A statewide poll released yesterday by the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute found "sharply divided opinion involving public support for professional sports teams in the state," according to Don Walker of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. The survey "asked three questions: whether there was support or opposition for public funding in general for pro sports teams, support or opposition for public funding" for the Packers and "support or opposition for public funding" for the Bucks. Nearly a third of survey respondents (32.9%) said that they were "'completely opposed' to public support for pro sports teams," while 18.4% said they were "somewhat opposed." A total of 13.7% said that they were in "complete support of public funding, while 25.8% said they were somewhat in support." Asked specifically about the Bucks, 39.3% of those surveyed said that they were "either completely opposed (23.8%) or somewhat opposed (15.5%)." Asked about public support for the Packers, 43.1% of those surveyed said that they either "completely supported (17.3%) public support for the team or somewhat supported (25.8%) public support." The poll was conducted "in advance of a specific financing plan for a proposed multipurpose arena" in downtown Milwaukee. A total of 600 Wisconsin residents "were surveyed Jan. 2-4" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/14).
