Covid-19 Economy Tracking Study - Wave 5 Results
Focus on:
How social unrest is impacting consumer confidence in different industries:
entertainment
retail
theme parks
conventions
travel
Deprivation among sports fans:
baseball
soccer
hockey
football
golf
basketball
Back-to-Normal Wave 5: America Confronts Shifting Headwinds
1. AMERICA CONFRONTS SHIFTING HEADWINDS
Public opinion insights from the June 3, 2020
benchmark “Back-to-Normal Barometer”
RON BONJEAN, PARTNER, ROKK SOLUTIONS
RICH THAU, PRESIDENT OF ENGAGIOUS
JON LAST, PRESIDENT OF SPORTS & LEISURE RESEARCH GROUP
GINA DERICKSON, RESEARCH DIRECTOR OF ENGAGIOUS
3. SLIGHT DROP IN CONFIDENCE FROM WAVE 4
32%
25%
40%
- -
-3
-2
Confidence
Barometer
Future Expectations
Current Conditions
n=613, Back to Normal Barometer, June 3, 2020
4. 48%
58%
Personal Finances
47%
61%
Potential to contract
COVID-19
The U.S. Economy
PERSONAL
SOCIETAL
MEDICAL $$$
-1 +1
-3
WHAT ARE CONSUMERS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT?
-2
Impact on leisure
activities
47%
57%
Impact on
American society
UNREST
The overall public
health crisis
NEW
NEW
*Percentage who said they are extremely concerned
Wave 5: n=613 Back to Normal Barometer – June 3, 2020
Wave 4: n=593 Back to Normal Barometer – May 20, 2020
7. UNREST RAISES ANXIETY LEVELS
• They fear unrest will result in a spike in Covid-19 cases
Media’s shift in coverage to “normal news” may cause people to forget about
Covid-19 risk
Protesting without social distancing
• Unrest is another reason to avoid travel to large cities this summer,
although protests can be anywhere
“[This summer] I wouldn't go to Chicago with all the protests and the riots. I wouldn't go to
Chicago and get on the ‘L’ Train with the coronavirus.”
• Protests, riots, and curfews won’t last much longer – until the next
media story
8. SUMMER OF PROCRASTINATION AND SOFT PLANS
• Summer travel plans remain tentative
• Some booking travel based on probability, but not counting on it
“Where we go [this summer] will depend on if we're allowed to travel
outside the country… If we have to travel within the United States,
then [unrest] will have some impact on where we go.”
21. TRENDS IN FANS’ DEPRIVATION OF SPORTS
Golf Baseball Hockey
59% 61%
53% 51%
47%
Late Mar Mid Apr Late Apr Mid May Late May
38% 39% 37% 34%
47%
Late Mar Mid Apr Late Apr Mid May Late May
44% 44% 46%
42% 39%
Late Mar Mid Apr Late Apr Mid May Late May
The cancellation/modification/postponement of events in this sport has
made the current COVID-19 situation far more difficult
Unlike baseball and hockey, golf fans have recently been more
frustrated by the lack of events.
22. TRENDS IN FANS’ ANTICIPATION OF SPORTS
Golf Football Basketball
59% 61%
71% 73%
64%
Late Mar Mid Apr Late Apr Mid May Late May
45%
37%
46% 49%
45%
Late Mar Mid Apr Late Apr Mid May Late May
59%
54%
61% 62%
58%
Late Mar Mid Apr Late Apr Mid May Late May
When this sport returns, I will likely follow it more closely
Fans were expecting to be more engaged since April, but recent
events may have dampened their enthusiasm, at least for now.
23. SPORTS FANS’ OPINIONS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN
A KEY SOCIETAL METRIC
READY TO ATTEND LIVE SPORTING EVENTS NOW WITHOUT HESITATION
Sports fans are a bit more cautious after the unrest
associated with the recent protests
34% 37%
48%
60%
55%
Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 Wave 5
26. ONE SPORT HAS QUIETLY SEEN GAINS…
in participation
in connection
in digital engagement
27. AS COURSES OPEN, PARTICIPATION HAS RISEN
44%
49%
80%
90%
100%
Late March Mid April Late April Mid May Late May
Courses Open
27%
35%
32%
40%
59%
Late March Mid April Late April Mid May Late May
Played in past 2 weeks
Source: Golf.com
28. DIGITAL PLATFORMS HAVE BECOME
MORE IMPORTANT FOR GOLF FANS
31%
40% 39%
50% 51%
Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 Wave 5
Digital platforms (e.g., social media, online video, etc.) are important
ways to stay informed about this sport
29. WHAT MAKES GOLF UNIQUE?
Is it demographics?
Is it structural?
Is it something else?
30. GOLF FANS TEND TO BE MORE OPTIMISTIC
May 19-20, 2020
54%
54%
55%
56%
58%
60%
60%
66%
67%
68%
69%
74%
75%
MMA
Summer Olympics
Baseball
Hockey
NASCAR
Indy Racing
Football
Basketball
Horse Racing
Tennis
Soccer
Golf
Boxing
48%
49%
50%
51%
51%
51%
54%
55%
59%
60%
60%
63%
65%
Baseball
Summer Olympics
Football
Hockey
NASCAR
MMA
Basketball
Indy Racing
Soccer
Tennis
Horse Racing
Boxing
Golf
I'm optimistic about the future of our country I'm confident that I will have enough money to retire in comfort
31. GOLF FANS LOOK FOR UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
May 19-20, 2020
57%
57%
62%
62%
64%
64%
66%
67%
68%
74%
75%
76%
77%
Hockey
Baseball
Football
Summer Olympics
MMA
Indy Racing
NASCAR
Horse Racing
Basketball
Tennis
Soccer
Golf
Boxing
It's important for my life to include a number of
unique experiences
51%
52%
53%
56%
57%
57%
58%
59%
62%
66%
66%
67%
71%
Summer Olympics
Indy Racing
Baseball
Hockey
Football
Horse Racing
NASCAR
MMA
Basketball
Tennis
Soccer
Boxing
Golf
The interruption of live sports has created a
significant void in my life
…and the lack
of sports
strongly
impacts them
32. MOST GOLF COURSES ARE ADHERING TO
GUIDELINES
The course where I most recently played, has done an excellent
job of following new safety and sanitization protocols
Golf today, can be an oasis for me from the stresses of life
I am planning to play golf within the next week
There are more new golfers playing the game
now than there were at this time, last year
36%
38%
51%
62%
45. ONE LAST THING TO CONSIDER: RESTROOMS
• Greatest concerns, beyond the usual
Small, confined space with heavy traffic
Many touchpoints: doors, handles, faucets, flushers, etc.
Variable frequency of cleaning
• Small measures reinforce a commitment to cleanliness
Clean and re-stock restrooms often, especially removing trash
--Evidence that the restroom is taken care of
--Base frequency on traffic, not time
Include hand sanitizer and paper towels in bathrooms
Automate door entry, water/soap dispensing, etc.
Good maintenance supports cleanliness
Clean, disinfecting scent