During your lifetime you’ll likely watch a variety of sports. Some of the most popular sports to watch in America include Baseball, Basketball, Ice hockey, American football, and Winter sports. Which one do you enjoy watching the most?
Ice hockey
Currently, ice hockey is the fifth most watched sport in America, behind football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball. Although hockey is not a major sport in the United States, many people like the sport.
Ice hockey originated in Canada and is played on a rectangular ice surface divided into two blue defensive zones and two red goal lines. There are six players on each team, usually comprised of three forwards, two defensemen, and a goaltender.
One of the hardest sports to play, hockey requires players to skate at full speed and control the puck. Ice hockey has become popular in parts of Europe and former socialist countries. The game is also popular in parts of the United States.
Baseball
During the first half of the 20th century, baseball, collegiate football, and boxing were the most popular team sports in America. Then came American football, which was born in New Jersey in 1869.
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of baseball in the US. There are 30 teams in the league and each team plays 162 games. Five teams from each league advance to the playoffs. In the end, the best teams compete in the World Series.
Baseball is a sport that has had a huge impact on America’s history. In the first half of the 20th century, cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and St. Louis had rival teams in the major league. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Stan Musial all had successful careers. Yog Berra was an 18-time All-Star.
American football
Throughout the past several decades, American football has become the most popular sport in the United States. In fact, the NFL is the preeminent professional football league in the country. Its regular season is 17 weeks long and each team plays 16 games, plus a single-game playoff at the end of the season.
The NFL’s Super Bowl is arguably the most viewed sporting event in the United States. Moreover, the NFL is also the most profitable professional sports league in the world.
Sports are a crucial part of the American culture. Football, baseball and basketball are among the most watched sports in the US.
In fact, the Super Bowl has become an unofficial holiday in many parts of the country. During the fall months, millions of Americans watch college football. Some communities even have a local high school football team that is a mainstay.
Basketball
Almost one in every five Americans claims that they watch basketball at least once a month, with the National Sporting Goods Association estimating that over 26 million do so. This is more than the number of Americans who watch baseball, which ranks first in the sport hierarchy.
The National Basketball Association, or NBA, is the largest professional basketball league in the world with more than 30 teams, most of them located in the United States. The 82-game regular season runs from October to June. Each of the league’s eight divisions competes for the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy. In addition to the regular season, the league holds the U.S. Open Cup, a tournament that features lower-level US leagues.
Boxing
During the 1960s and 1970s, boxing became one of the most popular sports in America. A great deal of commercial success and financial revenues were gained. During this time, a lot of talented boxers fought storied bouts. The rise of television and casino gambling raised the stakes for audiences. The popularity of boxing also helped the rise of minority participation.
Today, boxing has become a sport that is a bit out of reach for most Americans. But the sport is alive and well in several parts of the world. Boxing is the fourth most popular sport in the United States, behind basketball, baseball, and football. It is also one of the top sports in the Asia-Pacific (APAC).
Boxing is also one of the most popular sports in the LATAM region, which includes Latin America. It is also the third most popular sport in the APAC region.
Winter games
Whether you watch the games live or watch them on TV, the Winter Games are always energizing and inspiring. They provide a unique opportunity to bring people together and to see world-class athletes.
The Winter Olympics have always been one of the most-watched sports in the world. The International Olympic Committee reports that the last three Olympics have averaged more than two billion viewers.
The Winter Games are also a major source of revenue for the IOC. They generated $2.3 billion in revenues last year, making the Olympics the second-largest source of revenue for the IOC.
One of the biggest draws of the Olympics is the star-studded rosters of athletes from around the world. The United States brought home four of the ten gold medals from the 2010 Winter Olympics in South Korea. This year, the athletes will be looking to repeat that feat.
