08/25/2017
The Washington Post
The Washington Post and the University of Massachusetts Lowell have partnered to conduct the most comprehensive survey on sports and the views of sports fans in more than a decade. The wide-ranging nationally representative poll will explore fandom of a wide range of sports, including fan sentiments, and new ways Americans are following sports. The poll also asked questions about collegiate athletics, fantasy sports and gambling, and views of fans on major issues in pro football.
The first poll by The Post and the University’s Center for Public Opinion (https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/boxing/before-mayweather-mcgregor-poll-shows-mma-isnt-stealing-boxings-popularity/2017/08/25/f9b3f47a-892f-11e7-a50f-e0d4e6ec070a_story.html?utm_term=.7592cffc4cd7) was released today ahead of the highly anticipated fight between undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor. It shows that 25 percent of Americans are fans of mixed martial arts, narrowly edged by 28 percent who are fans of professional boxing. Fully 38 percent of adults are fans of one of the two sports, signaling the significant crossover appeal in Saturday’s fight. Full results can be found (https://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2017/08/25/National-Politics/Polling/release_485.xml) here.
Additional poll results will be released over the coming months.