Americans feel down for 2.5 hours after a bad sports outcome, study finds

American sports fans are in a bad mood for an average of 2 hours and 38 minutes after their favorite team suffers a poor result, according to research by PromoGuy. We gathered insights from over 2,000 sports enthusiasts from across the country.

Here is what we found:

• On average, American sports fanatics feel down for 2.5 hours after a poor game outcome from their favorite team or athlete.
• Among all states, West Virginia ranks highest, with sports fans feeling grumpy for an average of 17 (!) hours. Missouri comes in second with 12 hours and 33 minutes, closely followed by Montana with 12 hours and 30 minutes.
• Nebraska scores the lowest with only 22 minutes.

West Virginia sports fans experience the longest post-game blues

While the joy of a victory is immense, the pain following a disappointing outcome from our favorite teams or athletes can be just as deep. While some can easily shake off a loss, others may find themselves literally losing sleep over it, especially when NFL betting odds come into play. But how long does this hangover truly last? It varies by location, as it turns out. While the national average stands at 2 hours and 38 minutes, people from West Virginia feel down for an average of 17 hours - a significant difference, to say the least. Unfortunately for West Virginians, they hold the national record in this regard.

The top 5

Missouri and Montana take the second and third spots, both well above the national average. People in Missouri feel grumpy for 12 hours and 33 minutes, while those in Montana feel the same for 12 hours and 30 minutes after a disappointing sports outcome. Moving down the top 5, we find Kentucky, where the pain of a negative sports outcome sticks around for an average of 8 hours and 53 minutes. This puts Kentuckians in fourth place. Bringing up the rear of the top 5 is Connecticut, where the hangover lasts 5 hours and 33 minutes on average.

Nebraska supporters recover in record time

But where do fans rebound from a loss the quickest? Nebraska takes the lead. With an astonishing average of just 22 minutes, Nebraska residents seem to swiftly recover from a defeat. The same holds true for sports enthusiasts from Mississippi, with an average recovery time of 25 minutes, making it the second quickest state in America. Finally, Minnesota also manages to shake off the blues within half an hour, with an average recovery time of 28 minutes. Perhaps the presence of a sweepstake casino offers a welcome distraction for some.

Methodology

In March 2024, we conducted a nationwide survey involving 2,137 American sports enthusiasts. Of all the participants, 38% were female, 60% male, 1% identified as non-binary, and 1% identified as other. The average age of respondents was 41 years.