Sports is one of the biggest draws in the United States and claiming that Americans love their sports would be a huge understatement.
Teams and athletes are regarded as sacred on American soil and residents get plenty of it. Of course, not all sports are created equal. So let’s take a look at some of the most popular sporting disciplines in the country.
Football
American football is by far the most loved sport in the U.S. and it’s obviously the most watched. Data from VPN provider ExpressVPN shows that over 9 million people use streaming services to tune into football games. Of course that doesn’t account for television viewers, while many fans also attend games in person.
The NFL is the main professional football league in America, but it’s not the only one, with the USFL and XFL also providing fans with continued viewing after the Super Bowl in February, while Arena League football is also an option. College football is also huge and there are certain states where it is even more popular than the pro offering.
As for NFL odds, these fluctuate based on various factors such as team performance, player injuries, and public sentiment. Whether it’s placing bets on the Super Bowl, divisional matchups, or individual player statistics, NFL odds add an extra layer of excitement for those who like to test their sports knowledge and luck in the realm of betting.
Based on the above, it’s not hard to guess that the NFL is the most popular sports league in the country. But its reach isn’t limited therein, as evidenced by the fact that tickets for a regular-season fixture between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins set for 2023/24 selling out in Germany in mere minutes.
Basketball
Basketball is over 100 years old and is the second-most popular sport in America, both at the pro and college level.
The NBA, founded in 1954 as the Basketball Association of America, is one of the most popular leagues worldwide and, on a global scale, is way more popular than football. Unlike American football, basketball is played all around the world and the NBA has fans in every corner of the globe, thanks to the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
On the collegiate level, the sport really comes alive early in the year when the NCAA Tournament, more popularly known as March Madness, takes off.
Horse Racing
Horse racing is a favorite among Americans and is still growing in popularity though its been around since the 1660s. The Kentucky Derby is one of the most famous events, not just in the U.S., a lot of its attraction stems from the fact that it’s heavily bet on.
With sports betting in Kentucky to be fully legalized in September, residents will have even more reason to look forward to it every year.
Soccer
This might come as a surprise, but soccer may have become more popular than baseball in the U.S. based on streaming numbers. Soccer is, of course, the most popular sport in the world and is called football everywhere else. But it’s always taken a back seat to other sports in America.
But this is changing year by year, with some of the biggest names joining American teams after playing out their best years in Europe. Inter Miami, a team owned by soccer legend David Beckham, has just agreed a deal to bring Lionel Messi to the MLS, the major soccer league in the country. This is sure to bring a lot more attention to the sport.
Baseball
Baseball was once considered to be America’s favorite pastime, but its popularity has waned in recent years. Even so, it remains among the more popular disciplines.
The sport also has lots of international appeal as it welcomes athletes from all over the world. Some of the biggest names in baseball at the moment do not hail from the United States.
The number of top MLB players who have been caught using performance-enhancing drugs has contributed to the loss in popularity but we could see a resurgence as long as the sport can remain clean over the next few years.
Hockey
Ice hockey was first played in Canada but has since been brought to North America and is now one of the sports drawing the most fans in the States.
Another sport drawing lots of international attention, ice hockey is played across the U.S. and attracts more and more fans with each passing year.
