United Kingdom, 2005-Jul-04
The tannoy pipes up in the stadium to congratulate one very special sports fan on the birth of a bouncing baby boy and everyone sends out a cheer. If you’ve ever tried to plan a wedding or even a birth by the fixture list then you may be surprised to hear you are not alone in your love of sport. But what happens when real life clashes with your favourite sporting fixture?
New research released today by Siemens, a major sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic bid, reveals that 1 in 10 men would be prepared to miss the birth of their child to watch their favourite sporting event while 1 in 4 sports fans said that they’d happily miss their wedding anniversary if it meant making that all important fixture.
Wives and girlfriends shouldn’t feel too bad though, it doesn’t seem men hold much more regard for themselves with nearly the same number (24%) claiming they’d miss a minor operation to see their favourite team play! A further 23% of people said that they had missed a parents evening, 12% their child’s performance in a school play and 11% had missed a family funeral to see their top team play!
The research also reveals that almost 2 in 3 sports fans would be willing to travel anywhere in the UK to see that crucial sporting event whilst an adventurous 1 in 5 would travel anywhere in the world if it meant being there for the crunch match.
The research comes two days before the announcement of who will hold the 2012 Olympics and reveals 70% of sport fans would be prepared to spend over £40 a head to attend a top sporting event. With 1.5 million tickets expected to be as little as £15 if London wins the bid, fans are likely to be able to keep well within their budget. It also seems that support for the bid is sky high with 80% of sports fans saying that they would like to see an Olympic event with the men’s 100 metres coming out the favourite with 22%.
Rebekah Fitzgerald, Director of Communications at Siemens, which commissioned the research, said: “These findings illustrate the passion which people have for sport in this country and the lengths fans will go to for their favourite team. The survey also demonstrates why the UK would be such a fantastic venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. As a Major Partner to London 2012, we wish the London Bid team every success for the upcoming IOC decision on 6th July.”
Regional breakdown:
North East - one in seven North-East men (14%) would miss the birth of their child to watch their favourite sporting event – the highest rate in the UK. More than half (54%) would miss work and almost a quarter (24%) would travel anywhere in world to watch the big match. Sports fans in North East are also more likely to spend serious amounts of cash on tickets and travel with 14% - the highest in the UK, being willing to spend over £1,000 each on expenses.
North West – A quarter would miss their wedding anniversary, more than a fifth would miss a minor operation and 16% would miss their child’s nativity play.
Yorkshire & Humber – Almost half (48%) would miss work and 26% would miss their wedding anniversary to see their favourite team or player.
East Midlands – 23% would travel anywhere in the world and half would prefer to watch athletics at the Olympics. But the people from the East Midlands are the most loyal to their kids with only 5% willing to miss a school play or performance by their child in favour of sport!
West Midlands – Nearly a third (32%) would miss a parents evening and more than a quarter (26%) would miss a minor operation to see their favourite team or player.
East – 36% would travel abroad to watch their favourite team or player. People from East England are most careful with their cash with 30% prepared to pay no more than £40 for tickets – but with 1.2 million tickets for a London Games at £15 and the average ticket cost expected to be £40 that should be no problem if the IOC chooses London to host the Games in 2012.
London – 17% of Londoners would miss a close family members wedding in favour of their favourite sporting event. A massive 87% of London sports fans would like to see a live event should London host the Olympics in 2012 with around half (47%) keen to see athletics.
However Londoners are the least likely in the UK to miss their wedding anniversary for a sporting fixture (13%) – who said romance was dead?!
South East – 44% of people from the South East would miss work to see their favourite team or player. No-one surveyed from London or the South East would be prepared to go to the US for a sporting event.
South West – Expectant fathers in the South West are the most loyal to their partners with only 3% being prepared to miss the birth of their child for their favourite sporting event!
Wales – 10% of Welshmen would miss the birth of their child for their favourite sporting event and 50% would miss work. Welsh sports fans are ten times more keen to see the marathon than Londoners.
Scotland – 10% of Scots sports fans would miss a family funeral to attend a sports event and 16% - joint highest in the UK with the NW England – would miss their child’s performance in a play or talent contest in favour of sport. The trait of thrift attributed to the Scots seems a little misplaced however with Scottish sports fans willing to pay more on tickets and expenses than fans from most of the rest of the UK including Wales, London and the South East. (Only fans from the East Midlands and the North East would pay more)
-ends-
Notes to editors:
2,228 people were questioned by YouGov in June 2005.
About Siemens:
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 162 years ago. The company employs 20,317 people in the UK, including about 5,000 in the manufacturing sector. With annual revenues of £2.6 billion, including exports of almost £400 million, Siemens provides innovative, high-quality services and solutions to customers in a diverse range of industry sectors comprising: power, automation and control, information and communication, medical, transportation, lighting, and household. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Bracknell, Berkshire. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
Mr. Anne Keogh or Rob Simpson
Siemens press office
Further information
Tel: +44 (0)1344 396312 or 396338