Battle of the Sexes: Women Are More Loyal College Football Fans
Than Men
RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 21, 2012--
After 14 weeks of crunching the numbers, the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll
finds that Southeastern Conference (SEC) college football fans show the
most die-hard loyalty of any major conference, and women are more
passionate fans than men.
SEC fans outranked fans of the other major conferences and independent
teams in showing their loyalty across four questions tracked each week
when it comes to watching their team play, following their games through
a bad season, sharing their pride with friends and family, and regularly
wearing school colors.
Somewhat or very important to watch my favorite team’s game each
week:
|
1. SEC
|
2. Independent
|
3. Big 12
|
4. ACC
|
5. Big Ten
|
6. Pac-12
|
7. Big East
|
8. Some other conference
|
|
Still follow my team’s games even if they are having a bad season:
|
1. SEC
|
2. Big Ten
|
3. Independent, Pac-12 (tie)
|
4. Big 12, ACC (tie)
|
5. Some other conference
|
6. Big East
|
|
Friends and family know my favorite team:
|
1. SEC
|
2. Big Ten
|
3. Independent
|
4. ACC
|
5. Big 12
|
6. Pac-12
|
7. Big East
|
8. Some other conference
|
|
Regularly wear my favorite team’s logo on apparel or other items:
|
1. SEC
|
2. Big Ten, ACC (tie)
|
3. Big 12
|
4. Big East, Some other conference (tie)
|
5. Independent
|
6. Pac-12
|
|
One SEC team in particular appears to have the most loyal fans among the
Top 20 teams. Although Auburn finished the 2012 season with a 3-9 record
and rival school Alabama will play in the Discover BCS National
Championship Game, Auburn fans are the most loyal based on the four
tracked questions. Rounding out the top five is Nebraska, West Virginia,
Wisconsin and Iowa.
Among all those surveyed by the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll throughout the
season, women edged out men by a small margin as the most loyal college
football fans. When their team is having a bad season, 87 percent of
women and 85 percent of men follow their games every week. When asked if
they regularly wear clothing with their team’s logo, 52 percent of women
and 49 percent of men responded with yes, and 82 percent of women’s and
79 percent of men’s families and friends know which team is their
favorite. The two agreed on a weekly commitment to their team, as 79
percent of men and women say it’s very important to watch their team’s
games each week.
The 14-week Discover Fan Loyalty Poll was conducted by Rasmussen
Reports, a nationally recognized leader in polling, who gathered
sentiment by phone from 800 college football fans who follow games at
least once per week on television, radio, in person or online.
Discover launched the Fan Loyalty Poll to give die-hard fans a platform
to showcase their dedication and love for their favorite college
football team leading up to the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship
Game and 2013 Discover Orange Bowl. Each week the poll offered new
questions about what college football fans were thinking this season.
Beyond title sponsorship of the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship
Game and 2013 Discover Orange Bowl, Discover’s commitment to college
football includes relationships with ESPN and Notre Dame Football on NBC.
About Discover
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment
services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S.
financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become
one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company
operates the Discover
card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers home loans, private
student loans, personal loans, online savings accounts, certificates of
deposit and money market accounts through its direct
banking business. Its payment
businesses consist of Discover
Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE,
one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners
Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in
more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discoverfinancial.com.
Source: Discover Financial Services
Discover
Katie Henry, 224-405-4437
kathrynhenry@discover.com
or
Discover
Matthew
Towson, 224-405-5649
matthewtowson@discover.com