Since 2023, Siena College Research Institute (SCRI) and St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication have partnered to conduct an annual national survey of sports fanship across the United States. The ASFS asks respondents about their participation in sports fanship activities including but not limited to watching the games, consuming sports commentary, and discussing sports with family and friends. It uses this to calculate the Sports Fanship Index, categorizing respondents into either avid sports fans, involved fans, casual fans, or non-fans.
This index provides an additional dimension of insight into the views of every type of sports fan throughout the United States. SCRI and St. Bonaventure investigate fans’ engagement in the Super Bowl, participation in fantasy sports and sports betting, their attitudes on contemporary issues in sports, and more. Read more about the latest ASFS here…
View the data and analysis from each year’s study below.
Release 1: The Super Bowl
- America Forecasts Kansas City 3-Peat; Fans Predicted KC vs. Detroit in Super Bowl; 29% Said Chiefs, 8% Eagles as Playoffs Kicked Off
- 72% Will Watch the Big Game; 35% Say ‘Should be a National Holiday’, 46% Support Monday after the Game as a Paid Day Off
- 37% Plan to Bet on Super Bowl; 57% Will Wager with Online Sportsbooks
Release 2: Issues in Sport Today
- 61% Say Football Promotes Values Making America Better; By 57-14% Football Does More to Overcome not Perpetuate Discrimination; Strong Support for ‘Rooney Rule’ and Displaying ‘End Racism’ on Helmets
- 4 in 10 Say NFL Not Doing Enough Penalizing Domestic Abusers or Players that Committed Sexual Assault; 79% Support Rule Changes to Lessen Brain Injuries; Only 26% Say NFL Doing Excellent Job Protecting Athletes
- NIL Good for Sports, 44-33%; Americans Mixed on College Transfer Portal; Majority Think Streaming Services Good for Sports; 55% Have Subscribed
Part 3: Online Sports Betting
- 22% of All Americans, Half of Men 18-49, Have Active Online Sports Betting Account
- Bettors Bullish on Gambling Apps; But 52% Have ‘Chased’ a Bet, 37% Ashamed After Losing, 20% Lost Money Couldn’t Afford, 34% Know Someone with Online Sports Betting Problem; Only 9% Ever Sought Help with Problem Gambling
- By 50-34% Americans Support Online Sports Betting Being Legal in all 50 States But 65% Think It Will Create Compulsive Gamblers; 58% Say Federal Govt. Should Regulate to Protect Customers; 63% Support SAFE BET Act
Release 1: Sports and the Super Bowl
- 3 of 4 Americans Will Watch Super Bowl LVIII
- Pizza & Wings Top Gametime Treats
- All-time Best Games, Plays, Commercials & Halftime Shows Revealed
Release 2: Online Sports Betting
- 39% of Americans Bet on Sports, 19% Have Online Sports Betting Account, Including 39% of Young Men & 20% of Young Women
- Online Bettors Say Its Fun, Makes Watching Games More Interesting, Think They’ll Win & Signed Up Because of a Promotion
- 15% Know Someone with Online Sports Betting Problem; Of Bettors – Nearly 40% Felt Ashamed After Losing & Bet More than Should, 18% Lost Money Needed to Meet Financial Obligations;
- Americans Say 65-23% ‘Online Sports Betting Will Create Compulsive Gamblers’
Release 1: Sports Fanship/All Things Football
- New Siena/St. Bonaventure Survey Reveals: 70% of Americans Say They Are Sports Fans, Nearly Half Engage Daily or Several Times Every Week
- Overwhelming Majorities Watch Football to Bond with Family and Friends; Watching
Football Teaches Teamwork, Strategy and Leadership; 27% Say Football Is Too Violent - Dallas Cowboys – America’s Most Liked and Hated NFL Team;
Tom Brady, Joe Montana Most Popular ‘Current’ and Past NFL Players
Release 2: All Things Super Bowl
- 75% of Americans Plan to Watch Super Bowl LVII; 53% Say The Game is
Important Part of Their Lives; 29% Consider Super Bowl a National Holiday - 82% Look Forward to Commercials; 80% Enjoy Halftime Show;
78% ‘Love the game, never miss it’, 75% Want to Eat and Drink - Chips & Dip Tops List of Super Bowl Treats; Wings, Pizza, Nachos Will be at
Most Game Parties; Only 1 in 5 Likely to Wager on The Game
Release 3: Sports Issues
- 7 in 10 Americans Support Rule Changes to Make Football Safer For Players and Want to See Independent Doctors on Sidelines
- 60% Support Display of Slogans Like “End Racism” on Helmets and Field; Football Does More to Overcome – Not Perpetuate – Racism: 54%-14%
- 53% of Americans Say Football Promote Value that Make America a Better Country
- Public Funds to Build New Football Stadiums Opposed 53-27%