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 4th place overall in the ranking with 47.79 searches per 1,000, which means baseball takes 5th 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.
|
Rank |
Sport |
US Average |
New Jersey |
|
1 |
Football |
120.58 |
172.04 |
|
2 |
Soccer |
42.87 |
127.81 |
|
3 |
Basketball |
73.04 |
69.75 |
|
4 |
Golf |
41.19 |
47.79 |
|
5 |
Baseball |
34.94 |
39.01 |
|
6 |
Tennis |
22.72 |
31.17 |
|
7 |
Boxing |
22.61 |
18.91 |
|
8 |
NASCAR |
32.74 |
17.40 |
|
9 |
Ice Hockey |
9.38 |
12.36 |
|
10 |
MMA |
7.18 |
8.82 |
As I said, either times have changed or my most popular sport was the least popular the whole time.
7 Hilarious Football Fan Superstitions Shared by Redditors
Jersey Power
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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.
Fiery Ritual
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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.
Sound of Silence
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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!
Quantum Football Mechanics
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!
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Designated Sweet Spot
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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.”
Goodbye Hygiene
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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.”
Habitual Counting
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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.
