Greater than a 3rd of faculty soccer followers mentioned they’d select to attend their staff’s largest rivalry recreation of the 12 months reasonably than their good friend’s marriage ceremony in the event that they had been on the identical day.
The stunning stat emerged in a brand new survey of two,000 American faculty soccer fanatics, evenly cut up by NCAA Division I convention, which discovered that 35% of followers would select the sport over the nuptials, with Convention USA followers being most probably (47%) to indicate as much as the sector reasonably than the aisle on their good friend’s marriage ceremony day.
However in terms of recreation viewership, both in particular person or through streaming, SEC followers are the most probably to observe each single recreation of their staff’s in a season (37%).
Vacation Inn Categorical by IHG Accommodations & Resorts commissioned the survey with Talker Analysis to uncover the acute lengths followers go to indicate up within the stands for his or her favourite staff, from driving for days to hitchhiking a journey with strangers, in addition to the sport day rituals followers make use of.
When requested concerning the craziest factor they’ve performed to see their staff play in particular person, one respondent mentioned, “I hitched a journey from California to Indiana … It took me three days to get there,” and one other shared, “[I] chartered a personal jet last-minute to make [it to] kickoff after a enterprise journey ran late.”
One fan give up their job to attend a recreation, and one other mentioned, “[I] referred to as the radio station 100 instances in a row to win tickets.”
Taking a look at an summary of recreation turnout, the common faculty soccer fan who’s ever attended a recreation makes it to almost 4 video games in particular person annually.
However going above and past are Convention USA followers who present as much as the sidelines for a median of 5.3 video games per season.
Different most-committed conferences embody the American Athletic Convention (5 video games per season, on common) and the Mid-American Convention (4.5 video games per season, on common).
The typical faculty soccer follower who normally attends at the least one recreation a 12 months will journey a bit of underneath 1,000 miles (991) per 12 months to see their staff play.
However in keeping with the outcomes, though Convention USA followers attend extra video games than followers from different conferences, it’s really followers of the American Athletic Convention who journey the farthest to see their groups play — 1,125 miles per 12 months, on common.
“On the coronary heart of faculty soccer are the followers,” mentioned Justin Alexander, vice chairman of worldwide model administration for Vacation Inn Categorical, Staybridge Suites & Candlewood Suites. “They put in lots of effort to be a part of the motion — whether or not it’s touring lengthy distances or navigating a packed weekend schedule — so staying energized is essential.
That’s the place a very good breakfast and a cup of espresso or two can actually make a distinction on recreation day.”
Most faculty soccer followers who journey to see their groups play (57%) spend at the least one night time away throughout recreation day weekends, and plenty of have their very own warm-up routines on recreation day.
The typical fan wakes up at 7:42 a.m. on recreation day, though SEC and Large Ten followers get up sooner than most (each at 7:06 a.m. on common).
Greater than half (55%) require a full breakfast to gas up for the massive day, 49% depend on a morning cup of espresso, and most (52%) ensure that to incorporate tailgating as effectively.
Espresso and caffeine on recreation days are crucial for many followers (81%) to remain powered up all day lengthy, and the common fan will down two cups of espresso to remain energized.
Together with morning routines, recreation day rituals play a giant half in how followers root for his or her groups.
Greater than half of respondents (52%) admitted they’re superstitious in terms of their favourite staff, and 46% have a ritual they’ll do to spice up their staff’s odds of profitable.
And whereas many followers have easy superstitions like carrying their staff’s gear, others take it a step additional.
One fan confessed to “sleeping in my jersey the night time earlier than,” and one other mentioned they “bathe in sizzling sauce” earlier than the sport to extend their staff’s possibilities of victory.
However fandom isn’t all about profitable, as practically all respondents (92%) mentioned they’d stay loyal and dedicated to their staff, even when they misplaced each recreation in a season, with Atlantic Coast Convention (95%) and Large Ten followers (94%) most probably to remain true by means of thick and skinny.
“Vacation Inn Categorical has over 2,300 places throughout the nation, a lot of which sit in or close to faculty cities. Every season, we sit up for welcoming visitors who journey close to and much to cheer on their favourite staff, and simply in time for the kickoff of faculty soccer season, we needed to highlight all of the methods followers contribute to the game,” mentioned Alexander. “From braving excessive climate situations to hitchhiking and discovering any means doable to make the journey, followers go to unbelievable lengths simply to be there in particular person.
Their ardour and presence are a significant a part of what makes faculty soccer so particular.”
Extra detailed insights on faculty soccer fan recreation attendance and the craziest issues followers have performed to see a recreation in particular person could be discovered under.
Throughout a typical season, what number of in-person video games do you attend to see your favourite faculty soccer staff play?
● Convention USA – 5.3
● American Athletic Convention – 5.0
● Mid-American Convention – 4.5
● Mountain West Convention – 4.4
● Solar Belt Convention – 3.9
● Pac-12 Convention – 3.8
● Large 12 – 3.5
● Large Ten 2.5
● Southeastern Convention – 2.5
● Atlantic Coast Convention – 2.4
What’s the wildest/most excessive factor you’ve ever performed to go and see your favourite faculty soccer staff play in particular person?
● “I hitched a journey from California to Indiana… It took me three days to get there.”
● “I give up my job to have the ability to attend.”
● “[I] referred to as the radio station 100 instances in a row to win tickets.”
● “[I] begged a coworker as soon as to get him to take me to the sport when my automotive was damaged down. I purchased him his favourite deal with or drink daily for 2 weeks to get him to say sure and permit me to have his additional ticket.”
● “[I] drove 14 hours straight by means of a blizzard, referred to as in “sick” from work and slept in my truck simply to observe my boys play from the nosebleeds. [It was] completely price it.”
● “I as soon as lied a few household emergency to get out of a marriage, drove six hours straight by means of a snowstorm and I slept in my automotive simply to see my dream staff play in a rivalry recreation.”
● “I bought my motorbike for the tickets.”
● “[I] went to a recreation proper after I had dental surgical procedure.”
Survey methodology:
Talker Analysis surveyed 2,000 American faculty soccer followers, evenly cut up by the ten DI NCAA conferences; the survey was commissioned by Vacation Inn Categorical and administered and carried out on-line by Talker Analysis between July 29 and Aug. 8, 2025.
