Survey: Massachusetts Sports Fans Pick Greatest Moments, Worst Losses

Massachusetts proudly houses some of the most fervent sports enthusiasts, and this is widely known.

A survey was conducted among 600 sports enthusiasts in Massachusetts to assess their level of fandom and determine whether they believe their loyalty will influence their sports betting activities now that the industry is operational.

Here’s what stood out:

Greatest triumph in Boston sports history

Nearly 20 years later, the memory of the Boston Red Sox’s breakthrough in 2004, which ended the Curse of the Bambino after decades of anguish, remains deeply cherished by the city’s sports fans. It marked their initial World Series victory since 1918, and despite winning three more championships since then, the achievement of the 2004 team holds a special place in the hearts of Bostonians.

When inquired about the most significant achievement in the history of Boston sports, 34.67% of fans selected the Red Sox’s remarkable triumph in the 2004 World Series. This victory came after an extraordinary 0-3 comeback against the New York Yankees in the ALCS, effectively breaking the curse.

Other popular answers included:

• The New England Patriots staged an impressive comeback in Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons, overcoming a deficit of 21.33%.
• The Boston Celtics won the NBA championship in 2008, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers with a score of 12.50%.
• Bobby Orr’s legendary goal propels Bruins to 1970 Stanley Cup victory, securing a 7.33% margin.
• The New England Patriots’ triumph over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 accounted for a 7% margin of victory.
• The New England Patriots secured a victory in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks thanks to Malcolm Butler’s interception, making up 6% of the game’s outcome.
• The Boston Celtics secured the NBA championship in 1984, prevailing over the Los Angeles Lakers with a margin of 5.50%.

Boston sports loss that still stings the most

In the past few decades, Massachusetts sports teams have experienced a great deal of triumph, but alongside their victories, fans in the state have also endured their fair share of challenging seasons and heartache.

For Boston sports fans, there are unforgettable moments and defeats that will always be remembered for the wrong reasons, just like any sports enthusiast knows.

The loss that still stings the most, according to a significant 29.67% of fans, was the Celtics’ defeat in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals against the Lakers.

Coming in a close second place was when Bill Buckner famously allowed a ground ball to slip through his legs during the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets. Even though it has been 36 years since that unforgettable incident occurred, a significant 21.67% of fans admitted that the memory of that moment still causes them pain.

Other noteworthy responses include:

• The “helmet catch” by David Tyree during the New York Giants’ victory over the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII in 2008 amounted to 18.67%.
• The Philadelphia Flyers staged an impressive comeback, rallying from a 0-3 deficit to emerge victorious in Game 7 of the 2010 playoff series against the Bruins, securing a stunning 12% win.
• Aaron Boone hit a home run for the New York Yankees, resulting in their victory over the Red Sox in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS with a margin of 8.67%.
• Bucky Dent’s game-changing home run for the New York Yankees in the 1978 tie-breaking game against the Red Sox accounted for 8.17% of the team’s victory.

Buying stock in the Celtics

Massachusetts sports enthusiasts have witnessed an abundance of championship parades since the year 2000, with the Patriots clinching six Super Bowl victories, the Red Sox securing four World Series titles, the Celtics claiming one NBA Finals win, and the Bruins emerging victorious in the Stanley Cup once.

There might be additional parades in the near future.

Currently, the Celtics hold the second-highest probability of winning the NBA Finals according to DraftKings, with odds of +340. Furthermore, the Bruins are leading the pack as favorites to win the Stanley Cup, boasting odds of +380 on DraftKings.

Play MA surveyed sports fans in Massachusetts to predict which local sports team would win the highest number of championships by 2030, as they anticipated several parades in the upcoming years. The following are the survey results:

• Celtics – 38.67%
• Patriots – 25.33%
• Bruins – 20%
• Red Sox – 16%

Fandom affecting sports betting

It is noteworthy that 44% of fans acknowledged that their allegiance could influence their sports betting, whereas 41.17% stated that it would have no effect.

Play MA does not recommend betting based on emotions, so it is encouraging to observe that the odds are evenly divided, almost 50/50.

In Massachusetts, residents and sports enthusiasts have the opportunity to engage in online betting with various platforms such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, WynnBET, and Barstool Sportsbook. Additionally, those who prefer to place their bets in person can visit MGM Springfield in Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, or Plainridge Park Casino in Everett.

According to an exclusive survey, more than half (51%) of Massachusetts sports fans have been engaging in sports betting even before March 10th.

Other notable survey results

Favorite Massachusetts sports team

When asked about their preferred Massachusetts sports team, respondents provided the following responses:

• The New England Patriots have a winning percentage of 32.50%.
• The Boston Red Sox account for 24% of the total.
• Boston Celtics – 23.83%
• Boston Bruins – 19.67%

How did fans choose their favorite team?

When asked about their favorite team, the most common response was, “It’s my hometown team.” Other popular reasons included, “It’s the team my family and friends support,” and “It had my favorite player.”

Ranking experiences watching games in person

This is how respondents ranked their experiences watching Massachusetts sports teams at stadiums and arenas:

• 31.33% of Patriots games are held at Gillette Stadium.
• 27.83% of Red Sox games take place at Fenway Park.
• The percentage of TD Garden occupancy during Celtics games is 23.67%.
• 17.16% of Bruins games are held at TD Garden.

Additionally, make sure to check out the list of 34 individuals who have voluntarily excluded themselves from participating in sports betting in Massachusetts.

Survey methodology

The Play MA survey was carried out using Pollfish, an online survey platform. A total of 600 American adults, aged 25 and above, who reside in Massachusetts were surveyed, with a margin of error of approximately 5%.

In order to identify sports fans, a screening question was incorporated into our survey conducted from March 2-7, 2025. The survey encompassed a variety of question types, including multiple choice, ranking, and open-ended questions.

In total, 47.8% of the participants identified themselves as male, while 52.2% identified as female. Regarding age distribution, 26% fell within the 25-34 age range, 38% were between 35-44, 15% belonged to the 45-54 category, and the remaining 21% were 55 years old or older.