Jut (ar-icbcr/eagleton POLL

Transcription

1 Jut ar-icbcr/eagleton POLL FOR RELEASE: SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 1987 CONTACT: CLIFF ZUKIN OR RELEASE; SL/EP15-3 EP65-3) BOB CARTER RELEASE INFORMATION A story based on the survey findings presented in this release and back ground memo will appear in Sunday s Star-Ledger. Other newspapers may also use this information in their Sunday editions. Electronic media may release after 6:00 p.m. Saturday, June 27. We ask users to properly attribute this copyrighted information to the Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll. PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR BRINGING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO THE GARDEN STATE: BRING ON THE NEW JERSEY YANKEES--OR ANY OTHER TEAM A clear majority of New Jerseyans like the idea of bringing major league baseball to the Garden State. But even though a sizeable number of state residents say they are quite excited by the prospect of having a home team in their home state, and only a handfull are opposed to the idea, citizens stop short of giving state government a clear mandate to lead the charge that could turn their hopes into a reality. A new Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll released today shows that the public is generally supportive of plans to build a stadium and attract a major league baseball team to the Garden State, and that most citizens recognize a number of potential benefits baseball might bring, such as stimulating the state s economy, improving the state s image, and providing a good addition to the recreational opportunities available to state residents. The survey, conducted by telephone with a statewide sample of 800 state residents between May 28 and June 9, also finds New Jerseyans to be evenly divided about where in the state the new facility should be located. Garden State residents speak with a single voice, however, on an issue of state -more- ATTENTION RADIO STATIONS: Audio is available after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27 from 201) Rutgers Feature Phone). IJbJ1E:I.S THE TA1 UNWETRSETV OF NEW JEiV Eogleton Institute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey /

2 EP65-3 SL/EP15-3) Page 2 pride. The overwhelming majority feel that any baseball team coming into th state should first agree to use New Jersey in its team name--even if that team is the New York Yankees. There appears to be a strong base of fan support in New Jersey--22 percent say they follow professional baseball very closely, with another 21 percent saying they follow it somewhat closely. popular of the three teams in the area: 34 The Mets appear to be the most percent of state residents call themselves a fan of the Mets, compared to 27 percent for the Yankees and 14 percent for the Phillies. Just over half of all residents--56 percent--report having heard or read something about plans to build a stadium and bring a major league baseball team to New Jersey. Statewide, 60 percent think the idea is a good one, with 25 percent of the total going further to say they find the idea very exciting. Only 6 percent voice opposition to the proposal, with the remaining 34 percent saying they really don t care one way or the other. Baseball fans, men, residents of the northern part of the state and younger New Jerseyans express more enthusiasm than their respective counterparts. The survey also finds that the healthy levels of fan support and favorable public response do not automatically translate into a demand for strong governmental action. Residents appear to feel the state should play a supportive rather than a leadership role in the effort to bring baseball to New Jersey. Only 21 percent feel state government should be very involved in helping to build a stadium and attract a team. Slightly more--31 percent--say that government should not get involved at all. A plurality of 42 percent thinks the state should be somewhat involved in this effort, with the remainder expressing no opinion. -more-

3 south of the Meadowlands sports complex. Statewide, 46 percent say they would remaining 10 percent offer no opinion. Responses divide sharply along regional like to see the stadium located near the Meadowlands, while 44 percent would prefer the facility to be located more in the center of the state. The baseball facility should be built. The likely site is in Lyndhurst, just New Jerseyans are strongly divided over the question of where a new -more- serving as a source of state pride. of the state and actually reinforce the existing regional division, even while the Meadowlands could increase tension between the northern and southern parts growing sense of state identity. On the other hand, a facility located near league team flying the flag of the Garden State should certainly reinforce the have crosscutting effects on the state s culture. On the one hand, a major Cliff Zukin, director of the Poll commented, Baseball is an issue that may should keep their name the same. Yankee fans favor this name change, compared to 33 percent who say the Yankees margin of 2 to 1. Even 60 percent of those New Jerseyans who call themselves they too should change their name and be known as the New Jersey Yankees by a about the possibility of the New York Yankees moving to New Jersey, more felt sentiment, with the remainder offering no opinion. When asked specifically use New Jersey in its team name. Only 10 percent disagree with this percent) say that any baseball team moving into the state should first agree to comes to an issue of state identity and pride. Over three-quarters 78 Despite this schism, all New Jerseyans put regionalism behind them when it those living in the center of the state by 56 to 30 percent. more centrally located facility by a lopsided margin of 71 to 18 percent, as do to 26 percent with the remainder undecided); south jersey residents prefer a lines: north jersey residents prefer the Meadowlands location by a margin of 65 EP65-3 SL/EP15-3) Page 3

4 EP65-3 SL/EP15-3) Page 4 The survey also asked Garden State residents what they thought of three benefits that major league baseball might bring to the state: -- Half of those interviewed feel the possibility for bringing in business and helping the state s economy is a very good reason for trying to attract major league baseball, with another 37 percent saying this is a pretty good reason. Only 12 percent think the economic benefits are not really a good reason for the state to pursue a team. C -- The -- Just feeling that it would be good for the state s image--how others see New Jersey was given as a very good reason to try to attract a baseball team by 31 percent, with another 36 percent saying this is a pretty good reason. A like number, 30 percent do not think this is a good reason at all, with the remainder voicing no opinion. under 40 percent view the addition of major league baseball as a recreational opportunity available to state residents as a very good reason to pursue a team, with a like number describing this as a pretty good reason. Twenty percent do not think this is a good reason for bringing baseball to New Jersey Copyright, The Eagleton Institute/Newark Star-Ledger, 1987.

5 tell the whole story. As would be expected, there are sizable regional of this survey also revealed some interesting differences in fan support for the they are Met fans, 27 percent Yankee fans, and 14 percent Phillie fans), do not these findings may be a little less clear, they are also a lot more fun. baseball to New Jersey from a policy perspective, the data collected in the course various teams. See page 4 of the background memo.) While the policy relevance of In addition to exploring the serious issues involved in attracting major league The statewide totals of fan support for the various teams 34 percent say Democrats. to fan support--democrats favor the Mets while Republicans give more are Yankee fans, as do 28 percent of Independents and 25 percent of For the team from the Bronx, 30 percent of New Jersey Republicans say they -- Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there is a partisan political bias allegiance. The breakdowns: Thirty-nine percent of Democrats say they are consider themselves Met fans, only 25 percent of this group claim Yankee support to the Yankees relatively speaking). The clearest example is in the case of the state s Democrats. While almost 40 percent of Democrats to 28 percent. equal numbers of fans. Among non-whites, however, the Met advantage is Among percent). 37 to 34 percent); their advantage is nine points among women 30 to The Mets have a three percentage point advantage in fan support among men fans. renters, however, 40 percent say they are Met fans and 25 percent Yankee -- Among home owners, about equal numbers claim to support each team. Among $30,000 or more. Yankees have a one percentage point fan advantage among those earning however, a definite upper income bias with Yankee fans. Among those -- About earning $15,000 or less, 39 percent say they are Met fans compared to only equal numbers of all income groups claim to be Met fans. There is, appeal, and yes, even mare sex appeal. Here s a look at some of the numbers. Simply put, the Mets have more blue collar appeal than the Yankees, more ethnic The really interesting differences, however, are between those New Jerseyans of South Jersey residents. Philadelphia Phillies, for example, compared to a much more impressive 35 percent differences: only 3 percent of north Jersey residents say they are fans of the BASEBALL IN THE GARDEN STATE--AN ADDENDUM who say they are fans of the Yankees and those who claim kinship with the Mets. 19 percent who say they root for the Yankees. At the other extreme, the whites, the Mets 30 percent) and Yankees 27 percent) claim about Met fans, as do 33 percent of Independents and 31 percent of Republicans.

6 Jbe tar-tlcbcr/eagleton POLL BACKGROUND MEMO--RELEASE SL/EPI5-3 EP65-3), SUNDAY. JUNE The latest Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll was conducted between May 28 and June 9, 1987, when a random sample of 800 New Jerseyans, 18 years and older) was interviewed by telephone. Figures presented for the total sample of 800 have a sampling error of ±3.5 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval. Sampling error is the probable difference in results between interviewing everyone in a population versus a scientific sample taken from that population. Sampling error does not take into account other possible sources of error inherent in any study of public opinion. The questions and figures referred to in this release are as follows: There has been some talk lately about building a stadium and bringing a major league baseball team to New Jersey. Have you heard or read anything about this? Yes No Total STATEWIDE 56% 44% 100% 800) Sex --male ) --female ) Region --north ) --central ) --south ) How closely do you follow professional baseball--very closely, somewhat, just a little or not at all? Just a Not at Very Somewhat little at all Total Lul STATEWIDE 22% 21% 28% 29% 100% 800) Sex --male ) --female ) THE STATE UNtERSW 0 NPW XPWV ItlrTc:ER.S Eagleton Institute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey /

7 I m going to read you four possible reactions to the idea of having a to your own view. 1. First, I think the idea is very exciting, 2. Second, while not exciting, I think it is a good idea, 3. Third, I really don t care much about it one way or the other, 4. Or Fourth, I am opposed to the idea. baseball team in the state. Afterwards, please just tell me which is closest --non-white ) --white ) --north ) --south ) --central ) attract a team--should it be very involved, somewhat involved, or should it ) ) --female ) --south ) --central ) --north ) Exciting good idea care Opposed opinion Total Jjfl EP6S-3 SL/EPXS-3) -2- Not exciting; Don t No STATEWIDE 25% 35% 34% 6% 0% 100% 800) Region Sex --male ) ) How active should state government be in helping to build a stadium and not get involved at all? Not at Don t Very Somewhat at all know Total STATEWIDE 21% 42% 31% 5% 99% 800) Regi on Race

8 EP65-3 SL/EP15-3) -3- I m going to read you three statements some people have made about possible benefits of a baseball team. Please tell me if you think each is a very good reason to try and attract baseball, a pretty good reason, or not a good reason to do this. It would bring in business and be good for the state s economy. Very Pretty Not a Don t Good Good Reason Know Total jjjj STATEWIDE 50% 37% 12% 1% 100% 800) It would be good for the state s image--how others see New Jersey. STATEWIDE ) It would be a good addition to the recreational opportunities available to New Jersey residents. STATEWIDE ) Regi on --north ) --central ) --south ) If a baseball stadium is built, do you think it should be part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in Northern New Jersey, or would you rather see it located more in th center part of the state? North Center No Opinion Total STATEWIDE 46% 44% 10% 100% 800) Regi on --north ) --central ) --south ) Follows Baseball --very closely ) --somewhat closely ) --just a little ) --not at all )

9 --not at all ) --just a little ) Should Should not No Opinion Total --somewhat closely ) --very closely ) Follows Baseball STATEWIDE 78% 10% 11% 99% 800) to use New Jersey in its team name, or not? Do you think that any baseball team moving into the state should first agree 35 percent of South Jersey residents. compared to 15 percent of those living in the center part of the state and fan. Three percent of these living in the northern part of the state do so, * Cell entries are the statewide percentage of yes responses. For example, 14 percent of all New Jersey residents describe themselves as a Phillies - -south $15,000-$30, Party --female Republican under $15, non-white Independent Democrat Income --central rent own Own or Rent Home --male over $30, white Race --north Regi on Sex STATEWIDE 14% 34% 27% Phillies Mets Yankees Mets or Yankees?* Would you call yourself a fan of any of the teams in the area--the Phillies, Yankee Fans ) STATEWIDE 59% 29% 12% 100% 798) N.J. Yankees N.Y. Yankees Other, No opinion Total Jjjj If the New York Yankees moved to New Jersey do you think they should change their name to the New Jersey Yankees, or should they keep their name the same? EP65-3 SL/EP1S-3) -4-

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