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How much do dads care about passing down their team?

Olivia Richman
Olivia Richman
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Publish Date: 05/28/2025

Almost half of sports-loving dads in the U.S. think it’s important for their kid to root for the same team as they do. That’s according to a nationwide survey by sports platform PromoGuy.us, conducted ahead of Father’s Day among 2,000 dads who consider themselves sports fans.

Key findings:

  • 47% of dads who are into sports say they would like their kid(s) to support the same team as they do.
  • 7 in 10 fathers say their kid currently roots for the same team.
  • 15% cheer for a different team than their kid. Of those, 46% admit it leads to occasional arguments.
  • Almost half of sports-loving dads (47%) admit to nudging their kids toward becoming fans of the same team.

Thinking of surprising your dad with a new tie or cologne this Father’s Day? You might want to keep it a little closer to home. Because what really makes dads happy? A shared love for the same team!

A new survey from PromoGuy.us shows that 47% of sports-loving dads in the U.S. say it’s important to them that their child is a fan of the same team. From going to games together to sharing the highs and lows of each match, this kind of bonding means more to dads than you might think.

Nevada dads are the most serious about sharing team loyalty

Nevada tops the list with the highest percentage of dads who say it’s important to share their love for a team with their kids; 75% of sports-loving dads in the state feel that way. New Hampshire and Utah aren’t far behind, with 67% each, tying for second place. Next up is New Jersey, where 61% of sporty dads say it matters to them that their child roots for the same team.

Where do dads care the least about rooting for the same team?

The lowest percentages of dads who care about their kids supporting the same team can be found in Maine, Rhode Island and South Dakota, where only 25% of sports-loving dads feel it’s important. Tennessee also stands out with just 29% of dads hoping to share their fandom with their kids. Florida and Maryland are both notably below the national average too, with only 35% of dads in each state wanting to pass down their team loyalty.

Half of dads try to influence their kids’ team loyalty

It turns out that many dads aren’t shy about trying to get their kids on their side when it comes to team loyalty. A full 47% of dads admit to giving their kids a friendly nudge toward their favorite sports team.

And it seems to work: 72% of sports-loving dads say their kids are currently fans of the same team. Only 15% report that their kids root for a different team. Of those, 46% say it leads to occasional arguments, such as over game outcomes or play strategies.

The remaining 13% say their kids aren’t fans of any team at all.

1 in 12 dads wouldn’t attend a rival team’s game with their kid

If your kid became a fan of your team’s biggest rival, would you still join them at a game—or would it be too tough to handle? Luckily, most dads (92%) say they’d still show up. Only 1 in 12 admits they just couldn’t do it.

When it comes to team loyalty, the love often extends beyond family—sometimes even to in-laws. But what if your kid starts dating someone who's a fan of a different team? Dads don’t seem to mind as much when it’s their kid’s partner; 1 in 5 dads say they’d be disappointed, according to our study.

Methodology

The survey on how fathers pass down their sports fandom to their children was conducted by the research platform Prolific between April 23–25, 2025, and commissioned by PromoGuy.us. The sample consisted of 2,000 fathers living in the United States who self-identify as sports fans. The survey was carried out online and aimed to explore how many dads share their passion for a particular sports team with their children, and how they feel about their (in-law) children supporting a different team. Participants were also asked about the impact of these differences on family dynamics. The average age of respondents was 46 years. The following states were excluded due to insufficient data: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.

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