SAN DIEGO, CA – While a large majority of County residents believe that having professional sports teams in San Diego boosts the city’s quality of life, more needs to be done to convince them that Mission Valley’s Qualcomm Stadium needs to be replaced, according to polling information released today by the San Diego Institute for Policy Research (SDI).
Sixty-nine percent say that having professional sports teams in San Diego contributes to the city’s quality of life. This is true not only for fans of the Chargers but also for those who do not follow the team. SDI also finds that the Chargers’ fan base has expanded, with 65.5% of residents considering themselves big or casual fans of the team.
But even with this considerable level of support, 48.8% of residents do not support the Chargers’ plan for a new stadium. SDI asked the following question.
Q. “There have been discussions about building a new stadium in which the Chargers would play. The Chargers’ proposal is for a city to re-zone land so the team could develop nearby housing, shops and offices to pay for a Super Bowl-quality stadium. Regardless of where it is eventually located, do you support or oppose this plan for how to build a new stadium.”
County %
Support, strongly
24.3
Support, somewhat
19.7
Oppose, somewhat
17.0
Oppose, strongly
31.8
Unsure (Not Read)
7.2
Net support plan
-4.8
SDI finds that stadium supporters need to do more work among casual fans. Half of self-identified casual fans oppose the concept while 45% support it. Respondents were also asked which location they favor most and 43.5% favor the existing site in Mission Valley; 22% a location in Oceanside; 16.5% a location in Chula Vista and 7% favor a site in National City.
“I believe that this poll shows that there is still work to be done if the Chargers are going to be successful in convincing the public to move forward with a new stadium,” said Steven Francis, Chairman and Founder of SDI. He went on to say, “What is encouraging is the broad level of support the team has in the community and the public’s appreciation for how sports teams contribute to the region’s quality of life. It is a shame that, though the public supports the current Mission Valley site for a new stadium, politics at City Hall have all but foreclosed that option. “
John Nienstedt, President of Competitive Edge Research which conducted the poll, is amazed so many residents believe that professional sports teams add to the city’s quality of life. “It’s not that I don’t agree; I do think pro sports teams provide positive civic glue. We’ve found that in our other polls. But when we so often hear from naysayers and those who would wave goodbye to the Chargers, you begin to wonder how much teams really do contribute to quality of life. This installment of the Barometer clearly shows that people – even non-fans -- think the Chargers and Padres make San Diego a better place to live.”
During the coming month, SDI will be releasing the Barometer’s findings, as they are analyzed, on the views of County residents on economic development efforts (March 29), and, in anticipation of the release of the City’s budget, some views of City residents on police pay, potholes and budget trade-offs (April 5).
About the SDI/Competitive Edge Barometer
The research was conducted from March 1 – 6, 2007 and included 1,005 randomly selected adult respondents within the County of San Diego. Where noted, results are reported either for the entire county or for only the sample of 501 adults living in the City of San Diego.
This survey was conducted by Competitive Edge Research & Communication (CERC) in conjunction with the San Diego Institute for Policy Research (SDI). SDI and CERC jointly determined the issues to be covered in this survey. SDI provided CERC with background information on the issues contained in the questionnaire and both entities discussed the topics in order to produce an effective questionnaire. Final responsibility for all questions and the data collection rests with CERC.
The interviewing was conducted March 1st through the 6th in English and Spanish from CERC’s San Diego facility. Professional interviewers were trained specifically for this project. The duration of the average interview was 13 minutes. The random digit dial sample was provided by Scientific Telephone Samples of Foothill Ranch, CA. After collecting the data, results were weighted on the voter registration, gender, area and age variables to CERC’s estimates of the overall San Diego City population gathered from the US Census and the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.
Sampling Error
According to statistical theory, the confidence level associated with a sample of this type is such that, with a question where the respondents answer 50% "yes" and 50% "no," 95% of the time the results are within plus or minus 3.0% of the true value in the county, where true value refers to the results obtained if it were possible to interview every possible qualified respondent. The degree of error is reduced when responses have larger (e.g. 60%-40%, 70%-30%) percentage differences. Conversely, the margin of error increases when a subset of the entire 1,005 responses is analyzed. The margin of sampling error for the San Diego City sample is plus or minus 4.4%.
In addition to error introduced by sampling variability, there are many other possible sources of bias such as how a question is worded, the question sequence, or individual interviewer techniques. Competitive Edge does everything in its power to minimize these potential sources of bias.
A survey of this type is a good measure of current attitudes that may change over time. This survey should not necessarily serve as an unqualified predictor of events, but as an indicator of the situation in early March, 2007.
About the San Diego Institute for Policy Research
The San Diego Institute for Policy Research (SDI) is a non-partisan organization whose goal is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector throughout San Diego County. Established in 2006, SDI produces high quality policy research papers, economic bulletins, public opinion polls and major events and symposiums to help generate debate and discussion among San Diego’s decision makers and citizens alike.
About Competitive Edge Research & Communication
Competitive Edge Research & Communication is San Diego County’s premier polling firm. Established in 1987, the firm provides insight and strategic advice to clients across the state and across the country. Among its many endeavors, the firm conducts its annual Super Bowl poll to determine the big game’s effect on the host city. Competitive Edge is proud to be affiliated with SDI in this effort to provide San Diegans with a reliable barometer of public opinion.
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