Majority of Detroiters support entertainment tax increase in city to ease property taxes, poll finds

DETROIT – Detroit voters were asked during a recent poll if they believe admission tax on concerts and sporting events should be increased to help reduce property taxes.

Here’s the exact wording of the question, which was asked over the phone: One idea being discussed would place a ten percent admissions tax on concerts and sporting events in Detroit generating $47 million per year that would be used to reduce city property taxes by 5.7%. The new tax would require a referendum approved by Detroit voters. Would you support or oppose increasing the admissions tax on concerts and sporting evenings by ten percent and using the revenue to reduce property taxes?

Participants were then asked: Would that be strongly support/oppose or just somewhat support/oppose?

Here are the results:

• Strongly support -- 46.0%
• Somewhat support -- 22.0%
• Somewhat oppose -- 6.2%
• Strongly oppose -- 18.7%
• Neutral/ Depends/Don’t Know/Refused -- 7.1%

A follow-up questions was then asked: And do you think everyone purchasing tickets should be required to pay an admissions tax or do you think only people who live outside of Detroit should be required to pay an admissions tax?

Here are the results:

• Everyone taxes -- 42.9%
• Only those that live outside of Detroit -- 43.8%
• Don’t Know/ Depends/ Refused -- 13.3%

Previous poll coverage

• Poll: Here’s who leads Detroit mayoral race 1 month before general election
• Far fewer Detroiters see themselves leaving Detroit in 10 years, poll finds
• Poll: Detroiters oppose property tax cut in exchange for less city services

Poll methodology

WDIV and the Detroit News commissioned a survey of likely November 2025 general election voters within the city of Detroit. The poll was conducted by The Glengariff Group, Inc.

It was a 500-sample, live-operator telephone survey conducted from October 16-18, 2025.

The margin of error is +/- 4.4%, and there is a 95% level of confidence.

Of the respondents, 10.3% were called via landline telephone, and 89.7% were called on a cellphone.