Data can tell us all kinds of things: household information, employment, product consumption, lifestyle preferences, crime data and more. When we combine raw data with products like Panorama or Demographic Dimensions, patterns emerge. In our new map series, the Continental Divide, we look at maps showing regional differences in behaviors.
Today we examine the parts of the country that participate in fantasy sports leagues. According to a 2017 article from the Washington Post, nearly 60 million people living in the US and Canada participated in these leagues. These individuals also spent about $550 annually playing in these leagues. MRI data modeled using Panorama and Demographic Dimensions shows us where these players live.
While most of the country enjoys putting together the perfect team, the concentration of the individuals that do resides in the large urban areas of the east and west coast, with the south generally not playing along. NFL fantasy sports leagues are the most popular for players. Therefore, it is not surprising that states without an NFL team, such as Nevada, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama have less adults participating in fantasy leagues. It will be interesting to see if the Raiders relocating to Nevada, will influence the number of adults playing in fantasy sports starting in 2021.