The 10th annual SportsBusiness Daily/SportsBusiness Journal Reader Survey is in the books, and more than 1,000 voters weighed in on nearly 100 questions that spanned all facets of the industry. Voting was conducted over three weeks starting Oct. 13, with polling via SportsBusinessDaily.com and SportsBusinessJournal.com. Only the top vote-getters are listed. Our thanks here to Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, which again this year provided the technical and surveying support to make this effort possible. Of course, we also thank you. Whether you’re a first-time voter or a 10-time voter, these are your results. Today, we present data on college sports, motorsports, sponsors and the best of the rest.
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Should college athletes be paid?
| Yes | 52% |
| No | 44% |
Responses: 706
Companies/brands that have done the best job aligning with college sports through corporate sponsorship:
| Allstate | 41% |
| Capital One | 27% |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | 23% |
| Home Depot | 22% |
| Nike | 22% |
Responses: 663
Note: Respondents could make three selections.
Most effective conference commissioner:
| Mike Slive, SEC | 47% |
| Jim Delany, Big Ten | 15% |
| Larry Scott, Pac-12 | 14% |
Responses: 692
The NCAA’s decision to grant autonomy to the five “power conferences” — ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC — was:
| A good decision | 52% |
| A poor decision | 29% |
| No opinion | 19% |
Responses: 692
Should beer be sold at college sporting events?
| Yes | 72% |
| No | 23% |
| No opinion | 5% |
Responses: 703
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How long before the College Football Playoff expands from four to eight teams?
| Less than 4 years | 43% |
| 4-7 years | 39% |
| 8-11 years | 5% |
| After the initial 12-year contract | 10% |
| Never | 3% |
Responses: 700
Readers were asked in 2005 how college football should change its closing weeks. A total of 65% of voters supported using the existing bowl structure to develop a playoff system, while 16% suggested adding one championship game after the bowl season. Readers obviously got their wish, with this season leading up to the first College Football Playoff.
