Missouri sports fans are famously loyal — whether it’s tailgating at the lake, savoring toasted ravioli, or cheering on their Cardinals, Chiefs, Royals, and Blues. But just how far would they go for a championship, or for the chance to bring an NBA team to the state? A recent survey of over 2,200 Missouri-based fans reveals which sacrifices they’d be willing to make — from giving up beloved local foods to parting with major professional teams — and highlights the surprising trends by ages and cities.
Question No. 1: Missouri Fans Reveal What 'Nightmare' They’d Endure for a Championship
The survey of more than 2,200 Missouri-based sports fans reveals just how far they’d go to see their favorite team win it all — and the sacrifices they’d be willing to make say a lot about state pride, regional rivalries, and local loyalties.
The results also highlight Missouri’s familiar split between Kansas City and St. Louis — divided by food, pride, and football heroes.
Key Findings:
- 27% of Missourians would give up toasted ravioli forever for a championship — more than those willing to lose Patrick Mahomes.
- 1 in 4 would give up tailgating — a major Missouri game-day tradition.
- 19% would accept Mahomes being traded to the Raiders if it guaranteed a title.
- Only 11% would tolerate seeing the St. Louis Arch destroyed — proving some symbols remain sacred.
- Results reveal a clear east–west divide: Kansas City fans protect their football hero, while St. Louis fans guard their food traditions.
Giving Up Toasted Ravioli Tops The List
When asked to pick a hypothetical “Missouri nightmare” they’d accept in exchange for a championship, the most common choice — by a slim margin — was “Never eat toasted ravioli (T-Ravs) again” at 27%.
The St. Louis staple proved both beloved and expendable, depending on who you ask: 31% of fans 55 and older said they’d give up T-Ravs for a title, the highest of any age group. Location-wise, fans in St Peters (38%) and Blue Springs (35%) were most willing to make that sacrifice, compared to just 21% in St. Louis and Cape Girardeau — perhaps a sign of culinary loyalty on the eastern side of the state.
In fact, more Missourians said they’d give up toasted ravioli than see Patrick Mahomes traded — proving that even state foods aren’t as sacred as their football hero.
But T-Ravs weren’t the only Missouri classic fans were willing to part with for a trophy.
Pork Steak and Tailgating Close Behind
Right behind the T-Ravs ban came “Never eat pork steak again” (25%) and “You can never tailgate again” (23%), both Missouri fan traditions in their own right. That means roughly one in four Missourians would give up tailgating forever — a true sacrifice in a state built on BBQ, beer, and parking-lot parties.
Younger fans led the way in giving up pork steak for glory — 29% of those aged 18–24 said they’d make that trade, the highest of any age group. Regionally, Blue Springs (38%) topped the list of cities most willing to skip the grill, followed by Independence (30%) and St.Louis (29%).
When it came to tailgating, the sacrifice found its strongest supporters in O’Fallon (38%), and St. Charles (33%), showing that even in places where pregame gatherings are part of the culture, fans were willing to give them up if it meant seeing a championship parade.
Rivalry Nightmares Still Sting
The pain of losing to — or helping — a rival team still runs deep. About one in five fans (21%) said they’d accept the St. Louis Cardinals being swept by the Chicago Cubs if it meant a championship for their own team. That nightmare struck a particular nerve in Lee’s Summit (33%) and St. Joseph (31%).
Patrick Mahomes on the Move? Fans Weigh the Cost
Even the possibility of losing a superstar quarterback didn’t stop some fans from dreaming of a championship. Despite Patrick Mahomes’ near-mythic status in Kansas City, 19% of respondents said they’d live with Mahomes being traded to the Raiders if it guaranteed a title, while 18% were willing to see him traded to the Rams in exchange for a title.
Ranch Sauce and the Arch: The Least Tolerated Fates
At the bottom of the list were the truly unthinkable outcomes — replacing all Missouri BBQ sauce with ranch dressing (18%), Lake of the Ozarks is permanently closed to the public (15%), seeing the St. Louis Arch destroyed (11%), and having a team’s stadium renamed after an Illinois company (11%) — choices that only a small share of fans were willing to accept, underscoring just how deeply food traditions and local pride run across Missouri.
As one stat put it perfectly: Fans say, destroy the Arch — but don’t trade Mahomes.
Taken together, the results show just how entwined Missouri’s food, fandom, and local identity are. Whether it’s T-Ravs or tailgates, fans are willing to make surprising sacrifices.
The full results can be found in the table below and a detailed breakdown of answers divided by age groups and cities can be found here.
| If you had to choose a Missouri nightmare to happen in exchange for your team winning a championship, which of the following would it be? | % of Respondents |
| Never eat toasted ravioli (T-Ravs) again | 27% |
| Never eat pork steak again | 25% |
| You can never tailgate again | 23% |
| The St. Louis Cardinals get swept by the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs | 21% |
| Patrick Mahomes traded to the Raiders | 19% |
| All BBQ sauce in Missouri replaced with ranch dressing | 18% |
| Patrick Mahomes traded to the Rams | 18% |
| Lake of the Ozarks is permanently closed to the public | 15% |
| Your favorite team’s stadium renamed after an Illinois company | 11% |
| See the St. Louis Arch destroyed | 11% |
| Other | 0% |
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Question No. 2: Missouri Fans Pick Which Team They’d Give Up for an NBA Franchise
Key Findings:
- 37% of fans would give up the St. Louis Blues, the most commonly named team.
- 35% would part with the Kansas City Royals, closely trailing the Blues.
- Willingness to give up the Chiefs or Cardinals was low across all age groups, maxing out at 16%, showing strong loyalty to football and baseball.
While Missouri currently lacks an NBA club, Missouri sports fans were also asked which of the state’s major teams they’d be willing to give away if it meant bringing basketball to Missouri. The results reveal surprising loyalties, with ice hockey and baseball taking the brunt of potential sacrifice.
| If you had to give away one of these teams for an NBA team, which one would it be? | % of Respondents |
| St. Louis Blues | 37% |
| Kansas City Royals | 35% |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 14% |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 14% |
Blues Top the List
The St. Louis Blues were the most commonly named team, with 37% of respondents willing to part with the NHL franchise. The willingness was highest among the age group of 55+ (43%), and location-wise, Joplin (66%) and St. Joseph (64%) showed the strongest support for giving up the Blues in exchange for an NBA team.
Royals Close Behind
Trailing closely were the Kansas City Royals, with 35% of all fans open to letting the MLB club go in exchange for an NBA team. 39% of 45–54-year-olds turned out to be the strongest supporters of letting go of the Kansas City Royals, while Oakville (81%), Wentzville (67%) and O’Fallon (65%) ranked among the cities most willing to give up the Royals.
Chiefs and Cardinals Least Likely to Be Sacrificed
By contrast, the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals were far less likely to be given up, each at 14% overall. The willingness to give up the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals was low across all age groups, never exceeding 16% for either team; for the Chiefs, the highest willingness came from 25-34-year-olds (16.3%) and the lowest from 55+ (11% only), while for the Cardinals, it also peaked among 25-34-year-olds (18%) and was lowest among 45-54-year-olds (11.7%). These results reinforce the enduring loyalty Missouri fans have to their football and baseball icons.
“Nightmare Sacrifices” Differ Based on Favorite Sport
Preferences around what nightmare scenario fans would accept for a championship also varied depending on their favorite sport.
Never eat toasted ravioli again:
- Highest among football fans (28%)
Never eat pork steak again:
- Highest among baseball and basketball fans (26%)
You can never tailgate again:
- Baseball and hockey fans selected this most (23%)
The St. Louis Cardinals get swept by the Cubs in the playoffs:
- Baseball, basketball, and football fans all selected it at similar levels (22–23%)
Patrick Mahomes traded to the Raiders:
- Highest among hockey fans (24%)
Patrick Mahomes traded to the Rams:
- Highest among basketball fans (21%)
See the St. Louis Arch destroyed:
- Basketball and hockey fans responded at the highest levels (13%)
| Missouri Nightmare in Exchange for a Championship | American Football | Baseball | Basketball | Ice Hockey |
| Never eat toasted ravioli (T-Ravs) again | 28% | 27% | 24% | 24% |
| Never eat pork steak again | 24% | 26% | 26% | 22% |
| You can never tailgate again | 22% | 23% | 19% | 23% |
| The St. Louis Cardinals get swept by the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs | 22% | 23% | 23% | 21% |
| Patrick Mahomes traded to the Raiders | 21% | 20% | 21% | 24% |
| All BBQ sauce in Missouri replaced with ranch dressing | 17% | 16% | 19% | 17% |
| Patrick Mahomes traded to the Rams | 18% | 19% | 21% | 21% |
| Lake of the Ozarks is permanently closed to the public | 15% | 16% | 16% | 17% |
| Your favorite team’s stadium renamed after an Illinois company | 11% | 10% | 14% | 12% |
| See the St. Louis Arch destroyed | 11% | 12% | 13% | 13% |
| Other (please specify): | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Which Team Fans Would Give Up for an NBA Franchise (by Favorite Sport)
Fans were also asked which Missouri-based professional team they would be willing to “give away” if it meant securing an NBA franchise for the state. Breaking the results down by favorite sport shows distinct priorities — and which fan bases are most protective of their teams.
Football Fans: “Blues Can Go — But Not the Chiefs”
Football fans were most willing to part with the St. Louis Blues (41%), followed by the Royals (33%). Only 12% selected the Kansas City Chiefs, making them the least expendable team to this group.
Baseball Fans Prioritize Cardinals — Royals Are the First to Go
Baseball fans chose the Royals most often (39%), with the Blues close behind at 36%. Just 11% selected the Cardinals, showing strong loyalty to St. Louis baseball.
Basketball Fans Split — Royals and Blues Equally Expendable
The Royals and Blues tied at the top for basketball fans (36% each). Only 15% were willing to give up the Chiefs, and 14% chose the Cardinals.
Hockey Fans: “Take the Royals — Not Our Cardinals”
Hockey fans selected the Kansas City Royals at the highest rate of any group — 60% — indicating that Royals support drops sharply among those who primarily follow hockey. Only 9% of hockey fans would give up the Cardinals, the lowest percentage for any team across any fan group.
| "If you had to give away one of these teams for an NBA team, which one would it be?" | American Football | Baseball | Basketball | Ice Hockey |
| St. Louis Blues | 41% | 36% | 36% | 15% |
| Kansas City Royals | 33% | 39% | 36% | 60% |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 12% | 14% | 15% | 16% |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 14% | 11% | 14% | 9% |
City Breakdown: Which “Missouri Nightmare” Fans Would Accept for a Championship
When results are segmented by city, the sacrifices fans are willing to make for a championship reveal strong regional identities.
Kansas City:
Fans in Kansas City were most willing to give up toasted ravioli (29%) — a St. Louis food staple — hinting at the ongoing east–west rivalry. Kansas City also showed higher tolerance than St. Louis or Springfield for replacing BBQ sauce with ranch dressing (23%). Meanwhile, 22% would even accept Patrick Mahomes being traded to the Raiders if it meant a title.
St. Louis:
St. Louis fans were more willing than Kansas City fans to give up pork steak (29%) and to never tailgate again (23%). They were also the most willing to tolerate the St. Louis Arch being destroyed (15%) and to accept Mahomes being traded to the Rams (21%). While St. Louis fans rejected several nightmare scenarios at similar rates to other cities, their higher tolerance for losing the Arch stands out.
Springfield:
Springfield respondents stood out for their willingness to accept tailgating being banned forever (25%). They were also the most willing to accept Lake of the Ozarks closing permanently (19%).
Across all cities, the least popular nightmare was seeing the Arch destroyed — selected by just 11% in Kansas City and Springfield, and only slightly higher in St. Louis at 15%.
City Breakdown: Which Team Fans Would “Give Away” to Bring an NBA Franchise to Missouri
Fans were asked which team they would give up if it meant securing an NBA franchise. The responses show a strong split between Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield.
Kansas City:
52% selected the St. Louis Blues, the highest percentage of any city/team combination in this category. The Royals were second at 17%. Only 13% chose the Chiefs, signaling strong protection of Kansas City’s NFL franchise.
St. Louis:
St. Louis fans overwhelmingly selected the Kansas City Royals (57%), making them the most expendable team in the region. Only 17% chose the Blues — a stark contrast to Kansas City’s willingness to part with them. The Cardinals were the least likely team St. Louis fans would give up (10%).
Springfield:
Fans in Springfield selected the St. Louis Blues most often (41%), followed by the Kansas City Royals (30%). Chiefs and Cardinals were far less likely to be selected (19% and 11%, respectively).
Regardless of city, two patterns are consistent:
- Fans statewide are least willing to part with the Chiefs or Cardinals.
- The Blues and Royals are the most likely candidates if sacrificing a team brings the NBA to Missouri.
Once again, the full results showcasing a detailed breakdown of answers divided by age groups and cities can be found here.
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Methodology
- The research was carried out online by Research Without Barriers — RWB
- The survey was conducted between October 15-21, 2025
- The sample comprised 2,262 Missouri Sports fans
- All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines
