ESPN Sports Poll, a service of TNS Sport, asked approximately 2,000 U.S. residents in 2000 and 2005 the following question: As a spectator, what is your favorite sport?
Listed here are the top answers by selected demographics for each year. The questions were open-ended and unaided, allowing for such nonspecific answers as “football” or “soccer,” in addition to “NFL” and “MLS.”
Interest in the NFL rose for all age breaks except women 25-34. MLB showed notable increases among both male and female 18- to 24-year-olds. The number of respondents that chose the NBA, NHL or wrestling as their favorite spectator sport dropped among each demographic category.
| Men 18-24 | | | | | |
2000 rank | Favorite sport | % | 2005 rank | Favorite sport | % |
1 | NFL | 31.5 | 1 | NFL | 32.4 |
2 | NBA | 15.2 | 2 | NBA | 11.3 |
3 | MLB | 8.8 | 3 | MLB | 10.2 |
4 | College football | 7.6 | 4 | College football | 7.5 |
5 | NHL | 6.4 | 5 | NHL | 3.6 |
6 | College basketball | 3.9 | 6 | College basketball | 3.5 |
7 | Pro soccer | 3.4 | 7 | Soccer | 2.9 |
8 | Boxing | 3.0 | 8 | MLS | 2.8 |
9 | Wrestling | 2.8 | 9 | NASCAR | 2.0 |
10 | Auto racing | 1.7 | 10 | Football | 1.9 |
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| Men 25-34 | | | | | |
2000 rank | Favorite sport | % | 2005 rank | Favorite sport | % |
1 | NFL | 31.5 | 1 | NFL | 32.1 |
2 | MLB | 12.2 | 2 | MLB | 11.6 |
3 | NBA | 9.2 | 3 | College football | 8.7 |
4 | College football | 8.2 | 4 | NBA | 8.1 |
5 | NHL | 5.9 | 5 | NASCAR | 5.3 |
6 | College basketball | 3.5 | 6 | NHL | 4.2 |
7 | Auto racing | 3.3 | 7 | Football | 2.9 |
8 | Pro soccer | 3.0 | 8 | College basketball | 2.8 |
9 | NASCAR | 2.7 | 9 | Pro soccer | 2.2 |
10 | Wrestling | 2.0 | 10 | Boxing | 1.1 |
| Women 18-24 | | | | | |
2000 rank | Favorite sport | % | 2005 rank | Favorite sport | % |
1 | NFL | 21.6 | 1 | NFL | 24.2 |
2 | NBA | 18.7 | 2 | NBA | 12.5 |
3 | MLB | 11.7 | 3 | MLB | 12.0 |
4 | College football | 5.8 | 4 | College football | 5.7 |
5 | NHL | 4.8 | 5 | College basketball | 4.3 |
6 | College basketball | 4.1 | 6 | NHL | 3.2 |
7 | Volleyball | 3.6 | 7 | Volleyball | 2.9 |
8 | Pro soccer | 3.4 | 8 | Soccer | 2.7 |
9 | Wrestling | 2.1 | 9t | Basketball | 2.1 |
10 | Tennis | 2.0 | 9t | MLS | 2.1 |
| | | | | | |
| Women 25-34 | | | | | |
2000 rank | Favorite sport | % | 2005 rank | Favorite sport | % |
1 | NFL | 23.6 | 1 | NFL | 20.1 |
2 | NBA | 13.2 | 2 | NBA | 12.5 |
3 | MLB | 12.2 | 3 | MLB | 12.0 |
4 | NHL | 6.5 | 4 | College football | 7.2 |
5 | College football | 4.6 | 5 | NHL | 5.1 |
6 | College basketball | 3.3 | 6 | College basketball | 4.4 |
7t | Figure skating | 2.4 | 7 | NASCAR | 3.6 |
7t | Pro soccer | 2.4 | 8 | Volleyball | 2.0 |
9 | NASCAR | 2.2 | 9 | Gymnastics | 1.8 |
10t | Volleyball | 1.8 | 10 | High school football | 1.7 |
10t | Tennis | 1.8 | | | |
Source: ESPN Sports Poll, a service of TNS Sport
