Study Names Most Popular Sport in New Jersey

Growing up my favorite sport was baseball. I loved playing the game as much as possible. I played the other sports, but baseball was my obsession. That was followed by basketball, football, soccer, and a little golf.

In my mind, that was the order of popularity in the neighborhood. Either I was wrong or times have changed or both.

Thanks to new research, Gambling.com has analyzed the average monthly Google search volumes for 10 of the most popular sports in America in order to reveal the most popular sports in each state. These figures were then compared to the national average search volumes across the country to see how they differ in each state.

The data shows that Football is the number one sport in New Jersey. With over 172 monthly searches per 1,000 people on average which is higher than the US average of 120. It’s actually 50% more popular in our state than in the rest of the country.

Soccer comes in second place with over 127 monthly searches (National average of 42). That’s three times higher than the national average.

Basketball places third with almost 70 monthly searches and a national average of 73.

Golf places 4^th place overall in the ranking with 47.79 searches per 1,000, which means baseball takes 5^th place with 39.01 searches per 1,000 people.

Sports are a huge part of many people’s lives, and with an estimated 232.6 million Americans taking part in sports activities throughout the year, it’s easy to see why. With this being said, some sports are just more popular than others, and this can vary on a state-by-state basis.

Here are the numbers for the most popular sports in the state of New Jersey in order of highest average Google search volume per 1,000 people, along with the relative US average per 1,000 for each sport.

As I said, either times have changed or my most popular sport was the least popular the whole time.

Football fans are gearing up for the upcoming NFL season. Some fans are so passionate that their enthusiasm borders on religious fervor. And yes, they pray for their team.  Beyond their prayers, they also have some superstitions. You know the types: they go barechested in zero degree weather and paint themselves in their favorite team's colors. Their mood for the week depends on if their team won or lost. There are fans and then there devout believers.  Those are the ones who get a bit too superstitious.

You know that person who stays in the same spot throughout an entire game, and when their team gives up possession they change positions? That's who we're talking about. So, when things are going well, they're practically immobile. They won't step away for food or even use the bathroom. Why? Because they can’t risk "messing up the flow." On the other hand, if things are not going as planned, they might wander around the living room persistently in search of a lucky seat where good things could potentially happen. Of course, for some fans, their ritualistic and superstitious behaviors might just be traditions, regardless of whether their team comes out on top or experiences a loss.

From wearing a specific jersey to eating a particular snack, these rituals are believed to bring luck and influence the game. For instance, some fans might have a lucky pre-game routine, like wearing mismatched socks or doing a little victory dance before kickoff. Even food choices play a role, with some fans only eating certain foods while watching the game, like nachos or chicken wings, believing that deviating from this menu might lead to bad luck. It's these quirky and often amusing superstitions that add an extra layer of excitement to the football fan experience.

Take a look at a few of these superstition-filled traditions that football fans have been sharing on Reddit.

For some fans, the belief in "jersey power" is real, relying on their chosen jersey to bring their team to victory. A Reddit user revealed, "I change jerseys every game. Never wear the same one twice in a row." They mentioned that during one season, the Jaguars secured a 3-1 record when following this practice, but experienced a 0-12 record when they didn't.

Some fans unquestionably take their rituals to the extreme. During Vince Young's playing days, a Redditor mentioned that they used to perform a rather unconventional practice of burning a photo of the player. They would attach a picture of his face to a Barbie doll and place it on the grill as part of their ritual.

This particular approach might come across as a bit harsh, yet it seems to show results for this person. Apparently, ignoring their wife and kid during the game is their strategy. "I know it's weird and the results haven't been great, but I'm not going to risk it," they wrote. Priorities, dude!

Some say that dissecting your superstitions like a science can work wonders. A Reddit user shared their approach, saying that if, for some reason, they tune into the game late and the Ravens are in the lead, they turn the game off. "Watching will only swing the game in the opposite direction. It's like the Heisenberg Principle of quantum football mechanics. Intense observation will only change the outcome," they humorously explained. That's dedication!

Having a lucky seat or a designated sweet spot to park yourself during every football game is a ritual many fans swear by. According to one person, during game days, they make a point to occupy the exact same barstool. They mentioned, "Everyone has assigned seats at the bar."

Some hardcore football fans throw hygiene to the wind. A Reddit user opened up about their peculiar belief. If they don't shower right before the game, they're convinced the Eagles will end up on the losing side. They added, "Sometimes if we had a crappy first half, I'll take another shower, for a fresh start."

Luck can take some interesting forms, like the practice of counting things a specific number of times. A person mentioned that on game days, they apply three strokes of deodorant per armpit in support of Russell Wilson. Some people are all about the idea that stuff tends to go down in threes.