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Lookout Landing

Seattle Sports Preference Poll

This will probably not turn out to be interesting since it is being posted on (nominally) a baseball blog, but I am curious.

Poll
All else being equal (so try to remove the "newness" of NBA/NHL), you as a sports fan (or maybe not as a sports fan), would be most interested in attending a Seattle
MLB game
1223 votes
MLS match
180 votes
NBA game
149 votes
NCAA basketball game
43 votes
NCAA football game
139 votes
NFL game
461 votes
NHL game
174 votes
WNBA game
19 votes
Other?
13 votes

2401 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  104 comments

Comments

I'm a bigger fan of baseball than of football overall, but a Seahawks game at Qwest Field is probably the most fun I've ever had at a sporting event
More fun even than a particular football game in Pullman?
I have expunged all Apple Cups from my memory.
It's not all sunshine and lollipops over here either

Fuck off Nico Grasu

And it wasn't even that good of a game!
Spot on.

For me, the entertainment in baseball is inherent in the collection of games (getting to watch the Mariners EVERY SINGLE DAY, YES PLEASE) than the epic-ness and suspense of a single game, like with football.

That being said, if somebody were to offer me mariners season tickets vs. hawks season tickets, I’d take the M’s tix.

Big surprise MLB is leading on Lookout landing

I think a more interesting poll (though one rife with logistical problems) would be what two or three teams would be their sports preference. NFL/MLB/NBA? Hockey/NFL/MLS?
Perhaps you could do two polls, one on people’s number one priority, and a second on their second choice.

I'd be interested in the results of this poll of MLB wasn't an option.
I would be interested in this poll if it was a different question and had different answers.

Come on, Matthew! Where are the polls about favorite SNES game?!?!

Totally Chrono Trigger.
You didn't ask about:

An Oregon State-Washington football, or even baseball game. Go Beavs!

I'll have to agree with that.

That is a dern good idea.

The fact that this is on a baseball site I'd imagine accounts for the skew so far.

As of now, I have my local NHL seasons. If there were ever to be a NJ-based MLB team, you’d see me almost instantly move to the midpoint between them and have seasons for both, and I’d have to say goodbye to the M’s.

In much the same manner, if the opportunity arose to get back to the PNW and be able to see live hockey, along with the Mariners, I’m not sure what it would take to stop me from doing so.

Therefore NHL is what I’d have to say is the sport I’d like to see in Seattle the most, as they’d account for my first choice in allocation of entertainment money.

As a baseball fan, I had to vote for MLB game, but this doesn't preclude me from going to any other listed event.

I think the reality lies in accessibility. Qwest Field seats ~70,000 people for eight games per NFL season. 8 * 70,000 = 560,000 tickets available. Meanwhile, Safeco seats ~47,000 people for 81 games per MLB season. 81 * 47,000 = 3,807,000 tickets available. Husky Stadium seated 72,500 for six games per NCAA D1 season. 6 * 72,500 = 435,000 tickets available. And so on; we could all do the math for the other facilities.

At any given time, there is a restricted supply of tickets to sporting events, and the ticket most readily available is a Mariner ticket (bolstered by their shitty play and correspondingly low attendance). When a given ticket is in lower supply and has identical demand, obviously it will be more coveted as reflected in its price. I’m not making any sort of deep economic observation or argument here. My lower desire to see football or basketball to a relative extent is offset by how much more difficult it is to get such a ticket. I would love to go to all of the above minus the WNBA (no offense, Storm). And my willingness to spend money on a ticket is in line with the rest of the public – lower supply, I’ll pay more for a ticket.

I've attended MLB and NFL games before

Those are my two favorites so I guess if we’re talking in general I’d like going to those the most, but if you gave me the choice between going to an MLB, NFL, or a brand new NHL game tomorrow, I’d go NHL. I’ve been waiting for a local hockey team for ages.

The Sounders are awesome to see in person too, actually

Probably should include that.

If it's a big time game and competitive...

I’d pick football. I’d pick college football over the NFL in a heartbeat if we were in the SEC, but we are not, so I choose the NFL. You can’t smoke anywhere outside QWEST and there are no in/out privs which makes drinking beer a miserable experience. I wouldn’t go again if it were free (I know smoking is disgusting, got it) So MLB for me. Even if we are losing and it’s a game against San Diego I can get something out of it. Maybe hits a league leading triple or whatever.

*Ackley hits a league leading triple or something.
In retrospect, I'm wondering if I should have voted.
I take it you were the "other?" guy

sticks to high school lacrosse games

Nah, voted baseball, but most of the other sports I already have teams not from Seattle I root for or don't really care for the sport.
In the right secation at the right game, I would agrue that nothing beats a Sounders game in terms of entertainment value.

But overall it has to be the Seahawks. There is just something about Qwest that’s magical when it get’s going at a Seahawks game and it doesn’t take much.

I'd rather go see baseball

But see football on TV. The football coverage and replays enhance the game while baseball is like having a picnic.

I agree.
But the Seahawks Stadium (old name!) is pretty great for games.
No votes for "Other" yet.

Which I think means Jeff has yet to lure in the the lucrative brunch/volcano-monitoring demographic.

This is really tough and a bit confusing.

So are we stripping fandom here? Because while I currently reside in Seattle, I did not grow up here so my only favorite sports team in Seattle is the Mariners. So if a Seattle team must be involved and the opponent is random, I’d go Mariners followed by NHL (because I don’t have a hockey team, so a Seattle club would become my fav).

However, over those I’d prefer to attend the yearly NCAAB ‘Battle in Seattle’ featuring Gonzaga, because that’s my favorite team across all sports. But that has no Seattle teams in play so I’m not sure if it counts.

Forgive me for being obtuse, but I’m confused exactly what to vote for from the question’s phrasing.

NCAABB for me.

That might just be because UW basketball has been the only pretty consistently good team the past 8 or so years. Also, march madness is my favorite postseason by far. MLB is second for me though, and that’s saying something, since the last time the M’s were in the playoffs, I was in 3rd grade.

I've attended several UW basketball games this year, and I'm wondering if that experience is to blame

for me shuddering slightly when I read that possible answer.
I like basketball, and it’s in a great environment, but you have to watch really bad basketball. Bad basketball that’s often slightly better than someone else’s bad basketball, but still.

(And yes, I understand that I’m able to enjoy watching Sounders games without getting all high and mighty about overall quality of play. I’m hypocritical.)

For me,

the excitement, and just the overall nature of the sport trumps the quality of play. Even before the Sonics left, I was a bigger fan of college basketball. Everything about college hoops is set up right to me (well, not everything, but… close). And it’s not even about the whole purity of college vs. pros either, because I like the NFL better than college football.

Also, it’s not always that bad. This year is pretty atrocious, but last year when Isaiah Thomas was running the team, they had things clicking pretty good.

But this is an in person thing

and the NCAA Tournament actually isn’t that much fun to attend

MLB all the way, but if the Seahawks are playing well then they are number 2.
I was going to add, I'm just kind of meh. about all the other sports.
Football for me is 100x better on TV than in person

Unless I have good seats, the NBA or NHL aren’t that fun in person. Baseball and Soccer actually do seem to improve no matter where I sit. Mainly because there’s so much stuff away from the main action to watch.

Other than as a a poll question, there isn't a time when I'd be presented with this choice.

If all of the above were available to attend on a single day, my head might explode. Also, each game within each sport isn’t created equal, nor do they occur at the same intervals. If the Mariners and Seahawks were playing on a Sunday, of course I’d choose Seahawks because the Mariners probably play the next day. The Mariners, Seahawks and Sonics are each my favorite team, depending on what time of year it is.

I think what you’re really asking is “What is your favorite sport?” I guess baseball. But what if the Sonics were in the conference finals in June? Duh, Sonics game.

These were the most pointless words I’ve ever written.

The Mariners probably have Monday off as a travel day.
Jeff, would you jump ship on your Canucks for a Seattle club?
There are two things that are bad about your comment
Look on the bright side

at least he didn’t call you Matt.

Doesn't Jeff like the Ottawa Senators?

Or is that just Matthew?

No, I think they're both Leafs fans!

[goes immediately to Jail]

[does not pass go, does not college $200]
collect*

I’m a typo machine lately…

Ouch..

At least it will be an easy decision.

I thought he was a Ducks fan
I remember him making a big deal about being at the game when the Ducks won the Stanley Cup.
Me too but I cannot recall specifically what about
Mariner game, no contest

I have never understood the appeal of football. Hockey’s cool too, but if I only have enough money for one, it’s the M’s. Not too big a basketball fan – I watch it on TV sometimes, but I wouldn’t be too likely to pay to see it.

If attending one game I'm more likely to go to an NHL game

Over the course of an entire season I’d probably go to more MLB games than NHL games, if only because MLB games are a lot more affordable. I love going to Safeco, getting a center field bleacher seat, and then wandering the stadium all game, watching the game from different vantage points.

That’s something I hate about Chase Field in Phoenix, and a reason I don’t like going to D-Backs games- there’s not really anywhere good to watch the game besides your seat.

I get 95% as much out of watching baseball on TV or listening on the radio

Hockey, though, hockey can only be enjoyed live and when watched live it is amazing.

This seems like a good answer.

Never enjoyed hockey on TV, but the games I’ve gone to have always been fun.

Good point.

Hockey generally bores the heck out of me on TV, but I’ve always had fun when I’ve gone to games in person—generally more than basketball games. I’m actually surprised the NHL is leading the NBA on this poll. I don’t actually know any hockey fans here in Washington except for a couple of transplanted Canadians, while I know plenty of NBA fans. I’d be interested to see what a broader survey might yield, I suspect that LL might have a relative abundance of hockey fans compared to the sporting public at large in the state, but I could be wrong.

If you go east of the Cascades there's a pretty decent sized hockey culture,

at least in comparison to western Washington. Not that they’d make a huge difference in the fanbase of a Seattle NHL team, but there are a lot of people who enjoy the sport

My one experience watching the Thunderbirds in person seems to validate that in my eyes.

But I must admit that when scanning the poll choices I was waiting for “Would rather watch on TV” to pop up.

Hockey hockey hockey
oi oi oi

oh wait what game were we playing

You're doing that chant wrong.
SEEEEEEEEA-HAAAAAAAAAWKS!!!!!!

Got to get more Twelves in here, and correct these fluky numbers. I’m sorry, but a football game will ALWAYS be more fun to watch than a baseball game.

Funny on how a baseball blog most people would prefer to watch baseball, isn't it?
I'm pretty sure I have more fun watching a baseball game than any other sport.
To be fair though, other sports can't watch baseball games.
Football will always be the least fun of the 5 Major sports to watch.

I’ve watched more women’s soccer than I have football.

"I’ve watched more women’s soccer.."

Boy you timber fans are fickle

I've probably watched more women's soccer than I have the Timbers too.

It helps when the school both grandfather’s, a grandmother, father, mother, 90% of uncles and aunts, and you went to has a really, really good women’s soccer program.

Seriously

What is the appeal of football? I feel like I’ve given the game a reasonable chance – I went to numerous games in high school and college, and have even tried watching the NFL on TV a few times. I have never been able to get into it.

It's funny that a football game is actually only about 30 minutes of actual action.

Whereas a baseball game is basically 2 and a half hours of actual game action. (Guesstimating, though if you subtracted all of the time between pitches, it would probably be much shorter.) How long are the condensed games, anyone know?

I guess you get more bang for your buck at baseball!

NFL and MLB have similar durations of live game action
Ah. Okay then!
Larry Stone was just talking about this, within the last few months at least

And here it is

Quick answer Synopsis
11 Minutes of action for NFL
14 Minutes of action for MLB

Everybody has different tastes
We need a 2nd poll!

Do one where we vote for something we would prefer EXCLUDING baseball. It’ll make all the MLB voters to vote on something else. Also you should have a “None of the Above” option in that one probably too.

Start your own blog!
WNBA my ass

you three.

The point of a poll is not to criticize other people's votes, you know
Generally I agree but I think an exception can be made for somebody who votes for the WNBA
There are a couple people here who defend the WNBA pretty vigerously.

I wouldn’t dismiss those votes off hand.

Not being from the Seattle area, I didn't vote.

But if I were to fly cross-country for a sporting event in Seattle, it would most likely be a football game at CenturyLink Field.

MLB for me.

I love the atmosphere of baseball games, especially on a warm summer evening.

I feel baseball is easier and more enjoyable than football (Which seems to be the comparables here)

Mostly because despite how awful or good your team is, there’s always room for redemption the next day if they let you down. Football, if my team loses, I’ll just be in a bad mood til’ next Sunday. Unless of course, your baseball team loses 17 in a row…..

Which goes along with my theory baseball vs football

Football. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah about blah, Tom Brady, blah, blah,blah,Wednesday, blah…………… Friday blah x 340 game.

Baseball: game, game, game, day game, game, crap,game, game

George Carlin:

Once did an extended study on this subject. I’m misquoting: “In baseball, you get to go home, and be safe. ’I’m going home, where I’ll be safe.’”

Hockey is boring so not hockey
Hockey is way more unboring live.
I voted NFL simply because there are only 16 games in a given season.

I would probably rank it like this: NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, WNBA and then paint drying. I’m not a fan of UW or any NCAA sports outside of Football enough to watch a non-BSU team play. I don’t understand the appeal or existence of soccer. The Mariners are an extremely close second to the Seahawks and the old Sonics were a great father-son bonding mechanism so they are fairly close as well. NHL is fun live but I would have to devote a season to learn the game but I would give it a shot.

To not understand the appeal of soccer is one thing

To not understand its existence? Really? That kind of emphatic statement was necessary?

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world by a considerable margin. There’s probably a reason.

I don't understand the existence of people who write off an entire sport because they choose not to try to understand it
.

Just roll the dice already!

What do you mean there is no dice? Ohhhhhhhh…

No USL-W?

We just got Hope Solo and Sydney Leroux! If they end up with Alex Morgan as well it’s probably the only Seattle team with title aspirations next year.

I haven't checked the odds yet but I would be shocked if both the Seahawks and Sounders weren't heavy Las Vegas favorites to go undefeated.
This is a baseball website, of course the MLB choice will have the most votes.
It was a poll about attending a Seattle _blank_ game not a game in general for the particular league

The Mariners have been really really really bad and boring for quite some time while the Seahawks/Sounders frequently get voted the best atmosphere in their leagues.

Only 52% of the people at this baseball blog said they'd prefer going to an MLB game

For an MLB blog that might actually be kind of low. I’m not really sure what I expected.

Boy, if only I'd thought of that while writing the intro to the post.
Well, it was a one sentence intro.

The chances of everyone reading the whole thing must be very low.

Mayweather versus Pacquiao

Not even close.

I'm not from Seattle and have never been

But I’d kill to go to a Sounders game.

I think some seats just opened up

:(

Twisted sons of bitches voting for NFL/NCAA Football
If MLB wasn't an option on the poll, I would have chosen NHL easily.

Live hockey is one of the best things in the world. If we get an NHL team here in Seattle season tickets are going to be near the top of my “Things I Will Buy When I’m Done With College” list.

Clearly placing MLB at the top of the list skewed the results.

Clearly.

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