TURNKEY Sports Poll July 2004 - Olympics, niches sports, professional tennis

TURNKEY Sports Poll

Turnkey Sports & Entertainment owns the Turnkey Sports Poll, the industry’s continuing survey of senior-level executives and owners which probes the hottest issues inside sports. The results of the poll appear weekly in the SportsBusiness Journal.

July 2004
Olympics, niches sports, professional tennis

Is the Olympic movement more or less relevant than it was 20 years ago?

Less - 47.93%

More - 18.34%

Same - 18.34%

Much Less - 10.06%

Much More - 2.96%

No Response - 2.37%

Which of the following poses the biggest threat to a successful summer Olympics in Athens?

Terrorism - 55.62%

Facilities or infrastructure not being completed on time - 23.67%

Difference in time zones from the U.S. (Noon East Coast = 7pm Athens) 14.20%

Scandal involving performance enhancing drugs - 3.55%

No Response - 2.96%

How strong is the Olympic brand at this time in history?

Somewhat Weaker - 32.69%

Same - 25.00%

Somewhat Stronger - 23.08%

Much Weaker - 13.46%

Much Stronger - 3.85%

No Response - 1.92%

How strong is the International Olympic brand today?

Somewhat strong - 35.90%

Very strong - 27.35%

Somewhat weak - 21.37%

Extremely strong - 11.11%

Very weak - 1.71%

Extremely weak - 0.00%

No Response - 2.56%

Will the coverage of issues pertaining to performance-enhancing drugs negatively affect the Olympics as a future sponsorship opportunity?

Yes - 51.48%

No - 46.15%

No Response - 2.37%

Should the US return to the practice of sending college (and high school) basketball players to the Olympics instead of NBA players?

No - 51.48%

Yes - 44.97%

No Response - 3.55%

In your opinion, who will the IOC select to host the 2012 Summer Olympics?

New York - 34.73%

Paris - 25.15%

London - 17.37%

Moscow - 8.98%

Madrid - 8.38%

No Response - 5.39%

In your opinion, which professional niche sport has the greatest potential for growth?

Lacrosse - 29.34%

Volleyball - 18.56%

Other - 17.37%

Fishing - 11.98%

Rodeo - 11.38%

Bowling - 7.78%

No Response - 3.59%

Have you ever watched a pro fishing event in person or on TV?

No - 73.65%

Yes - 24.55%

No Response - 1.80%

In your opinion, is professional tennis going to be a stronger or weaker property in the United States five (5) years from now?

Same - 40.12%

Somewhat Stronger - 28.74%

Somewhat Weaker - 25.15%

Much Stronger - 2.40%

Much Weaker - 1.80%

No Response - 1.80%

What is the biggest challenge facing professional tennis in the United States?

Recognizable Players - 52.41%

Growing grassroots participation - 21.69%

Consistency of TV Coverage - 15.06%

Other - 6.63%

Ranking System - 1.81%

No Response - 2.41%

In your opinion, how important is Grassroots participation as a vehicle for sports properties that are looking to develop new fans?

7 - Extremely Important - 47.27%

6 - 30.30%

5 - 12.73%

4 - 5.45%

3 - 3.03%

2 - 0.61%

1 - Not at all Important - 0.61%

In your opinion, how important is the Internet as a vehicle for sports properties that are looking to develop new fans?

7 - Extremely Important - 14.55%

6 - 25.45%

5 - 32.73%

4 - 17.58%

3 - 4.85%

2 - 3.64%

1 - Not at all important - 1.21%

In your opinion, how important are video games as a vehicle for sports properties that are looking to develop new fans?

7 - Extremely Important - 12.73%

6 - 21.82%

5 - 27.27%

4 - 24.24%

3 - 9.09%

2 - 4.24%

1 - Not at all important - 0.61%

No Response - 0.00%

In your opinion, how important is youth focused TV as a vehicle for sports properties that are looking to develop new fans?

7 - Extremely Important - 11.52%

6 - 22.42%

5 - 33.94%

4 - 22.42%

3 - 7.27%

2 - 1.82%

1 - Not at all Important - 0.61%