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What happened to our national spirit? Brits prefer to stay in to watch 2016’s big sporting events this summer

What happened to our national spirit? Brits prefer to stay in to watch 2016’s big sporting events this summer
  • A third (33 percent) stayed up late or got up in the middle of the night to watch an important sporting event
  • Almost four in 10 (39 percent) said they like to watch big sporting events at home so they can shout at the screen
  • Nearly one in ten (9%) Brits called in sick to go to a sporting event this summer
  • A further eight percent called in sick with a hangover after watching a sporting event this summer
  • 19 percent watched key sporting events online while at work because their employer didn’t screen it

Despite the success of British athletes, 65 percent of adults said they preferred to watch this summer’s sporting events at home in the peace and quiet.

The majority of Brits (65 percent) preferred to watch this summer’s big sporting events at home in peace and quiet, rather than in social situations or cheering on with compatriots, research released today from Epson’s projector division has revealed. 

On average across the four big events in this year’s summer of sport (Euro 2016, Wimbledon, Tour de France, and the Olympics), just nine percent watched at home with friends or at a friend’s house, while four percent watched at a pub. Almost four in 10 (39 percent) said they like to watch big sporting events at home so they can shout at the screen.

The Olympics was the most popular sporting event watched by 79 percent of Brits for an average of 11.5 hours. It was followed by Euro 2016, watched by 65 percent and an average viewing time of 8.6 hours, and Wimbledon was also watched by 65 percent of Brits, with a mean viewing time 6.8 hours. The Tour de France was watched by 48 percent of Brits, with a mean viewing time of 3.8 hours. Almost a third (31 percent) said they became less interested in these sporting events when the home nations were eliminated or not involved. 

The impact on workplace productivity of the summer of sport
The summer of sport proved to be a distraction for employees; more than a third (35 percent) admitted to checking scores and results of these sporting events while at work. However, more than a fifth (22 percent) of employers put Euro 2016 games on for employees at work. This figure reduced to 15 percent for the Olympics and 12 percent for Wimbledon. 

When employers didn’t show these sporting events, 19 percent of workers said they watched events online while at work. Almost one in 10 Brits (9 percent) admitted to calling in sick so they could attend a key sporting match, while eight percent said they called in sick with a hangover after a night of sport watching. A third (33 percent) stayed up late or got up in the middle of the night to watch an important sporting event. 

The hospitality opportunity
Big sporting events still represent a great opportunity for pubs, with more than a quarter saying they end up spending more than they intend to when they watch sporting events in the pub. However, they need be mindful to set a good atmosphere, with 40 percent saying this is an important factor when choosing a venue. 

A big screen is also a draw for pubs and live venues, with 28 percent saying a big screen makes watching sport more enjoyable, while 51 percent said that a screen with vibrant colour and high image quality was important when watching sport. 

Paul Wilson, business manager for Epson’s projectors division said: “Sport plays such an important role bringing people together, so it’s quite surprising how many Brits said they preferred to watch the summer’s sporting events at home in peace and quiet. Given how successful British athletes and sportspeople have been this summer, we would have thought more people would have liked to get out to soak up the atmosphere with friends and compatriots. 

“Whether at home, in the pub or at a friend’s house, watching sport is enhanced when on a big screen because we feel closer to the action. Epson’s Full HD projectors are perfect for pubs, clubs or the home, providing larger viewing areas and allowing sports fans to enjoy true-to-life high-speed action thanks to our 3LCD technology and high colour brightness.” 

You can find more information about the Epson’s projector range here.

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