I'm trying to determine whether there are more Major League baseball
fans or NFL football fans in the New York Area. Unfortunately you
can't use TV ratings because football is only a once a week event and
therefore will automatically have higher ratings. Also you can't use
tickets sales since baseball plays 162 games to footballs 16. I know
there probably can't be a definite answer, but I'm just looking for
evidence pointing in either direction and can't think of the best way
to search for it.

The only "apples-to-apples" comparison I could give you is the results
of a respected national poll conducted in 2001 that reported the
percentages of self-identified "fans" of several sports , including
major league baseball and the NFL.

The only New York-specific information I have found is a recent poll
that reported the percentage of New York City adults that say they are
fans of one the two local New York teams -- 45 percent.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x14438.xml


I hope another researcher can come up with MLB fans in NYC and post an
answer for you. If not, and you are interested in the national numbers
from 2001, I would happy to provide them to you.


markj-ga

Thanks for the effort but national numbers would not help me. My
thesis is that while the NFL is probably more popular in most regions,
there a few pockets in this country where baseball is still the fan
favorite. I'm trying to see if thats the case in the New York area.

About a year ago, Sports Illustrated did a series of 50 state profiles
on the sporting interest in each state. Each week, for a year, a
different state was profiled in each issue. They asked questions like
"what is your favorite sport" or "which is your favorite sporting
team." You might be able to use that data as one source of
information.

This is at best antecdotal evidence, but shops that cater to
collectors would know which sports and teams are most in demand.

There have always been at least two baseball teams in the NYC region,
and since 1961, two pro football teams. The old NY Giants NFL team
built a dynasty from the mid 1950's to 1963. That team featured Tom
Landry as defensive coordinator/Vince Lombardi as OC until '59. The
1968 NY Jets SB team with Joe Namath established them as a rival. The
Bill Parcells Giants won two SB's, and the team was in the big game
recently.

The Yankees constant succees guarantees a strong following and the
Mets have won or played in several WS, including the recent subway
series.

The cost of placing advertising on radio/TV/newspapers for Yankees vs.
Mets/Giants vs. Jets would sort out fan preference as well.

Attendance at off-season fan conventions might also indicate preference. 

Sales of team merchandise might be the best indicator.