January 2016 - Super Bowl, Pete Rose, Hall of Fame

The latest Seton Hall Sports Poll, which polled 771 Americans (by landline and cellphone across the nation), was unveilved on January 28, 2016.  With the Super Bowl coming right as the presidential primary season “kicks off,” Americans said they were following the presidential contests by more than a 2-to-1 margin over football, with 60% choosing the political contests, and 24% the Super Bowl.  53% say the political races will be the most competitive, compared to 37% naming the Super Bowl. 

The reasons for watching the Super Bowl are of course, varied.  40% said it was best explained because they were football fans, with 19% saying they were a fan of one of the participating teams, 18% saying it was a “big event,” and 10% interested in the commercials.  Only 2% said it was primarily because they had a bet on the game, although in another question, 13% said they participated in wagering on the game.

Peyton Manning, whose name emerged recently as having been sent human growth hormones (the report was on Al Jazeera and was recanted by the source), was the subject of a question on whether that report changed opinions about him.  (During the polling period, the NFL announced it would investigate the charges).  A significant 11% said they thought “less favorably” of him, and 76% said it had no effect.

Pete Rose, who will be inducted in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame this year, was the subject of two questions, the first asking whether that was appropriate - to which 47% said yes, 33% no.  The second asked if he should be eligible to be elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, to which 56% said yes, 28% no.

The Seton Hall Sports Poll has been conducted regularly since 2006.

Media: Media: Marty Appel Public Relations (212) 245-1772, AppelPR@gmail.com; Rick Gentile (917) 881-9489.