20 Most Popular Sports in America
Nowadays sports are one of the most popular sports in the world. Country, nation, and religion are not a fact to the sports lover people. For this, it’s called the universal language. America is such a country where uncountable sports are loved by people. But the fact is that different types of people like different types of sports. Here we listed the top 20 most popular sports in America.
Top 5 Popular Sports in America (Check Stats)
| Sport | Participants | Popularity percentage | Television viewers | Annual attendance | Average Attendance |
| NFL (American Football) | 8.9 million | 37% | 111.9 million | 17,177,581 | 67,100 |
| NBA (Basketball) | 30.3 million | 11% | 50.4 million | 21,964,447 | 17,857 |
| MLB (Baseball) | 29.3 million | 9% | 40.0 million | 68,494,752 | 28,18 |
| MLS (Major League Baseball) | 13.6 million | 7% | 27.3 million | 8,676,109 | 21,305 |
| Ice hockey | 3.1 million | 4% | 27.6 million | 21,525,777 | 17,500 |
In the upper table, we can see that about 37% of US people love to watch American football. The NFL becomes the number 1 popular sporting event. The Television viewers of the game are about 111.9 million so far where the live annual audience 17,177,581. With 30.3 million participants Basketball refers to 2nd position. About 11% of American love to watch the game. After that the event which snatches people’s attraction most is Baseball. Approximately 9% of Americans like sporting events. The annual audience of the game is about 68,494,752. Here we conferred all 20 sports basic info below.
NFL (America Football)
NFL American national Football is the most-watched sporting event in the country. Not only in the county day by day its popularity spread all over the world. No doubt, it ranks 1st among the most popular sports in America. The US lovers are eagerly waiting for the match. Besides watching TV now they are present in the stadium and enjoy the matches very much. Last year the estimated number of viewers was about 6.1 million (average). Due to the epidemic (Covid-19), the NFL has not taken place in America.
There are 32 franchises in the NFL which are divided into two different conferences. Among the major sports NFL being the highest TV ratings. Especially the Sunday afternoon it is a common routine for the maximum number of people to enjoy the game on TV.
NBA (Basketball)
Basketball stands 2nd among the most popular sports in America. US people love the game very much. The TV rating of the last season’s final match was 8.8, where 15.14 million viewers enjoyed the game live. NBA TV SCHEDULE 2022.
However, It is regarded in the second position, to make money it’s ranked position of third. About 26 million US people play Basketball. It consists of 30 teams and they play a total of 82 games with an annual attendance of 21,964,447 in America. About 11% of American love to watch this.
MLB (Baseball)
Baseball became the 3rd big hit among the most popular sports in America. After starting the event in the 20th century, it has not walked out of its popularity so far. It’s called the heart of American culture. The game is the 7th most sporting event in the world. According to MOB records, the average number of viewers was 198,000 last season. MLB TV Schedule 2022.
Baseball is also very popular in America. MLB has become the most popular baseball in the country, with TV viewers being about 40.0 million so far. About 9% of US people like the game very much. The annual attendance of the game was 68,494,752.
MLS (Major League Soccer)
Another popular sporting event considered MLS, the Major League Soccer. Last season the record number of viewers was 14.3 million. It is one of the highest-paid club football in America. Mostly the younger generations like the game very much. Football is a very popular game all over the world. America is not an alternative to all. They are also strom=ng fans of it. For that, they love MLS very much. In this season the league holds 26 teams and plans to forward the number to 28 next year. Causing CoronaVirus the future of the game is unpredictable this year.
With an average attendance of 21,000, the game snatched the 4rh position. It became the third highest av attendance in the USA. Approximately 11% of people in America like this game as their favorite game.
NHL (Ice Hockey)
Ice hockey is a well-known sport in the USA, played on ice. In this game, two teams of skaters hit an ice rink with their sticks and tried to send a well-conceived rubber puck (ball) into their opponent’s net. Well, the NHL occupies a position in the top 5 among the most popular sports in America. Each ice hockey team consists of six players. In recent times it is also a very popular game among the US people. According to reports last year about 5.33 million viewers eagerly enjoy the NHL Stanley Cup games so far.
However, In North America NHL is the major professional hockey league. It consisted of 31 teams, 24 from America and 7 from Canada. Meanwhile, the NHL players are not as familiar as the NFL stars. But day by day it getting popularity. And soon the game will get the best result in the whole country. Only 4% of US people like this and the participants the last year was 3.1 million.
Tennis
Tennis is known as one of the most popular sports in the world today. It is also known as Lawn tennis in many countries of the world. The US Open gets high voltage popularity. People love to play Tennis and love to watch Tennis.
Tennis is a great successful sporting game in America. For a long time, it has brought many successes. America has so many stars Tennis players as well as Billie Jean King, and Don Budge who are playing 12 major singles titles. Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, and Andre Agassi are also very talented tennis guys.
Golf
Golf is called the game of the aristocracy and the elite. The difference between golf and other sports is that golf does not have a referee or umpire. Each player records his number of shots. In America, it is the 7th most watchable sport and all over the world, it’s ranked 8th.
About 25 million people play Golf in the United States. The PGA America, US Open, and U.S. Women’s Open are very popular in the USA. The PGA of America is also very popular with all. The PGA Championship along with the Women’s PGA Championship also like most sports lovers.
WWE (Wrestling)
Boxing martial art game in which two people engage in tests of strength, reflexes, and endurance. By wearing gloves with two hands try to knock out an opponent. To youngsters, especially boys, the game is the most enjoyable.
Car racing
Car racing is another popular game in America. The motor car racer earns a lot in a year. The betting competition makes the game more interesting. NASCAR is such a car racing competition that is a very popular sporting event for US people. From the year 2000, the audience of the competition was marked as 2-4 million. Day by day the fan is increasing by a big amount.
Rugby
Rugby is the world’s oldest sporting event. And from then its popularity did not decrease. Day by day it increased. The American people are fond of the game to play and also to watch. The game is also beloved all over the world. According to sources, about 1.2 million people in America play Rugby.
Badminton
Badminton is also a very popular sporting event. It also plays in the Olympic games. From a very early it is one of the favorite games in America. A large number of participants about 100,000 people participated in this sport. And worldwide the participants are 14,000,000. The stars of the competition earn a very high amount of money as a monthly salary.
Soccer
Soccer is the most popular sporting event all over the world. A high amount of people in America are fond of it. Millions of USA fans and TV viewers eagerly wait for the various soccer games. In the mid-century football took place in America. From then the number of football lovers increased day by day.
In 2012 record participants about 17,000,000 players played football in the United States. The game’s popularity increased to a high level in recent years. About 13 million people in the USA play the game. It is popular with all ages people from children to veterans.
Field Hockey
Ice Hockey Field Hockey is also popular in America. US people always like the category. The game is almost the same as Ice Hockey. On the face, Ice Hockey plays on Ice, and on the other side Field hockey takes place on the Field. About 3% of people like the game very much.
Cycling
Riding a bicycle is a common scene in America. Almost every person in the country knows how to ride it. As a personal vehicle, they love to use this. But in the field of sports competition, the game is also very popular to all. It’s pretty easy to ride and nearly 43,000,000 participants in America take part in the competition. Worldwide about 97,000,000 participants take part in the competition in different competitions.
Boxing
Boxing is not as popular in America as it is popular all over the world. The young age guys like the game so much. In America, it’s started getting more popular in recent years. About 2,000,000 Americans participated in the event in recent years. Worldwide over 21,000,000 fighters are taking part in the competition.
However, Boxing becomes an iconic sporting event and also a very successful tournament. As well as Rocky, The Fighter, and Raging Bull are the biggest teams in the competition. Muhammad Ali was a famous boxer from this country. Joe Louis and Mike Tyson are also reputed boxers of the nation.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport that has seen its popularity increase over the past decade or so not only in America but also throughout the world. In 2012 over 1,000,000 Americans and nearly 12,000,000 people worldwide competed in this team sport that combines elements of soccer, hockey, and American football.
Volleyball
Another popular game in America refers to Volleyball. It plays on various surfaces as well as hardwood floors, sandy beaches, and other places. as well. Beach volleyball day by day is getting more popular. Over the past few decades, it is very popular with all. A notable participant is seen here.
Cricket
Cricket is a very popular game all over the world. World Cup cricket in the recent period is a high-volume game so far. Though America does not take part in World Cup cricket, day by day the number of fans in the country is increasing. Cricket is most popular in Asia and also in Australia and Africa. In recent times a notable fan has been seen in America. About 135,000,000 million American viewers like the game. over 90,000 participants took part in this game.
Swimming
Swimming is a very interesting game and also exercise. The water-based game is really very enjoyable. During a leisure period, US people spend their time swimming. In America, various types of swimming competitions are held. The race looked so much enjoyable. In the year recorded 14,000,000 people took part in the competition. World wide the number is 2,500,000.
Track and Field
About 20,000,000 people take part in the competition of Track and Field. It is also a very popular game in the United States. There are many types of Track and Field games held in America as well as marathons, sprinting, hurdles, high jumping, javelins, long jumping, and many others. Worldwide the participants were about 20,000,000 in the recent period.
There are also more sporting events that are beloved by the American people such as Badminton, Cricket, ground hockey, boxing, Volleyball, and also many so far.
