Sports in the United States of America is not just an athletic activity but a cultural component that is deeply integrated society.
Wherever you live in the US, every community has sports or some form of physical games.
Some prefer soccer stadiums, basketball arenas, or even famous ballparks, but in each state, there are unprecedented traditions.
Throughout our culture, athletics of various kinds play a significant role.
From an early age, popular American sports teach kids values such as fair play, sportsmanship, and teamwork.
Sports have contributed to social integration and have been a “social glue” that connects the US community as a whole.
Early American leaders such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin stressed the need for activities like running and swimming.
American presidents like Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy, have actively supported American sports in their tenure.
In this post, we will explore the top 10 most popular sports in America by TV ratings:
10. Boxing
Since the 20th century, Americans have displayed great interest in boxing.
Mohammed Ali was trailing his followers at the height of his career with his spectacular winning record.
His retirement from the boxing scene didn’t seem to stop viewers from across the States to love the sport.
The appearance of several Americans on the global boxing scene has helped boxing to become one of the most-watched sporting events.
Because of Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer ever to bear the phrase “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” is an American who only shows high esteem for sport in the country.
His biggest competitor, Joe Frazier, was also an American who added to the country’s entertainment value.
Most of the best boxers in the world are from the United States, including Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Robinson, Marvin Hagler, and Mayweather.
These are some of the Star level champions, wealthiest, and most successful boxers in the history of broadcast TV.
9. Motorsport
NASCAR auto racing championships is the most-watched sport in the US, with an audience of over 20 million average attendance.
This shows how much Americans love fast motorcycles and racing cars.
NASCAR is setting the pace of motor racing in the country with events like the Daytona 500, also known as the “Great American Race.”
It’s the Indianapolis 500, as the most prominent car racing event of the season.
The NASCAR also organizes prominent competitions, including the Xfinity Series, the NASCAR Cup Series of Monster Energy, the Pinty series, and the World Track Camping Series.
8. Wrestling
Wrestling attracts thousands into the arena where people watch the matches with all their enthusiasm.
Whether it’s WWE or MMA doesn’t matter, Americans love and enjoy the game.
The superstars, including John Cena, Triple H, the Rock, and The Undertaker, made a fortune in Hollywood too.
In the mid-1980s, it was a professionally sponsored sport in America.
Various American wrestling federations, including the National Wrestling Association, the AWA, and Jim Crockett Promotions, merged to form professional wrestling.
By 1984, Vince McMahon took the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as he was the one who led the Georgia Championship Wrestling.
Mixed Martial Arts promotion companies like UFC are slowly gaining momentum.
7. Golf
We can consider that America is the heartland of golf, and throughout the country, there are hundreds of beautiful golf courses.
The golf culture of the country remains highly enriched as pastime American favorite sport.
Golf started many centuries before the migration of Europeans in America.
American Professional Golfers Association founded its league, PGA, in 1916.
The department store owner Rodman Wanamaker was the inspiration for this initiative.
Tiger Woods has taken golf to new heights, and even the great Arnold Palmer and his rival Jack Nicklaus tried but could not achieve success as Tiger.
But as Woods skyrocketed up the sport earning millions of dollars into his net worth.
Unfortunately, he almost settled it all down himself too.
From the fans’ point of view, Tiger’s scandals, controversies, and all negative things harmed the sport.
Currently, half of the top ten golfers on the PGA tour are Americans, among them are # 1 Dustin Johnson, and #3 Jordan Spieth.
There are many good golfers in the US, but neither has Wood’s nor Palmer’s star quality, which makes us excited to watch Sunday’s television.
6. Tennis
Tennis is the next fastest-growing sport in America and is popular among both men and women.
In 1874, Americans played the first tennis match at Mary Ewing Outerbridge’s home in the Staten Island Cricket Club, N.Y.
In 1880, the United States held for the first time in history the American National Tournament.
On 21 May 1881, organizers established the United States Tennis Association to set up rules and organize tennis tournaments.
The U.S. National Championships Men’s singles are now known as the US Open.
Tennis helped catch the imagination of the American public through tennis stars like Arthur Ashe, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, and Billie Jean King.
But tennis popularity reached its new heights in the United States during the days of Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.
Sampras was the yard for the Grand Slam attainment or benchmark champion before Federer.
Others like Agassi became influential personalities in the sport.
Over half of the Top 100 Tennis Men on tour were Americans back in those Golden days.
5. Football
The fifth place in the US is a game so loved that it is the most popular sport in the world.
Americans have shown a growing interest in soccer in recent years. While it isn’t as popular as American Football, but still has a big audience.
The Major League Soccer organizes the game with many well-known soccer players from other countries joining the local teams to improve the game’s reputation.
Major League Soccer (MLS) is the largest professional football league in the United States.
MLS started by ten teams since 1996 and currently, has now grown to 20 teams.
However, new TV ratings are set following Team USA’s good competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Surprisingly, the United States women’s national soccer team are current champions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Apart from MLS, American football players are showing interest in participating in tournaments like UEFA Champions League and Premier League.
Professional soccer stars like Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are also showing interest in potential participation in MLS.
4. Ice Hockey
Ice-hockey is one of the major professional sports in the USA and Canada.
National Hockey League (NHL) is the highest competitive league men’s level hockey and the most popular event in the North American continent.
In the 1980 Winter Olympics, the U.S. won its first gold medal in ice hockey. It was America’s ice hockey team’s biggest success.
The victory was so impressive that we knew it as the “Miracle on Ice” as a triumph against the formidable Soviet Union team.
Ice hockey in the United States can not be spoken of without considering the New York Rangers with the Madison Square Garden as their home ground.
They are the tribute to the accomplishment of the first Stanley Cup in the country.
Its because the Canadian teams dominated the competition since the game started.
3. Basketball
In the United States, as an American invented sport, both professional sports league and collegiate basketball is the most loved sporting event.
This is because the main stars in the university ranks are drawn up in the annual Draft by different NBA teams (National Basketball Association).
This link between colleges and the NBA makes basketball one of the Top 3 most successful sports in the USA.
Basketball star, Michael Jordan took the NBA into another stratosphere.
NBA finals are most-watched sporting events this is because the NBA is one of the World’s most profitable professional leagues, let alone the United States.
Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and others are among the most successful teams.
With new generation players like late Kobe Bryant and LeBron James holding the torch and the arrival of international players, this game is increasing in popularity.
NBA players are the highest-paid athletes in the world.
2. Baseball
There’s an only one-weekend leisure activity, and it’s baseball.
The popularity began in the early 20th century and was never far withdrawn from our conscience.
After football in the USA, the sport is the second, but we always regard it as the most beloved American pastime with a history that dates from over 150 years.
Yes, baseball is the country’s most loved sport when you construct your case from a cultural viewpoint.
We know simply the New York Yankees as ‘Yanks’ and have the best team ever sponsored.
As a proud Angeleno, my favorite major sports league teams are Los Angeles Dodgers and in the minor league, Los Angeles Angels.
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the oldest professional baseball association in the United States and Canada, with the highest-ranking in all professional baseball leagues.
MLB also ranks among popular sports leagues in the world.
1. American Football
American football, referred to simply as football in the country, is the most popular sport in the USA.
This spectator sport attracts millions of people from across American society, whether its high school football, college sports, or professional football.
Some say that it’s only through mentioning certain names like John Madden, Tom Brady, Al Michaels, and John Elway, who are considered as the face of the sport.
You could open up a debate for the best player in the country, as each football star is loved among their fanbase.
NFL arguably is the richest sports league in the world, considering match crowd and TV ratings in the United States.
The fascinating NFL Super Bowl is like an annual festival for every youngster.
Football still, is American’s favorite sport to watch on TVs considering viewership data.
May games including track and field events are important for the American public for three main reasons:
Firstly to reinforce the bonds of national unity, and secondly, to encourage physical exercise, thus reducing cases of obesity and other lifestyle disorders.
Finally, as a suspenseful entertainment with friends and family.
Which one you consider to be the most popular sport in the United States comment down below.
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Thank you for this information.
There are many spectator sports we love, but Major professional leagues in the United States and Canada have monopolized everything.
Football is all American baby. Glad to see it ranks on first!