The Morning Call/

Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion

Survey of Lehigh Valley Residents on the Possible

Construction of a New Sports Arena

KEY FINDINGS REPORT

Release Date May 20, 2009

KEY FINDINGS:

1. Half of Lehigh Valley residents support the construction of a multi-purpose

hockey arena in the Lehigh Valley, compared to about a third of residents who
disapprove.

2. Assuming the stadium was built, over 4 out of 10 Lehigh Valley residents support
its placement in Allentown, compared to about 2 out of 10 who favor Bethlehem
and about 1 out of 10 who favor Easton.

3. About 3 out of 4 Lehigh Valley residents believe that the stadium would have a
positive impact on the local economy, compared to 1 out of 10 who believe it
would have a negative effect.

4. While about 1 out of 3 Lehigh Valley residents support the use of funding from
local municipalities to build a stadium, 4 out of 10 residents support the use of
state funding.

5. Although a majority of Lehigh Valley residents oppose both the use of municipal
and state tax dollars to build a stadium, only 3 out of 10 residents believe that the
tax dollars used to construct Coca Cola Park was not worth the cost.

METHODOLOGY: The following key findings report summarizes data collected in a

telephone survey of 403 residents of the Lehigh and Northampton Counties between
April 13 and May 18, 2009. Individual households throughout these counties were
selected randomly for inclusion in the study. The sample of phone numbers used in the
survey was generated by Genesys Sampling Systems of Ft. Washington, PA.
Interviewing was conducted by the staff of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public
Opinion. This number of completions results in a margin of error of +/- 5% at the 95%
confidence interval. However the margin of errors for sub groups (i.e. women,
Republicans) is larger due to smaller sample size. Percentages throughout the survey
have been rounded to the nearest percentage, thus many totals in the results will not equal
100. The survey questionnaire was designed by Christopher Borick, Ph.D. of the
Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion in consultation with staff members of the
Morning Call. Analysis and report writing were completed by Will Bloom and Dr. Borick
of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.

OVERVIEW: The Philadelphia Phantoms, the American Hockey League affiliated with
the Philadelphia Flyers, is considering moving to the Lehigh Valley. Such a move would
be incumbent on the construction of a hockey stadium in the Lehigh Valley. In this study
we examine public perception of the possible stadium and funding options for the
stadium.
Overall Support for The Project

The survey results indicate that half of Lehigh Valley residents support the
construction of a new multi-purpose arena in the Lehigh Valley, compared to only 35%
who oppose this possibility.

TABLE ONE

“First, do you support or oppose the construction of a new multi-purpose hockey

arena for the Philadelphia Phantoms in the Lehigh Valley?”

Support Oppose Not Sure

50% 35% 14%
Results from Muhlenberg/Morning Call

Support for a potential arena is significantly affected by a number of key

demographic factors. While 55% of male respondents support construction of the
stadium, only 47% of female respondents support the stadium, and 66% of married
respondents were in favor compared to 50% of single respondents. There is a stark
difference in levels of support between the young and the elderly. 70% of respondents
aged 18-34 support the construction, compared to 58% of those aged 35-64 and 23% of
those aged 65 and older.

TABLE TWO

Support for the Construction of a New Hockey Arena by Age

Age Group Support Oppose Not Sure

18-34 70% 20% 9%
35-64 58% 31% 9%
65+ 23% 49% 29%
Results from Muhlenberg/Morning Call

Factors Effecting Support for a New Arena

While half of Lehigh Valley residents support the construction of a new arena in
the Valley, there are numerous factors that effect public sentiment on this matter. First,
most Valley residents would like to see the new arena built in Allentown rather than
Bethlehem or Easton. Notably, about 1 in 5 local residents didn’t have an opinion on
where the arena should be built.
 TABLE THREE

“If a multi-purpose hockey arena were to be built in the Lehigh Valley, should it be
built in Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton?”

Allentown Bethlehem Easton Other Not Sure

42% 18% 13% 8% 19%
Results from Muhlenberg/Morning Call

Lehigh Valley residents overwhelmingly believe that the construction of a new

arena would have a positive effect on the local economy. Three out of residents stated
that a new multi-purpose hockey arena would boost the local economy compared to only
1 in 10 who saw such a facility as having a negative impact. Once again, support among
young respondents is evidenced by the 85% of respondents aged 18-35 who believe the
stadium will have a positive impact, compared 71% of respondents aged 65 and older.

TABLE FOUR

“Do you think that having a multi-purpose hockey arena in the Lehigh Valley would
have a positive or negative effect on the local economy?”

Positive Negative No Effect Not Sure

Effect Effect
74% 10% 6% 7%
Results from Muhlenberg/Morning Call

One of the most important questions regarding the construction of a new arena
involves the use of public funding. Despite general support for the construction of a new
arena, Lehigh Valley residents are not very supportive of public financing of such a
facility. About 6 in 10 Valley residents oppose using local tax dollars to construct the
arena, with only 1 in 3 supporting such fiscal measures. Local residents are of more
mixed opinion on the issue of state tax dollars to finance the arena, with 42% supporting
such an option and 50% opposing the possibility

TABLE FIVE

Use of tax dollars to help build the hockey arena.

Support Oppose Not Sure

Municipal 33% 59% 6%
Tax Dollars
Pennsylvania 42% 50% 5%
Tax Dollars
 Age disparity again is a strong indicator of response. 50% of respondents aged
18-34 support the use of municipal tax dollars to help build the stadium, and 54% support
the use of state money. Only 21% of respondents aged 65 or older support the use of
municipal money, and 27% support the use of state money.

While considerably more respondents opposed the use of tax dollars to help fund
the construction of a hockey arena, a majority of respondents felt that the tax dollars used
to construct Coca Cola Park was worth it. More specifically, 51% of Lehigh Valley
residents believe that the baseball park which opened in 2008 was worth the investment
of public funds.

TABLE SIX

“Do you think that the investment of tax dollars to build Coca Cola Park, the minor
league baseball stadium in Allentown, was worth the cost or not worth the cost paid
by the public?”

Worth the Not worth No Opinion

cost the cost
Overall 51% 30% 16%

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Lehigh Valley residents are in favor of
constructing a new home for the Philadelphia Phantoms and prefer that it be located in
Allentown. While supportive of the general concept of constructing a new arena, local
residents generally oppose the use tax dollars to help build the venue. Slightly more
residents support the use of state dollars than support the use of municipal money, but a
majority oppose using any public resources to finance the arena.
 Muhlenberg College/Morning Call

2009 Lehigh Valley Quality of Life Survey

Hockey Arena Questions

Sample Size: 403 Residents of Lehigh and Northampton Counties

Margin of Error: +/- 5% at 95% LOC
Sampling Procedure: Random Digit Dialing (RDD) Telephone Survey
Fielding dates: April 13 to May 18, 2009
Note: Total may exceed 100% due to rounding at .5 level.

Q40: Now I would like to ask you a few questions about your opinions regarding the
construction of a new multi-purpose hockey arena for the Philadelphia Phantoms and
other events.

First, do you support or oppose the construction of a new multi-purpose hockey arena for
the Philadelphia Phantoms in the Lehigh Valley?

1. Approve 50%
2. Disapprove 35%
3. No opinion 14%

Q41: If a multi-purpose hockey arena were to be built in the Lehigh Valley, should it be
built in Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton?

1. Allentown 42%
2. Bethlehem 18%
3. Easton 13%
4. Other (Volunteered) 8%

Q42: Do you think that having a multi-purpose hockey arena in the Lehigh Valley would
have a positive or negative effect on the local economy?

1. Positive Effect 74%

2. Negative Effect 10%
3. No Effect 6%
4. Don't Know 7%

Q43: Do you support or oppose local municipalities spending tax dollars to help build a
new multi-purpose hockey arena?

1. Support 33%
2. Oppose 59%
3. Don't Know 6%
Q44: Do you support or oppose the state of Pennsylvania spending tax dollars to help
build a new multi-purpose hockey arena?

1. Support 42%
2. Oppose 50%
3. Don't Know 5%

Q45: Do you think that the investment of tax dollars to build Coca Cola Park, the minor
league baseball stadium in Allentown, was worth the cost or not worth the cost paid by
the public?

1. Worth the cost 51%

2. Not worth the cost 30%
3. No Opinion 16%
 Muhlenberg College/Morning Call

2009 Lehigh Valley Quality of Life Survey

SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWNS

Q40: Now I would like to ask you a few questions about your opinions regarding the
construction of a new multi-purpose hockey arena for the Philadelphia Phantoms and
other events.

First, do you support or oppose the construction of a new multi-purpose hockey arena for
the Philadelphia Phantoms in the Lehigh Valley?

Support Oppose Don’t Know

Overall 50% 35% 14%
Male 55% 31% 14%
Female 47% 38% 13%
White 51% 35% 14%
Non-White 59% 26% 11%
18-34 70% 20% 9%
35-64 58% 31% 9%
65+ 23% 49% 29%
Protestant 49% 38% 13%
Catholic 52% 36% 11%
Other 52% 30% 16%
Under $60K 43% 43% 13%
Over $60K 66% 25% 10%
Dem 48% 38% 14%
Rep 56% 30% 14%
Married 66% 23% 11%
Single 50% 35% 15%
College 55% 32% 14%
No College 48% 38% 13%
Q41: If a multi-purpose hockey arena were to be built in the Lehigh Valley, should it be built in
Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton?

Allentown Bethlehem Easton Other Refused

Overall 42% 18% 13% 8% 19%
Male 49% 18% 9% 7% 18%
Female 39% 19% 16% 8% 19%
White 46% 17% 11% 7% 18%
Non-White 30% 26% 30% 9% 4%
18-34 44% 24% 20% 0% 13%
35-64 46% 20% 15% 6% 14%
65+ 33% 12% 5% 17% 33%
Protestant 44% 19% 11% 4% 23%
Catholic 55% 16% 10% 9% 10%
Other 28% 24% 20% 10% 19%
Under $60K 34% 20% 15% 14% 18%
Over $60K 53% 17% 12% 3% 15%
Dem 51% 17% 12% 4% 17%
Rep 43% 19% 11% 5% 23%
Married 52% 11% 16% 11% 11%
Single 43% 20% 12% 6% 20%
College 52% 15% 12% 4% 17%
No College 35% 21% 14% 11% 18%

Q42: Do you think that having a multi-purpose hockey arena in the Lehigh Valley would have a
positive or negative effect on the local economy?

Positive Negative No Effect Don’t Know

Effect Effect
Overall 74% 10% 6% 7%
Male 74% 9% 10% 6%
Female 76% 12% 4% 7%
White 75% 11% 6% 7%
Non-White 80% 13% 0% 7%
18-34 85% 4% 7% 2%
35-64 74% 11% 6% 6%
65+ 71% 11% 3% 10%
Protestant 75% 12% 5% 6%
Catholic 81% 10% 6% 2%
Other 72% 10% 5% 12%
Under $60K 74% 11% 7% 6%
Over $60K 79% 10% 3% 6%
Dem 77% 11% 6% 5%
Rep 76% 11% 6% 4%
Married 80% 2% 4% 13%
Single 74% 12% 6% 6%
College 75% 8% 9% 6%
No College 76% 14% 3% 7%
Q43: Do you support or oppose local municipalities spending tax dollars to help build a new
multi-purpose hockey arena?

Support Oppose Don’t Know

Overall 33% 59% 6%
Male 30% 63% 6%
Female 35% 57% 6%
White 32% 61% 6%
Non-White 48% 46% 7%
18-34 50% 39% 9%
35-64 34% 56% 6%
65+ 21% 73% 5%
Protestant 29% 66% 5%
Catholic 36% 59% 4%
Other 37% 58% 5%
Under $60K 32% 63% 4%
Over $60K 40% 52% 8%
Dem 35% 58% 6%
Rep 32% 61% 6%
Married 45% 43% 11%
Single 29% 65% 6%
College 34% 62% 4%
No College 33% 59% 8%

Q44: Do you support or oppose the state of Pennsylvania spending tax dollars to help build a new
multi-purpose hockey arena?

Support Oppose Don’t Know

Overall 42% 50% 5%
Male 46% 49% 4%
Female 41% 51% 5%
White 43% 51% 5%
Non-White 54% 46% 0%
18-34 54% 39% 0%
35-64 47% 44% 6%
65+ 27% 69% 3%
Protestant 34% 59% 6%
Catholic 53% 44% 2%
Other 46% 51% 4%
Under $60K 41% 56% 2%
Over $60K 51% 41% 8%
Dem 43% 51% 6%
Rep 41% 53% 6%
Married 57% 38% 4%
Single 39% 56% 5%
College 43% 52% 4%
No College 44% 51% 5%
Q45: Do you think that the investment of tax dollars to build Coca Cola Park, the minor league
baseball stadium in Allentown, was worth the cost or not worth the cost paid by the public?

Worth the Not worth the No Opinion

cost cost
Overall 51% 30% 16%
Male 59% 34% 8%
Female 47% 29% 21%
White 52% 31% 16%
Non-White 50% 37% 13%
18-34 63% 26% 4%
35-64 51% 28% 18%
65+ 44% 37% 16%
Protestant 51% 32% 17%
Catholic 57% 30% 13%
Other 47% 35% 16%
Under $60K 42% 44% 14%
Over $60K 68% 19% 12%
Dem 54% 29% 15%
Rep 55% 33% 12%
Married 54% 36% 11%
Single 53% 31% 16%
College 59% 28% 13%
No College 46% 34% 19%