More than a third of Americans (35%) claim professional football as their favorite sport, up 11 percentage points since 1985, finds Harris Interactive. It is followed distantly by baseball (16%, down seven points), college football (12%, up two points), and auto racing (9%, up four points), finds Harris Interactive. Only 5% say professional basketball is their favorite, which experienced a high in the late ’90s when 13% said it was tops.
Among Blacks:
• Pro football is by far the favorite sport (45%).
• They under-index as fans of baseball (7%), college football (6%), and auto racing (0%).
Among Hispanics:
• They under-index as fans of professional football (26%).
• They over-index as fans of baseball (24%).
Among young Americans:
• 18-24 year olds are nearly as likely to say college football is their favorite sport (26%) as they are to name pro football (27%). [Sports, Opinion]
Source: “Football Expands Lead As America’s Favorite Sport,” Harris Interactive, Tracey McNerney, 60 Corporate Woods, Rochester, NY 14623; 585-214-7756; tmcnerney@harrisinteractive.com; www.harrisinteractive.com.
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