America’s Most Relationship Friendly Sports Fans

With the month of February on the horizon, Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl are fast approaching. Though they both exist in similar periods of the year, how well do they actually work together?

While sports and Valentine’s Day can bring people closer together, supporting rival teams can cause division and lead to potential implications for people’s relationships.

This got us thinking: how relationship-friendly are U.S. states for sports fans? With next year’s Super Bowl set to fall on Valentine’s Day, the stakes for sports-loving couples may be higher than ever. To work this out, we’ve analyzed survey results from 2,000 sports fans in the U.S. to discover which states are the best for dating as a sports enthusiast.

The best states to date a sports fan

Below, we pick out the best states for sports fans to date in – which could be because dating a rival isn’t considered a dealbreaker, a potential partner wouldn’t watch sports on a date, or they’d not find colleagues arguing over sports an “ick”.

Interestingly, none of the states with teams still competing in the Super Bowl made it into the top ten – hinting that some football fans are letting their competitive side impact their opinions on dating.

#1: Wisconsin

• Compatibility: 79.77%

Topping our charts as the best state to date a sports fan is Wisconsin. Since the Green Bay Packers have been knocked out of the playoffs, fans are likely feeling a little less competitive. Dating a sports fan here should be the easiest out of all states, since 59% said that going out with a rival isn’t a dealbreaker and only 2% said that colleagues arguing over sports or shouting at the TV is an ick.

#2: Louisiana

• Compatibility: 73.34%

Runner-up on the list is Louisiana, proving to be another great place for sports fans looking for love. We found that only 5% of residents in Louisiana would watch sports on a date, and just 10% would watch it during a wedding. In other words, if it’s a romantic date or a wedding, don’t expect the New Orleans Saints to be on TV.

#3: Tennessee

• Compatibility: 71.59%

Third in our ranking is Tennessee, where only 19% feel colleagues arguing over sports is an ick. Tennessee Titans fans also appear to be unbothered by dating rival team supporters, as 71% claimed that it wouldn’t be an issue for them.

#4: North Carolina

• Compatibility: 71.48%

Fourth place is where we ranked North Carolina. Only 12% of Carolina Panthers fans said they would watch sports on a date and 14% saw arguing over sports as an ick, sports fans should find the dating scene easier here than in most other states.

$5: Michigan

• Compatibility: 71.31%

Rounding out the top five is Michigan, where only 9% complain that arguing over sports would put them off dating someone. Combine that with the fact that only 3% would watch sports at a wedding, and dating a Detroit Lions fan seems to be a great bet for a successful relationship.

The worst states to date a sports fan

Moving on to the worst states to date a sports fan, let’s see where people may struggle more on the dating front. This list includes a few states that had teams perform well in the NFL playoffs, potentially increasing the tensions between rival fans and spilling over into their relationship opinions.

#1: Idaho

• Compatibility: 18.12%

The outright worst state to be dating a sports fan is Idaho, where a surprising 50% of them stated they would watch sports in the middle of a date. While they don’t have any major professional teams, there’s a strong passion for college sports, with many fans also supporting pro teams from cities like Seattle or Denver.

#2: Washington:

• Compatibility: 44.29%

Sports fans in Washington may be tough to date – at least if you’re not a fan of the Super Bowl-bound Seahawks. Nearly half (46%) say they wouldn’t partner with a rival supporter, a level of loyalty that’s on full display at Lumen Field on NFL game days.

#3: California

• Compatibility: 44.50%

Home to three separate NFL teams, California is one of the worst states to date sports fans in. With the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers fans all throughout the state, sports-related emotions rides high.

46% of fans here see dating a rival as an issue, and with the Rams having just been defeated in NFC Championship, their fanbases appear to be extra competitive. Perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that ruining Christmas is on the cards for many, with 47% saying they would spoil it for a child in their family if it meant winning the Super Bowl!

#4: Oregon

• Compatibility: 46.24%

With 50% of sports fans in Oregon claiming they would watch sports in the middle of the night, be prepared for alarms, caffeine, and unwavering dedication if you choose to date one. Portland Trail Blazers fans may also feel dating a rival fan is a problem, with 40% of sports fans here feeling that way.

#5: Minnesota

• Compatibility: 48.12%

Rounding out the top five worst states is Minnesota, where 25% of fans admit they would watch sports during a wedding. So if you’re attending a wedding here, don’t be shocked if a Minnesota Vikings game provides a little background noise.

Sports fans’ biggest relationship red flags

After reviewing the best and worst states to date in as a sports fan, let’s ask ourselves ‘what appears to be the main red flags for sports lovers?’.

With Washington recording 46% of sports fans claiming someone supporting a different team is a big dealbreaker, it really hints at many people being deeply shaped by their teams and that they may struggle with the banter after a loss.

Moving back to Idaho, with half of their sports fans saying they would watch sports on a first date, you may start to find yourself having a match prioritized over you. Unless of course… you’re the one who would rather watch the game!

Then, in the state of Minnesota, one in four residents said they would watch big sporting events like the Super Bowl during a wedding. So, don’t be surprised if someone has the game on a screen somewhere at the next wedding you attend, especially if it’s in February!

Finally, we saw how almost 50% of Californians would ruin Christmas for a child in their own family if it guaranteed the 49ers or the Rams a Super Bowl win. Given that’s the case, if either of those teams reach the Super Bowl, maybe take extra care in protecting the magic of Christmas for the younger ones in the family!

Looking for a compromise?

Though being a sports fan whilst dating can cause some tensions every now and then, especially near Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl, there are ways for you to experience the best of relationships and still get your sports in.

You may not be able to watch every match live, but you can still stay in the action from home by betting on your favorite teams with Hard Rock Bet. As the highest-rated sports betting app in the country, Hard Rock Bet offers a robust betting menu covering everything from table tennis to the NBA, with every wager type you could want. From moneylines and player props to same game parlays, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook has you covered.

Methodology

To identify America’s most and least sports-compatible states, we surveyed 2,000 Americans who identify as regular sports fans across all 50 U.S. states, with an emphasis on states home to at least one major professional sports team across the Big Five leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS). States without major teams were also included to ensure a complete national comparison.
The analysis focused on how sports fandom affects dating, relationships, and shared social moments. This is particularly around events couples commonly experience together, such as first dates, parties, weddings, and work environments.

Each state was scored using the following indicators from the survey, with lower scores considered better for relationship compatibility:

• Willingness to say Santa isn’t real if it guaranteed a Super Bowl win (weight: ×1)
• Saying that supporting a different sports team is a dealbreaker for dating (weight: ×1)
• Watching sports in the middle of the night (weight: ×0.5)
• Watching sports at a party (weight: ×0.5)
• Watching sports on a first date (weight: ×2)
• Watching sports during a wedding (weight: ×2)

While higher scores here were considered better for relationship compatibility:

• Claiming overly competitive games or contests at work are an “ick” (weight: ×0.5)
• Claiming colleagues arguing over sports at work are an “ick” (weight: ×0.5)

All factors were normalized on a scale from 0 to 1, then weighted based on their relative impact on relationship compatibility. Greater weight was assigned to behaviors most likely to directly impact romantic relationships. The weighted scores were combined to produce a Sports Compatibility Score, expressed as a percentage. States were ranked by their overall score, with the 15 most compatible and 15 least compatible states highlighted in the results.

This study is based on self-reported survey data and reflects attitudes and behaviors rather than observed actions. Results should be viewed as indicative of broader trends rather than definitive judgments about individuals or states.