BHI State of the Household Survey Winter 98

Contact: Frank Conte
Director of Communications
617-573-8050

Survey: Voters oppose public funds for Patriots, Red Sox

Boston, February 2, 1998 - A majority of Massachusetts voters oppose the use of public funds to keep the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox in Massachusetts, according to a new statewide survey. The survey, conducted by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University, suggests that voters would oppose a proposal under consideration by the Massachusetts State Senate to fund “infrastructure improvements” aimed at keeping the Patriots in Massachusetts.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of respondents said they opposed the use of public funds to keep the Patriots in Massachusetts; 34% favored the use of public funds. Fifty-eight (58%) said they opposed the use of public funds to keep the Red Sox in Massachusetts; 33% favored the use of public funds. The rest were undecided.

“This survey suggests that voters oppose the use of public funds for keeping professional sports teams in the state, no matter how the funds are spent or how their expenditures are justified,” said David Tuerck, executive director of the Beacon Hill Institute.

The Massachusetts Senate is reportedly considering a proposal called “tax incremental financing” that would use state income taxes generated by players' salaries to justify state-funded infrastructure improvements to Foxboro stadium. Architects of the proposal argue that a recent TV contract will make it possible for the state to collect more in income taxes from the players and owners, provided the state is able to keep the team from leaving.

Tuerck said that this argument apparently will not win voter support. “It appears that voters are opposed to public subsidies for professional sports teams. The message is clear: If the Patriots or Rex Sox want to play in Massachusetts, they'll have to do it without taxing the taxpayers even more.”

Research shows that public subsidies to sports teams usually fall short of delivering their promised benefits. “Massachusetts voters appear to realize that these subsidies represent a money loser for taxpayers,” said Tuerck.

The survey showed consistent results across most demographic groups. Exceptions were young voters and voters with a high school education, who favored spending public funds on sports teams. The survey of 400 registered voters was conducted January 11-13, 1998 and has a margin of error of ±4%.

The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University in Boston applies state-of-the-art economic methods to the analysis of current public policy issues.

 

---

Question: Do you favor or oppose the use of public funds to keep the New England Patriots football team in Massachusetts?

	FAVOR	OPPOSE	DON'T KNOW	TOTAL
ALL RESPONDENTS	34%	55%	10%	400
ANCESTRY
African-American	21%	56%	23%	11
Asian-American		100%		2
Hispanic	32%	68%		8
Euro-American	33%	57%	10%	306
else	44%	46%	11%	64
don't know	46%	38%	16%	9
AGE
18-24	51%	45%	4%	38
25-34	33%	57%	10%	63
35-44	38%	48%	14%	87
45-54	34%	57%	9%	75
55-64	25%	70%	5%	51
65 & over	30%	56%	15%	78
refused	38%	50%	13%	8
YEARS SCHOOL
Less than High School	22%	60%	18%	17
High School	44%	41%	15%	97
Associates Degree	35%	64%	2%	27
Some College	40%	50%	10%	96
College Grad	21%	78%	1%	102
Post Grad	35%	43%	22%	58
Refused			100%	1
FAMILY INCOME
LT 15k	39%	44%	17%	36
$15k-$30k	41%	49%	10%	47
$30K-$50k	30%	58%	12%	113
$50k-$75k	38%	61%	2%	67
$75k-$100k	41%	50%	9%	41
over$100k	32%	59%	10%	31
don't know	73%	6%	20%	11
refused	22%	66%	12%	55

---

Question: Do you favor or oppose the use of public funds to keep the Boston Red Sox baseball team in Massachusetts?

	Favor	Oppose	Don't know	TOTAL
ALL RESPONDENTS	33	58	9	400
GENDER
Male	34	60	6	201
Female	32	56	12	199
ANCESTORS
African-American	14	70	16	11
Asian-American	0	100	0	2
Hispanic	32	68	0	8
Euro-American	31	60	9	306
else	46	46	8	64
don't know	46	34	20	9
AGE
18-24	55	41	4	38
25-34	32	57	11	63
35-44	38	50	12	87
45-54	30	62	7	75
55-64	20	76	4	51
65 & over	28	61	11	78
refused	38	50	13	8
YEARS SCHOOL
Less than High School	24	65	11	17
High School	45	43	12	97
Associates Degree	29	70	2	27
Some College	37	54	10	96
College Grad	21	79	0	102
Post Grad	34	48	19	58
Refused	0	0	100	1
FAMILY INCOME
Less than $15k	30	49	20	36
$15-$30	42	49	9	47
$30-$50 K	31	60	9	113
$50-$75K	37	62	1	67
$75-$100K	41	53	6	41
over $100K	23	67	10	31
don't know	34	52	14	11
refused	25	63	12	55

 

This survey was conducted for the Beacon Hill Institute under the supervision of Dr. John Blydenburgh and with the assistance of Commonwealth Consulting. The survey of 400 Massachusetts residents has a margin of error of ± 4%. Due to rounding, numbers may not add up to 100.

-30-

Posted: 2/2/98
Format revied on 02-Jul-2003 2:46 PM

Email: fconte@beaconhill.org

©1998-2003 Beacon Hill Institute, All Rights Reserved.

---