The ESPN Sports Poll
The ESPN Sports Poll (now The SSRS/Luker on Trends Sports Poll) "It’s clear that the ESPN Sports Poll is the industry standard for comprehensive and accurate gauging of sports fans’ temperatures at any given time." http://www.espnfrontrow.com/2012/01/a-look-behind-the-espn-sports-poll/[1]
Launched in 1994, the SSRS/Luker on Trends Sports Poll (previously the ESPN Sports Poll) is the first and longest running independent national syndicated research on American fan interests and activities. The Poll was founded by Dr. Richard Luker who approached Chilton Research and ESPN with the business potential behind pioneering research where none previously existed http://www.espnfrontrow.com/2012/01/a-look-behind-the-espn-sports-poll/.[2] Today it is still the largest, and the only national syndicated research dedicated to the measurement of sports related issues and has been used to establish industry standards. The daily tracker (350 days/year) contains over 25 years of data collection, more than 500,000 respondents (ages 12+) across 4,000+ variables. Sports Poll functions to track all of the sports, all of the fans, all of the time in English and Spanish and includes youth ages 12–17 not commonly available. From 2010-2018, Dr. Luker and his company, Luker on Trends, resumed management over the ESPN Sports Poll. In 2019, Luker on Trends took ownership of Sports Poll and, later the same year, entered a formal business relationship under the partner research company, SSRS. Changing only the name, the poll continues on with the same standards for rigorous methodology producing industry-leading intelligence.
Methodology
Methodology adheres to the standards of American Association of Public Opinion Researchers (AAPOR). Interviews for the Poll are conducted by the research firm, SSRS (formerly Social Science Research Solutions) well known for their reputation for integrity of methodology. Influencers in research, SSRS holds multiple leadership positions within AAPOR. [3]
* Rigorous Random Sample of US ages 12+ * The first & only national syndicated service dedicated to sports: * 350 days a year * Ages 12+ - all USA, not just fans * All sports (tracking 47) * All the ways (ex: playing, watching, attending) * Representative cell phone and landline sample * Offered in Spanish * Foundation on free time and discretionary spending * Ten leisure classifications * Heavy emphasis total Internet engagement
Sample Questions from the ESPN Sports Poll: 1. Compared to this time last year, would you say that you are (more or less) interested in (EXTENSIVE LIST OF SPORTS)? 2. Who is your favorite professional athlete? 3. What is your favorite professional sports team? 4. In the past twelve months, have you played in a sports fantasy league?
Examples of use in media
What Makes Someone a Fan? https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/sports/rich-luker-fan-psychology.html
‘How interested are you right now?’ Attendance, changing fandom and the health of Major League Baseball https://theathletic.com/1266088/2019/10/10/how-interested-are-you-right-now-attendance-changing-fandom-and-the-health-of-major-league-baseball/
Behind the ESPN Sports Poll A look behind the ESPN Sports Poll
When it comes to initiating kids into Cubs fandom, it's never too early, many fans say https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-cubs-superfan-kids-20180920-story.html
ESPN poll: LeBron James more popular than Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/12/24/espn-poll-lebron-james-more-popular-than-kobe-bryant-steph-curry/
Faceless of the Game: Where have all the MLB superstars gone? http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19074938/where-all-mlb-superstars-gone
EA Sports' FIFA Video Game Helps Fuel Interest In The World Cup https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2014/07/13/ea-sports-fifa-video-game-helps-fuel-interest-in-the-world-cup/#6903c4f1724d
External links
References
- "About ESPN Sports Poll". ESPN Front Row.
- "ESPN Sports Poll". ESPN Front Row.
- "AAPOR". American Association of Public Opinion Researchers.