Many NFL fans covet a day off after the Super Bowl — without having to call into work “sick” — and a new poll shows moving the big game date to before a holiday has significant support.
According to a Quinnipiac University survey, 64% of NFL fans back moving the Super Bowl to President Day’s weekend so that the following Monday would be a federal holiday that gives many fans the day off, and more time to recuperate from Sunday’s overindulgence.
“There are few things people agree on, but one might be that the Monday after the Super Bowl should be a day off,” said Nick Pietruszkiewicz, a Quinnipiac assistant professor of journalism and program director of sports communication, in a statement. “This makes perfect sense.”
Overall, 56% of Americans support moving the Super Bowl, which could happen if the NFL expands its schedule from 17 to 18 regular season games.
Sixty percent of admitted NFL fans said they back adding another regular season game and eliminating one preseason game.
Fans, though, are more divided over the NFL announcing that Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny would be the halftime entertainment for next year’s Super Bowl.
Some social media conservatives have railed against the decision, claiming that a “foreigner” should not be featured at America’s premier sports event.
Puerto Rico is an American territory and Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.
President Donald Trump called the NFL’s selection of Bad Bunny, who has criticized Trump’s immigration policies, “absolutely ridiculous.”
Quinnipiac found that 48% of those polled support having Bad Bunny perform, while 29% do not and 24% had no opinion.
A statement accompanying the poll results said there were “big gaps” in response to Bad Bunny based on political affiliation, race and age:
Seventy-four percent of Democrats and 52% of independents support the NFL’s decision while 63% of Republicans disapprove of it.
Black adults approve of Bad Bunny appearing 61% to 19%.
Hispanic adults overwhelmingly support the NFL’s decision (65%) while just 41% of white adults do.
Young adults 18 to 34 approve of Bad Bunny (64%), but 37% of those 65 and over disapprove while 36% approve.
“The NFL chose a global superstar to perform for the Super Bowl halftime show, yet the immense popularity of Bad Bunny’s music can’t escape the political tensions currently felt across the United States,” said Brittani Webb, Quinnipiac assistant professor of media studies. in the statement.
“For anyone who still argues that sports are apolitical,” she said, “the polarized reactions suggest otherwise.”
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