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Sports fans will spend the equivalent of more than a year-and-a-half of their lives watching sports such as cricket, rugby and football – in their local, a study has found.
A poll of 2,000 sports lovers found the six in 10 who head to the pub to watch their favourite sport will spend more than 19 hours a month at the boozer soaking up the atmosphere of games on the big screen with friends and a pint.
That amounts to a whopping 13,929 hours spent watching sports in the pub over the average adult lifetime.
It also emerged 64 per cent of those polled believe watching sports in a pub is the next best thing to being there with more than half believing there is ‘something special’ about watching a major sporting event in a busy British boozer.
The research was carried out by electrical retailer Currys PC World to launch its competition to find a cricket-named pub in need of a state of the art ‘tech make-over’ from Samsung before punters run in for the opening game of the Cricket World Cup on Thursday 30th May.
Henrik Schmidt, head of category for TV and Imaging, said: “Watching sports in the pub is one of life’s truly great pleasures, whether your team wins, loses or you’re just there for the atmosphere.
“We’ve got a busy summer of sport coming up, including the next cricket series, and want to ensure the nation enjoy the events with the best TV viewing experience possible.''
The study also found two thirds of sports fans love their local with 65 per cent agreeing it is one of their favourite venues to watch sport, whatever the game.
More than half head to their local instead of staying at home to make the most of their high-tech TV screens while 57 per cent want to enjoy a cold beer at the same time.
Seven in 10 enjoy the atmosphere of a large pub crowd.
So much so, that 53 per cent of sports enthusiasts are planning to head to the pub this summer to watch the Cricket World Cup to cheer on England, as it has emerged as one of this summer’s ‘must-watch’ events for one in four.
The football Champion’s League final, Wimbledon and the Ashes series are also among the sporting events fans are looking forward to watching in the pub this summer.
The study, carried out via OnePoll, also found 52 per cent of sport fans have a local to rely on for a quick pint or evening drinking session, and 57 per cent of those going to the same boozer for more than five years.
And six in 10 visit up to six times a month.
But four in 10 say they would be more likely to head out to watch a sports game at the pub if their local was better equipped with the latest tech.
One in five wish their pub had more screens to view the sporting action, and half would improve their pub with better quality displays and TVs if possible.
Another 21 per cent would like to be able to enjoy the audio in the pub with top quality surround sound speakers.
Schmidt added: “Due to the busy summer of sport, Currys PC World and Samsung are opening a competition to find a cricket pub that needs a little updating and deserves to be teched-out, ensuring it’s the ultimate place to watch sport next month.''
* To enter the competition cricket lovers just need to nominate their local cricket-named pub for a total tech makeover featuring the Samsung QLED TV’s and Qseries soundbars on Currys PC World’s Facebook or Twitter competition post noting the name and location.
If selected, cricket legend Phil Tufnell will help tech-out the pub on the 29th May and be ready to meet and greet the landlord and locals and share his thoughts on the season ahead.
ENDS
