Polling data released this week shows that public support of American sports has decreased significantly over the past year, largely due to the political activism of players.
“The sports industry now has a negative image, on balance, among Americans as a whole, with 30% viewing it positively and 40% negatively, for a -10 net-positive score,” Gallup said. “This contrasts with the +20 net positive image it enjoyed in 2019, when 45% viewed it positively and 25% negatively.”
The drop in support came overwhelmingly from people who identify as Republican, with a 46-point drop in favorability from that voting bloc compared to a 5-point drop from Democrats since last year.
Non-white people embraced a negative opinion of sports more dramatically than white people to the tune of a 35-point drop in support compared to a 26-point drop.
“The greater social and political activism of players and, in some cases now, coaching staffs and entire leagues appear to have turned off Americans who disagree with their messages or the way they express them. The net effect at this point has been negative for the industry’s image,” Gallup’s analysis concluded.
The polling data comes during a time where American professional baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer have embraced Black Lives Matter messaging in response to the civil unrest that erupted across the country following the death of George Floyd on May 25.
This week, players in the National Football League linked arms during the national anthem as a social justice protest while one player knelt, causing many fans in the stands to voice displeasure by booing.
Players with the Miami Dolphins announced this week that when their season begins on Sunday, they will remain in the locker room while both the national anthem and the “black national anthem” are played.
“Football is officially dead — so much for “America’s sport,” President Trump’s son Eric tweeted earlier this week in response to news that the Dallas Cowboys plan on protesting during the national anthem. “Goodbye NFL… I’m gone.”
Football is officially dead — so much for “America’s sport.” Goodbye NFL… I’m gone. https://t.co/FSJeyvsql3
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) September 8, 2020
The Washington Examiner reached out to all major sports leagues asking about any potential plans to honor slain black police officers, including David Dorn, a retired police captain shot and killed during a riot earlier this year, and did not receive a response.
