Seton Hall Sports Poll

Seton Hall Sports Poll
Seton Hall Sports Poll Podcast

Hosted by Seth Everett & Rick Gentile. The poll has surveyed the nation's populous on matters of interest, such as PED use, gambling, & key sports figures

  1. 10/05/2018

    April 2018 (Baseball)

    By a 2-1 margin, and In the first measurement of “speed-up” rule changes initiated this year by Major League Baseball, 46% of Americans believe that these changes, especially limiting visits to the mound, will make the game feel like it’s going faster.  Only 24% said it would not feel faster, (31% had no opinion.) The Seton Hall Sports Poll, conducted last week after three weeks of this season had concluded, presented a positive endorsement for MLB of its changes. The poll showed 53% saying games took too long, with 40% disagreeing. When the same question was asked by the Seton Hall Sports Poll in 2011, only 44% said the games took too long, with 51% disagreeing.  The “feel” of the games having a faster pace was important to officials at MLB during the winter, when the changes were approved.    By 3 to 1, a rule that was implemented only on the minor league level was soundly booed by respondents.  The minors are experimenting with allowing a runner to be stationed at second base to start an extra inning, but only 20% said they favored that at the Major League level, and 60% disdained it.  Baseball still has at least a perception problem when it comes to performance enhancing drugs, with 39% saying they believe the problem still exists, with 31% disagreeing. Asked if big market clubs have an advantage in acquiring the best free agent players, 80% said yes, compared to 84% when the poll asked the same question seven years ago. The poll asked whether there are not enough African-American players in the Major Leagues, a question that was also asked in 2011.  Attitudes have shifted over seven years: Among white respondents this year, 27% felt there were not enough; while 43% disagreed.  Among African-American respondents, 61% agreed while only 19% disagreed.

    28 min
  2. 01/03/2018

    February 2018 (Olympics, South Korea, NBA)

    Vice President Mike Pence’s decision to remain seated as the combined North and South Korean teams entered the stadium during Olympic Opening Ceremonies received a harsh rebuke from the American public - by 3-to-1, according to a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted this week.  A strong 66% said the gesture was not appropriate, with only 18% supporting the decision.  People in the 18-44 age bracket disapproved by 72%-14%, while older people, by 60% to 22% -  were somewhat more supportive - but still strongly opposed. The poll was conducted this week with random calls to 775 adults on landlines and cellphones across the country, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.6%. As for the Olympic Games themselves, 17% named “streaming” as the manner in which they mostly watched the Games, and while 54% named NBC’s primetime coverage, the 17% is significant for the communications industry as a breakthrough number.  (12% named “other TV networks” as their most preferred option). Meanwhile, as far as general interest in the Winter Olympics,  only 9% say their interest in greater, while 18% say it is less than previously.  But among those 18-29, coveted by advertisers, interest was greater among 20%, with only single digits in older age groups (7% in the 30-44 category, 6% among 45-59 and 7% among 60+). 66% said it didn’t matter whether they were viewing an event live or delayed.  And 66% also said that NBC has done a good job of generating interest in the Games. This is the first Olympics in many years without Matt Lauer’s presence in the morning, and Bob Costas serving as host in prime time.  16% said the evening coverage was “not as good” without Costas, and 11% said morning coverage was “not as good” without Lauer.

    32 min
  3. 09/02/2018

    January/February 2018 - Olympics, Gymnastics Sex Assault Scandal, NBA Gambling

    The Winter Olympics in South Korea may be 14 time zones removed from the Eastern Time Zone of the US - but 43% of Americans say they plan to watch NBC’s live streaming content during the Games, with only 48% saying they did not have such plans. A big chunk of the country - 63% - say they will watch at least some coverage of the Games, which begin Friday, February 8.  That is double those who said “no” (31%) to watching any coverage.  Asked if they would be more likely to buy a product advertising during the Olympics, 87% said it would make no difference, a number that advertising executives would surely debate.  Five percent said they were “more likely” and 5% said “less likely” to buy the product. BIG PUSHBACK ON NBA PROPOSAL FOR GAMBLING ON GAMES IN NEW YORK STATE The Poll also asked people about a proposal from the NBA that would allow gambling on its games in New York State, using hand held devices and kiosks in addition to casinos and racetracks.  (The league would receive one percent of all wagers).  Asked if the league should be taking such an active role in promoting the legalization of sports gambling, 69% said “no” with only 16% saying “yes,” and 14% in the don’t know/no opinion category.  But there was a clear age difference in support of wagering.  While only 7% of those 45-59 supported the New York State proposal, the number jumped to 19% for those 30-44 and 36 percent for those 18-29.

    23 min
  4. 05/12/2017

    November/December 2017 - Trump/NFL Anthem Controversy

    A Seton Hall Sports Poll has found that 71% of Americans would like President Trump to stay out of the NFL controversy surrounding the protest actions of players during the national anthem.  23% say he should continue to comment.  Just a month ago, 37% felt it was appropriate for the President to get involved in the issue, when the question was posed regarding his call for a petition to support standing for the anthem. The poll asked if keeping players in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem next season would be an effective way for the NFL to deal with the controversy.  63% said no, and 27% said yes.  The Poll also asked whether people intended to purchase any NFL merchandise this holiday season, with 20% saying yes and 74% saying no.  Of those saying yes a fifth said they were affected by the current controversies, and of those saying no, a third were affected by the controversies.   As for the rehiring of Roger Goodell as NFL commissioner, only 19% felt his contract should be extended, while double that - 39%  - said the NFL should look for a new commissioner.  42% didn’t know or had no opinion.  Among those saying they were African-American, 43% were in favor of his contract being extended, while only 15% of whites were so inclined.  The Poll also asked whether the current method for determining the college football championship is fair to all qualifying NCAA schools.  34% said yes, 23% no, with 43% indicating “don’t know” or not having an opinion.

    23 min

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Hosted by Seth Everett & Rick Gentile. The poll has surveyed the nation's populous on matters of interest, such as PED use, gambling, & key sports figures

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