92% of Texas Fans Say Sports Unite, Yet 61% Insult Rivals
Do the Super Bowl and the Olympics actually bring us closer together? Betting.net set out to see just how much sports really unite Americans, surveying 2,000 sports fans nationwide in a year packed with major sporting events from the Winter Olympics to the FIFA World Cup.
92% of Texas fans say that sporting events unite, yet 61% insult their rivals, per Betting.net. Read on for the entire United Fans of America study, along with state-by-state data.
Texas Fans Say Sports Unite, Yet More Than Half Insult Rivals
According to Betting.net, 92% of Texas fans believe that major sporting events bring people with different political views closer together. 72% reported feeling a stronger sense of national or regional unity during major sporting events than on national holidays. Yet 61% admitted that they’ve insulted rivals over sports.
In the rest of the United States, 87% of sports fans believe that major sporting events bring people with different political views closer together. 80% of sports fans report feeling closer to others who support the same national team. 58% of sports fans admit that they’ve insulted or mocked someone over sports.
From the Olympic Winter Games to the FIFA World Cup hosted in the U.S., and from the World Baseball Classic to a new Formula 1 season, the Betting.net study is a small sample of the many major sporting events taking place this year. There’s a lot for any fan to look forward to.
There isn’t anything better than sports fans coming together to cheer on their favorite teams. Whether on the world stage or within a national league, the love of sport is meant to be shared.
Texas Fans’ Outlook
At least 79% of respondents reported that national unity is strengthened during major international sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games.
69% said that the feeling is even stronger during international tournaments than during domestic league games. In fact, 75% reported that supporting American athletes or teams makes them proud to be American.
However, the sense of connection extends beyond national pride: 81% reported feeling closer to people who support the same team, even when those people are complete strangers. Most of them put that feeling into action, too, as two-thirds said that they’re more likely to initiate a conversation with someone after knowing that they share a fandom for the same team.
For 87% of fans, sports create such a strong sense of connection that they believe major events can bring together people with different political views. 68% reported feeling closer to fellow Americans during major sporting events than on national holidays. That said, the Texas fans’ outlook appears mixed. Sports can certainly bring people together, but not necessarily in Texas.
Sports rivalries lead to an “us vs. them” mindset among 74% of sports fans. This percentage likely includes Texas sports fans. In general, 80% of American sports fans reported having witnessed people being insulted or harassed because of sports at least once.
Next Steps
Sports competition can spark conflict among fans in the United States. This would include some Texas fans, as many U.S. fans are willing to admit that they’ve played a role in insulting, mocking, or harassing someone because of sports, whether in person and/or online. 24% admitted that they sometimes create tension with friends and family.
As in the rest of the U.S., Texas sports fans can be better behaved at sporting events. This can start by striving for a sense of camaraderie, whether a team wins, loses, or draws, and remembering to keep trash talk about the sport without any personal attacks.
