Our 7th bi-weekly research project tracking consumer confidence in many sectors including travel, conferences, entertainment, sports and more.

1. MANEUVERING AROUND UNCERTAINTY
Public opinion insights from the July 8, 2020 “Back-
to-Normal Barometer”
RON BONJEAN, PARTNER, ROKK SOLUTIONS
RICH THAU, PRESIDENT OF ENGAGIOUS
JON LAST, PRESIDENT OF SPORTS & LEISURE RESEARCH GROUP
MATT STEFFEE, SENIOR RESEARCHER AT ENGAGIOUS

2. CONTEXT:RESPONDENTSACTIVELYENGAGE
n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

3. GROWINGNUMBERSENGAGEDIN PAST MONTH
n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

4. FUTURE EXPECTATIONS FUEL MODEST CONFIDENCE UPTICK
29%
23%
35%
+5
+2
Confidence
Barometer
Future Expectations
Current Conditions
Wave 7: n=598, Back to Normal Barometer – July 8, 2020
Wave 6: n=565, Back to Normal Barometer – June 17, 2020
-1

5. FUTURE EXPECTATIONS FUEL MODEST CONFIDENCE UPTICK
28%
Confidence Barometer Future Expectations
COVID-19 Heavy
Wave 7: n=598, Back to Normal Barometer – July 8, 2020
Wave 6: n=565, Back to Normal Barometer – June 17, 2020
29%COVID-19 Light
Current Conditions
22%
23%
34%
35%
There are no significant differences in confidence between the
“COVID-19 Heavy” states versus “COVID-19 Light” states.

6. 49%
61%
Personal Finances
45%
60%
Potential to contract
COVID-19
The U.S. Economy
PERSONAL
SOCIETAL
MEDICAL $$$
+11 +8
+5
SOCIETAL CONCERNS STILL DOMINATE
+8
Impact on leisure
activities
57%
Impact on
American society
UNREST
The overall public
health crisis
*Percentage who said they are extremely concerned
Wave 7: n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020
Wave 6: n=565 Back to Normal Barometer – June 17, 2020
+9
+7
44%
9-week high
9-week high

7. 49%
61%
Personal Finances
45%
60%
Potential to contract
COVID-19
The U.S. Economy
PERSONAL
SOCIETAL
MEDICAL $$$
COVID-HEAVY AREAS ARE EVEN MORE CONCERNED
Heavy
62%
Impact on leisure
activities
57%
Impact on
American society
UNREST
The overall public
health crisis
*Percentage who said they are extremely concerned
Wave 7: n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020
Wave 6: n=565 Back to Normal Barometer – June 17, 2020
44%
9-week high
9-week high
Light
59%
Heavy
63%
Light
57%
Heavy
60%
Light
53%
Heavy
56%
Light
45%
Heavy
51%
Light
41%
Heavy
44%
Light
43%

8. 2/3 STAYED AT HOME JULY 4 WEEKEND
n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

9. MANY ALTERED PLANS TO AVOID CASES, MASKS OR UNREST
n=94, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

10. TALES OF THREE VERY DIFFERENT
INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKENDS
Greg:
Eager
to go
Steve:
Careful
to go
Jocelyn:
Unwilling
to go

11. THEY’REWORRIEDABOUT A SECOND WAVE…
n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

12. …AND IT’S UNDERMINING THEIR WILLINGNESS TO TRAVEL
n=217, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

13. THEY’REWORRIEDABOUT LOSING THEIRJOB
n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

14. THEY’REWORRIED WE’REREOPENING TOOQUICKLY
n=588, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

15. AND THEY’RE WORRIED THEY’RE NOTGETTINGCLEARGUIDANCE
n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

16. AMIDST WORRY, YOU NEED TO HAVE THEIR BACKS
• Wisdom, certainty, and trust are in short supply
• Americans don’t believe others are being as diligent in their adherence to
safety protocols as they are
• In the absence of clear guidance, one’s confidence to re-engage is tied to
an ability to control the health risk of a given experience
• Your challenge: Can you enhance the semblance of personal control?
Can you provide the certainty people crave?
 Message: “You don’t have to worry about others’ behavior; we’ve got you covered.”

17. EXAMPLEOFGIVING CERTAINTY&GETTING ITRIGHT
“At the hotel, they did the extra guidelines and took the effort to have
extra cleaning, make sure [there was] spacing. The staff and everyone was
wearing masks. It had a pool [at] the place that we stayed, and they had it
set up that you would schedule your time there. That way people weren’t
interacting too much. It’s kind of what I was expecting that they would do
in a case like that. [Their attitude was,] ‘We’re going to try and stay open,
but we’re going to follow the guidelines how we’re supposed to.’ It was a
great experience overall.” – Nick (Male, age 36, California)

18. Getting back to business

19. MAJORITY WOULD DO THE BASICS TO KEEP ECONOMY GOING
n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

20. THEY’D WEAR A MASK TO AVOID BEING QUARANTINED
n=217, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

21. Near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress created new requirements
that businesses with fewer than 500 workers provide paid sick time and some family
caregiving leave to their workers through the end of 2020 for COVID-related health
and care issues.
Workers who are covered can take up to 10 paid sick days—and up to 10 paid weeks of
paid family leave—to care for child who is out of school, or child care because of a
COVID-related closure. The government reimburses businesses for doing so.
However, these paid sick and family leave requirements and tax credits only apply to
businesses with fewer than 500 employees. There are no national requirements that
larger businesses provide any type of paid sick or family leave to their employees.
Would you favor or oppose…

22. n= 598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020
STRONG SUPPORT OF POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

23. n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020
STRONG SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING PAID SICK LEAVE

24. DECLINING % WOULD RETURN TOMORROW
n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

25. READY OR NOT: STAY AT A HOTEL OR RESORT
n=286, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

26. READY OR NOT: ATTEND A LIVE SPORTING EVENT
n=291, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

27. READY OR NOT: VISIT A RETAIL STORE
n=402, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

28. WITH ASSURANCES, 65% RETURN IN 3 MONTHS
n=286, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

29. WITH ASSURANCES, 51% RETURN IN 3 MONTHS
n=367, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

30. 1/3 LIKELY TO PLAN/BOOK/TAKE A SUMMER TRIP
n=217, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

31. THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS TO NOT TAKE A SUMMER TRIP
n=598, Back to Normal Barometer, July 8, 2020

32. A closer look at sports

33. SPORTS FANS EXHIBIT SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY
I am concerned that we will not see fans in
attendance at this sport in 2020
There is a concern among many fans that their sports may not even return in 2020—with or without
fans in attendance.
41%
43%
47%
55%
Hockey
Baseball
Basketball
Football
I am concerned that this sport will
actually not resume play in 2020
56%
54%
55%
57%
Hockey
Baseball
Basketball
Football

34. GOLF PARTICIPATION CONTINUES UPWARD TREND
Played golf within the
past two weeks
27%
35%
32%
40%
59%
46%
54%
8%
17%
15%
12%
17%
10%
19%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 Wave 5 Wave 6 Wave 7
Planning to play
within the next week
Led by…
• Males
• 25 to 34
• Western region
• Business travelers
• Avid golfers

35. THOSE WHO FOLLOW GOLF CLOSELY TEND TO BE MORE OPTIMISTIC
62%
51% 51%
45%43% 42%
38%
34%
I'm likely to take a domestic business
trip in the next six to twelve months
Before the end of 2020, the
unemployment rate will hit its
highpoint and then decline as the
economy begins to add jobs
Taking a vacation of over 500 miles or
more is a priority for me and my
family in the next 12 months
People will go back to spending freely
on luxuries again in 2021
Golf fans Total
Strongly agree*
*Top three box (1-10 scale)

36. Ron Bonjean, ron@rokksolutions.com
Rich Thau, rich@engagious.com
Jon Last, jlast@sportsandleisureresearch.com
Matt Steffee, matt.steffee@engagious.com
Questions?