FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

At Least 75% of Americans are Aware of Deflategate in a New Braun Research Poll Just Released

The question is, now, what do Americans think should be an appropriate punishment if allegations prove true?

Princeton, New Jersey – Jan. 28, 2015 – This Sunday, February 1, 2015, the Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to battle it out with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX in the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.  Every year, advertisers ready their best and most creative commercials, anticipation builds for the halftime show, millions of dollars are spent on tickets, and attendees as well as those watching from afar prepare themselves for this yearly but significant slice of Americana.  In typical years, the teams that have the chance to play in the Super Bowl win their respective league championship games, and they get a break between those games and the Super Bowl before facing each other.  Not this year.  Not in 2015. For this year is anything but typical.  For, after the AFC Championship game with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, played on Sunday, January 18^th, the Patriots won 45-7, and, now, it is 'Deflategate', as it is called, that seems to have people in a stir. 

Braun Research, Inc., has commissioned and released the findings of a recent survey showing what Americans are thinking and feeling about the 'Deflategate' story.  The Braun Research 'Deflategate' study was conducted via telephone, across the 50 United States, amongst adults 18 years of age and older, via landline (n=813) and cell phone (n=223). 

Fully three-quarters (76%) of the adults in our study have heard about 'Deflategate' when asked, "Have you heard about the 'Deflategate' scandal where footballs used during the AFC championship game were found to be under-inflated? Almost eight in ten males (79%) versus about seven in ten females (73%) are aware of 'Deflategate.'  At a 95% confidence level those aged 55-64 are significantly more aware of the news (84%) than are 35-44 year-olds (72%) or 18-34 year-olds (55%), and it is the 55-64 year-olds that are the most aware of the issues at hand.  Awareness is consistent across regions (at least 7 in 10 are aware).  More than 8 in 10 (85%) of those with a landline and cell phone, however, are significantly more aware of the story than are those with a landline only (73%) or cell phone only (66%).

Of those aware of  'Deflategate,' a little more than 4 in 10 of the adults in our national study (42%) think that an appropriate punishment should be that of a monetary fine imposed on the Patriots, Coach Bill Belichick and Quarterback Tom Brady if it is concluded that they knew about the deflating of balls before the AFC Championship game. 28% of the adults think Coach Belichick should be suspended for several games next season.   Only 16% of the adults we surveyed thought that nothing should be done as punishment.

Amongst age groups, the 35-54 year-olds, nationally, are most vocally calling for monetary fines versus other types of repercussions (almost half).  In a review of adults across regions, those in the West have similar opinions to the national findings on fines – they are, though, significantly higher (46%) than those in the Midwest (32%) but on par with adults of the other areas of the United States.

 

Braun Research, Inc. (BRI)

The Braun Research network of companies, founded in 1995, combined employ 39 full-time and over 236 part-time employees engaged in data collection via telephone, and internet for various survey research firms, government and advertising agencies, local community organizations, local and national business groups, foundations, universities and academic entities, as well as religious organizations. In 20 years Braun Research has conducted almost 10,000 research projects by telephone, internet, and mail worldwide.

Braun Research is an active member of AAPOR (The American Association for Public Opinion Research); AMEC (International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication); MRA/CMOR (Market Research Association/Council on Marketing and Opinion Research); and CASRO (Council on American Survey Research Organizations).

To view the full Braun Research 'Deflategate' study results, please click here to see the following pages.

For more information about the Braun Research 'Deflategate' study or about Braun Research, Inc., please contact:

Cynthia L. Miller

Managing Director

Braun Research, Inc.

271 Wall Street

Princeton, New Jersey 08540

USA

001-609-279-1600, x 130 (phone)

001-609-279-0381 (fax)

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (email)

www.braunresearch.com  (Web)