A new poll finds the Atlanta Braves are the most popular Major League Baseball team in Florida while the Miami Dolphins are the favorite National Football League (NFL) team in the Sunshine State.
Public Policy Polling (PPP) released a poll on Thursday which shows, despite two major league teams in Florida, Atlanta is the most popular team in the state with 22 percent of those surveyed saying they are Braves fans. The Tampa Bay Rays, like Braves currently in the playoffs, came in second with 13 percent. The Miami Marlins, one of the worst teams in the majors, place third with 11 percent.
The poll shows there are a host of fans of teams outside the region. The New York Yankees are the favorite team of 10 percent of those surveyed while 9 percent cheer for the Boston Red Sox. The Chicago Cubs are the favorite of 5 percent of Floridians despite playing spring training in Arizona. The New York Mets are the favorite team of 3 percent of those surveyed while 2 percent root for the Philadelphia Phillies. Fans of other teams and benighted souls who do not enjoy baseball make up 24 percent of those surveyed.
As the Rays make a playoff run, the poll finds there are high hopes for the team across the Sunshine State, with 16 percent of those surveyed thinking they will win the World Series. More than a quarter -- 26 percent -- think the Rays will make the World Series but will lose while 47 percent expect the Rays to reach the American League Divisional Series. Only 7 percent think the Rays will lose in the Divisional Series.
The poll also finds Rays fans hold manager Joe Maddon in high regard, with 74 percent approving of the job he is doing and only 1 percent disapproving of it.
The Dolphins are the most popular NFL team in the state with 21 percent of those surveyed favoring that team. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers place second with 15 percent. The New England Patriots place third with 7 percent, beating out the Sunshine States own Jacksonville Jaguars. Three teams -- the Jaguars, the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers -- are each the favored team of 6 percent of those surveyed. The New York Giants are the favored team of 5 percent followed by 4 percent who like the Atlanta Falcons and 3 percent who root for the New York Jets. More than a quarter of those surveyed -- 27 percent -- favor other teams or could care less about the NFL.
The poll of 579 registered Florida voters was taken from Sept. 27-29 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percent
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinDerbySSN.
