Super Social Fans Are a Mixed Bowl

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They may be any age. They might be married, divorced or single. They might sit next to you in church—or not. They may be of either gender, though more are female. They'll be watching some part of the Super Bowl event on Sunday, February 1st, but not necessarily the game itself. Who are these people? They're "social fans."

According to the most recent Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, "core" Super Bowl fans constitute about two in every five adults this year. Core fans watch the national event every year and watch most or all of the game. A majority (54%) of core fans will watch the pre-game show. A near majority (45%) will also watch the post-game show. Most follow football regularly during the season. When you ask them who they want to win this year's game, they have an answer.

On the other hand, the "absolutely not fans" don't follow football during the season, won't watch the Super Bowl and won't watch even the commercials; not even the half-time show. These constitute just one in five American adults—outnumbered 2-1 by the hard core fans.

But then there is a whole other crowd. Social fans, about 40% of the population, are between the core fans and the absolutely not fans. In other words, for every core fan, there's a social fan. Half the social crowd (50%) say they're following the national event "not at all." But then the other half are following it—at least somewhat. Most of them (66%) certainly won't watch the pre-game show. A majority (57%) say they will watch the game itself but, in fact, they won't watch most, much less all, of the game. They have no consensus on whether they'll take in the half time show, (splitting 42% "yes" to 47% "no"). They'll certainly skip the post-game wrap-up. But a majority (55%) say they'll watch the commercials. And 25% say they've seen the Bowl every year in the past five years.

While 25% of social fans never watch football during the regular season, a majority (53%) "sometimes" follow it. Another 21% watch in regularly.

And who do social fans want to win this year?

About a third want the Panthers. About a third want the Patriots. About a third have no preference.

The PublicMind poll of 801 adults nationwide was conducted from January 20 to January 26. The margin of error for 801 adults is +/- 3.5% percentage points.

 

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Copyright © 2004, Fairleigh Dickinson University. All rights reserved. FDU PublicMind Poll [Latest update 040130]