Baseball Fanatics Overdo It

Memorizing schedules and sneaking an inning or two while in church are just some lengths fans will go to in order to catch their favorite nine and America’s summer pastime, according to a survey from breakfast food giant Kellogg.

Individual survey respondents reported every “never miss a game” tactic from ordering playoff tickets online during a religious service to attending a game while on a honeymoon. Nearly half of fans (47%) have their team’s schedule on hand at all times or know it well. Nearly three in 10 know it better eight weeks out than they know their own commitments.

If money were no object, fans would want to attend 33 games a season. As it is, they average six. Time is usually no object: More than half the fans surveyed have traveled over four hours to see their team play.

What Obligations?

Almost half (47%) canceled, missed or arrived late at a family event, to watch their favorite team. A third of respondents canceled, missed or were late to work for the same reason.

Among other findings:

• Nearly one-third of fans would rearrange or cancel a date if it interfered with a big game;
• More than half (53%) have gone out of their way to watch a favorite team’s game on vacation, and 43% have watched at work;
• If you’ve ever listened to your game through poor reception on the radio just to catch the action, you’re not alone: 38% of fans engage in this kind of “static cling”;
• More than a third of fans under age 34 have petitioned bartenders or restaurant owners to see if they will play a team’s games regularly; and
• More than one in 10 fans went out of their way to watch a game while at a wedding.

The Battle Creek, Michigan-based company surveyed 1,000 fans nationwide in connection with Major League Baseball promotions and the “Never Miss a Game” contest.