The results of a study conducted by the polling firm Poll Position present an alarming picture of widespread fan apathy towards whether or not the two sides can resolve their differences and return to the hardcourt.
When asked if they were longing for basketball to resume play, 76% of voters said they were not, while merely 12% claimed to miss the game.
The remaining 12% of respondents did not have an opinion on the issue.
“I think it is pretty reliable that three-quarters of Americans have made it pretty clear that they are not missing the NBA season up to this point,” said Larry Register, content manager at Poll Position. “I think what it says is that American people are kind of fed up with this millionaire-versus-billionaire mentality, when things are pretty tight for everybody.”
The telephone survey, conducted on Nov. 6, posed the question to 1,179 registered voters across the United States.
In addition to showing overwhelming numbers that point to widespread disinterest in the work stoppage, there were daunting disparities within the league’s key demographics as well.
Those aged 30-44 were found to care the least, with 83% claiming not to miss NBA basketball, compared to 7% who said they did.
Younger fans appeared significantly antsier for the two sides to come to terms, with 29% of the 18-29-age bracket saying they are in fact missing the games, which were originally scheduled to begin Nov. 1.
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/...labour-strife/
Uh, oh. Interesting results. Sort of Major League Baseball in 1995 results.
The maximum pressure point in negotiations will be the point where they have to call an entire season which I assume would be roughly mid-February. Given the dispute is about a percentage split of revenues, a poll like this pressures both sides.
Cowperson