All-Star Fan Survey Results: NBA Dunk Contest Past Its Peak, MLB Home Run Derby Clear Favorite

NBA All-Star festivities take place in Indianapolis, the third major league All-Star event in February following the NFL‘s Pro Bowl Games and NHL All-Star Weekend.

Earlier this month, Athleticism released a survey asking for your opinion on professional sports All-Star events in North America.

We received approximately 3,500 responses describing what sports fans think on a range of All-Star-related questions. Below are the results.

Note: Some comments have been edited for style and clarity.

Despite a record audience in 2023, MLB and its All-Star events were the most watched according to our respondents.

The MLB is followed by the NBA. Notably, more respondents voted for “none” than for NHLand NFL All-Star events. Fans especially lacked interest in the Pro Bowl.

The NFL should really give it up. The NHL and the NBA are not left out.

The NFL Pro Bowl festivities are horrible. For such a popular sport, it is interesting not to find a quality product.

The Pro Bowl is by far the worst All-Star Games.

What they did at the NFL Pro Bowl is an absolute joke. Flag football and dodgeball? Who cares.

I generally think the All-Star games themselves are fine when played straight or as close as possible, but there’s no hope with the Pro Bowl.

The NFL Pro Bowl is completely unnecessary.

A few respondents indicated that they would watch the PWHLthe event’s first-ever showcase during NHL All-Star Weekend. Contrary to WNBAwhich has its own All-Star Game, the PWHL does not currently have an All-Star event, although the league was featured in a three-on-three showcase that took place after the NHL All-Star Draft (more ‘information on this subject). later).

The MLB Home Run Derby is the clear winner here. It’s also the source for the most cited favorite moment, with 83 answers for when then-Texas Rangers Outfielder Josh Hamilton hit 28 home runs — including one estimated at 518 feet — in the first round of the 2008 derby under the bright lights of old Yankee Stadium.

Josh Hamilton’s 28 home runs in the 2008 derby that he didn’t even win. It was electric.

Watching Josh Hamilton try to hit a home run on the subway tracks at old Yankee Stadium.

Josh Hamilton’s home run derby provided a glimpse into the triumphant nature of athletic achievement.

Josh Hamilton makes Yankee Stadium look like a T-ball field.

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest comes in second, with most comments pointing out the nostalgia factor of dunk contests from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.

Although the dunk contest produced the highest results for the least favorite All-Star event, it also created some of respondents’ most treasured All-Star memories.

Few All-Star moments in sports have people talking about them years after they happened like those who remember the time when they happened.Toronto Raptors Forward Vince Carter stunned judges, fellow superstars and fans with an electrifying performance at the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Oakland, California.

Carter’s performance in the dunk contest in 2000 was chosen by 105 people as their favorite All-Star memory. Eighty-five respondents chose any All-Star event involving Michael Jordan, particularly the intense duel between Jordan and Dominique Wilkins at the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest in Chicago.

Vince Carter’s dunk contest…even though he ruined it forever for everyone.

Vince Carter dunk contest…you know which one.

Vince Carter… it’s over.

Every Vince Carter dunk in the 2000 dunk contest.

But what has changed? Our interviewees believe that the players participating in the event had something to do with it.

The dunk contest lacks star power.

The dunk contest needs to get back to having legitimate stars.

Since 2017, the league that wins the MLB All-Star Game no longer enjoys home field advantage in the World Series.

I am deeply disappointed that they got rid of the home-field advantage that was in play.

The MLB All-Star Game deciding home field advantage was not the best idea nor the fairest postseason format. That said, the result mattered, so even though I didn’t watch the game, I checked the score box the next day. Now I don’t care.

THE Tampa Bay LightningIt is Nikita Koucherov brought this idea to light given his perceived level of effort during the most recent NHL All-Star Weekend skills competition.

This year, the NHL returned to the draft format after nine years, while the NBA returned to the East versus West format.

I like the way the NHL and NBA are evolving.

Many respondents cited the format as the reason they are interested in the MLS All-Star Game.

It’s quite amusing to watch the MLS They’re playing Euro teams, so they’re doing a good job maximizing what they have there, even if it’s a watered-down version of those European teams.

A USA versus World match in the NBA was discussed. From 1998 to 2002, the NHL pitted Team North America against Team World.

Watching the NHL game back when they were playing North America against the rest of the world. Bring it back as a three-on-three tournament!

Bring back the team jerseys. The generic cash grabs that leagues offer every year suck.

I think players wearing their home uniforms really improves the game. As a big baseball fan, I want to see my favorites playing in their original units, not in contrasting colors.

Seeing all the MLB jerseys on the field for the All-Star Game was one of the coolest parts of the season.

I just want every team to wear their real team jersey at the All-Star games – I don’t want a bunch of guys wearing an American League jersey or a Western jersey. My favorite part is seeing all the jerseys from the different teams together.

Did any of these results surprise you? Let us know in the comments section below.

(Best photos of Vince Carter at the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest and Josh Hamilton at the 2008 MLB Home Run Derby: Jed Jacobsohn / Allsport and Rich Pilling / MLB via Getty Images)