Average sports fan spends year-and-a-half of life watching matches at local pub, survey claims
Over 60 per cent of those surveyed say watching cricket, rugby and football at the pub is 'next best thing' to watching it live
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Your support makes all the difference.Sports fans will spend more than a year-and-a-half of their lives watching sports including cricket, rugby and football at their local pub, a survey claims.
A poll of 2,000 sports fans found that six in 10 will spend more than 19 hours a month watching their favourite sport at the pub.
Over 60 per cent of those polled said watching sports in a pub is the "next best thing" to watching a game live.
The research was carried out by electrical retailer Currys PC World to launch its competition to find a cricket-named pub in need of a"tech makeover" from Samsung before the opening game of the Cricket World Cup on 30 May.
Henrik Schmidt, head of category for TV and Imaging, said: “Watching sports in the pub is one of life’s truly great pleasures, whether your team wins, loses or you’re just there for the atmosphere.
“We’ve got a busy summer of sport coming up, including the next cricket series, and want to ensure the nation enjoy the events with the best TV viewing experience possible.''
The study also found two thirds of sports fans said their local pub is one of their favourite places to watch sport, whatever the game.
More than half of those surveyed said they head to the pub to watch a game to make the most of their high-tech TV screens.
Seven in 10 said they enjoy the atmosphere of a large pub crowd.
And 53 per cent of the sports fans polled said they are planning to head to the pub this summer to watch the Cricket World Cup. One in four agreed the tournament is one of this summer’s "must-watch" events.
The football Champions League final, Wimbledon and the Ashes series are also among the top sporting events fans are looking forward to watching in the pub this summer.
Nearly 60 per cent of those surveyed said they have been going to the same pub for more than five years. And six in 10 said they visit their local pub up to six times a month.
But four in 10 said they would watch sports at their local pub more often if it was better equipped with the latest technology.
One in five said they wish their pub had more screens to view the sporting action, and half would like to improve their pub with better quality displays and TVs.
Another 21 per cent said they would like to be able to enjoy the audio in the pub with top-quality surround sound speakers.
Mr Schmidt added: “Due to the busy summer of sport, Currys PC World and Samsung are opening a competition to find a cricket pub that needs a little updating and deserves to be teched-out, ensuring it’s the ultimate place to watch sport next month.''
To enter the competition, contestants just need to nominate their local cricket-named pub on Currys PC World’s Facebook or Twitter competition post, noting the name and location.
If selected, cricket star Phil Tufnell will help "tech-out" the pub on 29 May and meet and greet the landlord and locals.
SWNS
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