Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Sports
Sports

Poll Says Fans Would Stop Watching Replacement Refs

Posted byBy ABS Contributor | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

A poll conducted by ESPN and Global Strategy indicated that fans would have pulled away from watching the NFL the longer the replacement officials were used.

In the telephone survey of 1,443 fans , more than 76 percent gave the officiating poor marks and said their usage was impacting the reputation of the league.

Also, more than 50 percent of the fans said calls made by the replacements during the first three weeks of the season were “a complete embarrassment” and at least half of the fans said they would haved watched less NFL football because of the officiating.

The biggest blunder of the officiating occurred in Monday night’s game between Green Bay and Seattle. In one of the most bizarre finishes in NFL history, Golden Tate was awarded a disputed touchdown catch on the game’s final play to give Seattle a 14-12 victory. According to the poll, 78 percent of the fans said the wrong call was made.

The call became a rallying point for players, coaches and fans frustrated with the replacement officials working regular season games. Every football pundit in the country has given their take on the final play. Even President Barack Obama and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney have expressed their views on Tate’s TD and the replacement officials.

Perhaps sparked by that outcry, the NFL and the officials’ union announced at midnight Thursday that a tentative eight-year agreement had been reached to end a lockout that began in June.

Without prompting, the president’s spokesman on Thursday applauded news of a deal between that the National Football League and the referees’ union.

Obama spokeman Jay Carney said: “The president’s very pleased that the two sides have come together,” and he added, “It’s a great day for America.”

Main points from the poll of fans included the following:

•  A large majority of the fans were aware of the lockout.

•  At least three quarters of fans gave replacement refereeing negative marks.

•  More than half of the fans said the calls were embarrassing.

•  Few fans blamed the refs, most blamed the NFL.

•  Half of the fans said they would watch less football if the situation continued into the season.

•  74 percent of fans report the lockout had a “negative impact” on their opinion of the NFL’s reputation, including 29 percent who say it has had a “very negative impact.”

Democracy needs journalism it can trust.

This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.

For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.

Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top