The Lakers have been evicted from their long-held position as the most popular sports team in town according to a new report by the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.
As part of the center’s Forecast LA, an annual economic forecast and public opinion poll, Los Angeles County residents were asked to pick their favorite pro sports team among the seven with “Los Angeles” in their name. The Dodgers came out on top, with 36 percent of the vote, with the Lakers nipping at their heels with 35 percent of the popular vote. That’s a big loss for the basketball team, which held their title as the most popular sports team in LA for over three years.
“The Lakers’ three losing seasons have taken a toll on their status as the favorite team in Los Angeles,” said Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and Chicana/o studies at LMU and director of the center.
The next four favorite teams among Angelenos were the Clippers (7 percent), the Kings (6 percent), the Angels (6 percent) and Galaxy (5 percent).
The survey revealed ethnic differences as well. While the Lakers were 25 percent more popular with African and Asian Americans, the Dodgers held the supportive advantage with White and Latinx populations. Every other team received less than 25 percent support from each ethnic group sans the Clippers, which was supported by 25 percent of African Americans.
The forecast is a partnership between the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University and Beacon Economics, LLC. The opinion poll is based on the results of a telephone survey administered in January and February to 2,400 Los Angeles County residents.
