Save Some Leftovers: 4 In 10 College Football Fans Would Choose Free 50 Yard Line Seats Over Thanksgiving Dinner

November 21, 2013

Turkey and Stuffing Top Fans’ Favorite Culinary Delights at Thanksgiving

RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 21, 2013-- Thanksgiving marks a time-honored tradition of food, family and friends all cozied up in a warm and delectable atmosphere. However, put a pair of 50 yard line tickets on the Thanksgiving table and you may find a few seats open come turkey time.

Battling the brisk November weather to watch their favorite college football team from 50 yard line seats has fans seriously contemplating Thanksgiving Day plans as 42 percent said they would skip the big dinner in favor of these free tickets. On the flip side, home is where the heart is for 55 percent of fans who said they would choose to stay home for Thanksgiving dinner with family, according to this week’s Discover Fan Loyalty Poll.

When breaking the data down by conference, fans of an SEC or American Athletic Conference team were most likely to take the free tickets, at 46 percent – three percentage points higher than the average fan. Conversely, fans of Pac-12 teams wouldn’t skip traditional Thanksgiving Day festivities, as 60 percent would pass up the tickets in favor of spending the day with family.

Turkey Reigns Supreme as Fan Favorite

In the longstanding debate over which Thanksgiving dinner staple people can’t live without, college football fans weighed in and turkey sits squarely on top. Forty-eight percent are big fans of turkey for dinner, followed by:

  • Stuffing, 20 percent
  • Pie, 9 percent
  • Mashed potatoes, 7 percent
  • Cranberry sauce, 2 percent

For another 12 percent of fans, something else takes the spot of their favorite Thanksgiving Day delight, and 3 percent were unable to choose a favorite.

Alabama’s Stronghold Endures

While Alabama continues to reign as fans’ No. 1 choice as the top team in the country right now, there’s a new team in town that has inched its way into the top five. Baylor took the fourth spot, above Oregon and Stanford, as one of the top five teams for the first time this year. Rankings were as follows:

  • Alabama, 49 percent
  • Florida State, 14 percent
  • Ohio State, 8 percent
  • Baylor, 5 percent
  • Oregon, 3 percent
  • Stanford, 3 percent*

*Fans were polled on Nov. 11, 2013.

The Discover Fan Loyalty Poll is conducted twice a month by Rasmussen Reports, a nationally recognized leader in polling, who gathers sentiment by phone from 1500 college football fans who follow games at least once per week on television, radio, in person or online. The Poll leads up to the 2014 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 issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers home loans, private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its direct banking business. It operates the 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.discover.com/company.

Source: Discover Financial Services

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