April 9, 1998 - New Yorkers Want To Keep The Bombers In The Bronx, Quinnipiac College Poll Finds; Overwhelming Support For School Uniforms By an 81 - 7 percent margin, New York City voters want to keep the Yankees in their current stadium in The Bronx, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today. Among Yankees fans, support for staying in the House that Ruth Built is 91 - 6 percent. As a first choice to keep the Yankees from moving to New Jersey, 81 percent of New Yorkers support fixing up Yankee Stadium and the surrounding Bronx neighborhood, while 12 percent favor building a new stadium on the West Side of Manhattan. That 81 percent who favored the Bronx option, plus those who were undecided or who liked neither option, were asked if they would favor a new West Side Stadium if that were the only way to keep the Yankees in New York City. Faced with that "last resort" scenario, 40 percent of them would favor a new West Side stadium, while 52 percent would oppose it. "Yankees stay home! The message is overwhelming and consistent every time we ask the question," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute. "New Yorkers want the Bombers in The House that Ruth Built and would back an improvement effort for the stadium and the surrounding Bronx neighborhood. "As a last resort, if the Yankees were packing up for the Meadowlands, there is increased support for the proposal to build a new stadium in Manhattan." By a 51 - 47 percent margin, New Yorkers say they are Yankees fans. By a 44 - 54 percent margin, New Yorkers say they are Mets fans. Looking at the numbers differently, 25 percent of New Yorkers say they are Yankees fans only, while 18 percent say they are Mets fans only; 26 percent say they are fans of both teams and 31 percent say they are not fans at all. New York City voters are opposed 36 - 51 percent to a proposal to have the City build a new stadium for the Mets next to Shea Stadium. "Only 36 percent of New Yorkers support a new stadium for the Mets, so the team and the City should focus on that 51 percent opposed and the 13 percent undecided and do a better selling job," Carroll said. "When the Yankees and Mets meet in inter-league play in June, expect to hear a few more cheers for the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees outdraw the Mets 51 - 44 percent." SCHOOL UNIFORMS By a large 69 - 25 percent margin, New York City voters support a proposal to require public school students to wear uniforms. That margin rises to 75 - 23 percent among voters who have children in public schools. From April 1 - 6, Quinnipiac College surveyed 922 New York City residents who say they are registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent. The Quinnipiac College Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research. For additional data visit: www.quinnipiac.edu 23. Do you think of yourself as a New York Yankees fan, or not? Jun 15 Nov 21 Jul 25 Tot Men Wom 1997 1996 1995 Yes 51% 54% 48% 51% 61% 36% No 47 44 49 45 37 63 DK/NA 3 2 3 5 2 2 24. Would you like to see the Yankees continue to play in their current stadium in the Bronx or would you like to see the team move? Yankees Nov 21 Tot Men Wom Fan 1996 Stay 81% 78% 83% 91% 81% Move 7 10 4 6 7 DK/NA 13 12 13 3 12 25. There is talk that the New York Yankees might leave their current stadium in the Bronx to play in New Jersey. New York City is considering different ideas to encourage the Yankees to stay in New York City. Which do you prefer? Yankees Nov 21 Tot Men Wom Fan 1996 Have New York City build a new stadium for the Yankees on the West Side of Manhattan. 12% 14% 9% 14% 12% Have New York City improve the current Yankee stadium and the surrounding Bronx neighborhood. 81 77 84 82 79 SOMETHING ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 NEITHER(VOL) 2 3 2 1 4 DK/NA 4 4 4 2 4 26. (If prefer fixing current Yankee stadium or Other/DK in Q25) Suppose the only way to keep the Yankees in New York City was to build a new stadium on the West Side of Manhattan. Would you favor or oppose New York City building a new stadium for the Yankees on the West Side of Manhattan? Prefer fixing current stadium or Other/DK in Q25 Yankees Tot Men Wom Fan Favor 40% 36% 43% 50% Oppose 52 56 49 43 DK/NA 8 8 8 6 27. Do you think of yourself as a New York Mets fan, or not? Jun 15 Jul 25 Tot Men Wom 1997 1995 Yes 44% 47% 41% 37% 36% No 54 51 56 58 64 DK/NA 2 2 3 5 - 28. Do you favor or oppose New York City building a new stadium for the Mets, next to Shea Stadium? Mets Tot Men Wom Fan Favor 36% 38% 33% 47% Oppose 51 51 51 48 DK/NA 13 11 15 5 29. Do you favor or oppose requiring public school students to wear school uniforms? Have child in Tot Men Wom Public school Favor 69% 66% 72% 75% Oppose 25 28 22 23 DK/NA 6 6 6 3
