
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 16, 1995                   TAG: 9502170013
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CAROLINA ON MY MIND

The Washington Redskins are the Roanoke Valley's favorite pro football team. But Charlotte's expansion franchise could intercept a lot of their supporters when the Carolina Panthers take the field later this year, especially among younger fans.

Four in 10 people identified themselves as diehard pro football fans. Here's who they listed as their favorite National Football League team:

Washington Redskins 47%

Dallas Cowboys 21%

Pittsburgh Steelers 5%

Miami Dolphins 5%

San Francisco 49ers 4%

Others 18%

Will you become a Carolina Panthers fan when Charlotte's NFL franchise takes the field in 1995?

Yes 36%

No 45%

Don't know 19%

What we don't know

We asked who fans were rooting for in 1994, and whether they'll root for Carolina in '95. But we didn't ask what other teams fans might be rooting for this year. That means

when more than one-third percent of the football fans say they'll be rooting for the Panthers, we don't know whose hide that 36 percent will come out of.

In theory, those could be fans who don't really have a favorite team now. In all likelihood, though, some of those Carolina fans will be abandoning allegiances to other teams - such as Washington. Given the poll's margin of error, that means fan loyalty in the Roanoke Valley could be almost evenly split between the Redskins and the Panthers.

Who are the Redskins fans?

AGE

They're older.

The Redskins score the most points among older fans. Here's how many of each age group say they cheer for Washington.

18-29: 17%

30-49: 40%

50-64: 66%

65 and up: 50%

Who will the Panthers fans be?

AGE

They're younger.

Looks like the Panthers are the valley's team of the future. Twice as many Generation Xers say they'll root for Carolina as currently cheer for Washington. Here's how many of each age group say they cheer for the Charlotte team.

18-29: 32%

30-49: 34%

50-64: 40%

65 and up: 40%

The Roanoke Valley Poll was conducted by Roanoke College's Center for Community Research. The poll surveyed 400 Roanoke Valley residents and has a margin of error of 5 percentage points. Among demographic subgroups, the margin may be higher.

by CNB