Recreational Holidays

The Most Popular Sports in America For Everyone To Know

The most popular sports in America may not necessarily be the sports you’d think of as enjoying a place in the top tier of US sports. If you’re not a regular follower of American athletics, you could be in for a bit of a shock to learn that things have changed a lot in the last two to three decades. For a look at which sports are the most popular with fans in the US, read on.

The most popular sport in America won’t come as a surprise to anyone. The NFL is now, as it has long been the dominant force in American sports. With an enormous following in every part of the country, professional football became popular almost immediately and by the 1960s, the NFL was the most popular sports franchise in the US, a place which it holds to this day. As everyone knows, the Super Bowl has the highest viewership of any televised event in the United States.

A professional sport that may surprise some to see included on this list is NASCAR. NASCAR to some feels like a very regional and niche sport. That is how it started and its roots lie primarily in the south. However, the sport has grown over the last several decades and is now quite mainstream. When you consider that at each race over 100,000 fans come from around the country to take in the action and in some cases spend the entire weekend at the track, you realize the scope and popularity of this sport.

You might also be surprised to learn that another of the most popular sports in America is UFC mixed martial arts (MMA). A sport which some people haven’t even yet heard of, MMA has gone from obscurity to being one of the most popular sports among the coveted youth demographic. MMA is a fast paced, intense and violent sport which has a lot of appeal to the young.

Rounding out the top tier are NBA basketball and Major League Baseball. Neither of these sports is as popular as they once were, but both still enjoy a fan base which numbers in the millions. Golf, hockey and tennis have slipped into the second tier, having become sports for smaller niche markets of loyal fans.

Moving to the collegiate and amateur realm, the most popular sport is NCAA football. The top universities have legions of diehard fans, supporters and boosters. And in towns and regions where there are no pro teams - and even in some where there are many - the college football team takes on enormous civil and social importance. The bowl season is one of the most cherished times in sports, although the lack of a playoff structure has hindered the popularity of college football in recent times.

Somewhat less popular, college basketball has the sports series which is second in popularity only to the Super Bowl. March Madness draws millions of viewers and is the one time of the year where betting on sports is seen as socially acceptable; workplaces all over the country form March Madness pools. The prospect of seeing a big upset and the future stars of the NBA getting their start always draw a large, excited viewership.

American sports have something to offer just about every fan. From hockey to mixed martial arts, NASCAR racing to the NFL, fans can find plenty to enjoy. The most popular sports in America may not have turned out to be the ones you expected, but sports wax and wane in popularity; adapting to change is part of what makes America great. In a few years time, this list may have changed but the world of sports is always changing - the only constant is the enthusiasm of the fans for competitive sports.