The annual University of Alabama vs. Louisiana State University showdown is one of the fiercest rivalries in all of college football — but did you also know that Alabama fans tend to be more outdoorsy? And more drunk?!
Those are two of the many interesting takeaways in a new consumer behavior analysis conducted by purchase platform Attain, which studied the spending patterns for residents of the great states of Alabama and Louisiana in anticipation of this weekend’s game between the two schools.
Alabama residents outspend Louisianans on beer, wine and liquor, a somewhat shocking revelation considering Louisiana is home to New Orleans, an international tourist destination known for its party culture, and that Alabama has a long history of liquor prohibition.
In fact, Alabamians spend more on booze than the national average, scoring 126 on a 100-point scale (with 100 being the mean). Crimson Tide fans who joke that Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama, is a “drinking town with a football problem” aren’t just being cheeky.
LSU fans can take pride in the fact that their fan base is, apparently, more financially literate than Alabama’s. Residents of LSU spend more on financial planning than Alabama residents, with index scores of 85 and 76 respectively.
A healthy retirement account might not lend itself to a rah-rah football chant, but Tigers fans will take whatever they can get. The LSU program is in tatters after losing its third game last weekend and firing the head coach immediately after the loss. Alabama, meanwhile, is making a run for the college football playoff and hopefully a national championship.
Though they are bitter rivals when their teams take the field, Alabama and LSU fans have more in common than they would both probably care to admit. Both states have similarly high scores for spending on fast food (105 for Alabama, 101 for Louisiana) and superstores (Alabama: 126, Louisiana: 135). They also both love Sprite, with Louisiana scoring 202 on the index, twice the national average, and Alabama close behind with a score of 175.
Both states are under the national average in spending on wellness categories, including childcare, hair and beauty, and fitness centers. Alabama and LSU football players are some of the most impressive physical specimens in the country, but their fans might need to hit the gym a little.
The love for fast food and soda combined with the relative lack of physical activity might explain why both states have such an affinity for Michelob Ultra, a beer marketed as a healthier alternative to more carbohydrate-heavy brews.
Even though both states have healthy fast food appetites, there are distinct taste differences between them. Alabama residents love Domino’s (115 point national index score), Little Caesars (140), Raising Cane’s (133) and Sonic (149). The only fast food joint that Louisiana over-indexes on is Chick-fil-A.
LSU’s season is mostly done, but it will have a chance to play spoiler and ruin Alabama’s chances at a playoff berth if the Tigers come out on top. If nothing else, the LSU fans can troll Crimson Tide fans by pointing to their bank accounts.
