Does rooting for the same sports team score you a happier relationship?

Publish Date: 02/03/2025

Love… Some say it’s all you need, others say it’s blind. But how much does supporting the same sports team (or not) really affect a happy, lasting relationship? Sports platform PromoGuy surveyed 2,000 sports-loving individuals in relationships with fellow sports enthusiasts across the country to uncover whether shared team loyalty is a matchmaker or a heartbreaker. The question: Who’s happier in their relationship—those who cheer for the same team, or those who back rival sides?

Our study reveals:

  • Couples who support the same team have an average of 4.6 team-related arguments a year, while those who back different teams clash only 2.4 times annually.
  • Despite the arguments, couples with shared team loyalty are more satisfied with their relationship, rating it 9 out of 10, while those who cheer for different teams rate theirs 8.5.
  • Who has the most team-related arguments? That would be couples in Michigan who support the same team, averaging 14.3 arguments per year.
  • Couples from Arkansas and South Dakota who support different teams are the most satisfied, with an impressive average rating of 9.8 out of 10.

Couples who support the same team argue more than those who don’t

What are the odds of a happy relationship when it comes to sharing—or not sharing—a favorite sports team? When it comes to harmony at home, couples who support different teams actually have the upper hand. On average, they have just 2.4 team-related arguments a year, while couples who cheer for the same team are facing 4.6 arguments annually.

But that doesn’t mean the story ends there. Couples who back different teams might argue less, but they’re generally less satisfied with their relationship compared to those who share team loyalty. The first group gives their relationship a solid 8.5 out of 10, while same-team couples rate theirs a full 9. Both high scores, but still with a noticeable difference.

Where in the US do sports-loving couples argue the most?

Sports can be an endless source of heated debates. From team switches to bad performances, and from major transfers to minor injuries—an argument about your favorite team is never far away. While the average number of arguments nationwide stays under 5 per year for both couples who support the same team and those who back different teams, there are some major outliers across states. For example, couples in Michigan who support the same team argue about it an average of 14.3 times a year, the highest nationwide. Same-team couples in Maryland are also up there with an average of 12.7 team-related arguments per year, followed by Virginia at 11.8.

The highest number of team-related arguments among couples who support different teams is found in New Jersey, with an average of 11.6 arguments per year. But couples in Kansas who back different teams aren’t far behind, with 11 arguments a year on average. Of all the different-team couples, New York ranks third highest, with an average of 5 disputes per year.

Who’s more satisfied: couples supporting the same team or different teams?

We also asked respondents from different states to rate their satisfaction with their relationship on a scale from 1 to 10. South Dakota and Arkansas came out on top nationwide, with couples who support different teams giving their relationship an impressive 9.8 on average. Right behind them are couples from Oklahoma, also supporting different teams, with a score of 9.7. When it comes to couples who support the same team, Florida takes the lead with an average score of 9.6 out of 10, closely followed by Nebraska at 9.4, and North Carolina with a solid 9.3.

Methodology

In January 2025, PromoGuy.us conducted an independent survey with 2,000 U.S. sports fans who were in a relationship at the time. Among the respondents, 61% had a partner who supported the same team, while 39% supported different teams. They were asked how often they argued each year about (one of) their favorite sports teams and how satisfied they were with their relationship on a scale of 1 to 10. Of all the respondents, 60% were male, 39% were female, and 1% identified as non-binary. The average age of the participants was 38.8 years. The following states were excluded due to insufficient data:  Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

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