Washington Post Poll
This Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone and online July 29 to Aug 29, 2011, among a random sample of 1,010 adult residents of the Washington metro area. The poll was conducted by randomly sampling addresses tracked by the U.S. Postal Service and contacting respondents via mail and/or telephone to complete the survey. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Social Science Research Solutions (SSRS) of Media, Pa. Washington area defined as the District of Columbia, Charles, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in the state of Maryland and Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Loudoun, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, and Prince William County in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. Do you think things in the Washington area (are generally going in the right direction) or do you feel things (have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track)?
Right Wrong No
direction track opinion
8/29/11 36 54 10
3/29/10 51 33 17
Questions 2 through 4 previously released.
On another subject…
5. In general, would you describe yourself as an avid sports fan, a regular fan, a casual fan or not a fan at all?
--------- Sports fan -------- Not a fan No
NET Avid Regular Casual at all opinion
8/29/11 83 19 26 38 17 *
Compare to: National
10/16/11 75 19 19 37 25 *
6. (IF SPORTS FAN) Would you say you’re more a fan of (professional sports) or (college sports), or about the same equally?
Professional College The same No
sports sports equally opinion
8/29/11 55 10 35 *
7. Now thinking specifically about different sports, for each of the following would you say you care a great deal about it, care somewhat, just a little or not at all? How about (INSERT) do you care about it, a great deal, somewhat, just a little or not at all? And what about (INSERT)?
8/29/11 – summary table
------- Care -------- ----- Don’t care ------ No
NET Grt.deal Somewhat NET Just a little None op.
a. The National Football
League (NFL) 60 33 28 40 19 20 0
b. The National Basketball
Association (NBA) 31 13 18 69 26 43 0
c. The National Hockey
League (NHL) 26 9 18 74 18 55 0
d. Professional Soccer 22 9 14 77 20 57 *
e. Major League Baseball (MLB) 32 13 19 68 30 38 0
f. College football 39 17 22 61 19 42 *
g. College basketball 34 14 20 66 20 46 *
Among sports fans:
------- Care -------- ----- Don’t care ------ No
NET Grt.deal Somewhat NET Just a little None op.
a. The National Football
League (NFL) 71 39 32 29 20 9 0
b. The National Basketball
Association (NBA) 37 16 21 63 28 36 0
c. The National Hockey
League (NHL) 31 10 20 69 21 48 0
d. Professional Soccer 26 10 16 74 22 52 *
e. Major League Baseball (MLB) 37 15 22 63 33 31 0
f. College football 46 20 25 54 22 33 0
g. College basketball 39 16 23 61 22 38 *
8a. (IF FOOTBALL FAN) What is your favorite NFL team?
8/29/11
Washington Redskins 48
Baltimore Ravens 6
Dallas Cowboys 6
New England Patriots 5
Pittsburgh Steelers 5
Philadelphia Eagles 3
New York Giants 2
Indianapolis Colts 2
Green Bay Packers 1
Chicago Bears 1
Other 12
None 10
No opinion *
8b. (IF BASKETBALL FAN) What is your favorite NBA team?
8/29/11
Washington Wizards 29
Los Angeles Lakers 14
Boston Celtics 9
Miami Heat 7
Chicago Bulls 4
San Antonio Spurs 3
Washington Mystics 1
Dallas Mavericks 3
Philadelphia 76ers 1
Oklahoma City Thunder 1
New York Knicks 1
Detroit Pistons 1
Utah Jazz 1
Other 6
None 18
No opinion 1
8c. (IF HOCKEY FAN) What is your favorite NHL team?
8/29/11
Washington Capitals 72
Pittsburgh Penguins 5
Boston Bruins 2
Detroit Red Wings 2
Philadelphia Flyers 2
Buffalo Sabers 1
Other 8
None 8
No opinion 1
8d. (IF SOCCER FAN) What is your favorite professional soccer team?
8/29/11
DC United 42
Chicago Fire 9
U.S. men’s national team 8
U.S. women’s national team 4
Other 18
None 20
No opinion *
8e. (IF BASEBALL FAN) What is your favorite Major League Baseball team?
8/29/11
Washington Nationals 36
Baltimore Orioles 15
New York Yankees 8
Boston Red Sox 8
Philadelphia Phillies 2
Texas Rangers 2
Chicago Cubs 2
Cincinnati Reds 2
Atlanta Braves 2
Chicago White Sox 1
Pittsburgh Pirates 1
Detroit Tigers 1
St Louis Cardinals 1
Los Angeles Dodgers 1
Seattle Mariners 1
Cleveland Indians 1
Other 6
None 10
No opinion 1
9. (IF SPORTS FAN) Thinking about how you typically follow your favorite professional sports teams and players, how much news and information do you get from [ITEM], would you say: a great deal, a good amount, just some or hardly any? And how about [INSERT]
8/29/11 – summary table
-- Great deal/good amt. -- --- Just some/hardly any --- No
NET Grt.deal Good amt. NET Just some Hardly any opin.
a. Television 69 40 29 31 22 9 *
b. The radio 28 11 17 72 34 38 *
c. Print newspaper 37 14 24 63 27 35 *
d. The Internet 55 32 23 45 23 22 *
10. (IF NEWS FROM INTERNET) When you follow your favorite teams and players on the Internet, how much news and information do you typically get from [ITEM]: a great deal, a good amount, just some or hardly any?
8/29/11 – summary table
-- Great deal/good amt. -- --- Just some/hardly any --- No
NET Grt.deal Good amt. NET Just some Hardly any op.
a. Fan blogs or
message boards 10 3 7 90 16 74 0
b. Newspaper websites 42 18 24 58 32 26 0
c. Magazine or TV
websites such as
ESPN or Sports
Illustrated 51 25 25 49 22 27 *
d. Team websites 34 16 18 66 25 40 1
e. Social networking
sites, such as
Facebook or Twitter 20 9 10 80 17 63 0
11. (IF NEWS FROM INTERNET) How often, if ever, do you use the Internet to post comments about the professional sports or players you follow — frequently, sometimes, rarely or never?
----------- Often ---------- ---- Not often ----- No
NET Frequently Sometimes NET Rarely Never opinion
8/29/11 18 6 12 82 24 58 0
12. For each of the following, please tell me if you have or have not done this in the past year. First, have you [ITEM], or not? Next, have you …
8/29/11 – summary table
Yes No No opinion
a. Purchased a team jersey hat or other
item with a team logo 44 56 0
b. Paid for a sports magazine, either in
print or online 15 85 *
c. Bought a sports themed video game 16 84 *
d. Placed a bet on a sporting event 13 87 0
e. Participated in a fantasy sports league 13 87 *
13. (IF PLAYS FANTASY FOOTBALL) Which gives you more personal satisfaction, a win by your favorite professional team OR a win by your fantasy team?
Win by favorite pro team Win by fantasy team No opinion
8/29/11 89 11 *
Compare to: National Pew Research Center
3/7/06 66 29 5
14. (IF BET ON SPORTS) Which gives you more personal satisfaction, a win by your favorite professional team OR winning a sports bet?
Win by favorite pro team Winning a sports bet Equally Satisfying
8/29/11 66 27 7
15. (IF SPORTS FAN) Overall, how would you rate D.C. as a sports town, that is, compared with other cities, would you say Washington is one of the best sports cities in the nation, above average, average, below average or one of the worst?
------- Above Average ----- ---- Below Average ----- No
NET One of best Above avg. Average NET Below One of worst opinion
8/29/11 39 12 27 42 18 14 3 1
16. (IF SPORTS FAN) What do you think is the best sports city in the country?
DC area National
8/29/11 10/16/11
New York 21 16
Boston 14 6
Washington D.C. 11 1
Pittsburgh 8 5
Philadelphia 6 2
Dallas 5 7
Chicago 4 7
Los Angeles 4 4
Baltimore 2 *
Atlanta 1 2
Miami 1 1
Detroit * 4
Green Bay * 3
St. Louis * 3
San Francisco * 2
Baton Rouge * 1
Buffalo * 1
Charlotte * 1
Cleveland * 1
Denver * 1
Gainesville * 1
Houston * 1
Indianapolis * 1
Lexington * 1
Minneapolis * 1
New Orleans * 1
Seattle * 1
Tampa Bay * 1
Tuscaloosa * 1
Other 5 8
No opinion 16 17
Thinking specifically about professional sports in the Washington area…
17. (IF SPORTS FAN) Overall would you say you have a strongly favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or strongly unfavorable impression of [TEAM], or do you not know enough about this team to say?
8/29/11 – summary table
----- Favorable ----- --- Unfavorable --- Don’t know No
NET Strgly. Smwh. NET Smwh. Stgly. abt.team opinion
a. Capitals 61 30 31 3 3 1 35 1
b. D.C. United 43 11 32 5 3 1 52 1
c. Nationals 61 18 42 12 10 2 27 *
d. Redskins 55 24 31 34 20 14 10 *
e. Wizards 44 10 34 26 16 10 30 *
18. (IF SPORTS FAN) Which sport, if any, do you watch or follow the most – (football), (baseball), (basketball), (hockey), (soccer), (tennis), (golf), or something else?
8/29/11
Football 56
Basketball 10
Baseball 10
Soccer 7
Hockey 5
Tennis 4
Golf 3
Something else 6
No opinion *
19. (IF SPORTS FAN) In a typical week, how many hours do you spend watching sports programming on television? (OPEN END)
Under 1 1-2 3-4 5-10 10+ No opinion Average
8/29/11 12 29 25 17 15 1 4.9 hours
20. In the past year, how many, if any, professional sports events have you attended? (OPEN END)
None 1-2 3-4 5-10 10+ No opinion Average
8/29/11 53 21 13 9 5 * 2.15 events
21. (IF ATTENDED EVENT) Do you typically go to games with friends, family, business associates, by yourself or some other way?
8/29/11
Friends 53
Family 41
Business associates 2
By yourself 2
Other 1
None 0
No Opinion 1
22. (IF SPORTS FAN) What’s your favorite sport to watch live in person – (football), (baseball), (basketball), (hockey), (soccer), (tennis), (golf), or some other sport?
8/29/11
Football 36
Baseball 15
Basketball 14
Hockey 10
Soccer 9
Tennis 4
Golf 2
Auto Racing 2
Other 3
None 6
No opinion *
23. If you had your choice, when it comes to experiencing professional sporting events, would you say you prefer to (watch on television) or (attend in person at the stadium or arena)?
Watch on TV Attend in person Don’t watch (vol.) No opinion
8/29/11 50 47 3 *
24. (IF PREFERS TV) I’m going to read some reasons people give for preferring to watch games on television. After I read each one, please tell me if it is a major reason, a minor reason or not a reason you prefer to watch games on TV. First, [INSERT], is that a major reason, a minor reason or not a reason?
8/29/11 – summary table
-------------- Yes --------------
NET Major reason Minor reason Not a reason No opinion
a. Easier to see 83 64 18 17 *
b. Ticket prices 81 65 16 19 *
c. Travel time 77 48 29 23 1
d. Food 49 24 24 51 *
e. Overall comfort 85 62 23 14 1
f. Bathrooms 53 25 28 47 *
g. Obnoxious fans 61 31 30 38 *
25. (IF PREFERS LIVE) I’m going to read some reasons people give for preferring live sporting events. After I read each one, please tell me if it is a major reason, a minor reason or not a reason you prefer live sporting events. First, [INSERT], is that a major reason, a minor reason or not a reason?
8/29/11 – summary table
-------------- Yes -------------- Not a No
NET Major reason Minor reason reason opinion
a. Full view of game 92 60 31 8 *
b. Enthusiastic fans 82 51 31 18 *
c. Tailgating 46 15 30 54 *
d. Souvenirs 31 6 25 69 0
e. Feeling like part
of the team 71 39 33 29 *
f. Business relationships 29 10 19 71 0
g. Hanging with friends 89 59 30 11 *
26. (IF ATTENDED EVENT) When you attend games do you mostly pay for the tickets yourself, or does someone else typically pay or both about equally?
Pay for tickets Someone else pays Both equally No opinion
8/29/11 48 17 35 *
27. (IF SPORTS FAN) Would you say you attend professional sporting events these days more often than you used to, less often or has the number of games not changed much over the years?
More often Less often Not changed No opinion
8/29/11 13 49 38 *
28. (IF SPORTS FAN) Thinking about the past 10 years, what is your impression of going to see live sporting events, has the experience improved, gotten worse or has it not changed much?
Improved Gotten worse Not changed No opinion
8/29/11 21 25 52 2
28a. (IF GOTTEN WORSE) Why has the experience gotten worse? Why else?
8/29/11
COST-RELATED (NET) 56
Cost/it's too expensive 29
Ticket costs 24
Parking costs 5
Cost of the concessions/food 10
Other cost-related 2
FANS (NET) 28
Rude/unruly/obnoxious fans 26
Drunken fans 5
Other fans *
TRAFFIC/PARKING (NET) 11
Traffic/difficult/time consuming to get in and out 7
Parking issues/difficult parking 7
GAME EXPERIENCE (NET) 7
Poor team performance 2
Too many commercial breaks/TV time outs *
Visibility 2
Other game experience 2
STADIUM-RELATED (NET) 10
Uncomfortable seats 3
The music/loud music playing when game is not 2
The stadium itself/outdated 1
The food is not good 2
The location of the stadium 1
Other stadium related 2
PERSONNEL-RELATED (NET) 6
Player issues/high salaries/players don't care/drugs 3
Owner(s)/management issues/only care about money 1
Other personnel-related 2
Crowds/too crowded/too much congestion 14
Quality of the experience has gone down 2
Too much hassle overall 1
Travel to get there/difficult/time consuming 9
Easier/more enjoyable/comfortable to watch at home 2
Other 8
No opinion 1
Thinking again about D.C. sports…
29. (IF SPORTS FAN) Overall, do you have a strongly favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or strongly unfavorable impression of [INSERT], or do you not know enough about this person to say?
8/29/11 – summary table
---- Favorable ---- --- Unfavorable --- Don’t know No
NET Strgly. Smwh. NET Smwh. Strgly. enough opin.
a. Dan Snyder 20 5 15 54 20 35 26 *
b. Ted Leonsis 41 20 21 4 4 * 55 *
c. Ted Lerner 27 5 22 9 6 3 64 *
d. John Wall 33 10 22 4 4 1 62 1
e. Stephen Strasburg 47 21 26 4 3 1 49 *
f. Alex Ovechkin 55 30 25 2 2 1 43 *
g. Mike Shanahan 48 12 36 25 15 10 27 *
30. Based on your experience, how would you rate the following venues – First, [INSERT], would you rate it as excellent, good, not so good or poor or have you never been to that venue. How about [INSERT]
8/29/11 – summary table
----- Positive ----- ------ Negative ------ Never No
NET Excellent Good NET Not so good Poor been op.
a. FedEx Field where
the Redskins play 39 12 27 15 10 5 46 *
b. Verizon Center
where the Capitals
and Wizards play 61 21 40 6 5 * 33 1
c. Nationals Park where
the National play 49 25 24 2 2 * 49 *
d. RFK Stadium where
D.C. United plays 34 6 28 25 16 9 40 2
31. (IF SPORTS FAN) Who would you name as the greatest sports figure in D.C. history?
8/29/11
FOOTBALL (NET) 43
Joe Gibbs 9
John Riggins 8
Sonny Jurgenson 6
Joe Theismann 5
Darrell Green 5
Doug Williams 3
Art Monk 2
Sammy Baugh 1
Donovan McNabb 1
BASEBALL (NET) 5
Walter Johnson 2
Cal Ripken 1
Frank Howard 1
HOCKEY (NET) 7
Alexander Ovechkin 6
BASKETBALL (NET) 7
Michael Jordan 2
Wes Unseld 1
Larry Brown 1
Moses Malone 1
Elgin Baylor 1
Other 8
No opinion 31
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