Arizona-ASU is the most intense rivalry in sports, per study

[JonLP24]

When it comes to heated sports rivalries, there are none more intense than Arizona vs. Arizona State.

And, no, we’re not just saying that because this is an Arizona Wildcats website and we may have a slight bias.

It’s true! At least, according to a study.

As reported in the New York Times, two business professors surveyed fans of North American pro sports teams and college football teams, and had them rank their hatred of their rival on a scale from 0 to 100.

Arizona fans averaged 89 hate points toward ASU, while ASU fans averaged 83 hate points toward Arizona. The combined total of 172 is 20 points higher than the second-most intense rivalry—between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/platform/amp/2019/10/15/20916461/arizona-asu-rivalry-most-intense-rivalries-college-sports-new-york-times-history

America’s Biggest Sports Rivalries? You Might Be Surprised

Which rivalries are most intense? Can a team have more than one rival? What if the hatred isn’t returned? Two professors wanted answers.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/14/sports/best-sports-rivalries.html

[brush]

1. This is correct. As a U of A alum I can attest to it. Tucson and Phoenix, the two cities the...

schools are located in are also rivals, which contributes to it. Tucson is blue and Phoenix is deep red.

Bear down, Arizona. Arizona, bear down.

[Mosby]

6. Phx isn't red, it's slightly blue

It's Maricopa county that's red.

[pangaia]

2. American football is 2nd only to boxing in its sheer stupidity.

Go team...

Cheer cheer for old notre dame..

On wisconsin on wisconsin....

[Zaphod42]

3. Ridiculous...

Quite obviously, it's Bama vs Auburn....;/

[JonLP24]

4. You don't know how much I hate Arizona

I don't even hate Alabama as much as Arizona.

[brush]

5. Or Ohio State v Michigan. But in the state it's blue Tucson v deep red Phoenix that contributes...

to the rivalry.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

7. Living in Ohio I have zero dogs in this UA/ASU fight.

I've been to Arizona exactly once. Exotic country, and pretty, especially to someone who grew up surrounded by cows and soybeans. Re football, I was kinda pulling for Herm Edwards to have a good year, I've always liked him. But, now you're telling me there's a political angle to all of this?

Well, in that case, fuck ASU and GO WILDCATS!

[brush]

8. Woohoo!

[JonLP24]

9. Tempe is blue

Where most of the fans are.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

10. Dammit, it's too late.

I've already gotten the tattoo

[RT Atlanta]

11. this is the correct answer!

but I'm biased

[Capt. America]

12. Perhaps these folks don't know about tOSU vs Michigan.

I live in Ohio (a transplant from Illinois) and I can tell you this is the best in the nation for rivalry.

[JonLP24]

13. See that is what everyone expects

The national media etc. We are all well aware of OSU-Michigan. Maybe they have their hate split up with Notre Dame & Michigan State. Arizona State fans all we have is Arizona so they get all the hate & vice versa. The study doesn't surprise me.