26% of NJ fans would miss a funeral for brackets

In New Jersey, March Madness has fans making wild sacrifices for a perfect bracket. Many people are caught up in the excitement of the college basketball tournament, even if they aren't big fans themselves. A recent survey by The Action Network highlights just how passionate New Jerseyans are about this event. About 26% of residents said they would give up all their vacation days for a year to achieve a flawless bracket. Some even went further, with 15% willing to sacrifice their favorite team winning the tournament. The extremes don't stop there. Thirteen percent of respondents stated they would skip a family wedding, while 12% said they would miss a close relative's funeral for a perfect bracket. Surprisingly, 11% would give up their phone for an entire year. The impact of March Madness also spills into the workplace. Many fans report calling in sick to watch games. In fact, 42% of college basketball fans admitted to taking a sick day to catch the action, often spending hours checking scores while at work. Clearly, New Jersey is deeply invested in March Madness, demonstrating a strong commitment to the tournament, even if it means missing important life events.