“Sports bring people together”, they say. But is that really true? Because as connected as sports can make us feel, they can just as easily fuel rivalry. Betting.net put this to the test by commissioning a survey among 2,000 U.S. sports fans to answer, once and for all, the question: How much do sports
really
bond us?
Key findings:
- 79% of sports fans
feel a surge of national unity during
big events like the FIFA World Cup and Olympics.
- Two-thirds say
major sports events unite them more than national holidays.
- 87% believe major sports events
bring people with different (political) views closer
together.
- 4 out of 5 sports fans
feel closer to people cheering for the same (national) team.
- 58% of U.S. sports fans admit they’ve
insulted or mocked someone
over sports.
From the Olympic Winter Games to the FIFA World Cup — hosted right here at home — and from the World Baseball Classic to a brand-new Formula 1 season, this is just a small sample of the many major sporting events taking place this year. There sure is a lot to look forward to. Because is there anything better than coming together to cheer on your favorite team? Whether it’s on the world stage or within a national league, the love of sport is something meant to be shared.
How sports create connections between fans
No less than 79% of respondents say that national unity is strengthened during major international sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. For 69%, that feeling is even stronger during international tournaments than during domestic league games. In fact, three out of four say that supporting American athletes or teams makes them feel proud to be American. But that sense of connection goes beyond national pride: 81% say they feel closer to people who support the same team — even when those people are complete strangers. Many of them put that feeling into action, too: two out of three say they are more likely to strike up a conversation with someone once they know they share fandom for the same team.
For 87% of fans, sport creates such a strong sense of connection that they believe major events can bring together people with different (political) views. And even more, 68% say they feel closer to fellow Americans during big sporting events than they do on national holidays.
Competition sparks conflict
Still, sport doesn’t only bring people together — it can also fuel tension. Sports rivalries put 74% of fans into an “us vs. them” mindset. In fact, eight out of ten American sports fans say they’ve witnessed people being insulted or harassed because of sports at least once.
And many are willing to admit they’ve played a role in that themselves. More than half (58%) acknowledge that they have, at some point, insulted, mocked, or harassed someone because of sports. One-third say they’ve done so both online and in person, while two out of ten say it happened only in person, and nearly one in ten only online.
That rivalry also affects our relationships with others. For example, 36% say they feel less emotionally connected to people from rival cities or regions because of sports. It can also influence behavior: nearly half of respondents say they sometimes avoid sports as a conversation topic to prevent potential conflicts or arguments. But it doesn’t always work — almost a quarter (24%) admit that sports rivalries sometimes create tension with friends or family.
Which states feel most united through sports?
Looking at the states with the strongest sense of connection, Minnesota and Kansas stand out. Both score 92% when it comes to the number of sports fans who feel that national unity is stronger during major sporting events. Minnesota also has the lowest percentage (60%) of people who have ever witnessed insults or harassment because of sports, while Kansas ranks near the top nationwide for the number of people who say they feel especially proud to be American when cheering on their fellow countrymen at major sports events. On the other hand, residents of Washington are the least likely to engage in insulting or trash-talking others based on their sports preferences. Iowa, meanwhile, scores the highest percentage of sports fans who spontaneously strike up conversations with fellow team supporters — even when they don’t know those people personally.
Where the sense of camaraderie through sports still has room for improvement is Mississippi, where 57% report experiencing tension with friends or family due to sports rivalries — the highest percentage nationwide. Connecticut, meanwhile, ranks highest for the share of people who have ever engaged in trash talk, insults, or harassment because of sports, at 85%.
Methodology
For the United Fans of America study, sports betting website Betting.net commissioned a survey of 2,000 U.S. sports fans. Respondents were asked to indicate their state of residence and were presented with a range of questions and statements to assess their experiences and attitudes toward sports. Examples of these statements include:
- “I feel more connected to other Americans during major sports moments than during national holidays.”
- “Major sports events bring people with different (political) views closer together, at least temporarily.”
- “Sports rivalries sometimes create tension in my relationships with family or friends.”
- “During major sports events (e.g., FIFA World Cup, Olympics), I feel a sense of unity with other Americans.”
- “Have you ever engaged in trash talk, insults, or harassment toward someone because of sports?”
For statements, respondents answered using a four-point scale: Strongly disagree, Somewhat disagree, Somewhat agree, and Strongly agree. For yes/no questions, respondents selected either Yes or No. Of all respondents, 71% identified as male, 28% as female, and 1% as non-binary. The average age of participants was 43.4 years. Due to insufficient data, the following states were excluded from the study: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Utah.
