Poll shows that Redskins have fallen from the graces of the D.C. sports fan

A new poll tells us what we’ve already known; that the Redskins have fallen from the top of the pyramid in D.C. sports fans’ favorite teams.

‘Poll’ is a word you’re sure to hear spread throughout the English lexicon for the next year as we enter another Presidential Election. However, a recent Poll in the Washington D.C. area has made some waves for sports fans, and it paints a grim picture for the Washington Redskins.

The Washington Post recently conducted a poll of 905 adults in the D.C. area,  and some of the questions centered around the sporting world. As a result, the poll showed that fans overwhelmingly thought of the Washington Nationals — who are fresh off of the first World Series victory in franchise history — are clearly the city’s favorite team.

The Redskins, who have long been the dominant team among fans in the region, has dropped significantly in the standings, with only 13 percent of people saying it is their favorite team. That number is down 21 percent since 2010. Here is how the polling shook out:

  • Nationals: 28 percent
  • Redskins: 13 percent
  • Capitals: 10 percent
  • Wizards: 8 percent
  • Mystics: 8 percent
  • D.C. United: 6 percent
  • Don’t Prefer Any Local Teams: 23 percent

According to The Post:

So the results underscore the elation that surrounded the Nationals’ postseason run but also the precipitous fall for the local football team. For years, the Redskins were the toughest ticket to get in town, dominating television ratings and water-cooler chatter.

In response to the poll, an image started circulating on Twitter that perfectly depicts the turmoil around the Redskins, and exactly how fed up the fans are.

That’s less than a cup of coffee in most places!

The poll also shows a disturbing trend that paints a bleak future for the Redskins, as younger fans look to be growing fewer and far between. According to the numbers, ‘a younger generation that didn’t experience the Redskins’ glory years has less affinity for the local football team. While the Nats have steady support among all age groups, the Redskins’ highest support is among Washingtonians 65 and older (22 percent say the Redskins are their favorite team) and that support weakens with each younger age group.’

It may be the ‘Redskins’ name, or it may be that the team has continually been the laughing stock of the NFL for the better part of a decade, but it’s resulted in empty seats and a growingly fed-up fanbase. There are a few options going forward that owner Daniel Snyder could try to make things better, but he likely will be reluctant to try the one at the top of the list.

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