American Public Favors Code of Conduct for NBA Owners

With Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver under fire following revelations of racist language as well as inappropriate, “sex-related” comments and “inequitable treatment of women,” 75 percent of sports fans believe that a code of conduct for owners should be adopted, just as there is one for NBA players.

Should NBA owners be subject to a specific code of conduct like the NBA players?

 

N=1,579	General Population	Sports Fan*	Non Fan	Avid Fan	Casual Fan
Yes	73%	75%	69%	77%	75%
No	13%	14%	12%	13%	14%
Don’t know/No opinion	14%	11%	19%	10%	11%

*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans

This was among the findings of a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted last week among 1,579 adults across the country. The poll, featured a national representative sample weighted on U.S. Census Bureau figures for gender, age, ethnicity, education, income and geography and has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent.

When asked who should compose such a code and to “check all that apply,” 57 percent of sports fans chose “an independent third party,” 32 percent said “NBA owners,” 24 percent said the players and 11 percent said Congress.

If there were to be an NBA owners code of conduct, who should be responsible for writing it? Please select all that apply.

N=1,579	General Population	Sports Fan*	Non Fan	Avid Fan	Casual Fan
NBA Players	20%	24%	14%	34%	19%
NBA Owners	26%	32%	19%	39%	28%
Congress	9%	11%	6%	16%	8%
An independent third-party	55%	57%	53%	53%	59%
Don’t know/No opinion	19%	11%	29%	7%	13%

*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans

“For as long as anyone can remember, players have been subject to a code of conduct and the ‘conduct detrimental to the integrity of the game and league’ clause,” said Professor Charles Grantham, Director of the Center for Sport Management within Seton Hall’s Stillman School of Business, which sponsors the Poll. “The NBA functions as a profit share model with players essentially having an equitable stake in the teams and the league. The overwhelming majority of sports fans understand that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander – especially if they’re in business together.”

Is a $10 Million Fine and One Year Suspension Enough for Robert Sarver?

Asked if the $10 million fine imposed on Sarver was strong enough punishment for his conduct, 51 percent of sports fans said it was with only 31 percent saying it was not.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver fined Robert Sarver $10 million dollars and suspended him from all NBA activities and associations for 1 year. Was this punishment strong enough?

N=1,579	General Population	Sports Fan*	Non Fan	Avid Fan	Casual Fan
Yes	45%	51%	37%	54%	49%
No	30%	31%	30%	33%	30%
Don’t know/No opinion	25%	18%	33%	13%	21%

*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans

The fine was the largest in NBA history and the maximum that a commissioner could impose. But sports fans responding to the poll said, by a 57-29 percent margin, that owners should potentially be subjected to greater punishment.

Under the bylaws of the NBA, this is the maximum fine the and the longest suspension an NBA commissioner can hand out to an owner. Should owners be subjected to greater punishments?

N=1,579	General Population	Sports Fan*	Non Fan	Avid Fan	Casual Fan
Yes	47%	52%	41%	56%	50%
No	26%	29%	21%	26%	30%
Don’t know/No opinion	27%	19%	38%	18%	20%

*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans

Should Sarver Be Forced to Sell? And Should He Keep the Profits?
Asked if Sarver should be forced to sell his team(s), avid fans said yes by a 55-29 percent margin, while sports fans in total said yes by 41-35 percent. The general public said yes by only a 35-33 percent margin with 32 percent at ‘don’t know/no opinion.”

Should Robert Sarver be forced to sell the team?

 

N=1,579	General Population	Sports Fan*	Non Fan	Avid Fan	Casual Fan
Yes	35%	41%	28%	55%	35%
No	33%	35%	30%	29%	37%
Don’t know/No opinion	32%	24%	42%	16%	28%

*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans

Despite the support for the fine levied against Sarver for his behavior, all groups widely agreed that he should be allowed to keep the profits from a sale, with sports fans saying yes by 52-27 percent.

Sports journalists estimate that the sale of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury will generate $500 million or more in profit for Robert Sarver given his initial investment of the teams. Should Robert Sarver be allowed to keep the profits from the sale in light of his documented misconduct?

N=1,579	General Population	Sports Fan*	Non Fan	Avid Fan	Casual Fan
Yes	45%	52%	36%	56%	50%
No	28%	27%	29%	27%	27%
Don’t know/No opinion	27%	21%	35%	17%	23%

*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans

Should PayPal Be Able to Walk Away from its Sponsorship Deal?
Asked if PayPal should be allowed to end their sponsorship agreement with the Phoenix Suns and the Mercury, a wide majority said they should, with sports fans saying yes by 65-21 percent.

Should PayPal be allowed to end their sponsorship agreement early?

N=1,579	General Population	Sports Fan*	Non Fan	Avid Fan	Casual Fan
Yes	60%	65%	55%	66%	63%
No	21%	21%	21%	23%	20%
Don’t know/No opinion	19%	24%	24%	11%	17%

*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans

By a similar margin, people felt sponsors should have a clause in their agreements that allows them to walk away from deals if the team or its personnel engage in conduct they don’t agree with.

Should all NBA league and team sponsorship agreements have a clause enabling either party to walk away if the team or person they are sponsoring engages in conduct they don’t agree with?

N=1,579	General Population	Sports Fan*	Non Fan	Avid Fan	Casual Fan
Yes	62%	67%	56%	69%	66%
No	16%	17%	15%	16%	17%
Don’t know/No opinion	22%	16%	29%	15%	17%

*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans

“Brands pay sports teams in sponsorship deals for an association that is positive,” said Seton Hall Marketing Professor Daniel Ladik, who is chief methodologist for the poll. “What happens when brands break bad? The public seems to understand that a contract that doesn’t deliver what was bargained for is essentially null and void.”