Can Football Fandom Be a Deal-Breaker for Love in New York?

If dating feels tougher than ever, you’re not imagining it. A recent Forbes study found that 78% of Gen Z say they feel emotionally burned out from dating apps. And now, it looks like something new is adding to the mix...football fandom.

When Team Loyalty Gets Personal

A new national survey from Hard Rock Bet asked 2,000 NFL fans if dating someone who roots for a rival team would be a deal-breaker. Across the country, about 28% of fans said yes, while just over half said it wouldn’t matter. But in New York, the results are showing us something different.

How New Yorkers Feel About It

Here in New York, 35% of fans said they wouldn’t date someone who cheers for a rival team. On the flip side, 51% said it wouldn’t matter, and another 14% said they’d prefer their partner cheer for the same team, but it’s not a deal-breaker. After all, why put them through the agony of cheering for your losing team. I'm talking to you Giant and Jet fans.

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Gen Z Is Taking It the Hardest

The survey also found that younger fans are way more passionate about team loyalty. Nearly 45% of Gen Z and 43% of Millennials said they couldn’t date someone who supports a rival team, compared to just 4% of Baby Boomers. Love isn’t blind when it comes to team colors.

Love and Loyalty in the Empire State

>With three NFL teams calling New York home (the Giants, Jets, and Bills), it’s easy to see how team pride can stir up strong opinions. Whether it’s light-hearted banter or a serious deal-breaker, football fandom clearly plays a bigger role in modern dating than most people realized.

So, the next time you swipe right on someone, maybe check their favorite team before you plan that first date. Because in New York, football might just be the one thing that makes or breaks a match.