New survey reveals what would college football…
More than a third of college football followers said they’d select to attend their workforce’s greatest rivalry sport of the yr moderately than their buddy’s marriage ceremony if they had been on the same day.
The surprising stat emerged in a new survey of 2,000 American college football lovers, evenly break up by NCAA Division I convention, which discovered that 35% of followers would select the sport over the nuptials, with Conference USA followers being most seemingly (47%) to show up to the sector moderately than the aisle on their buddy’s marriage ceremony day.
But when it comes to sport viewership, either in individual or via streaming, SEC followers are the most seemingly to watch every single sport of their workforce’s in a season (37%).
Holiday Inn Express by IHG Hotels & Resorts commissioned the survey with Talker Research to uncover the acute lengths followers go to show up in the stands for their favourite workforce, from driving for days to hitchhiking a experience with strangers, as properly as the sport day rituals followers make use of.
A new survey discovered that 35% of followers would select the sport over the nuptials, with Conference USA followers being most seemingly (47%) to show up to the sector moderately than the aisle on their buddy’s marriage ceremony day. Brocreative – stock.adobe.com
When requested about the craziest factor they’ve performed to see their workforce play in individual, one respondent said, “I hitched a ride from California to Indiana … It took me three days to get there,” and another shared, “[I] chartered a private jet last-minute to make [it to] kickoff after a business trip ran late.”
One fan stop their job to attend a sport, and another said, “[I] called the radio station 100 times in a row to win tickets.”
Looking at an overview of sport turnout, the average college football fan who’s ever attended a sport makes it to almost 4 video games in individual each yr.
More than a third of college football followers said they’d select to attend their workforce’s greatest rivalry sport of the yr moderately than their buddy’s marriage ceremony if they had been on the same day. SWNS
But going above and past are Conference USA followers who show up to the sidelines for an average of 5.3 video games per season.
Other most-committed conferences embrace the American Athletic Conference (5 video games per season, on average) and the Mid-American Conference (4.5 video games per season, on average).
The average college football follower who normally attends at least one sport a yr will journey a little under 1,000 miles (991) per yr to see their workforce play.
But according to the outcomes, although Conference USA followers attend more video games than followers from other conferences, it’s truly followers of the American Athletic Conference who journey the farthest to see their groups play — 1,125 miles per yr, on average.
“At the heart of college football are the fans,” said Justin Alexander, vice president of global model management for Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites & Candlewood Suites. “They put in a lot of effort to be half of the motion — whether or not it’s touring long distances or navigating a packed weekend schedule — so staying energized is key.
However, according to the outcomes, followers of the American Athletic Conference journey the farthest to see their groups play — an average of 1,125 miles per yr. Gorodenkoff – stock.adobe.com
That’s where a good breakfast and a cup of espresso or two can actually make a distinction on sport day.”
Most college football followers who journey to see their groups play (57%) spend at least one evening away during sport day weekends, and many have their own warm-up routines on sport day.
The average fan wakes up at 7:42 a.m. on sport day, although SEC and Big Ten followers wake up earlier than most (both at 7:06 a.m. on average).
More than half (55%) require a full breakfast to fuel up for the big day, 49% rely on a morning cup of espresso, and most (52%) make sure to embrace tailgating as properly.
The average college football follower who normally attends at least one sport a yr will journey a little under 1,000 miles per yr to see their workforce play. SWNS
Coffee and caffeine on sport days are vital for most followers (81%) to keep powered up all day long, and the average fan will down two cups of espresso to keep energized.
Along with morning routines, sport day rituals play a big half in how followers root for their groups.
More than half of respondents (52%) admitted they’re superstitious when it comes to their favourite workforce, and 46% have a ritual they’ll do to enhance their workforce’s odds of profitable.
And while many followers have simple superstitions like sporting their workforce’s gear, others take it a step additional.
Coffee and caffeine on sport days are vital for most followers to keep powered up all day long, and the average fan will down two cups of espresso to keep energized. SWNS
One fan confessed to “sleeping in my jersey the night before,” and another said they “bathe in hot sauce” before the sport to increase their workforce’s probabilities of victory.
But fandom isn’t all about profitable, as almost all respondents (92%) said they’d stay loyal and dedicated to their workforce, even if they misplaced every sport in a season, with Atlantic Coast Conference (95%) and Big Ten followers (94%) most seemingly to keep true through thick and skinny.
“Holiday Inn Express has over 2,300 locations across the country, many of which sit in or near college towns. Each season, we look forward to welcoming guests who travel near and far to cheer on their favorite team, and just in time for the kickoff of college football season, we wanted to spotlight all the ways fans contribute to the sport,” said Alexander. “From braving extreme weather conditions to hitchhiking and finding any way possible to make the trip, fans go to incredible lengths just to be there in person.
Their passion and presence are a vital part of what makes college football so special.”
More detailed insights on college football fan sport attendance and the craziest issues followers have performed to see a sport in individual could be discovered below.
Along with morning routines, sport day rituals play a big half in how followers root for their groups. SWNS
During a typical season, how many in-person video games do you attend to see your favourite college football workforce play?
● Conference USA – 5.3
● American Athletic Conference – 5.0
● Mid-American Conference – 4.5
● Mountain West Conference – 4.4
● Sun Belt Conference – 3.9
● Pac-12 Conference – 3.8
● Big 12 – 3.5
● Big Ten 2.5
● Southeastern Conference – 2.5
● Atlantic Coast Conference – 2.4
What is the wildest/most excessive factor you’ve ever performed to go and see your favourite college football workforce play in individual?
One fan confessed to “sleeping in my jersey the night before,” and another said they “bathe in hot sauce” before the sport to increase their workforce’s probabilities of victory. aceshot – stock.adobe.com
● “I hitched a ride from California to Indiana… It took me three days to get there.”
● “I quit my job to be able to attend.”
● “[I] called the radio station 100 times in a row to win tickets.”
● “[I] begged a coworker once to get him to take me to the game when my car was broken down. I bought him his favorite treat or drink every day for two weeks to get him to say yes and allow me to have his extra ticket.”
● “[I] drove 14 hours straight through a blizzard, called in “sick” from work and slept in my truck just to watch my boys play from the nosebleeds. [It was] completely price it.”
● “I once lied about a family emergency to get out of a wedding, drove six hours straight through a snowstorm and I slept in my car just to see my dream team play in a rivalry game.”
● “I sold my motorcycle for the tickets.”
● “[I] went to a game right after I had dental surgery.”
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American college football followers, evenly break up by the ten DI NCAA conferences; the survey was commissioned by Holiday Inn Express and administered and performed online by Talker Research between July 29 and Aug. 8, 2025.
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