Polling highlights

To maintain a finger on the pulse of public opinion across a wide array of issues impacting sport, the Global Sport Institute often partners with OH Predictive Insights, a Phoenix-based market research company. These snapshot polls offer real-time insights that add to the public discourse on trending topics in sport.

Sports Betting

The U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow states to legalize sports betting created a flurry of activity in the industry as it was now able to reach potential new sports gamblers. We wondered what the general perception and awareness was toward sports betting in America and whether there was a cultural and social shift in acceptance. In a poll of 2,400 Americans, 44% of respondents supported U.S. adults being legally allowed to bet on sporting events, while only 16% opposed. 79% of respondents stated that legalization would not affect their opinions on sports. As passionate fans continue to consume and place bets, 85% of respondents supported mechanisms to help curb problem gambling.

Community Benefit of Sports Stadiums

As cities and municipalities continue to weigh using public funds to pay for stadiums, we wondered if potential activities and policies could influence or motivate people in the community to support taxpayer funding of stadiums. A national poll on public spending for sports stadiums revealed that if tax subsidies were given to team owners, 62% of respondents would support requiring the implementation of sustainability standards such as low carbon footprint, and 66% of respondents support requiring team owners to financially compensate governments if the team decided to leave for another city.

Name, Image and Likeness

After decades of debate over whether college athletes should be able to monetize their own name, image and likeness, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously decided in favor of NIL policy. We wondered whether the general public supported or opposed the Court’s decision and if it would change their behaviors and attitudes toward college sports. For years, the NCAA justified its prohibition on athlete compensation by arguing that it would make college sports fans less likely to watch events and buy tickets. However, 53% of all respondents to the GSI poll somewhat or strongly agreed with the NCAA’s decision to allow college athletes to make money from NIL, and 7% stated it made them more likely to watch games while 6% said it would make them less likely to tune in. The data showed that overall, 51% of those surveyed, regardless of how they felt about NIL, said they would watch the same amount of college sports.