Study reveals America’s most "die-hard" sports fans

Sports fans and their favorite teams—it’s a love as inevitable as taxes and, well, death. But which fans are so devoted that even death won’t do them part? Sports platform PromoGuy.us went on a mission to uncover where the real “die-hard” sports fans are, digging into just how far that love lasts… even after the final whistle.

Some of the findings:

• A significant 63% of American sports fans want their favorite sports team to be represented in their funeral or memorial service in some way.
• Mississippi has the most "die-hard" sports fans, with 75% wanting their favorite team included in their funeral or memorial. Utah ranks lowest at just 9%.
• 1 in 3 U.S. sports fans would like to be buried with memorabilia from their favorite team.
• A remarkable 60% of American sports fans would like their love for their team to be mentioned in memorial speeches.

Real sports love shows itself in all kinds of ways—from rocking team gear and naming your dog after your favorite player to getting a tattoo to honor your club. But for many American sports fans, their team isn’t just the love of their life—it’s the love of their afterlife too. In fact, our study shows an impressive 63% would like their favorite team to be represented in some way during their funeral or memorial service.

3 in 5 want their club mentioned in final tributes

Around 3 in 5 U.S. sports fans would love for their club loyalty to get a shoutout during farewell speeches by family or friends. This could be through memories of games they attended or anecdotes about their dedication as a fan.

A smaller group—21% of American sports enthusiasts—would prefer a specific song or anthem tied to their favorite team to be played at their funeral, letting the music do the talking.

33% of U.S. sports fans want to be buried with team memorabilia

While many sports fans cherish their team shirt, scarf, or signed ball during their lifetime, some are so attached to these items that they wouldn't want to part with them—even after death. In fact, 1 in 3 sports fans would like to be buried with one or more pieces of sports memorabilia.

Additionally, 1 in 5 (21%, to be exact) are considering immortalizing their club loyalty by having their favorite team's logo or name engraved on their tombstone or urn.

18% of sports fans want their ashes spread at team-related locations

We also explored how many American sports fans would want to continue supporting their team even after their death by leaving a donation to their favorite club in their will. 19% of the respondents said they would be willing to make a one-time gift to their team after passing away, showing their commitment to their club even in the afterlife.

Lastly, we asked respondents about their preferences regarding the scattering of their ashes, should they be cremated. The results revealed that 18% would like (a part of) their ashes to be scattered at a location that holds special significance to their favorite team, further demonstrating their deep connection to their club.

Methodology

In November 2024, PromoGuy.us conducted an independent survey of 2,000 U.S. sports fans across the country. We asked respondents how they would like their love for their club to be reflected in their funeral or memorial service and in what ways they would like this to be shown. The survey included 71% male, 28% female, and 1% non-binary participants, with an average age of 41.6 years. The following states were excluded due to insufficient data: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

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