hc tar-bbger/ Eagleton Poll May 23, 1999 RELEASE: (EP 122-3) COt1ACT: CLIkF ZUKIN ja stan based on the survey findings presented in this release ;md background memo will appear in the Sunday. May 23. 1999 Star-Ledger. \Ve ask users to properly attribute this copyrighted information to The Star Leoger/Eagjeton Poll. SPORTS STARS WARS: WHERE TO BUILD THE NEW ARENA(S)!vIEADO WLANDS PREFERRED NETS FANS OK WITH NEWARK; DEVILS FANS DOWN ON HOBOKEN There will be at least one new sports arena built in northern New Jersey in the near ture. The New Jersey Nets want to move to Newark. The New Jersey Devils want to move to Hoboken. But if they were to play in the same arena the majority of their fans would prefer they stay right where they are now at the Meadowlands. Nets fans are far more accepting of the basketball team s potential move to Newark than Devils fans are of the hockey team s move to Hoboken. Not only do a majority of Nets fans think a new arena in Newark is a good idea, but a larger number of fans say they would be more likely than less likely to go to Newark to see a game if the team moved from the Meadowlands. Just four-in-ten Devils fans think moving to a new arena in Hoboken is a good idea. And a greater number of fans say they would be less likely rather than more likely to go to Hoboken to see a game if the team moved from its home in the Meadowlands. These are among the main findings of the latest Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll, conducted with a statewide sample of 802 New Jersey adults between April 28 and May 6. The overall sampling error is ± 31,4 percent for the whole sample. Interviewing which was almost entirely completed before the Devils were eliminated from the playoffs found 26 percent describing themselves as Devils-fans, and slightly fewer (22 percent) as Nets fans. The ;ampling error for the fan groups is about ± 7 percentage points. -nwre,!ve Ht. hctar-2cbgcr/eagieton Poll Eagleton tnstitute of Politics 185 Ryders Lane New Brunswick New Jersey 08901-8557 Director: Cliff Zukin x-247 Mary Jean Lush x 320 Thomas Regan x 239 Julie Burkley x 270 Phone: 732-932-9384 Website: www.rci.rutgers.eduj eagtepot Fã.x: 732-932-1107
EP122-3 Page 4014 May 23, 1999 A proposed move of the Devils from the Meadowlands to Newark instead of Hoboken also received a lukewarm response from Devils fans. While 22 percent said they would be more likely r to go to a game if the Devils played in Newark, 29 percent said they would be less likely to do so. A sizeable number 39 percent said the arena location would make no difference to them and the remaining 10 percent said they would not go to a game no matter where the arena was. Cliff Zukin, director of the poll commented, There appears to be considerable sentiment among fans of both teams to remain in the Meadowlands. However, while Nets fans appear to be generally supportive of the team s efforts to move to Newark, Devils fans appear to be unenthusiastic about moving to Hoboken. -30- CopirigiztAfa 25, 1999. The JIag/eron Institute and the Star-Ledger c
11w nest.5tcs,-lcdtcr Eagleton Poll was conducted lietween April 28 and May 6. 1999. when a scienti licall selecte Li random s:impic or Xt)tl New Jerse a 3.5 95 percent conlideitce interval. Thus [5 u percent of New Jersevans were bond to have a lhvorahle opinion of the Governor, one woo he I LI 95 percent everyone in a population versus a setentilie samplino drawn from that population. The sampling error or the total sample size of XIII) is perlcnt, 0 adult residents was interviewed hvte leplione All surveys are subject to sampling error. svhich is the expected prohahl di fl rer, lietween irten,cwit;g BACKGROUND MEMO RELEASE (Efl22-3) SUNDAY, MAY 23, 1999 bc tar-iebvxi Eagleton Poll Phone: 732-932-9384 Website: nvw,rci,rutgers.eduj eagiepol fhx: 732-932-1107 RUTGER Director: Cliff Zukin x-247 Mary Jean Lush x 320 Thomas Began x 239 Julie Burkley x 270 185 Ryders Lane New Brunswick New Jersey 08901-8557 tbc tar-!cbgcrfeag1eton Poll Eagleton Institute of Politics whole do you think this is a good idea, a bad idea, or don t you care one way or the other? (AR 4) and transportation leading to the stadium and sonic environmental clean-up. Just your first reaction, on the r;u; would be built will pf.\id dtoflev. ahougli Use stile would pa some money to improve roads --Potential Goers 62 38 lot) (223) --Goers 63 38 101 (114) Fans 64 35 100 (135) Statewide (802) 44% 54% 1% till be built in Newark? (AR 3) Have you heard or read anything about the Nets moving from the Meadowlands to a new arena that would pears. u-ho has eli/ge,- described hintherse If as ajhn or reports having attended a tvets/devils game iii the last tiio someone it-ho ; eportv has ing attended a game within the last two years Potential Goer s(n?ieone Spiro identuies hinz/her5ef as a fan oft/rn team someone who Jhllost s theni. Ante. In this release ne refer to Vets Devil.v Fans, Goers and Potential Goers. A Fan is Goer have ocell sceigioted on age and education to insure an accurate proportional representation oltloe state. The questions relerred so in tls:s release are as iblloss ellects. The serlsatna werduig of all questions asked is reproduced in this background memo. The sample has been strati bled hate: 4 on eeuistv md the d;tta Saitipl iisg error cities lint late into account other sources of variation inlserent in public opinion studies. such as non-response. question wording or conte1 Sample 5-ce 00 203 352 400 5C0 tad?do 500 0 0 A is someone is 1411) Yes No Don t Know Total ii Sample Size and Sampling Error z perceni: Devils potential goers 6 percent. erri r 91 ic sair,phng error tar tlse raci;,l o ouping reported in this release is a lot lows: Nets fans: 8 percent: Nets potential goers, : 7 percent; Dev;ic inns. ire suliiect to more error than ire statements hated on Ihie toud sample. Tlse löllowing chart shows the relationship between satnplc size and sainpl iiig error lnere:tses as the sample size deere:tses, so statements based on various population tuhwoups. such as separate bigtires reported lbr mcii and wsimeti. sure that the tnae ligure would lie between 46.5 and 53.5 percent 5u - 3.5) had all New Jersevans heen interviewed, rather than just a sample. S;implirsg
EP 122-3 May 23, 1999 Good Bad Don t Care Don t Know Tolal (.g) Statewide 33% 23% 41% 3% 1011% (802) --Fans 53 19 26 2 100 (185) Goers 51) 28 19 3 lot) (114) --Potential Goers 49 23 26 2 100 (223) --White 28 27 42 3 100 (573) Minorities 45 13 41) 1 lot) (168) If the Nets moved to a new arena in Newark from the Meadowlands do you think you would be more likely to go to a game, less likely, no difference, or wouldn t you go to a game no matter where they played? (AR 5) More Likely Less Likely Don t in Newark in Newark No Difference Wouldn t Go Know Total (jfl Statewide 9% 14% 32% 42% 2% 100% (802) --Fans 27 40 10 I 100 (185) --Goers 23 34 37 4 2 100 (114) --Potential Goers 24 25 40 10 1 100 (223) --White 4 16 29 49 2 100 (573) --Minorities 23 11 36 28 2 100 (168) C Have you heard or read un-thing about the New Jersey Devils hockey team moving from the Meadowlands to a new arena that would be built in Hoboken? (AR 8) yes No Don t Know Total Statewide 26% 72% 2% 1110% (802) --Fans 45 53 1 99 (215) --Goers 45 54 1 100 (134) --Potential Goers 44 1 100 (242) The arena would be built most]y with private money, although the state would pay some money for construction and to improve roads and transportation leading to the stadium. Just your first reaction, on the whole do you think this is a good idea, a bad idea, or don t you care one wa or the other (AR 9) Good Bad Don t Care Don t Know Total Statewide 24% 23% 50% 4% 100% (802) --Fans 40 29 29 2 100 (215) --Goers 38 26 2 101 (134) --Potential Goers 39 30 30 2 100 (242)
EP 122-3 3 May 23, 1999 If the Devils moved tot new arena in Hoboken front the Meadowlands, do you think you would be more lhcel to go to a game. less likely, no difference, or wouldn t you go to a game no matter where they plavedt (AR 10) More Likely Less Likely No Wouldn t Don t in Hoboken in Hoboken Difference Go Know Total Statewide 8% 13% 35% 42% 2% 100% (802) --Fans 15 24 52 9 -- lot) (215) --Goers 16 25 53 6 100 (134) Potenlial Goers 15 2-4 51 If) 100 (242) And what about iftlie Devils moved to a new arena in Newark from the Meadowlands? Do von think you would be more likely to go to a game, less likely, no difference, or wouldn t you go no matter where they played? (AR 11) More Likely Less Likely No Wouldn t Don t in Neutrk in Newark Difference Go Know Total Statewide 9% 16% 31% 42% 2% 100¼ (802) - Fans 22 29 39 10 100 (215) --Goers 15 32 47 6 100 (134) Potential Goers 20 2$ -t 1 1 100 (242) People who want to see a new arena built in Newark say it would contribute to the revitalization of the city. How important a flictor do you think this should be in deciding where the arena should be built very important, somewhat important. or not an important flictor? (AR 12) len Somewhat Not Yen Don t Know Total Statewide 23% 28% 32% 6¼ 100% (802) Nets/ --Fans 31 38 28 4 100 (297) --PotLiltial Goers 30 38 29 3 100 (342) --White 2t) 40 34 5 lot) (573) --Minorities 3t) 35 27 8 100 (168)
EP 122-3 4 May 23, 1999 If the Nets and Devils were to play together iii a new arena, which would be your first choice for its location: Newjrk, I-{oboken or the Meadowlands? (AR 13) Newark Hoboken Meadowlands Other Depends Don t Know Total jj) Statewide 24% 7% 48% 4% 16% 100% (802) Fans 3(1 1(1 54 6 [((0 ((85) --Goers 31 8 56 I 3 99 (114) --Potential Goers 29 54 7 1(1(1 (223) --Fans 26 7 62 3 [(((1 (2 U) --Goers 23 7 67 2 1 10(1 (134) --Potential Goers 25 8 62 2 3 10(1 (242) --White 19 7 53 5 16 lot) (573) --Minorities 37 6 37 4 15 100 (168) The following table shows ves answers to the following questions: (AR 1) Would you call vourselfa fan of the New Jersey Nets basketball team that is. do You follow ilieint (Nels Fan) (AR 2) Have von gone to any Nets gaines in the last two years. or not? (Nets Game) (AR 6) WouId you call yourself a fan of the New Jersey Devils hockey team that is, do you follow them? (Devils Fan) (AR 7) 1-Tave you gone to any Devils games in the last two ;ears, or not? (Devils Game) Nets Fan Nets Game Devils Fan Devils Game ( Statewide 22V 12% 26% 15% (802) By Gender --Male 28 18 35 22 (395) --Female 17 8 19 9 (407) B. Age --18-29 25 17 30 21 (140) --30-49 22 14 27 18 (354) --50+ 21 7 24 9 (283) By Region --North 28 IX 33 19 (365) --Central 23 12 25 18 (215) -- South 12 4 16 8 (214) By --White 17 10 29 17 (573) --Minorities 33 20 20 ii (168) (n) (185) (114) (215) (134)