	12%
The ethnicity or gender of my favorite team's owner(s) is important to me	7%	7%
I trust the owner of my favorite sports team	37%	42%
I would pay more for additional sports channels on my cable or satellite subscription	23%	27%
I feel the sports industry is well regarded and heading in the right direction	30%	35%
As a gift, I would rather receive a trip to the Super Bowl than receive season tickets for my local sports team	36%	41%

METHODOLOGY: In the study, before any sports-related questions were posed, participants were asked to do a self-evaluation of their current personal outlook. These questions aimed to assess the 2,750 respondents on elements such as their “level of happiness” and “state of mind.” Participants also were asked to gauge how they would describe themselves now compared to recent years, considering words such as “anxious,” “hopeful,” “overwhelmed” and “relaxed.” The respondents further rated their level of concern about specific non-sports topics, such as their employment status, health care and fuel costs, and they were asked about their passions and hobbies beyond sports. It is at that point that the survey segued into questions regarding the participants’ attitudes toward sports and the role sports plays in their lives personally as well as in society overall. Questions involving media use, technology and sponsorship considerations followed. Sample statements for assessment included “I have no problem with sponsorship on jerseys or the field of play,” and “I get most of my sports news through social media.”