67% of Americans Plan to Spend Money on Football Season This Year

Rhea-AI Summary

This week marks the start of the official NFL season, with full-capacity stadiums allowing fans to return to in-person events. A survey by LendingTree reveals that 67% of Americans plan to spend money on football season-related items, such as food and drinks (26%) and streaming services (22%). Notably, 51% hope to attend live games, with an expected $1,000+ expenditure from 27% of fans. However, 25% may incur credit card debt due to these expenses. This season reflects a pent-up desire for social engagement after last year's restrictions.

Positive

• 67% of Americans plan to spend money on football season.
• 51% of Americans hope to attend a live football game this season.
• 27% of football fans will spend over $1,000 on the season.

Negative

• 25% of consumers may incur credit card debt due to spending.
• 32% of avid fans report spending has caused arguments.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This week marks the start of the official NFL season, and now that all teams have been cleared to allow for full-capacity stadiums, fans are gearing up for a return to more social viewing events.

To find out how people are thinking about spending money this football season, LendingTree surveyed more than 2,100 people about their plans.

Key findings

• 67% of Americans will spend money on at least one item for the upcoming football season. The most common purchases are food and drink for at-home game watch parties (26%), streaming services or cable TV (22%) and food and drink away from home (20%).
• Nearly 40% of consumers are planning a special splurge for football season to make up for last year. Most notably, 14% of those who typically only watch games at home plan to attend a live game. 
• 51% of Americans hope to attend at least one live football game this season, including 13% who will travel to another city and 6% to another state. 
• 1 in 4 consumers say it's somewhat likely they'll incur credit card debt due to their football spending this season. As an example, 27% of football fans will shell out $1,000+ on the sport this year.
• 32% of avid football fans say their spending on the sport has caused an argument with a loved one. Relatedly, about 3 in 10 have been in credit card debt due to the sport. 

"People are absolutely desperate to get back to doing the things they love, and there are few things Americans love more than football," says Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst for LendingTree. "I do think that game attendance may vary widely by region, though. For example, stadiums in the South may be packed like it is 2019, while those in other areas might be a bit more sparsely populated."

To view the full report, visit: https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/study/football-spending-2021/.  

Methodology
LendingTree commissioned Qualtrics to conduct an online survey of 2,173 U.S. consumers from Aug. 9-23, 2021. The survey was administered using a non-probability-based sample, and quotas were used to ensure the sample base represented the overall population. All responses were reviewed by researchers for quality control.

About LendingTree
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) is the nation's leading online marketplace that connects consumers with the choices they need to be confident in their financial decisions. LendingTree empowers consumers to shop for financial services the same way they would shop for airline tickets or hotel stays, comparing multiple offers from a nationwide network of over 500 partners in one simple search, and can choose the option that best fits their financial needs. Services include mortgage loans, mortgage refinances, auto loans, personal loans, business loans, student loans, insurance, credit cards and more. Through the LendingTree platform, consumers receive free credit scores, credit monitoring and recommendations to improve credit health. LendingTree proactively compares consumers' credit accounts against offers on our network and notifies consumers when there is an opportunity to save money. In short, LendingTree's purpose is to help simplify financial decisions for life's meaningful moments through choice, education and support. LendingTree, LLC is a subsidiary of LendingTree, Inc. For more information, go to www.lendingtree.com, dial 800-555-TREE, like our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter @LendingTree

MEDIA CONTACT:
Morgan Lanier
morgan@lendingtreenews.com

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SOURCE LendingTree.com

FAQ

What percentage of Americans plan to spend money on the football season in 2021?

67% of Americans plan to spend money on at least one item for the football season.

How many Americans hope to attend a live football game this season?

51% of Americans hope to attend at least one live football game this season.

What does the LendingTree survey say about credit card debt and football spending?

The survey indicates that 25% of consumers may incur credit card debt due to their football spending this season.

What were the dates of the survey conducted by LendingTree?

The survey was conducted from August 9-23, 2021.

How much are some football fans expected to spend this season?

27% of football fans are expected to spend over $1,000 on the sport this year.